It was noticeably late when Li Wu and Li Qiang helped the old village chief out the door.
A crowd had gathered on the dirt road in the village, all craning their necks to look into the low, mud-brick courtyards in the distance.
Seeing the old village chief approaching, they quickly made way for him, and a clever and kind-hearted person rushed forward to explain: "Master Fan, his wife wants to sell Zhao Di, saying that the family is starving and they can't all die together. They want to find a way for Zhao Di to survive!"
"Nonsense!" The old village chief slammed his cane down, his face grim.
Why didn't Madam Sun find a way for her four sons to make a living?
"Isn't this nonsense?" Wang Guifen, who was ahead, looked surprised.
Aunt Li, who arrived first, leaned closer and chimed in, "That's right! As if you think everyone knows."
So, that's why they started arguing. Look, her husband and son are both talking about her.
In her opinion, it wasn't to the point of selling their children. Even that bald man was selling his land, and he still managed to get through this famine.
Only those who have no land to sell would consider selling their children.
This is the Fan family; she remembers receiving double the land when the family property was divided...
Listening to what Aunt Li was saying, Wang Guifen felt something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
She looked at the scene in the courtyard: Sun Jinhua was kneeling on the muddy ground, crying with snot and tears streaming down her face; Sanzhu was wailing beside her; Fan Qian was squatting under the eaves with his head in his hands; and little Zhaodi was huddled in the corner of the wall, watching her family.
This scene looks familiar.
"Didn't you use the same trick when you sold off your two nieces, Yan Qiu and Xing Hui?" Li Tiantian huffed angrily as she looked at the scene before her.
After she reminded them, the others also remembered that Sun Jinhua had caused a similar incident before!
Wu's sister-in-law asked bluntly, "You sold your niece back then, and now you're selling your daughter. What's wrong? Is your family the only one struggling to make ends meet?"
"Jinhua, this isn't good of you. Why are you always the one causing trouble?" Grandma Xu advised earnestly.
"Yeah, he's like a troublemaker!"
Sun Jinhua, who was crying on the ground, paused for a moment, glanced at her husband and four sons, gritted her teeth and remained silent.
Yesterday, the head of the household told them about selling Zhao Di, but it wasn't a real sale; it was just a way to pressure his brother-in-law's family.
By then, they would have the silver and grain, but they would lack food for Zhao Di. Zhao Di was their own daughter, and by the time she was eight, she would already be able to remember things. A child that age would not be able to be properly cared for by other families.
Once they've raised her to adulthood, they'll find a reason to take her back. The daughter will still be hers, and she'll be the one to show filial piety. When they meet for the betrothal gifts, they'll naturally belong to her.
The younger brother's wife raised her daughter for free!
However, she has to play the villain; the man is in charge, and it would be bad for his reputation to sell his daughter.
The same applies to Dazhu and his three companions; they are also considering marriage, so how could their reputations be damaged?
She kept her head down, remaining silent, waiting for her brother-in-law's family to arrive.
It's alright, Sanzhu has already run off to call for help, just bear with it a little longer.
As soon as Shui Qing opened the door, she saw Fan Sanzhu crying and wiping away tears. She was stunned: "What's wrong?"
"Second Aunt, please save Zhaodi! My mother is going to sell her!" Fan Sanzhu cried so hard that snot bubbles came out of his nose.
Shui Qing unconsciously took a step back, avoiding a huge snot bubble that popped and bounced onto her.
Fan Jin, who was teaching several children inside the house, also came out and looked at Shui Qing. Their eyes met, and then they quickly looked away.
Shui Qing immediately put on a nervous expression and said, "What's wrong? Let's go, we'll talk as we walk."
When Yan Qiuxing returned to Jianghehu and the others and heard that Zhaodi was going to be sold by her aunt, she was genuinely worried and quickly followed.
A large group of people marched towards Fan Qian's house.
Fan Sanzhu breathed a sigh of relief.
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