Xu Mingzhu’s eyes reddened.
The child was so young. In modern times, she would be in elementary school, yet the original Xu Mingzhu had sold her to the Chen family, and now they had beaten her into this state.
The moment Mother Xu saw the injuries on her granddaughter’s body, tears poured down her face. “If I’d known the Chen family would treat people like this, no matter what, your grandmother would never have sold you…” She hurried forward and pulled Xu Daya tightly into her arms as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Madam Chen handed the indenture contract to Xu Mingzhu, guilt evident on her face. “The child suffered injustice in our household. I failed to manage things properly. Please accept these ten taels of silver as an apology from the Chen family.”
Xu Mingzhu did not stubbornly refuse the compensation. She accepted both the silver and the contract. “Thank you, Madam.”
Then she turned to the old stewardess behind her. “Where is the one tael of silver I gave you earlier?”
The stewardess hurriedly produced the money and respectfully offered it back with both hands.
Xu Mingzhu took it, then turned back to Madam Chen. “Madam, please investigate exactly what offense my niece supposedly committed to be beaten so severely. We sold her to your household as a servant, not as an object to be abused at will. I will return in the future, and when I do, I hope you’ll explain this to the Xu family. Otherwise, I will not let this matter rest.”
“Very well. I promise.” Madam Chen ordered her servants to prepare a sedan chair. She also had them bring ointments and medicines for treating wounds and pressed them into Xu Mingzhu’s hands. “What happened today was our fault. They will escort you home.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
Xu Ming’an took a deep breath, forcing back the lump in his throat. “Daya, don’t be afraid anymore. We’re taking you home.”
Timidly, Xu Daya raised her head. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts. Looking at Xu Mingzhu, her lips trembled for a long time before she finally managed to speak. “Li… Little Aunt… I can do lots of work from now on. I won’t eat very much either. Could you… could you please not sell me again?”
Xu Mingzhu felt a sharp ache in her chest, and for a moment she nearly lost control of her emotions. Inwardly, she cursed the original Xu Mingzhu a hundred and eighty times over.
Such a well-behaved child. How could anyone bear to beat her? How could anyone bear to sell her? Even animals would treat their young better than that. No. Even animals weren’t that cruel. It was the author.
Xu Mingzhu nodded. “Alright. Your little aunt won’t ever sell you again.”
Xu Ming’an seized the opportunity to comfort her. “Daya, don’t be afraid. Your little aunt has changed for the better. She’s the one who earned the money to bring you home this time. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have been able to see you again so soon.”
Only after hearing that reassurance did Xu Daya finally relax. Xu Ming’an carefully lifted her into the carriage.
Throughout the journey home, Mother Xu held Xu Daya in her arms, her tears never once drying.
Xu Ming’an sat opposite them in silence. His back was ramrod straight, and his clenched fists cracked audibly.
Xu Mingzhu didn’t speak either. She didn’t know how to comfort Xu Daya. All she could think about was earning more money, raising the little girl until she was healthy and chubby, and making sure she would never be afraid of her again.
By the time they returned to Xinghua Village, dusk had already fallen.
Madam Zhou was pacing back and forth at the village entrance. Normally, they would have returned long ago at this hour. Could something have happened? The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. Unable to sit still, she shut the door and went to wait at the village entrance. But no matter how long she waited, she saw no sign of the three family members. Just as she debated whether to find a torch and go into the city to look for them, an elegant carriage rolled toward the village.
Madam Zhou stepped forward and stopped it. “Excuse me, are you coming from Qingzhou City? Did you happen to see three people selling goods on the road? They…”
At that moment, Xu Ming’an lifted the carriage curtain. Seeing Madam Zhou, he exclaimed in surprise: “Sister-in-law, why are you here?”
“Why are you all back so late? I was worried, so I came out looking for you.”
Hearing Madam Zhou’s voice, Xu Daya called out softly, “Mother.”
Madam Zhou froze and stared at the carriage. “Was that Daya’s voice?”
Xu Ming’an nodded. “Sister-in-law, Little Sister earned some money today, so we went and redeemed Daya. But you need to prepare yourself.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Madam Zhou hurried onto the carriage. The moment she saw her daughter’s body covered in injuries, she covered her mouth and broke down in tears.
“Sister-in-law, we’ve already had a doctor in the city examine Daya’s injuries,” Xu Ming’an said. “They’re all external wounds. Don’t cry yourself sick. You’ve still got a baby in your belly. Let’s get her home first and put some medicine on her.”
“Alright. Let’s go home first.”
Xu Ming’an carefully carried Xu Daya out of the sedan chair and gently laid her on the wooden bed in the main hall. Together, the family carried her into Madam Zhou’s room.
Xu Daya sucked in sharp breaths from the pain, but she bit her lip and didn’t make a sound.
“Daya, if it hurts, cry out. You don’t have to endure it,” Madam Zhou said as she crouched down and rolled up her daughter’s sleeve. Her arms were covered in bruises, old and new. Some wounds had formed scabs only to be split open again. Blood had glued her underclothes to her skin.
Madam Zhou’s hands trembled.
Mother Xu came in carrying a basin of hot water. The moment she saw the injuries, her eyes reddened again.
“Grandma, don’t cry… Daya doesn’t hurt…” Xu Daya comforted her instead, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
Xu Ming’an couldn’t bear to watch any longer. “I’ll go make some food for Daya.”
Xu Mingzhu couldn’t hold back anymore. A tear splashed onto the back of her hand.
The three of them carefully cleaned all of Xu Daya’s wounds, applied the medicine Madam Chen had given them, and wrapped them with clean strips of cloth.
Throughout the process, Xu Daya trembled from the pain, yet stubbornly refused to make a sound. She bit her lips until they turned white.
The sight made Xu Mingzhu feel even worse. She didn’t know what she could possibly say. After letting out a sigh, she stood up. “I’ll go help Second Brother.”
Madam Zhou had already cooked some rice at home. Xu Mingzhu sliced up some braised meat and carried it into the room.
“Little Aunt… is this for me?”
Xu Mingzhu felt her throat tighten. She didn’t even want to think about the awful things the original owner of this body had done. “Yes. Go ahead and eat.”
Xu Daya didn’t dare reach for the bowl. “I’m not hungry. Little Aunt can eat it.”
“Your little aunt has some. We all do. This is for you.”
Xu Daya still didn’t dare accept it, forcing Xu Mingzhu to look toward Madam Zhou for help.
Taking the bowl, Madam Zhou said, “Daya, eat. This braised meat is made from your little aunt’s recipe. We have plenty at home now. We’ll all be eating some later.”
“Really?”
“Would your mother lie to you? Go on, eat.”
Only after hearing that from her mother did Xu Daya dare open her mouth to eat. Even so, after just a few bites, she claimed she was full.
Xu Mingzhu didn’t press her. She worried that saying too much would only frighten the little girl more.
At least Daya was home now. Everything was finally moving in a better direction.
After dinner, Madam Zhou mentioned that Song Ci had come looking for Xu Mingzhu earlier that day. When he heard she wasn’t home, he said nothing and left.
Xu Mingzhu understood exactly why Song Ci had come. She began planning to repay the money tomorrow. It was also time to finally bring things with the male lead to a proper end.