Shen Zhigao was in a hurry to sell, and Song Kaiji was in a hurry to buy. The two hit it off and immediately took Miao and Shen Qing to the village chief's house.
The talkative one had already passed the news to Zhao Youdang's family. Zhao Youdang looked at Song Kaiji from head to toe with a sullen face. He didn't even shy away from others and started to scold Shen Zhigao: "Is your family so poor that you can't even afford to eat? Are you going to sell your children and your wife?!"
It’s not that there aren’t people in the village who sell their children or wives, but there are usually reasons behind it. For example, if someone in the family is sick and needs money urgently, or a boy of marriageable age is eager to get married, or times are really difficult, selling a child may be a way out.
What's worse, some people lost money in gambling and their creditors came to their door, forcing them to do this as a last resort.
Although this meant selling his wife and children, when the villagers talked about it, they would say it was "excusable". People like Shen Zhigao, who sells his wife and children when there is nothing wrong at home, will surely be gossiped and looked down upon by the villagers!
Moreover, Zhao Youdang reminded him, "You still have two brothers-in-law and a bunch of cousins."
Why did the second son’s wife run away? Aren't you just rushing to report the news?
The more Zhao Youdang said this, the more anxious Shen Zhigao became. He also knew that once his brothers-in-law got the news, this matter would definitely not be accomplished. Selling Miao for money is a small matter. The most important thing is to sell Miao to make room for marrying someone new and having a baby! At this moment, he stiffened his neck and said, "What does it have to do with them? We gave the betrothal money to the Miao family. This is our Shen family. I sell it if I say so. I sell my own wife and children. I don't need to tell anyone! You Dang brother, don't get involved. Hurry up and write the indenture for me!"
Zhao Youdang was so angry at his reckless attitude! He also had good intentions and felt sorry for Shen Qing and her son. Although the old Shen family were not good people and had always been mean to Miao and Shen Qing, they were still in their own village after all. People are despised when they leave their hometown. Once they are sold outside, they are completely in the dark. They don’t know what kind of life is waiting for them. It all depends on luck!
If I were sold to a low-class brothel, I would rather live in Old Shen's family! The man in front of me looks like a decent person, but even a bad person would not have the word "bad" written on his face!
Zhao Youdang wanted to persuade her a little more, but Shen Qing spoke first: "Uncle Village Chief, thank you for your kindness, but my mother and I don't want to live like that anymore. Let's just take a gamble, I'm willing to go with this man."
He held Miao's shaking hand and whispered to comfort her: "Mom, don't be afraid. I believe he is a good man."
Shen Qing has said so, what else can Zhao Youdang say? He sighed, wrote the indenture contract on someone else's behalf, and several people put their fingerprints on it. Song Kaiji took out the silver, and Shen Zhigao left happily.
Song Kaiji stayed, and waited until Shen Zhigao was far away before he said to Zhao Youdang: "Village Chief, you are a good person. I know in my heart that you are taking care of Qing Ge'er, so you said this. I won't hide it from you. It may be fate in the previous life. As soon as I saw Shen Qing, I felt that he was my destined husband. I didn't buy him to be a servant. I want to raise him for another two years and marry him as my principal husband in a fair and just way."
As he spoke, he took out another piece of silver, about two or three taels, and placed it next to Zhao Youdang's hand: "But there are some things I still need to ask the village chief to help me with."
Zhao Youdang and Miao beside him were unable to react for a moment. Aunt Guixiang came in to pour water. Upon hearing this, she looked at Song Kaiji twice, but did not dare to speak. She just nudged her man lightly with her elbow. Zhao Youdang came back to his senses and glanced at the silver, but he didn't reach out to take it. He asked first, "What's the matter?"
"Qing'er and his mother are still registered in the old Shen family." Song Kaiji frowned. He now has the indentures of Shen Qing and Miao in his hand. If he takes them to the government to sign the red contracts, the two will naturally become slaves and be separated from the old Shen family. But Song Kaiji couldn't possibly do that.
If the two people's household registration had not been moved by the red deed, Song Kaiji would not recognize County Magistrate Lin now - maybe County Magistrate Lin is still working hard in some mountain village. Song Kaiji also did not have a household registration for Shen Qing and her son to rely on.
"I thought, if you can help them find a daughter-in-law, I will buy them some property. When Qing'er is a few years older, I will marry him."
The village head and his wife were amazed when they heard this. Zhao Youdang was no longer worried at this moment. What kind of good luck had Shen Qing gotten? He looked at the silver again and swallowed his saliva: "That's not difficult. But you can marry him now, why go through so much trouble?"
Shen Qing also stole a glance at Song Kaiji.
Song Kaiji coughed dryly a few times. Although this was Shen Qing, he was only fourteen or fifteen years old, still a junior high school student. How could he have the heart to do that to him? He was not a pervert!
Besides, he already has Da Qingqing, so he can’t even think about having two wives…
He clenched his fist and blocked his mouth: "Raise it for another two years, raise it for another two years... I don't like it too young."
The money was spent, and Zhao Youdang also respected individual preferences. Anyway, he favored Miao and Shen Qing, who were from his own village. This rich man could marry whenever he wanted. Even if he didn't come to marry, Miao and Shen Qing would have their own household, and he could also give them a property, so it wasn't a loss!
