Yu Xiaolian found the cattle and horse seller from whom she had previously bought her horse, asking him to vouch for her and issue an indenture contract.
Although Yu Xiaolian was wearing a mask, the cattle and horse seller recognized her at once, as she hadn’t changed her clothes and had just bought a horse and carriage from him not long ago.
Though he didn’t know why the girl had donned a mask, he had seen such things many times before; as long as there was money to be made, he didn’t concern himself with such details.
The cattle and horse seller swiftly wrote up an indenture contract and had both parties sign it. Then he kindly reminded Yu Xiaolian that the contract needed to be stamped at the government office to be valid.
Yu Xiaolian handed eight taels of silver to Zhao Daneng, pulled Zhao Sanyan along, and prepared to leave.
Zhao Daneng ran after Yu Xiaolian, grinning obsequiously and inquiring where her family was from, what she intended to do with Sanyan, whether she would make her a child bride or a maid, and whether she would allow Sanyan to visit her family in the future.
Zhao Daneng’s flattery made Yu Xiaolian nauseous, so she responded coldly, "Since the contract is signed, why bother with so many questions?"
"Don’t follow me anymore, or I’ll have my servants break your legs!"
Zhao Daneng hesitated in his steps, patted the money in his pocket, and turned to leave.
He kept looking back as he walked, seeing Yu Xiaolian shaking her fist at him, so he hurried away at a trot.
Obediently, Zhao Sanyan let Yu Xiaolian lead her by the hand. She felt that being sold to this sister was much better than being sold to that fat man.
Yu Xiaolian wiped her tears away and led Zhao Sanyan to the carriage, then lifted her onto it.
Timidly, Zhao Sanyan lifted the curtain and entered, noticing another person inside sitting quietly at the side, not daring to look around.
"Sanyan, I’m your second sister!" Zhao Erya exclaimed as she hugged Sanyan tightly, bursting into tears.
Zhao Sanyan was startled, unable to clearly see if it was her sister before she was squeezed tightly.
Only when her sister finally let her go did she, with tearful eyes, blink hard to discover it was indeed her second sister.
Wasn’t her second sister sold to a brothel in Yangcheng? How could she be here?
Still, seeing her second sister made her happy yet filled her with grievances.
Sniffling but unable to hold back any longer, Zhao Sanyan started crying loudly.
Zhao Erya embraced her little sister, gently patting her head and back, soothing her tenderly.
Yu Xiaolian didn’t go to the government office, instead returning directly to Upper River Bay Village.
Yu Changhe had been home for a while. Only upon arriving did he notice his daughter hadn’t returned with him, but he wasn’t worried, knowing his daughter was clever and wouldn’t face any danger.
Though aware there was no danger, Sun still scolded Yu Changhe extensively.
Saying how good it would have been to stay at the inn overnight and return in daylight, why rush so much?
The daughter cared enough not to sleep all night, yet you left her behind?
As Yu Xiaolian arrived with the cart at her uncle’s doorstep, she saw her parents, uncle, grandmother, and young Tiger lined up at the door waiting for her!
"Child, you fell behind and didn’t call out for me?" Resulting in your mother giving me a scolding.
Sun pulled Yu Changhe behind her, "Enough, what is there to say about the girl? Our daughter always has reasons for her actions!"
"Xiaolian, where have you been?"
Yu Xiaolian lifted the curtain and carried Zhao Sanyan down from the carriage.
"Whose child is this?" Sun did not recognize her immediately.
"Mom, let’s go inside and talk."
If others heard Zhao Sanyan was bought by them, it might reach Zhao Daneng’s ears, as the villages are so close.
"What? This is Zhao Family’s Sanyan?"
"How could Zhao Daneng be selling his daughter again?"
Luckily the Zhao family only had three daughters, the eldest was already married; the remaining two sold, if there are more sales, he’d probably have to sell his sons.
Zhao Erya was also curious why her father needed money again.
Zhao Sanyan explained, "The money from selling second sister went to fix up two rooms at home, then uncle was married off with it. After aunt visited, grandmother claimed all the money was spent and yelled for dad to sell me for more money."
Zhao Sanyan, seven years old, same age as young Tiger, spoke with clarity and detail.
Zhao Daneng contacted the broker who trafficked pretty girls to Baihua House in Yangcheng, intending to sell Sanyan to the brothel, but they claimed a seven-year-old was too young and wouldn’t accept her.
So Zhao Daneng inquired about his second daughter, asking if she received guests, if she earned money, where she was, and if he could meet her.
Unexpectedly, the broker bluntly informed him his second daughter was dead, having escaped on the second day and beaten to death by Baihua House’s guards.
Zhao Daneng, intending to gain some profit from his second daughter, didn’t expect her short lifespan.
Attempting to sell the third daughter to the broker, they thought Zhao Sanyan was too small and frail and not particularly remarkable, offering only five taels of silver.
Believing five taels too little, Zhao Daneng decided to sell at the Tooth Market himself, bypassing the broker.
Zhao Sanyan recalled how her father wanted her to bare her teeth, and publicly strip off her clothes; tears had just ceased but now flowed uncontrollably like opened floodgates.
"Sanyan, stop crying! From now on, follow your second sister and Xiaolian sister; we’ll never return to that family!"
"Yes, follow Xiaolian sister; we’ll eat well and drink well!"
As soon as Yu Xiaolian finished speaking, Zhao Sanyan’s stomach started to rumble.
She heard about food and got hungry!
"Erya, hurry to the kitchen and see what’s there to eat, bring something for Sanyan."
Sun hurriedly said, "I made porridge this morning but haven’t eaten yet since you returned, I’ll serve some."
"No need!" Sun Fengshou and Yu Changhe said in unison, "Just sit and wait!"
The two men strode to the kitchen, returning shortly with a big bowl of porridge.
White rice porridge was something Zhao Erya was used to eating now, but Zhao Sanyan never had it before; her family only cooked white rice at New Year, and she wasn’t given any.
Her grandmother claimed girls have neither strength nor land share, thus utterly useless; feeding girls white rice was wasting grain.
Sun first served Zhao Sanyan a bowl, placing a small spoon in it gently and softly saying, "Blow on it before eating, don’t burn yourself."
Seeing Zhao Sanyan’s bewildered expression, Zhao Erya brought the bowl over, "Second sister will feed you."
Zhao Erya cooled the porridge on a spoon and held it to Sanyan’s mouth. Sanyan glanced nervously, seeing everyone watching her, feeling more anxious.
Opening her mouth, she ate a spoonful of porridge, touching her lips with a little tongue, softly murmured, "So white porridge is sweet!"
Did Aunt put sugar in it? Young Tiger quickly tasted a mouthful. This text is hosted at novel·fire.net
Not sugar sweet, but really tasty! Young Tiger drank a big gulp, eyeing Zhao Sanyan, noticing they’re the same age but she seemed smaller, probably younger, right?