After a while, she came out with a slightly smaller purse and handed it to Chen Xiaoru reluctantly: "Here are the remaining five taels."

Chen Xiaoru took the purse, gently stroked the rough fabric with her fingertips, and a barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

She weighed the purse, and the heavy weight made her feel at ease. Then she opened the purse, looked at it quickly with a sharp gaze, and counted it.

After confirming the number was correct, she raised her head, a bright smile on her face, and nodded with satisfaction: "That's about right."

She casually threw the purse to Eryazi behind her with a graceful and neat movement.

Then, with her delicate fingers, she pulled out a tael of silver from her purse and flicked it gently. The silver drew a graceful arc in the air and landed steadily in Er Yazi's hands. Chen Xiaoru's voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of boldness:

"Thank you for your hard work. I'll buy you a drink."

Eryazi caught the silver, and the wrinkles on his face turned into a flower with a smile. He grinned, revealing a few uneven teeth, and answered in a loud voice:

"Oh, Miss Chen is such a straightforward person! Brothers, there's wine tonight! Let's go!"

As he spoke, he waved to his younger brothers behind him, and a group of them turned around and left, shouting, their steps becoming lighter.

"Xiaoyu, let's go too! You'll be with me from now on, and I'll support you."

Chen Xiaoru turned around and spoke to Chen Xiaoyu gently, her eyes full of doting. She reached out and gently held Chen Xiaoyu's hand. The little hand was cold and trembling, which made her heart ache.

"Okay, sister, I'll go with you."

Chen Xiaoyu raised his head, tears flashing in his eyes. He nodded vigorously and held Chen Xiaoru's hand tightly with his backhand, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.

At this moment, Li Cuihua's sharp and piercing voice came from behind: "You bitch, if you have the guts, don't let your brother come back!"

Chen Xiaoru paused, but did not look back. She just curled up the corner of her mouth into a sneer, took Chen Xiaoyu's hand, and strode away without looking back, leaving the sarcastic voice far behind.

Behind him, the villagers who were watching began to whisper and talk.

"Li Cuihua is such a jerk! Bringing Chen Xiaoru wasn't enough, she also wanted to buy Xiaoyu, and she's so confident! They say stepmothers are cruel, and it seems they're right."

A woman carrying a basket curled her lips and said disdainfully.

"That's right, Xiaoyu is such a pitiful child. It's better for her to follow Xiaoru in the future than to suffer in this family."

A young daughter-in-law holding a child nearby echoed this with a hint of sympathy in her tone.

"Xiao Ru is quite a capable girl. She managed to get the silver back from Li Cuihua. Who will dare to bully her and her brother in the future?"

A burly man stroked his chin and said thoughtfully.

"Alas, in this world, children from poor families have a hard life..."

An elderly woman sighed and shook her head, her eyes full of helplessness.

Various discussions were intertwined, and the figures of Chen Xiaoru and Xiaoyu had long disappeared in the crowd.

Chen Xiaoru led Xiaoyu and carefully stepped into the door of Song Zhe's house.

As soon as they entered the yard, they saw Song Zhe's family busy clearing away the dishes, apparently having just finished their meal. Huang Chunhua looked up at Chen Xiaoru, his gaze lingering on Xiaoyu behind her for a moment, a questioning look on his face:

"Xiao Ru, what is this...?"

"Mom," a trace of embarrassment flashed across Chen Xiaoru's face. After all, she was also bought, and now another one was brought back. She explained a little embarrassedly.

"This is my younger brother Xiaoyu. I just snatched him back from Eryazi and brought him here."

Huang Chunhua sighed softly upon hearing this, and looked at Xiaoyu's frail figure with pity in his eyes:

"Ah! You're also a poor child. You'll live here from now on!"

"Thank you, mother!"

Chen Xiaoru felt relieved and said gratefully.

"Thank you, auntie."

Xiaoyu followed Chen Xiaoru timidly, her voice as soft as a mosquito, her head lowered, not daring to look directly into Huang Chunhua's eyes.

Huang Chunhua smiled kindly and waved her hand gently, signaling them not to be so reserved.

"You haven't eaten yet? There's food left in the kitchen. Go and eat it! Don't starve!"

Chen Xiaoru nodded gratefully, took her brother's hand, and walked quickly towards the kitchen.

Song Qingqing looked at the backs of the siblings, frowned, and turned to Huang Chunhua and complained:

"Mom, how could you take in her brother so easily? Our family can barely take care of itself right now, how can we afford to support another person?"

Although Song Qingshan didn't say anything, he nodded silently, obviously agreeing with his sister's statement.

Huang Chunhua's eyes were like torches. He glared at Song Qingqing with a hint of reproach in his tone:

"What do you know, little girl? Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. People should still have some kindness and not just care about themselves!"

Song Qingqing was speechless after what her mother said, but she was still not convinced. She stomped her feet hard, turned around and slammed the door shut.

In the kitchen, Xiaoyu heard the conversation outside. He clutched the corner of his clothes tightly, lowered his head, and his voice was full of anxiety:

"Sister, should I... not come..."

Chen Xiaoru touched Xiaoyu's head distressedly, her eyes firm and her tone gentle but unquestionable:

"Silly child, what are you talking about! I'll support you and send you to school and teach you how to write! Eat quickly, don't overthink it, I'm here for you!"

"Well, I'll listen to my sister."

Xiaoyu raised his head and nodded vigorously, with a glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes.

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