In her previous life, Xiaoyue met Ge Sanlin at a tea stall outside Songxianglou in Yingkou County. At that time, two kidnappers were escorting Xiaoyue to the back door of Songxianglou, intending to sell her there.
While the kidnapper was negotiating the price with the madam, Xiaoyue pulled away from him, rushed into the tea stall, smashed a porcelain bowl, and picked up sharp shards of porcelain to slash her face.
Before she could even make her second stroke, the short, fast-moving cripple grabbed Xiaoyue and slapped her so hard she fell to the ground.
At this moment, the madam also came over and saw that Xiaoyue's long scar was still bleeding.
The madam's expression immediately changed; she didn't take any money out, turned around, and left.
Seeing Xiaoyue's appearance, the kidnapper knew it would be difficult to sell her to a wealthy family. The two men almost made a deal, but Xiaoyue ruined it, so they punched and kicked her.
With a swollen face, Xiaoyue knelt outside the teahouse, kowtowing and pleading, "Brothers and sisters, please, save me. I'll do anything for you, even be your slave."
In the end, Ge Sanlin gave Xiaoyue one tael of silver and took her home.
...
When Xiaoyue arrived at the gate of the upper courtyard and was about to push it open, through the window of the outer room, Ge Laosan grinned and approached Old Madam Ge, shaking her with one hand and saying in a smirk:
“I bought her to serve you. Mother knows better than anyone that Lu Xiaomei doesn’t have many days left to live. She can take care of my child and serve you, old man.”
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Ge's expression softened, and she then asked, "With that woman who's making a scene here, does the new woman really agree to become a concubine?"
Ge Sanlin proudly said to Old Madam Ge, "I essentially saved her life. She does whatever I ask her to do, and her redemption contract is still with me."
"Take it out."
Ge Sanlin pulled out a yellowed piece of paper from his pocket. It was the first time Xiaoyue had seen her indenture, and she secretly glanced at where Old Madam Ge would put it.
Grandma Ge folded the contract and was about to put it in her pocket when Ge Sanlin reached out, took Xiaoyue's indenture, and stuffed it into his own robes.
He then took out three taels of silver from his pocket and put it in Old Madam Ge's hand.
Grandma Ge weighed the silver in her hand and looked satisfied: "The sick are sick, the young are young, and you've brought home another freeloader."
Then he found the small box containing the silver, carefully put the silver inside, locked it, and turned back to say:
"Your aunt is nowhere near as good as Da Lingzi. Da Lingzi's big buttocks look like she could give birth to a boy. I was the one who went out of my way to talk to the matchmaker about her. Look at what you've done!"
Then she smiled and said, "That's no big deal. Auntie is Auntie. We'll just marry Da Lingzi into the family as our daughter-in-law when the time comes."
Xiaoyue had heard enough, so she pushed open the door and went inside. The old lady slipped on her shoes and was about to leave through the front door when she saw Xiaoyue come in and sit back down on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Xiaoyue entered the room, bowed to the two elders, and greeted them, "Uncle Ge, Aunt Ge, Sister."
Then, straightening up, she calmly said, "I am not Ge Sanlin's aunt. I will find a way to return the money she gave me to redeem me from my servitude."
Old Man Ge immediately jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, ready to smash Xiaoyue with his pipe: "You sold everything to the Ge family, who wants your money?"
Grandma Ge narrowed her triangular eyes and scrutinized Xiaoyue with displeasure.
Seeing the situation was turning against him, Ge Sanlin quickly went to the door, dragged Xiaoyue out of the house, and stood in the yard, angrily asking Xiaoyue, "What are you thinking? Didn't you say you'd be my slave?"
Xiaoyue suppressed her anger and forced a smile. She took Ge Sanlin's sleeve and made him sit down on the stone bench in the courtyard. She then said to Ge Sanlin in a gentle tone, "Brother Sanlin, are you worried that if your sister-in-law is gone, there will be no one to take care of Xiaodouding?"
Seeing that Ge Sanlin's facial expression had softened, Xiaoyue said, "I will return every penny of the money you spent on me. After Third Sister-in-law leaves, I will take Xiaodouding to my side to raise."
Xiaoyue silently sat down on the stone chair: "I guess you won't be back for many years. Then I'll hand the little bean over to you."
Seeing that Ge Sanlin's expression had softened, he continued, "I will not only take care of Xiaodouding, but also Zhao's sister-in-law. I will also protect you as if you were my own brother."
Seeing that Xiaoyue's cut from the porcelain shard was still bleeding through the gauze, Ge Sanlin sighed and said hypocritically, "Fine, I originally wanted to give you a home so you could live a peaceful life."
Xiaoyue thought to herself that she wanted to curse the Ge family for eight generations, but she couldn't do it now. When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
“Brother Sanlin, you need to come with me to see the village chief and tell him about the land for the house.”
...
Ge Sanlin then took Xiaoyue to the village chief Xu Wenju's house and told him about the matter of applying for a homestead. The village chief was a little embarrassed and said seriously to Ge Sanlin and Xiaoyue, "Normally, it is not allowed for a woman to register her household."
He added, "Unless you end up with Old Ge's family."
Upon hearing what Village Chief Xu said, Xiaoyue's face immediately became unnatural. She forced a smile and asked Village Chief Xu, "If I want to register my own household, how should I do it?"
Village Chief Xu looked at Xiaoyue thoughtfully and said seriously, "Then I will register you as a refugee, but you have to get married after you turn fifteen, otherwise you will have to pay a head tax."
According to the regulations for refugees settling down: you will receive three taels of silver, two mu of land, a house plot, and half a mu of garden. I will go to the town to register tomorrow, and once the household registration is completed, I will have Xu Yuanfan take you to see the house plot.”
Village Chief Xu took out three taels of silver from his waist and said to Xiaoyue, "Two taels of silver can repair two houses, and the remaining one tael of silver is enough to cover the cost of seeds and fertilizer for spring planting."
Xiaoyue took the money, and Village Chief Xu waved to her. Xiaoyue waited outside the courtyard for Ge Sanlin to finish chatting with Xu Yuanfan.
...
On her way back, Xiaoyue came to a crooked elm tree, wiped her sweat, and saw Ge Sanlin standing under the tree. Xiaoyue looked up at Ge Sanlin.
With a strong body, dark skin, and a murderous aura from the battlefield, he stood next to Xiaoyue and gave off a cold feeling. He wore a coarse cloth uniform for military service, with a sachet tied to his waist with a leather belt about the width of a palm.
Her hair was tied into a bun and wrapped with coarse cloth; she had thick eyebrows, smiling eyes, and thin lips.
Xiaoyue thought to herself that Ge Sanlin seemed alright, and then lowered her head and said meekly, "Brother Sanlin, could you please return my indenture? I'll give you all the silver I have."
Upon hearing Xiaoyue's explanation, Ge Sanlin's eyes widened as he glared at her, finally letting out a sneer: "You think I'm too kind."
You think you can buy me for one tael of silver and then redeem me for three taels? Dream on!
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