Wang Cuihua led her daughter into the main room to sit down, pouring her a bowl of water. “Sweetheart, are you hungry? Have some water first. I’ll make you noodles.”
Xu Ruyi held onto Wang Cuihua and shook her head. “Mother, I already ate in the county town. I’m not hungry. Let’s eat together tonight.”
Seeing that she truly wasn’t hungry, Wang Cuihua nodded. “Alright then. Come, let me take you to your room to rest.”
She pulled Xu Ruyi toward the room reserved for her. “This house was built just two years ago. Ever since you left home, your father has been taking odd jobs everywhere, trying to earn money. We finally managed to save enough for your Redemption, but the Wang Family disagreed.”
Opening the door, the room inside was simple but clearly belonged to a young woman.
Wang Cuihua continued chattering, “Later, your father and I saved up some silver and built this house. This room was specially kept for you, hoping you’d have your own space when you returned. The furniture was handmade by your father, the quilts were sewn by me, and the clothes in the wardrobe were made based on your father’s descriptions. Try them on later—if they don’t fit, I’ll adjust them for you.”
Xu Ruyi felt the deep parental love of this couple. Though she had benefited from their kindness, she resolved to care for them in their old age and honor them with filial devotion.
She touched the quilt on the bed—it was thick and unsuitable for the current weather, yet every stitch spoke of a mother’s ardent love.
Never mind the fabric; even the cotton filling was a rarity, as most people used thatch for padding nowadays.
Xu Ruyi linked arms with Wang Cuihua and gently leaned against her shoulder. “Mother, having you is truly wonderful!”
Wang Cuihua’s eyes reddened. What mother would willingly sell her daughter into servitude? For over ten years, her child had toiled in demeaning labor.
Those wealthy households were vipers’ nests that consumed people without spitting out bones. Her daughter had entered one so young—her safe return now was nothing short of a miracle.
Wiping her tears, she stroked her daughter’s silky hair. “Coming back is what matters. From now on, your father and I will protect you.”
Xu Dashu stood at the doorway, watching the mother and daughter embrace, then looked down to meet his youngest daughter’s gaze.
Xu Niannian also wanted a hug. Shaking off her father’s hand, she dashed into the room and clung to Xu Ruyi’s leg. “Niannian wants hugs too!”
Watching this little traitor, Xu Dashu felt a chill in his heart. As a man, he couldn’t properly enter his daughter’s room, so he reluctantly turned away to buy meat.
His wife was undoubtedly too preoccupied now—as her husband, he ought to shoulder more responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Xu Sigui ran to the homes of Xu Dagen and his grandparents, shouting excitedly, “Uncle! Grandpa! Grandma! My sister is back! Dad wants you to come over for dinner tonight!”
“Who? Your sister’s back? Is it Ruyi?” Xu Grandma was the first to react.
“Yes, Grandma! My sister Xu Ruyi is back! And she said she’s obtained Redemption—she’s not leaving anymore! Dad invited you all for dinner tonight,” Xu Sigui hastily replied.
Everyone was overjoyed at the news.
Xu Grandpa promptly agreed, “Good, good! This calls for celebration—we’ll definitely come tonight. Oldest son, get a fish from the vat for Goudan to take back. We’ll have an extra dish tonight.”
“Sure, Dad. I’ll fetch it right away.” Xu Dagen immediately complied, pulling a nearly four-pound grass carp from the large water vat in the kitchen. He had caught it just yesterday, originally intending to sell it to save up for Ruyi’s Redemption next year.
Now that the child had returned, the fish didn’t need to be sold and could be eaten instead. She strung it up with straw rope and handed it to Xu Sigui, “Here, Goudan, take this to your father. We’ll have an extra dish for dinner tonight.”
When Xu Ruyi secretly sold herself into servitude, Xu Grandpa and Xu Grandma hadn’t known about it initially. They only learned later when Wang Hunter returned with the message.
But there was nothing they could do. The famine years had just passed, and the family simply had no money to treat their second son’s illness. Their young granddaughter selling herself to save her father—they knew they had failed the child.
Xu Grandpa and Xu Grandma had given birth to seven children, but only three survived: the eldest Xu Dagen, the second Xu Dashu, and the fifth Xu Qiaoqiao.
There had originally been a seventh son, Xu Dazhuang, but during the famine years he went up the mountain searching for food, accidentally fell down a slope, and died.
The eldest, Xu Dagen, married Bai Maimiao, a distant niece of Xu Grandma, and they had three sons and one daughter.
The eldest son Xu Dajiang was nineteen this year, married to Liu Hong, with a two-year-old son named Xu Sen, nicknamed Shitou.
The second son Xu Dahe was sixteen this year, already betrothed and set to marry after the autumn harvest.
The third son Xu Daliu didn’t survive, having fallen ill and passed away at age five.
The youngest daughter Xu Panpan was eight this year, with a lively temperament.
The second son, Xu Dashu, married Wang Cuihua, and they had two daughters and one son. The eldest daughter Xu Ruyi was seventeen this year, unmarried.
The second son Xu Sigui was ten this year. Having known since childhood that he had an older sister suffering away from home, he developed a particularly steady character.
The youngest daughter Xu Niannian was five this year, obedient since childhood and raised mainly by her brother.
Their daughter Xu Qiaoqiao married quite far away, on the other side of the county town. Her husband’s family was fairly well-off, and she had three sons, securing a stable position in her marital home, though she rarely returned.
Back then, the elderly couple had thought their second son wouldn’t survive either. They never expected their young granddaughter to have such resolve. All these years, as grandparents, they had carried immense guilt toward the child.