The workers were demolishing the houses, and Tian Yu had nothing to do, so she and Tang Yuan boiled a pot of water in a makeshift pot, thinking that the children might have a drink if they were thirsty. Just as the water was boiled, they heard several children crying outside. Tian Yu went to the door and saw Shuang'er and Gouzi. They ran to Tian Yu, knelt down, and began to kowtow and weep. Shuang'er, in particular, cried uncontrollably. Gouzi explained, "Shuang'er's grandmother secretly sold Xiao Ju. Auntie, please, please think of a way to help them."
"Auntie, Auntie, Gouzi said you are a good person. I beg you to save my sister. I will definitely repay you in the future."
"Um, ah... Little Flower also begs Auntie to save Little Chrysanthemum."
"Mother, please help them," Tangyuan said, her eyes brimming with tears.
Seeing the three people crying and kowtowing before her, Tian Yu told them to get up, but they wouldn't. At that moment, Uncle Zhao Jinxin and several workers came over after hearing the commotion. After learning the situation, they all advised Tian Yu to leave it alone. They explained that Shuang'er's grandmother was only doing this for the family; if they didn't sell Xiao Ju, they wouldn't survive. Shuang'er would be sold eventually too; it was the norm. Tian Yu knew this was how society was, and that this was often the fate of girls. But seeing the children's desperate pleas, how could she refuse? Remembering Xiao Ju's large, dark eyes, just like her own, she steeled herself and asked, "How long have they been gone?"
“It’s been a while. We agreed to go to the river in the morning, but Grandma said she had something to tell Xiaoju. Later, we waited and waited until we got home to see her, but Xiaoju had already been taken away by someone.”
"They shouldn't have gone far. We should still be able to catch up with them. Are there any other horse-drawn carriages in Brother Zhao's village?"
"That's all. Apart from Coachman Zhao, no other family has a horse."
"Fine, you guys wait here, I'll go after them."
"Hey, sister-in-law, you need to think this through. This is Shuang'er's family matter. If you ruin it, Grandma Shuang'er won't forgive you," Zhao Jinxin said, pulling Tian Yu aside.
"I understand, but I can't just stand by and watch. I'll handle it myself."
"Alright then, since that's the case, I can't stop you. You should go quickly, or you'll go too far to catch up."
"Uncle Ping, don't you have a donkey?" someone called out.
"Oh right, how could I forget? I'll go home and get it for you right away."
"Thank you, Uncle Ping."
After asking Zhao Jinxin to look after the children, Tian Yu quickly left with Uncle Ping. Upon arriving at Uncle Ping's house, she explained the situation. Aunt Ping disagreed, thinking it was normal and others shouldn't meddle. Anxious, Tian Yu took out ten coins and offered to rent her donkey, promising to return it soon. She then rode off to chase after the people. However, it was Tian Yu's first time riding a donkey, and she couldn't control it. The donkey wobbled wildly, refusing to stay on the right path. Frustrated, Tian Yu squeezed her legs together, and the donkey let out a long bray and bolted forward. Startled, Tian Yu tightened the reins, hoping it would stop quickly. But thinking of catching up with the people ahead, she slapped the donkey harder with her legs, urging it to go faster. She was swaying precariously on the donkey, fearing she might fall off at any moment. But Tian Yu couldn't bear that; she was determined to catch up with Xiao Ju and bring her back.
As Tian Yu ran wildly, she brushed past Chen Chong's carriage. Seeing Xiao Ju on the carriage, Tian Yu quickly grabbed the donkey, trying to stop it, but the donkey ran even faster. Chen Chong, recognizing Tian Yu, disregarded the carriage's movement, stood up, and leaped towards her, shouting, "Tian Yu, Tian Yu, what are you doing?"
"Chen Chong, Chen Chong, save me! I can't stop!"
Chen Chong ran quickly, and when he got close to the donkey, he jumped up and sat behind Tian Yu. He grabbed the reins in Tian Yu's hand and pulled hard on the donkey. The donkey brayed and spurred its front hooves before slowly coming to a stop. Tian Yu patted her chest and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Chen Chong pulled the donkey to calm it down before slowly turning around and walking back. He asked Tian Yu from behind, "Why did you come out riding a donkey?"
"Shuang'er and the others asked me to save Xiaoju, so I borrowed Uncle Ping's donkey. But it's so disobedient! When I tell it to run, it won't run; when I tell it not to run, it runs as fast as it can. Luckily, I met you." As she spoke, she turned back and smiled at Chen Chong.
"Xiaoju is fine. I've brought her back in the carriage."
"I just saw how you brought it back."
“I met him on the road, and he sold it to me because I paid him a little more money.”
"It's a good thing I met you, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to catch up with them."
"I've bought the person for you, what are you going to do with them?"
"I don't know, I haven't thought of a solution yet. Do you have any ideas?"
"No, but if we switch her back, her grandma will buy her again sooner or later."
"What should we do? We can keep it, but the house isn't finished yet. Tangyuan and I don't have a place to live. What if there's another one?"
"Why don't you come stay at my place first?"
"No, it's too far, and it's inconvenient to go back and forth. Besides..." Tian Yu was afraid that Chen Chong would get angry again, so she didn't dare to continue.
"Okay, let's go back and think of something else."
"By the way, what time did you leave this morning? Why didn't you say anything?"
“I told you, but you’re still sleeping.”
"What are you doing in the county town so early? Haven't you ordered the supplies yet?"
"It's all settled. They'll all be delivered in a couple of days. Oh, and the compensation for Gouzi and the others has been secured. They should be able to receive it in the next few days."
"Where did you go with Li Yong?"
"No, we met at the city gate and chatted for a bit."
Tian Yu sensed that Chen Chong seemed unhappy about mentioning Li Yong, and his face looked sour. So she didn't ask any more questions. Chen Chong really didn't want to talk about Li Yong. He guessed correctly; Li Yong must have taken a liking to Tian Yu. Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept asking him about Tian Yu's situation and even asked him to bring her a gift. But Chen Chong had no intention of letting Tian Yu know.
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