Chapter 174 Lin Guizhi's Purpose
"Really?" Daya's tone was filled with just the right amount of innocence and curiosity.
Lin Guizhi sneered inwardly. That little brat was just a little brat; she took the bait with just a few words!
A warmer smile spread across her face as she gesticulated excitedly, exclaiming, "Of course it's true! The family Mom told you about has a son who's not only handsome but can do everything! They have plenty of white flour buns every meal and stew meat every few days. If you go there, you'll be treated like a prostitute, not having to do any work and eating and drinking the finest food every day!"
She became more and more enthusiastic as she spoke, spittle flying everywhere, her eyes gleaming with a false light, as if she were talking not about a child bride, but a golden phoenix that had fallen from the sky.
But she didn't notice that Daya's eyes were gradually turning cold, as if they were covered with a thin layer of ice.
When Lin Guizhi said, "Xiao Wang is hardworking and diligent, and he'll definitely bring you good fortune in the future," Daya suddenly remembered what Qianqian's mother said to her last night when she was tucking her in: "A person who truly cares for you won't just talk the talk; you have to see what they do."
The woman in front of her kept saying she loved her, but she didn't even ask how she was doing in Xiangyang Village. She only cared about describing those vague "good days".
Daya lowered her eyelids, concealing the coldness in her eyes. This person had never loved her.
Lin Guizhi was talking enthusiastically, but seeing that Daya didn't react for a long time, she impatiently pushed Daya's arm, her fingertips pinching painfully: "Tell me! Is the family that Mom found for you suitable or not?"
Daya lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, concealing the disappointment surging in her eyes.
“Mom,” her voice was as soft as snowflakes, “I’m only eleven years old. Isn’t it too early for me to become someone’s child bride?”
Her hand, hidden in the sleeve of her cotton coat, clenched into a fist, her knuckles turning white from the force, and her arm began to tremble slightly. This was the last time she wanted to find even the slightest bit of heartache in this woman's eyes.
Lin Guizhi chuckled and pinched Daya's cheek: "Silly girl, you have to make your move early on a good man! Once that young Wang grows up to be a strong and capable man, won't all the girls in the surrounding villages be fighting over him? If you settle down now, you'll be the mistress of his household in the future! Listen to me!"
Seeing that Daya didn't object, Lin Guizhi took it as tacit consent and was extremely pleased with herself: she's just a little girl, easily fooled! Once she gets the money from the Lu family, she'll coax her to Old Wang's house. Once she gets the twenty yuan dowry, she'll save it all for Xiaobao's dowry in the future.
A sticky smile immediately spread across her face. She squeezed Daya's hand tighter, the sweat from her palms smearing onto Daya's cold hand: "Silly girl, how could I let you work for the Lu family for nothing? I want to get back the wages you've earned over the years!"
"Wages?" Daya blinked, her little hand unconsciously retracting. "I work for the Lu family, they provide food and lodging, why would I want wages?"
"Why wouldn't we want it?" Lin Guizhi raised her voice. "You do their laundry and cook for them, isn't that hard work? Even landlords have to pay their servants a monthly wage! They just give you food, aren't they taking advantage of our honesty? Tomorrow, I'll stand up for you and make them pay back all the money they owe you!"
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, as if she were a hero seeking justice for her daughter.
Finally, she smiled at Daya and said, "Once Mom gets the money back, I won't touch a single penny of yours. I'll save it all for your dowry! When you get married, having money in your hands will give you more confidence, right?"
Daya lowered her head, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes. It turned out that she stayed here to ask her parents for money.
Lin Guizhi assumed she was just embarrassed because her secret had been exposed. Little did she know, Daya was biting her lip hard, her tongue already tasting the faint metallic flavor of blood. The surge in her chest wasn't shyness, but a chilling anger and nausea.
This woman, for money, is actually going to push her into a fire pit! She can't even be bothered to maintain the last shred of feigned maternal love; all she talks about is money!
Daya took a deep breath and forced back the tears welling up in her eyes: "Mom, it's late. You've had a long day. Let's get some rest. We can talk about it tomorrow."
Lin Guizhi yawned, and as expected, she didn't notice anything unusual. She assumed that her daughter had finally "come to her senses" and patted her hand with satisfaction: "My daughter is so sensible!"
She stretched, gave Daya a push, and ordered matter-of-factly, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and fetch a basin of water for Mom to wash her feet! They've been freezing all day, my feet are practically frozen off!"
Daya responded softly with an "Mmm," then turned and walked out, her steps much faster than before, almost jogging across the courtyard.
The cold wind rushed into her collar, but she was oblivious, only thinking about getting rid of that disgusting woman as soon as possible.
The kitchen light was still on, but she didn't go in. Instead, she went around to Xia Qianqian and Lu Zheng's room in the east wing.
The door wasn't locked; she opened it with a gentle push.
Inside the room, Xia Qianqian was speaking to Lu Zheng with a furrowed brow: "...Lin Guizhi looked at Daya strangely today, and I felt like she had ulterior motives."
Before she could finish speaking, Daya rushed in like a frightened little animal, slammed the door shut, and slid down to sit on the floor with her back against the door.
She covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face like broken beads, falling heavily onto her clothes, but she bit her lip tightly, afraid to cry out. Her small shoulders trembled, making everyone's hearts clench.
"Da Ya?" Xia Qianqian's heart skipped a beat. She quickly got up and hugged her, gently patting her back, her voice soft and gentle, "What's wrong? Don't cry, tell Mommy, did Lin Guizhi bully you?"
Lu Zheng quickly handed over a clean handkerchief, squatted down, his eyes deep but filled with unwavering determination, as if to say: Don't be afraid, Dad is here.
Clutching the handkerchief Lu Zheng offered, and feeling the warmth of Xia Qianqian's embrace, Da Ya's tense nerves finally relaxed.
She couldn't hold back any longer and threw herself into Xia Qianqian's arms, bursting into tears: "Qianqian Mommy... Waaah... She's going to sell me..."
Xia Qianqian and Lu Zheng exchanged a glance, their expressions simultaneously darkening.
After Da Ya finished crying and started sobbing, she told Lin Guizhi everything in detail—the Wang family, the child bride, the twenty yuan dowry, and the matter of asking the Lu family for "wages," she explained it all clearly.
“She said…she said she would save the money for my dowry…but I heard her tell herself…that she was saving up for Xiaobao’s betrothal…” Daya cried as she spoke.
These words made Xia Qianqian's face turn completely cold, and the chill in her eyes was almost frostbitten.
Lu Zheng's fists were clenched tightly at his sides, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.
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