Chapter 63 - Dividing the Family 1 (1/2)

Chapter 63 - Dividing the Family (1)

Madam Liu almost fainted when she heard that her mother-in-law and eldest sister-in-law wanted to sell her daughters. Were their family so poor that they needed to sell their own children?

“Mother, Cao’er’s heath is already good enough to help out in the family. Lian’er feeds the pigs, raises the chickens, and takes care of the garden. So, she’s already one of the main laborers in the family. Please don’t sell our children. Please, I'm begging…” Madam Liu had a weak temperament, so despite being harshly bullied, she had never dared to rebut her mother-in-law in the past. However, since this concerned the future of her two daughters, she couldn’t help but cry while begging piteously.

Madam Zhang frowned and had an impatient expression on her face, “Think about it yourself. For Second Son’s injury, we have already spent dozens of taels over the past few days. The weather isn’t very good at the beginning of spring, so your father and eldest brother can’t catch any fish. Thus, the family doesn’t have any income right now. If we don’t sell your daughters, did you want us to sell your eldest sister-in-law’s son? Do you still want to treat your husband’s injury?”

Madam Li also insidiously agreed, “That’s right, that’s right! Doctor Sun said that even if your husband woke up, his leg will still be crippled. Don’t we need money in order to support that good-for-nothing? There’s also you, who falls sick every now and then. Don’t we need money for your medical fees? Third Brother-in-law needs to take the district examination next year and Youngest Sister-in-law needs to get married… Which of these matters doesn’t need money?! If you people use up all our family’s money, how are the rest of us supposed to live? Can we still survive?”

“Besides…” Madam Li cleared her throat and continued, “The Zhou Family is one of the wealthiest families in town. Zhenxiu Restaurant had even opened another store in the capital. The handmaids in their household eats and dresses even more elegantly than the young misses of most families. They not only receive a monthly wage of one tael, but the masters of the family will also give them rewards. If Xiaolian and Xiaocao went, then they will be living a life of ease and comfort!”

Xiaolian nervously supported her mother and furiously said, “If it’s so good, why don’t you go? Hey Auntie, doesn’t the Zhou Family also need to buy senior servants? Eldest Aunt, you can also enjoy an easy and comfortable life…”

Madam Li’s expression instantly changed and scolded, “Damned brat, what are you saying?”

Yu Xiaocao coldly snorted and said, “Eldest Aunt, Xiaolian is right. Since you think that being a servant in the Zhou Household is a blessing, why don’t you go? After being sold into a noble household, you’ll no longer be a free person. Whether you get beaten, killed, or sold again, it all depends on your masters’ moods. Eldest Aunt only sees the bright side of being a handmaid, but within the red-lacquered doors of wealthy households, are there any without a few dead maidservants? Eldest Aunt is just trying to kill us!”

It was unknown whether she was angered or frightened, but Madam Liu trembled slightly when she heard this. However, her tone was usually firm when she spoke, “Even if I’m living in poor and harsh conditions, I still wouldn’t sell my own daughters! Mother, this matter is not negotiable!”

Madam Zhang was immediately enraged when she heard this. Furthermore, it was about time when the old man came back from fishing. So, she had to send the girls away before he came back. Thus, she didn’t allow any disagreements and said, “It’s not up to you whether they get sold or not! I’m not dead yet, so I still have the final say in this family! Trafficker Zhuang, you can take these two girls for twenty taels!”

Madam Zhang’s daughter, Yu Caidie, was already sixteen. She couldn’t bear to see her two cute nieces being sold off, so she couldn’t help but speak for your them, “Mother, our family hasn’t reached the point of selling children. If the villagers find out, how are we supposed to raise our heads in the future?”

Madam Zhang pushed her gently and sullenly said, “Go back and sew your dowry. This has nothing to do with you!”

Yu Xiaocao saw her younger uncle, who seldom came home, holding a book and standing at the entrance with a frown, so she hastily said, “Grandmother, you need to think about Younger Uncle’s future. He needs to take the county examination next year. If his classmates find out that he sold his two nieces in order to obtain this chance, how is he supposed to continue attending the academy?”

Originally, her younger uncle, Yu Bo, had disapproved of Madam Zhang’s decision because, no matter what, his two nieces were also descendants of the Yu Family. If this got spread out, there was no way he could continue living with such shame. Thus, he decided to speak up to persuade Madam Zhang to give up on his idea.

Madam Zhang had placed all her hopes on her youngest son. Her greatest wish was for him to pass the imperial examinations to become a government official, earning a noble title for her. However, when she heard that this could potentially affect her son’s future, she couldn’t help but hesitate.

Yu Xiaocao continued, “Grandmother, aren’t you just afraid that our family will become a burden for you guys in the future? Let’s just divide the family then! No matter what happens to our family in the future, even if our whole family starves to death, we won’t take a single penny from any of you!”

Madam Zhang and Madam Li looked at each other with eyes that were twinkling with delight. Madam Zhang put on a stern expression and asked, “Splitting the family? You’re just a little girl making empty promises. Can you even make the decision?”

“She can’t make the decision, but I can!” The door of the west room slammed open. With an ashen complexion and bloodshot eyes, Yu Hai stood at the entrance. However, he couldn’t support himself with just one leg and fell heavily by the doorsill.

“Father!” Yu Xiaolian and Little Shitou shouted in unison. They hurriedly rushed towards Yu Hai and tried to help him up, with a person on each side.

“Husband, be careful! Nothing is as important as your body!” Madam Liu’s lips trembled as tears filled up her eyes. During the time when Yu Hai was unconscious, her heart always felt anxious, as if the sky might collapse at any time. As long as her husband was alive, even if he was disabled and they lived in harsher conditions, she would still willingly endure it.