Chapter Thirty-One I Don't Want To

  That night, the Chen family had no more laughter and chatter, the whole house was as silent as death, a single oil lamp in the large room seemed even dimmer, as if it felt the owner's silence, even its flicker was so careful.

  "Mother, don't be sad anymore, otherwise I'll go to his house." Xiju bit her lip and said to Zhao Shi.

  "Shut up." Zhao shouted at her, looking at the increasingly pale face of his daughter under the oil lamp, and shook his head firmly. "Our family will never do such a thing as selling our daughter! Let alone being a maid, even if it's to be a young lady, I won't let you go!"

  Ruihao also said fiercely, "Right, don't let sister go. Tomorrow if that woman dares to come again, see if I won't beat her to death!!" His fists were clenched tightly, and his eyes shot out angry light.

  "Yes, mother, don't let Jihui go. Tomorrow, let Jihui hide at her maternal grandmother's house. I'm sure they won't dare to come and snatch people." Rui Xuan went up to persuade, but the cold tone in his voice was unmistakable.

  "Alright, let's do as Rui Xuan said. Tomorrow morning, I'll get the carriage ready and we'll go to your maternal grandmother's house. If there are no people, at least I have my life." Chen Tian Fa said firmly. "Okay, everyone is tired today, let's rest early. There's still a lot of work to do tomorrow."

  Outside, the cold moonlight shines on the ground. Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for the Chen family.

  Although unwilling to see the arrival of daytime, dawn still came as scheduled. On the second day, when it was still quiet outside, there were already movements in the Chen's house.

  In the house, Zhao's family gathered their luggage and reminded Chen Tianfa, "When you get there, try not to let people see you. Isn't Xiju's third aunt just had a baby? Let Xiju go help her, that place is less crowded, hide out for a few days first."

  "Alright, I'll go and come back right away. You take care of things at home." Chen Tianfa instructed with concern.

  "Alright, you be careful too. Let's hurry up and leave while there are fewer people around." Zhao sent Chen Tian off at the door with a bouquet of chrysanthemums.

  "Daughter, I..." Before Xi Ju could finish speaking, Zhao Shi went forward and hugged her, stroking Xi Ju's hair. It was only then that Zhao Shi realized that no matter how mature the child appeared to be, she was still a child who had not yet reached the age of ten.

  "Don't worry, stay at your grandma's house for a few days and I'll let your father come pick you up in two days." The kind-hearted woman wiped away her tears. "Hurry up and go," said Zhao Shi, holding back her own tears.

  Xī Jú reluctantly got on the carriage, then lifted the curtain to look at her. Zhào Shì forced a bitter smile and waved goodbye to her.

  As Chen Tianfa drove the cart away, Zhao's tears could no longer be held back. Only after turning around did she notice that several children were standing not far from her, silently watching the ox cart with their hands clasped together.

  "Let's go inside. Chrysanthemum will be back in two days." He didn't know if he was saying it to the children or comforting himself.

  "Daughter, don't be sad, if you're sad, I'll cry too." Zhao looked down and saw Xi Mei's eyes brimming with tears as she stared at her, her small mouth pouting, her tears welling up in her eyes, ready to fall at any moment.

  Yes, she can't cry, there's still a tough battle waiting for her. She picked up Xi Mei, pulled Xi He, and said softly: "Let's go, it's time to go back."

  Xī Jiě discovered that the weakness on Zhao's face had disappeared, replaced by a resolute expression. This was probably what it meant to be strong for one's mother. Her little arm wrapped around her mother's neck, and her cheek rested in her mother's bosom, giving herself and her mother some courage.

  After entering the house, no one had an appetite for dinner. Xiao Bao Wang rubbed his sleepy eyes and said, "How did everyone get up so early? Are we still going to set up a stall?"

  Finding no one paying attention to him, he muttered to himself, "Although running a stall is interesting, I'm so tired. Can I take a rest today?"

  "Want a rest? Go back to your own home." Xi Mei retorted bluntly. Upon hearing this, Xiao Bao Wang's eyes widened in incredulity as he said, "You dare to chase me away?"

  "It's you who is being driven away, don't come if you don't want to. Who has the free time to wait on you every day?" Xi Mei completely shifted her anger onto him.

  "I, I, didn't I just say that? Why are you being so fierce." Little Overlord said with a wronged tone, probably seeing the unpleasant expressions on the Chen family's faces, and quietly asked Ruihao, "What's going on? Why is everyone acting so strange today? By the way, where's Eldest Sister?"

