The two soon arrived at the entrance of the Xu Family. The gate was closed, likely because everyone was taking an afternoon rest.
Zhao Lie suppressed his loud voice and called out, “Uncle Dashu, is Uncle Dashu home?”
“Who is it?” Xu Dashu, hearing someone call, immediately responded and came to open the door.
The door creaked open, and Xu Dashu, seeing it was Zhao Lie, broke into a smile. “Oh, it’s Zhao Lie! Come in, come in.”
Zhao Lie stepped aside to reveal the person behind him, beaming. “Uncle Dashu, look who this is!”
Hearing this, Xu Dashu turned his gaze to the person behind Zhao Lie. Recognizing her, his eyes instantly reddened. “Ruyi! It’s my Ruyi!” He then shouted into the house, “Mother of the children, mother of the children, come quickly! Our daughter is back! My Ruyi has returned!”
Seeing her father so overjoyed, Xu Ruyi called out sweetly, “Father!”
Xu Dashu trembled all over as he looked at his lovely daughter. “Good, good, good,” he repeated three times, unable to utter anything else.
Wang Cuihua, hearing the commotion, immediately stood up and hurried outside. “Father of the children, who did you say is back?” she called out as she walked.
Wang Cuihua quickly reached the doorway and spotted Ruyi standing there. She froze in place, tears streaming down her face.
Her hands trembling, she slowly walked toward Ruyi, murmuring, “Ruyi, my daughter, is it really you? You’ve come back.”
When she reached Ruyi, Wang Cuihua pulled her into a tight embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
Ruyi’s eyes also reddened as she gently patted her mother’s back. “Father, Mother, I’m back. I won’t leave again.”
The family was immersed in the joy of their reunion. After a long while, Wang Cuihua finally released Ruyi and looked her up and down. “You’ve lost weight, you’ve lost weight. You’ve suffered all these years.”
Xu Dashu nodded repeatedly beside her. “She has indeed lost weight. Mother of the children, make sure to nourish her properly.”
At this moment, Zhao Lie smiled and said, “Uncle Dashu, Second Aunt, I’ll head back now. Let the family have a proper reunion.”
Xu Dashu quickly replied, “Zhao Lie, stay for a meal. I want to thank you properly.”
Zhao Lie waved his hand. “No, no, I have matters to attend to at home.” After saying this, he placed the back basket and bundle in the courtyard, then turned and left.
Xu Dashu and Wang Cuihua promptly pulled Ruyi into the house, asking her all sorts of questions. A warm atmosphere filled the entire room.
Xu Sigui and Xu Niannian, hearing the noise, rubbed their eyes and came out to see who was in the courtyard.
Xu Sigui recognized his older sister. Since he was old enough to understand, he had accompanied his father to the city several times to visit Xu Ruyi.
Seeing his sister suddenly at home, Xu Sigui immediately pulled Xu Niannian forward. “Niannian, this is our eldest sister, Xu Ruyi.”
Now ten years old, Xu Sigui felt too shy to hug his sister but circled around Xu Ruyi excitedly. “Sis! Sis! You’re really back! This is wonderful! With you home, our family is complete.”
Since he was young, his father and mother had told him that his sister, Xu Ruyi, had sold herself as a Servant Girl to pay for their father’s medical treatment.
Both his and his sister’s names were chosen by their parents in the hope of their sister’s return.
“Sigui” meant “longing for the return of the elder sister,” and “Niannian” meant “missing.””
Xu Niannian, now only five years old, had no such reservations. She had known since she was little that she had a very, very kind elder sister.
Now that her sister had returned, she immediately threw herself into her sister’s embrace. “Sister, I’m Niannian! Sister, I like you so much! Please don’t leave again, okay?”
Being hugged by a child made Xu Ruyi somewhat uncomfortable, but remembering this was her original body’s younger sister—and therefore now her own sister—she immediately relaxed and scooped Xu Niannian up in her arms. “Hello, Niannian! I’m your sister Xu Ruyi. Sister has obtained her Redemption and won’t be going anywhere from now on.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Dashu and Wang Cuihua were overjoyed.
Xu Dashu took his youngest daughter and urgently asked, “Really? Daughter, you’ve truly obtained your Redemption?”
Seeing the hopeful looks in her parents’ and younger siblings’ eyes, Xu Ruyi nodded firmly. “Father, Mother, younger brother, younger sister—it’s true. I’m free now. The young lady is getting married, and the Wang Family is moving to the capital. The madam didn’t want to bring so many people and announced that those who wished Redemption could obtain it. I seized this opportunity to secure my freedom.”
Xu Dashu’s long-cherished wish had finally come true, and he was immensely happy. “Good, wonderful! Wife, go buy two jin of meat—we’ll have a proper celebration tonight. Goudan, go tell your uncle and grandparents to come for dinner tonight. Tell them your sister has returned.”
Xu Sigui acknowledged the instruction and immediately dashed off.