It was this purchase of property that made Song Kaiji a little dumbfounded. At this moment, Liu the Hunter's father has not died yet, and there are still people living in the courtyard at the foot of the mountain, so it cannot be bought! There were no other empty houses in the village.
Song Kaiji had no choice but to buy a piece of residential land, which was later used to build a workshop. She also asked the village chief if anyone in the village was selling land. It happened that Li Jiaofeng's husband fell seriously ill and was short of money to see a doctor and get medicine. He put two acres of land up for sale, but the price was a bit high, so everyone in the village was waiting and watching.
Some people secretly said that if Li Jiaofeng's husband's illness became more serious, she would not care about anything else and would sell him at a low price.
Song Kaiji was a little dazed. He definitely has never been to the world where Li Jiaofeng became Widow Li, so has Li Jiaofeng's land been sold? Now that he has bought this land, will Li Jiaofeng's man still die?
Song Kaiji shook his head. Who knows? He did not bargain and directly bought the two acres of land, and put them together with the homestead under Miao's name. Miao tied her hands together. At first she was panicked, but now she was in another kind of panic.
How could this person spend so much money and treat them so well! It was like a huge pie fell from the sky, almost knocking her out!
Song Kaiji discussed with Shen Qing in a low voice: "Why don't we take our mother to live with our uncle for a few days. I think our mother is not in a good condition. Living with grandma and uncle will make her feel more at ease, and it will also avoid the trouble caused by Old Shen's family recently."
If they knew that Shen Qing and Miao were not becoming slaves but were living a good life, the Shen family would definitely feel unbalanced and they would not know if they would cause any trouble. That old lady Shen is a difficult person! "I'll leave you some extra money. I'll ask Aunt Lian Er and Aunt Gui Xiang to help you hire some people to build the house."
Aunt Guixiang doesn't seem to be familiar with Shen Qing now, but since she has accepted his money, Aunt Guixiang will probably not refuse to help.
Shen Qing subconsciously grabbed his sleeve: "What about you?"
Song Kaiji looked into his dark eyes. In just half a day, Shen Qing actually showed some dependence on him in his eyes, like a baby bird waiting to be fed. He was very reluctant, but still told the truth: "I...I might have to go back. Although I don't know how I will go back, but your future self and our daughter are still waiting for me at home."
Shen Qing twisted his sleeve with his fingers for a long while before letting go and responding in a low voice.
Song Kaiji's heart was broken. Qingqing was not yet strong and needed care in her childhood. Song Kaiji wanted to hold him in his arms and coax him gently like he coaxed Sister Quan, "Maybe he won't leave soon. I haven't found a way to go back yet... We'll see each other soon."
The two were huddled together chatting when they suddenly heard a commotion outside, as if many people were walking towards the village chief's house. Aunt Guixiang looked outside and slapped her thigh, "The Miao brothers are here, bringing with them many young men from Shiqu Village."
Miao and Shen Qing were sold in the morning. Miao Xing and Miao Wang had already heard the news from Aunt Lian in the morning. Before lunch time, they had gathered a large group of young and strong men from Shiqu Village and marched to Lantang Village in a mighty force.
This time Miao Tongsheng doesn't need to come. There's no need to reason. It's just a pure fight!
They first pinned Shen Zhigao down and beat him up, then forced him to hand over the money. Miao Wang slapped Shen Zhigao twice with his sandbag-sized palm, making him look like a pig: "Do you think we are Shiqu Village? There is no one left in our Miao family! How dare you sell my sister!"
Shen Zhigao opened his mouth to explain, but the man from Shiqu Village was too lazy to listen. He punched him so hard that two teeth fell out and he spat out a mouthful of blood. Old Lady Shen threw herself on him and cried bitterly: "I told you not to sell it... This Miao family is a bunch of devils, they want to kill people, there is no law..."
"It's not too late now!" A man from Shiqu Village grabbed Shen Zhigao's hair and said, "Take out the money, we will redeem Sister Chunlei!"
How could the Shen family possibly give out the money that had already gone into their pockets? But he couldn't stand the men from Shiqu Village smashing and beating him. Seeing that if he didn't stop, the house would be demolished and the tiles would be smashed, Shen Zhigao finally gave in: "I can give you money, but only eight taels! You take your girl from Shiqu Village back and have nothing to do with me from now on. I will marry another wife and have a son! As for the rest of the money, it's the money I got from selling my own brother. Shen Qing's surname is Shen, and he has nothing to do with your Miao family. I can sell him if I want!"
Miao Xing and Miao Wang beat Shen Zhigao again, but this time Shen Zhigao refused to give in. The two brothers had no choice but to agree, fearing that the buyer would have taken Miao away by then.
"Brother, what should we do? Are we really going to abandon Qing Ge'er?" Miao Wang asked in embarrassment. Miao only has this one biological child. If they are separated, wouldn't that be the end of Miao's life?
Miao Xing was also worried. He pondered for a long time before making up his mind: "Let's go see who bought Damei first. Can we redeem Qingge'er on credit? We can borrow money and pay him back slowly. If it doesn't work, we can set fire to his old Shen's house at night and steal all the money!"
The group appeared to be in a grand procession, but they were actually nervous inside. When they arrived at the door of Zhao Youdang's house, they saw a well-dressed young man coming out and calling them uncle!
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