Chapter 261 Xiao Tao Breaks Ties with Her Parents
The two younger brothers also pretended to cry and shout, "Sister, come home with us!"
It's as if Jiang Ling is the one who makes it impossible for their family to be together.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao's eyes filled with unbelievable sadness, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She thought that her parents would at least feel a little guilty and concerned about the help she had given them recently, but she didn't expect that they would still be putting on an act!
Jiang Ling's face immediately showed a touching expression, as if she was also saddened that they could not reunite as a family.
She turned to look at Xiaotao: "Xiaotao, I never expected your parents to love you so much. Even I was moved to tears. They must have had no choice but to sell you back then. There are no parents who are wrong, so I've decided to let your family reunite."
"Miss Jiang?" Xiao Tao looked at her in shock.
Lin's parents were overjoyed, thinking that Jiang Ling's heart had been softened by their crying!
Lin's mother immediately wiped away the tears she had squeezed out, and before she could even finish her thank you, she went forward to pull Xiao Tao away:
"Yes, yes, yes! Miss Jiang, you're such a wise person! Quick, Xiao Tao, Miss Jiang has spoken, come home with us!"
Jiang Ling was afraid that if she was even a step too late, she would regret it.
Mr. Lin also chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes! Thank you so much, Miss Jiang! Our Lin family will never forget your great kindness!"
Before Xiao Tao could figure out what was going on, her parents grabbed her arms on either side and dragged her a few steps away.
Just as they were about to step onto the path, Jiang Ling called out to them.
"etc."
Lin's parents paused, turned around in confusion, their faces still showing lingering joy.
"Have you two forgotten something?"
They looked at each other, then looked down at themselves; there was nothing missing.
Jiang Ling bluntly stated, "You two forgot to give me the fifty taels of silver that I redeemed her. I don't need much. It cost fifty taels to redeem her from Madam Peony, so just give me that fifty taels."
"Fifty...fifty taels?!"
Lin's father's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and the color drained from his face instantly.
Lin's mother's fake crying expression froze on her face, her mouth agape, unable to close for a long time.
"...Didn't Miss Jiang say she would let our family reunite? Why is she saying this now...?"
Jiang Ling said matter-of-factly, "Let's keep things separate. I'm touched by your love for your daughter, but you can't let me suffer a loss. I opened this shop to do business, not charity."
"This...this..." Lin's father stammered, cold sweat pouring down his back.
"Miss Jiang, you...you must be joking! We...we're just peasants, where would we get fifty taels of silver!"
"Yes, Miss Jiang!" Lin's mother also realized.
"Oh, so you don't have any money."
Jiang Ling drawled out her words, the last trace of warmth fading from her face.
"So all that you were saying was just an attempt to get something for nothing? Or are you saying you think I'm easy to bully because I'm a young woman running a shop?"
The Lin couple's faces turned pale and then red when their secret thoughts were exposed.
The two younger brothers, who had been howling just moments before, were now like chickens with their necks being choked, silent as cicadas in winter, hiding behind their parents, not daring to look at Jiang Ling or their nominal older sister.
Seeing that gentle persuasion failed, Lin's father hardened his heart, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes, and directly reached out to pull Xiao Tao again:
"Stop talking nonsense! She's my daughter, I can take her away if I want! It's none of your business!"
Lin's mother also realized what was happening and joined her husband in trying to forcibly drag Xiao Tao away.
Xiao Tao struggled in terror, but she was no match for the strength of the two men.
"None of your business?" Jiang Ling sneered and slowly sat back down on the stone stool.
"Xiao Tao's indenture is still in my hands; she's mine now! If you take her away without my permission, that's kidnapping a woman, and I can sue you in court. Do you want to face imprisonment?"
Their pulling motion suddenly froze.
They were just ordinary farmers, and had a natural fear of the government.
Lin's mother glanced anxiously at Lin's father and whispered:
"Honey, what are we going to do? We accepted Hu San's betrothal gifts. How can we explain ourselves if we don't bring this person back?"
The sound wasn't loud, but Xiao Tao, who was being pulled over, heard it perfectly.
Xiao Tao suddenly raised her head, her voice trembling, and looked straight at her parents:
"Father, Mother... I thought you at least had a shred of genuine desire for me to return. It turns out you've already sold me out a second time?!"
Lin's father froze, his eyes darting around, unable to meet his daughter's gaze.
Lin's mother spoke up matter-of-factly: "What do you mean by selling or not selling? Girls will get married sooner or later when they grow up, and their marriage should be decided by their parents. Besides, you've been to a place like that... It's already a blessing if someone is willing to take you."
Xiao Tao felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
Her voice was mournful, filled with a desperate question:
"I thought you were being so kind by coming to find me, but it turns out you...you thought selling me once wasn't enough, you wanted to sell me a second time!"
His daughter's words exposed him, and Lin's father, losing face, roared in anger and embarrassment:
"What nonsense are you talking about! Hu San... he really wants to marry you! He even offered ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift! Being with him might be better than staying here!"
"Ten taels...ten taels of silver..."
Xiao Tao murmured the number over and over again, and finally tears streamed down her face. But they were no longer tears of grievance; they were tears of utter grief, anger, and despair.
Just then, a steady footstep sounded, accompanied by a cold voice:
"What happened?"
Everyone turned around and saw that Zhao Shiying had walked over at some point.
He stood tall and straight, his eyes sharp as lightning. Just by standing there casually, he exuded a fierce aura unique to martial artists, making him someone not to be underestimated.
Upon seeing this, Jiang Ling immediately said to Zhao Shiying, "Master Zhao, you've come at the right time. These two are Xiao Tao's parents. They can't afford the fifty taels to redeem her, but they want to take her away from me by force."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shiying frowned, her gaze sweeping over the flustered Lin couple before finally settling on their hands, which were still gripping Xiao Tao's arm.
His gaze darkened, and without even raising his voice, he spoke coldly:
"What? Do you think the people of Jishui Village are easy to bully?"
Zhao Shiying had practiced martial arts for many years, and the faint but palpable killing intent emanating from him made the Lin couple tremble.
The hand holding Xiaotao suddenly loosened, and she unconsciously took two steps back.
They had no doubt that if they dared to use force again, this seemingly intimidating young man would definitely retaliate.
The scene froze instantly.
Looking at Jiang Ling's icy expression, then at the imposing Zhao Shiying, and then at Xiao Tao who clearly wouldn't go with them anymore, the Lin couple knew that they absolutely couldn't take this person away today.
Staying here will only bring shame upon myself.
Lin's father's face flushed red and then turned pale. Finally, he gritted his teeth, glared fiercely at Jiang Ling and Xiao Tao, and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Let's go!"
After saying that, he pulled Lin's mother and two sons, who were still in a daze, and slunk away.
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