Mrs. Hao was startled and asked in surprise, "Cuihua, what's going on? That child Zhuang Yan is still sick, so ill he can't even get up. How could he have been suddenly sold?"
Jiang Cuihua also wore an expression of helplessness mixed with anger. "I don't know. I heard Zhuang Laoda has already taken the money. We should hurry over and see."
"Maybe there's still a chance to stop it!"
Mrs. Hao frowned deeply and was about to follow when she suddenly remembered Liu Shiqi was still there.
Her own daughter had just come home for the first day. How could she just abandon her daughter like this?
She didn't want her own daughter to think she didn't care about her…
Mrs. Hao hesitated.
Jiang Cuihua was anxious. Even though she saw Liu Shiqi, she couldn't attend to her for the moment.
She urged, "A-Fu, hurry up! If we're any later, it really will be too late!"
"Zhuang Yu asked us to look after Zhuang Yan more before he left…"
Mrs. Hao was in a dilemma. "Cuihua, you go first. I… I'll come over later…"
Jiang Cuihua frowned but nodded and hurried off.
Seeing Mrs. Hao was clearly anxious to go but delayed because of her, Liu Shiqi spoke up, "Mother, I'd like to go see too, may I?"
When Mrs. Hao heard her call her "mother," her eyes immediately lit up, and she held her hand even tighter.
"Of course, of course you can! Mother will take you to see!"
Old Man Zhong also wanted to go see, so he approached the two and said, "Shi Qi, your grandfather will go with you too!"
Liu Shiqi quite liked this spirited little old man. She smiled and nodded, "Alright, Grandfather, come along!"
Old Man Zhong immediately beamed with joy.
He decided then and there—the family heirloom would go to his youngest granddaughter, Liu Shiqi!
Who told her she was the most delightful!
Liu Changying watched their harmonious interaction with some envy. He wanted to say something but ultimately didn't speak up.
Liu Shiqi looked at him and asked, "Father, will you come along too?"
Liu Changying stiffened. He had originally wanted to nod, but in the end, he shook his head and said, "Father will go back to cook! I'll wait for you all to come back and eat."
He had no particular friendship with the Zhuang family and didn't want to join the commotion.
Mrs. Hao's eyes were full of warmth. "Husband, let's have noodles for lunch. Today is our daughter's… birthday!"
She thought of Liu Shiqiao, and her heart still ached. But she quickly collected her emotions.
"Slaughter the old hen at home and stew it too!"
Liu Changying's eyes were also filled with warmth. He too thought of Liu Shiqiao, and his heart felt uneasy.
"Alright! I'll listen to you!"
"I'll go to the Zhou family again to exchange for some pork or eggs!"
Old Man Zhong, however, didn't think of Liu Shiqiao because he had never liked that girl.
He chuckled and said, "Changying, stew the mushrooms I dried too! We'll have a good meal today!"
Liu Changying nodded. "Alright, Father. You all should hurry and go!"
And so, Liu Shiqi followed Old Man Zhong and Mrs. Hao, walking briskly to the Zhuang house.
On the way, Mrs. Hao explained to her, "Shi Qi, your eldest and second brothers probably won't be back until evening."
"Your third sister is helping at your cousin's house. She won't be able to make it back today."
"Please don't mind it. When they heard about you, they were all shocked and heartbroken for you!"
"They all want to see you as soon as possible!"
Liu Shiqi nodded. "Mother, I understand!"
Along the road, there were several villagers who had heard the news and were also heading to the Zhuang house. They were all discussing the Zhuang family's affairs.
Seeing Liu Shiqi's curiosity, Old Man Zhong quickly explained to her.
"The Zhuang family had three sons: the eldest, second, and third. They used to be extremely poor, almost unable to put food on the table. The second son, Zhuang Yu, was sold off. By chance, he ended up entering the palace and became a eunuch."
Several male villagers fell silent for a moment.
"Later, Zhuang Yu did quite well for himself. Even the county magistrate here has to treat him with utmost respect."
"Over a decade ago, Zhuang Yu brought back a child from outside, named him Zhuang Yan, and said he was to carry on the family line. He asked Zhuang Laoda and Zhuang Lao San to raise him."
"At first, Zhuang Laoda and Zhuang Lao San were unwilling."