  This kid is also quite aware of the situation. Ruihao said angrily: "Didn't you hear what Qian Shu said yesterday? The son of the Li Zheng family wants to let your sister go to his house as a maid."

  Upon hearing this, Xiao Ba Wang still looked perplexed, "What's wrong with being a maid? My family has several maids already?"

  In his eyes, a maid is just someone who sweeps the floor, runs errands, and gets paid in silver every month. Several older women even begged to be allowed to work as maids in his household. Isn't this a good thing?

  But looking at Chen's family's faces, he didn't dare say it out loud. Hey, don't you think about it, can your maid be the same as theirs?

  Being a maid in a wealthy family, eating well, dressing well and getting paid is something to be proud of, but being a maid in a notorious farmhouse.

  At home, there is also a son who excels in eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. No one wants to send their daughter into the fire pit either. However, at this time, no one has the energy to explain it to him. Nor does anyone have the mood to explain it to her.

  Left with a mind full of doubts and a heart shattered into pieces, the little overlord quietly squatted in the corner to draw circles.

  "Mother, you should eat a bit too. You'll have energy when you're full, won't you?" Madam Zhao nodded and took the chopsticks from Rui Xuan's hand, picking at her food with them. Seeing this, the children finally picked up their own chopsticks and started eating.

  In the next short while, several people were restless. Finally, when the sun rose high, a loud and arrogant voice came from outside the door, "Is there anyone inside? Why hasn't anyone come out to greet me?"

  Hearing that someone had arrived, Zhao finally let out a sigh of relief. The person who was supposed to come had finally arrived. She straightened her clothes and replied loudly, "Coming, coming, I'll be right there."

  She opened the door and quickly went out. In the house, several children saw that Zhao had gone out and they also welcomed her out one by one.

  Outside the gate, Zhao's smiling face led the person in. Xi Mei took one look at the visitor and couldn't help but burst out laughing. A woman over 40 years old, wearing a large red flower on her head, with thick layers of powder on her face, and every movement seemed to make something fall off.

  He opened his mouth, revealing a set of big yellow teeth that couldn't be ignored. The ridiculous thing was that there were still scallions stuck between his teeth, and his stout body was squeezed into a tight-fitting bright red outfit, perfectly showcasing his rolls of fat.

  At this time, the newcomer pinched his nose and said with disgust: "Alas, what kind of home is this? It's not even as good as my pigsty."

  Hearing Ruihao, Jimei just wanted to go up and beat her. Then she heard that big mouth say: "Fortunately, your family gave birth to a good daughter. That is, I came this time, you also know, my son, he took a fancy to your family's eldest daughter."

  "Hmm, I'm not a person who doesn't understand emotions and reason. Although your family is very poor, my son likes her, so I've agreed to this arrangement. So, let's have your eldest daughter live with me for a few years first, and when she's a bit older, I'll have my son take her in as his concubine. What do you think?"

  A charitable face, as if she had taken advantage of a great bargain, looked at the few people in front of her who were silent, and then put on a painful expression. "Alright, I won't let Xikui stay in my house for nothing either? I'll give her 50 cents a month, yes, as wages, that's settled."

  After finishing, he waited for Zhao's grateful response. After waiting for half a day without anyone responding, he turned his head to see the smallest servant girl with a pale face, curiously looking at her. What made him even more uncomfortable was that the little servant girl had an ambiguous smile on her face, as if she thought he was stupid.

  Just about to lose his temper, but then he thought of what his son had said on the way, and restrained himself to ask Zhao Shi: "How is it? If it's all right, let me take Da Ya out today?"

  Zhao smiled and stepped forward, saying: "It's your young master's good fortune to have taken a liking to our family's servant girl, but..." She paused for a moment. "But what?" asked the fat wife.

  "But my mother's sister is sitting for a month, and her mother passed away early, so there's no one to take care of her. I sent her over, and by the time she comes back, it'll probably be a year or two."

  At this time, even a fool could hear what it meant. The woman said with hatred, "You secretly sent him away, didn't you? I'll tell you something today, whether you want to or not, you have to give in."

  This remark actually pleased Zhao, "My daughter is mine, I say give and she will be given, not give and she won't be given. Now I'm telling you," he said disdainfully, looking at her with a slow tone: "I don't want to."

  Before the old woman could respond, a loud "bang" was heard from the Chen family's house, and the door was suddenly kicked open...

  Alas, Storage Master has returned to his hometown, and Danni is exhausted. Tonight, he still has to work overtime. Poor typist! Dear friends, please reward, recommend, and collect me na na na na!!!!!!