"Mother, Mother, the child collector is here!"
Sometimes, some adults would threaten disobedient children with words like 'If you're disobedient, I'll sell you to a child collector'. Therefore, in Zhao Zhitong's heart, she was very afraid of being sold.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Who would sell a child?" Sun Mei did not take Zhao Zhitong's words seriously.
"It's true, it's true. Mother, I saw Eldest Aunt give Sister Yaya to an old lady with my own eyes. That old lady even gave Eldest Aunt silver!" Zhao Zhitong was anxious. She was so frantic that she danced around and told her what had happened outside.
After listening to Zhao Zhitong's description, Sun Mei's expression froze. She understood what was going on. Her sister-in-law had probably sold her daughter as a slave!
In ancient times, if a farmer's family was really poor and had no way out, it was common for them to sell their children. However, when it really happened near her, she could not accept it for a while.
Thus, she hurriedly stood up. Without even drying her hands, she hurriedly walked out.
By the time the two of them went over, the procuress and Zhu Sanniang had already signed the contract and were about to leave.
Perhaps knowing that there was no room for negotiation, the three children were no longer crying. They were only sobbing softly.
"Sister-in-law, are you really going to sell Yaya?" This time, Sun Mei was not tactful and directly said, "Sister-in-law, Big Brother is not around. If you have any difficulties, just look for me. If there are any difficulties that can be resolved, how can you sell Yaya? Isn't this pushing people into the fire pit? No matter what, she's still your flesh and blood!"
Zhu Sanniang's expression was very ugly. She glared at Sun Mei with a hint of jealousy in her eyes. "How can you say that? What do you mean by pushing yourself into a fire pit? Yaya is going to enjoy life. She's going to the homes of high officials and nobles. She's going to live a good life. It's better than starving to death at home…"
Upon hearing this, Madam Sun was furious. "Enjoy life? If you sell her, her descendants won't be able to escape the status of being lowly in the future. They won't be able to study or take an examination. What's worse is that if she ends up in a bad family, her master will hit and scold her at will. Her life is in their hands. You call this enjoying life? If I give you this blessing, do you want it?!"
Before Zhu Sanniang could speak, the procuress interrupted, "Oh, you're wrong. If an old woman like me puts in a word and if she's smart and well trained, she'll go to a rich family and serve a young miss and young master. Won't her life be better than living in the countryside?"
As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Zhao Zhitong. "Your girl is really good-looking. If you're willing to sell her, I'll pay five taels of silver."
Sun Mei immediately pulled Zhao Zhitong behind her and said sternly, "We're not selling her!"
"Oh, if you don't want to sell her, then don't sell her. Why are you so fierce?" The middle-aged woman wasn't angry. She chuckled. "As the saying goes, disaster comes with blessings. Who hasn't been at a dead end? Alright, I've also gained something today. I won't waste my breath on ignorant women like you. I'm leaving."
Sun Mei was filled with anger, but she didn't say anything else about the procuress. She just pitied the child who had been taken away. How hurt she would be if her biological mother really sold her like this.
Zhu Sanniang looked at Sun Mei unkindly and said sarcastically, "Ms. Sun, don't always stand up and pretend to be a good person. Who doesn't know how to say something? The contract has already been signed. If you're really kind, go and redeem her! If you redeem her, she's yours. Look, she hasn't gone far. It's not too late to rush over now."
After saying that, she pulled her two sons and walked home. As she walked, she scolded, "Fake benevolence and hypocrisy. Bah!"
Clang!
A loud bang isolated Sun Mei and her daughter outside the door.
"Mother."
Zhao Zhitong blinked at Sun Mei. For some reason, she felt a little sad.
Thinking that Zhao Zhitong was frightened, Sun Mei quickly comforted her. "It's okay, it's okay. Don't be afraid. I won't sell my Tongtong even if I die."
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "What about Sister Yaya?"
Sun Mei shook her head helplessly. She had signed the contract. If she wanted to redeem her, she had to pay fifty times the payment, which was one hundred and fifty taels.
Their family had only received five taels of silver when they split up. They had also spent a lot of money on buying vegetables. It was also impossible to redeem her.
After this incident, Zhao Zhitong had been in low spirits. Even when she arrived at school with Sun Mei, she was still a little listless.
When they arrived at school, Sun Mei gave Zhao Zhitong a few instructions as usual before entering the kitchen.
Normally, after Sun Mei left, Zhao Zhitong would run to the front yard to look for her classmates.
However, after seeing Eldest Aunt selling her child, she had something on her mind. She sat on the stone stool at the head of the vegetable field and stared at the vegetable leaves in a daze.
After thinking for a long time, Zhao Zhitong couldn't figure it out, so she started chatting with Grandpa Bai in the interspace. "Grandpa Bai, Sister Yaya is also Eldest Aunt's child. Why doesn't she dote on Sister Yaya?"
In the space, Grandpa Bai stroked his beard and said, "Girl, not all parents in this world dote on their children like your parents."
After thinking for a moment, Grandpa Bai said, "Some people might be like the girl's parents at the beginning and dote on their children very much, but if they're mixed with all kinds of motives and hatred. After some time, their love might turn into hatred. Moreover, there are many selfish people in the world who sell their kinship for their own interests. This is very normal."
"Grandpa Bai, are you saying that one day, my parents won't dote on me and will hate me?"
Grandpa Bai was silent for a moment before saying, "According to my observations, your parents are not the kind of people who would sell their daughters for glory. However, people can change. Love can also disappear. Time is a very magical thing. It can change everything. No one can guarantee that love will always be the same."
Zhao Zhitong was sad when she heard that. She felt that it shouldn't be like this. When she thought about how her parents would no longer dote on her and abandon her in the future, she couldn't help but cry sadly, but she didn't believe it.
"You're lying. Father and Mother dote on me the most. Father and Mother won't abandon me.
Grandpa Bai fell silent. He suddenly felt that it was a little cruel to tell this to such a young child. Hence, he changed his words and said again, "Your parents dote on you. That's for sure, but you have to know that love only exists when it's mutual. If you dote on others, others should dote on you. Only then can feelings last."
Zhao Zhitong nodded heavily with reddened eyes. "I'll dote on my parents and Grandpa Bai."
Their relationship would definitely last for a long time.
Grandpa Bai chuckled. "I know that you are a good child."
After receiving Grandpa Bai's praise, Zhao Zhitong felt a little better.
Just as she wiped her tears and calmed down, a boy's crisp voice suddenly sounded beside her.
"Are you Zhao Zhitong that Sir always talks about?"
Hearing someone call her, Zhao Zhitong turned around and saw a fair-skinned little boy standing in front of her.