“I can’t help you in my current state,” the little turtle shook its head and sighed. “I’ve only been cultivating for a short time, and I’ve just learned to speak human language. I can’t transform into human form yet, so a gust of wind can trap me in the tree hole. But…”

At this point, the little turtle's eyes darted around, as if it had suddenly thought of something. It raised its head high, turning it towards the direction where Tian Tian and Wan'er had left. "However, it's not entirely without a solution..."

Please, Master, guide me through this predicament! Raising its two large claws, the crab repeatedly bowed to the little colorful turtle…

In front of a row of thatched houses nestled against the mountain, a simple-looking peasant woman with dark skin was looking out at the crossroads.

"Mother!" Little Bowl skipped and hopped towards the woman.

"Wan'er, why are you so late? Where have you been? I've looked around several times, but I can't find you anywhere." As soon as she saw Wan'er return, the woman rushed over without even looking at Tiantian following behind her. She grabbed Wan'er's hand and dragged her inside. "Hurry up and come in, we have guests."

"What business is it of yours to have guests?" Wan'er asked dismissively. Her mother was different today. Usually, when she came home late, her mother would scold her first and then ignore her.

She would never be called when there were guests, but today was different; she was actually being asked to meet the guests. Sensing something was amiss, Wan'er turned back to look at Tian Tian as she walked.

"Let's go!" Her mother's expression changed, and she forcefully pulled her forward, leading her into the middle house of a row of thatched huts.

"Go ahead," Tian Tian frowned, waved to Wan'er, but stood outside the ground and didn't rush to leave.

At this moment, he seemed somewhat uneasy.

Inside the clean thatched hut, two strangers indeed arrived. On the east side, a fat man with big ears, wearing a dark red silk robe, sat against the wall on the only long wooden bench in the house.

The other one had a pointed face and was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt with a fairly neat patch on the left side.

On the other side of the two stood Wan'er's father, a thin, middle-aged man wearing patched clothes.

At that moment, he was standing opposite the two of them, covering his mouth and nose with one hand, coughing dryly.

"Here she comes, here she comes!" The woman pulled Wan'er along, running to the strangers and standing in the middle of the house. She pointed to the fat, big-eared man and said to Wan'er, "Wan'er, this is our distinguished guest, Steward Li from town. They're looking for a maid for their young lady, and you're just eight years old, perfect for the job. Steward Li, my Wan'er is quick and efficient, and quite pretty too, what do you think..."

"Not bad, not bad," the fat man said, his small eyes scrutinizing Wan'er for a moment before he nodded repeatedly. "This girl looks very well-behaved..."

"What? Mom!" Wan'er turned around, looking at her mother in surprise. Her mother was giving Butler Li a fawning smile. Wan'er was somewhat disappointed, then turned to look at her father, who seemed afraid to look at her back. "You...you're going to sell me? I'm your daughter!"

“How can you say that, Mother? There’s nothing we can do about it,” Wan’er’s mother said, seemingly embarrassed. “Your father is sick and we don’t have money for treatment. Besides, you’re living the life of a god in such a wealthy family. What’s wrong with that?”

“Mother,” Wan’er said, tears welling in her eyes, as she reached out and shook her mother’s arm, “Wan’er doesn’t want to go to someone else’s house. Wan’er is willing to serve Father and Mother for the rest of her life…”