"But Zhuang Yu built a large house for the family, bought fertile land, and left a lot of money. For a time, the Zhuang family became the wealthiest household in the village. So Zhuang Laoda and Zhuang Lao San happily agreed to raise Zhuang Yan."
"However, in recent years, no one knows what happened to Zhuang Yu outside. There has been no news from him for several years, and no more money has been sent."
"At first, Zhuang Laoda and Zhuang Lao San treated Zhuang Yan decently, but as time went on, they grew increasingly resentful toward him."
"They stopped letting him study, made him wear hand-me-downs from Zhuang Laoda's children, and barely gave him enough to eat."
"He does dirty, exhausting work every day and can only sleep in the woodshed."
Old Man Zhong stroked his beard and said coolly, "They're convinced Zhuang Yu isn't coming back! That's why they're tormenting Zhuang Yan like this."
"I heard Zhuang Laoda's third son is getting married, and the bride price isn't quite enough."
"Zhuang Lao San is also planning to arrange a marriage for his son…"
"That's why they intend to sell Zhuang Yan to raise the money!"
Mrs. Hao was indignant. "That house and land were given to Zhuang Yan by Zhuang Yu."
"If they don't want to raise Zhuang Yan anymore, they should just let him live separately. Why sell a perfectly good child!"
"It's utterly heartless!"
Someone couldn't help but say, "Back then, they sold Zhuang Yu for money to feed the whole family. Now they're just selling Zhuang Yu's child!"
Several other villagers chimed in, "No matter how they're doing, that family always likes to sell people for money…"
"Don't you remember? The mother of the three Zhuang brothers was sold by their father as a 'pawned wife.'"
"Ah, they're truly despicable…"
Liu Shiqi frowned, [Zhuang Yan?]
[Why does that sound so familiar?]
[I feel like I've heard it before…]
[Why can't I remember!]
[Maybe he's just a minor character!]
[Like my original self, just a cannon fodder…]
[I actually feel a bit sorry for him…]
Old Man Zhong: Minor character? Cannon fodder? What's that?
But Zhuang Yan is indeed pitiable.
Shi Qi is such a kind-hearted child!
Mrs. Hao's heart trembled. She heard her daughter's inner thoughts again!
She really is ill… and seriously so!
Her mind was in disarray.
Could this be retribution for stealing vegetables from Granny Li's house before?
Zhuang Laoda's family lived at the eastern end of Haojiagou Village. Their five large tile-roofed houses stood out prominently in the rural area.
A crowd had already gathered outside the Zhuang family's gate.
Mrs. Hao directly pulled Liu Shiqi, squeezing through the crowd to stand at the front. Old Man Zhong followed closely behind them.
As soon as Liu Shiqi entered, she saw several people in the center.
Jiang Cuihua was holding a teenage boy in her arms, who looked about her age and was terribly thin.
[Wow, a super handsome young man as delicate as a willow in the wind!]
Liu Shiqi screamed inwardly, while maintaining a calm and composed expression, showing no sign of it.
[In a place like this, there's actually such a stunning beauty!]
[Oh my, I really want to kiss, hug, and lift him high…]
【Let me soothe his wounded soul!】
Liu Shiqi wore an auntie-like smile as she secretly glanced at Zhuang Yan.
Mrs. Hao and Old Man Zhong stiffened upon hearing her inner thoughts.
Mrs. Hao broke into a sweat, grateful that only she could hear her daughter’s inner voice—otherwise, it would be… a bit embarrassing.
Old Man Zhong stroked his beard, squinting as he looked at Zhuang Yan, then at Liu Shiqi.
Since his granddaughter liked him, why not find a way to lure him back and give him to Shi Qi to play with?
As a birthday gift for Shi Qi?
When the boy grew up, he could even marry into their family!
Old Man Zhong had already made up his mind—he wouldn’t marry Liu Shiqi off.
Zhuang Yan, originally pale-faced, trembled as he hid in Aunt Cuihua’s embrace.
Suddenly, a sweet, girlish voice echoed in his mind—one he had never heard before.
…
…
…
(It’s not easy to keep updating a new book—it needs everyone’s care!
Use your lucky little hands to tap for more updates! Add to your bookshelf!)