Xiao Yunying held her hand: "Yunwan, you should know that I didn't mean to blame you."

Zheng Yunwan choked up a little: "I...I know, but I don't know what to do. If I don't give them benefits, they will keep causing trouble at the shop."

She knew that family better than anyone, and she couldn't let her own actions hinder Sister Yunying's business, so she had no choice but to compromise and give them some benefits.

She left in a hurry without taking any money with her, so she could only give the hairpin in her hair to her mother, hoping they would take it and leave without ever coming back.

But she also knew in her heart that if they saw they could gain something from this, they wouldn't just do it once...

Xiao Yunying asked, "Today, the shop assistant said that someone claiming to be my brother was causing trouble. You knew I was at the farmhand's place, but you didn't come to tell me. You went there in a hurry. Did you already guess that it might be someone from your family?"

Zheng Yunwan nodded silently.

When did they approach you, and how much money did you give them?

"No, they haven't found me yet." Zheng Yunwan explained, afraid that Xiao Yunying would be angry about this. "It's just that I ran into Sister Yunying once when we went into the city last time. They didn't realize what was happening, so I ran away first."

I thought they hadn't found me, but they found me at the store. It was probably around the end of the month when I went into town to check the accounts and they saw me there..."

Xiao Yunying remembered: "No wonder your expression was off when I asked you to get the raw stone that day, and you even lied to me and said that you were uncomfortable because you were having your period."

Zheng Yunwan stammered, "I thought I could just hide from them that day, but I never expected them to keep looking for me in the city, and I never expected them to come to the shop..."

Xiao Yunying gently tapped her forehead: "Have you forgotten how you came to my family? They were going to sell you to an old man as a concubine for money, but you overheard them and secretly ran away."

In their eyes, you're someone who can be exchanged for silver. Now that they've discovered your whereabouts, how could they not look for you? Otherwise, what's the difference between that and simply throwing away the silver?

Zheng Yunwan nervously gripped her hand: "Sister Yunying, what should I do now? My brother and the others will definitely be asking around and searching for us."

"What's the panic? I'm here for you."

Xiao Yunying patted her hand reassuringly: "Right now, I just want to confirm your attitude. Do you want to cut ties completely, or are you still attached to them and want to continue...?"

"No! I will no longer have any illusions about them; I will sever this relationship completely."

Zheng Yunwan's expression suddenly changed. She remembered what Xiao Yunying had told her about her godmother's family. Although she didn't know the specific reason for her godmother's actions, she knew her godmother's character.

If even a godmother can choose to sever ties, why can't I?

She should have thought this through when they sold her into the circus troupe.

She shouldn't have clung to the illusion of warmth she had created, and then eagerly returned when the ten-year contract expired, giving them a second or even third chance to sell her out.

Xiao Yunying asked again, "Are you really sure? Then leave this to me. But you know my methods, your family members are probably going to suffer."

Some people never learn from their mistakes; she has to beat the other person so badly that they're scared and completely eliminate any future worries.

Zheng Yunwan shook her head: "No need, Sister Yunying, don't trouble yourself with this."

Xiao Yunying thought that she still cared about her family, so she sighed and said, "Tell me what you want to do first, and I'll think of a way."

"No, Sister Yunying, it's not that I'm reluctant to part with them, it's just that I don't want to trouble you with such a small matter. I want to handle it myself."

Xiao Yunying brushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear: "Don't say that, Yunwan. In my heart, you are my sister. Your matter is not a trivial matter."

Zheng Yunwan held back her urge to cry: "Thank you, Sister Yunying."

"Since we're family, there's no need to be so polite. Now, can you tell me your thoughts? I might be able to give you some advice."

Zheng Yunwan sniffed and said, "When I came to this house, I signed a contract of servitude, a contract that was binding. I can show them the contract first. If they still cause trouble, I will have to use the name of Sister Yunying's family to file a lawsuit and have them arrested for causing trouble."

Xiao Yunying let out a questioning "Ah?"

She had long forgotten about the indenture, but only remembered it now that it had been brought up.

Besides, the reason they didn't fully trust Zheng Yunwan was that they only made her sign the document to scare her; they didn't actually go to the county government to change her status to slave.

Zheng Yunwan didn't understand why she had that expression: "What's wrong, Sister Yunying? Is this method not working?"

Do you feel you're not decisive enough? Why not just report them to the authorities and have them locked up for a while?

Xiao Yunying then told the truth: "When you first came to my house, I didn't know your character. I made you sign a contract of indenture to scare you. I didn't report it to the county government."

It's best not to emphasize this matter in front of them. Just mention it briefly and let them know, to avoid them going to the county government to inquire. If they find out, they might come looking for you.

Zheng Yunwan naturally understood why Xiao Yunying hadn't reported to the county government. After holding back her emotions for a long time, she finally burst out and hugged her.

"Sister Yunying, thank you for being so good to me. You are the best person in the world to me."

Xiao Yunying patted her back reassuringly: "That day you looked so pitiful, like a little rabbit with nowhere to go. Your big, watery eyes kept looking at me, which made me feel sorry for you, so I softened and kept you."

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