"You can't ignore your father, Meng'er," the man said, reaching out to grab the boy's arm. But then he noticed Meng Zhelan behind him and his mind raced. He saw that Yin'er in the carriage behind them hadn't even glanced at her. He then tried to pull Meng Zhelan along, but Li Xi stepped in front of her and blocked the man's outstretched hand.

"Speak your mind, don't get physical." "Yes, yes, miss, I'm really sorry, I was just in a hurry. Miss, you've been so kind to save my child, and you look like a rich young lady. Please buy my child back, she's very capable, she can do everything, it only costs forty taels," the man said with a calculating look.

"What? Forty taels? You have the nerve to ask for that?" Li Xi sneered. Seeing the cold indifference on the boy's pale face, she pulled him aside and whispered, "What are you thinking? If you want to leave now, I can help you. I happen to need your help with something."

"Please, young master, take us three siblings in. We will serve you like slaves for the rest of our lives and will never let you down. Right now, I just want to leave this place," the young man said with a sorrowful expression.

“Okay, then listen to me. I have a way to make sure he can’t rely on you anymore,” Li Xi told Meng Zhelan her idea, and she agreed.

"Uncle, how about this? My sister said she'd buy your three children as slaves for fifty taels, and we'll also sign a letter severing ties." "What? That won't do." How could the man sever ties with Yu Meng? He had calculated that even if Yu Meng became a slave, she would still receive a monthly stipend.

"No? Then forget it. Your child's fate with us ends here. I don't care how those people treat you later. Sister Lan'er, let's go back. Ling'er and the others must miss us." Li Xi turned around and carried Yu Yin out. Although her fever had subsided, she was still drowsy.

"Take your child back," Li Xi said, about to place the baby girl in the man's hands, but the man immediately pulled his hand away. Seeing the thugs approaching, he thought for a moment and then said, "Okay, okay, sign it right away. Xiao Meng, go find the broker."

Thinking of his young child and sickly son at home, he figured selling them would ease the burden. "Xiaomeng, your father has no other choice. I'll redeem you both when I make a lot of money," the man said, forcing out a few tears.

The broker arrived quickly and immediately signed the indenture and the severance of kinship. Li Xi then gave him half a tael of silver to run errands for the government office to get the seal stamped.

Holding the indenture, Meng Zhelan handed Yu Jian a purse containing fifty taels of silver and solemnly declared, "We're taking that person with us. From now on, you're not allowed to appear in front of them. Xiao Meng, go pack your things and come here."

The girl ignored her father's excitement at receiving the money. After returning thirty taels, she still had twenty taels left. Yu Jian was overjoyed. With so much silver, he could find a wife and have several children.

When Yu Meng returned home, she saw her younger brother lying helplessly under the bed, and her heart was torn apart. Wiping away her tears, she said gently, "Song'er, your sister is back. Come out, I'll take you to a nice place."

Hearing his sister's voice, Yu Song scrambled out as if grasping at a lifeline. "Sister, I'm so scared," he said, throwing himself into Yu Meng's arms. "Let's go," she gently patted her brother, comforting him.

There wasn't much to tidy up in the house; it was bare. Yu Meng only took clothes for the three siblings, not many pieces in total. She pulled her younger brother to kneel before Yu Jian and kowtowed three times, saying, "Father, take good care of yourself from now on."

Yu Jian was also somewhat sentimental. "Alright, I'm sorry to have to make you suffer. I'll redeem you once I earn enough money." Yu Meng didn't say anything, and pulled her younger brother toward Li Xi and the others.

"Young master, young lady," Yu Meng said, pulling her younger brother along as they bowed to the two. "Alright, no need for formalities, come on in," Li Xi said, helping the siblings into the carriage. It was getting late, so Li Xi drove the carriage back.

Inside the carriage, Yu Yin weakly asked, "Sister, did Father sell us?" The girl, who looked only eight or nine years old, was actually twelve or thirteen, but she was frail and sickly and looked small.

“Yin’er, we have no good days following him. It’s all thanks to the young master and young lady, otherwise you would have… you would have…” Yu Yin knew her own body. Although she was weak and sickly, she had a very clever mind since childhood and understood many things.

"Sister, I understand. I've been a burden to you all." "Yin'er, don't say things like that again." "Gurgle, gurgle," Yu Song's stomach growled loudly beside him...

Meng Zhelan found it somewhat amusing. "Here, have some pastries," she said, taking out several packets of pastries for the three of them. "You must all be hungry. Quickly eat something to fill your stomachs." She picked up a piece and held it to Song Ge'er's lips, and he couldn't resist and ate it in one bite.

"It's so delicious, sister. I've never had such delicious pastries before!" Song Ge'er's childlike words made everyone laugh, and the atmosphere immediately became harmonious.

"Don't be nervous, just call us 'sister' from now on, and call her 'brother' in front of others," Meng Zhelan said, pointing to Li Xi outside. They were just a group of pitiful people, "orphans" of this beautiful world.

In less than an hour, Li Xi and the others returned home. After settling the three children in, Meng Zhelan took them to a restaurant. There were only a few people eating at the restaurant. Meng Zhelan asked the waiter to bring some white porridge and noodles. "Let's eat something simple tonight. Xiao Yin'er should eat something light."

"Thank you, Sister Lan," the children replied with smiles. They had complete trust in Meng Zhelan and Li Xi throughout the journey.

"Well..." she was interrupted before she could finish speaking, "Doctor Meng, you're finally back! My young master has been waiting for you all day!" Lu Yi was so excited he almost cried. Luckily, Doctor Meng was back, otherwise he would have been terrified by the prince's cold stare.

Meng Zhelan glanced at the young nobleman sitting in the corner and thought to herself, "Oh no, I forgot to go to the clinic this morning. I hope the nobleman won't blame me."

She cautiously approached the nobleman, her expression calm as she said, "Young master, please extend your hand so I can take your pulse." Prince An, who had been waiting for a long time, was filled with resentment and almost lost his temper. But when he saw Meng Zhelan blinking her big, round eyes at him, he pursed his thin lips meaningfully.

"Hmm, your pulse is steady and strong, the remaining toxins in your body have been cleared, and you are fine," Meng Zhelan said, lowering her gaze slightly to avoid Prince An's staring eyes. What's wrong with this nobleman? Why is he staring at her like that? She couldn't help but touch her cheek; there weren't any pastry crumbs on it.

"Young master, have you had dinner yet? Why don't you have something simple at our humble shop? Although our food is plain, it's still quite delicious once in a while."

"Very well, Doctor Meng, would you like to have dinner with me? You've saved me twice, and I haven't even thanked you yet," Prince An said after a moment's thought, toying with his teacup. This tea was different from what he usually drank, and this person was different from the one in his dreams.