"Mommy, Mommy, the child-buyer is here!"
Some adults would sometimes use threats like, 'If you don't behave, you'll be sold to the child-buyer,' to scare disobedient children. Because of this, Zhao Zhitong was terrified of child sellers.
"Stop talking nonsense. Where would a child-buyer come from?" Sun Mei didn't take Zhao Zhitong's words seriously.
"It's true, it's true, Mommy! I saw it with my own eyes! Elder Aunt gave Sister Yaya to an old woman, and that old woman gave Elder Aunt silver!" Zhao Zhitong became anxious and, gesturing excitedly, recounted what had happened outside.
After listening to Zhao Zhitong's description, Sun Mei's expression faltered. She understood what had happened. Elder Sister-in-law has probably sold her daughter into slavery!
In ancient rural families, selling sons and daughters was common when a family was so poor they had no other options. However, when it actually happened so close to home, Sun Mei found it hard to accept.
So, she immediately stood up, not even bothering to dry her hands, and hurried out.
When Sun Mei and Zhao Zhitong reached them, the Human Trafficker woman and Miss Zhu had already signed the deed of sale and were preparing to leave.
Perhaps realizing there was no turning back, the three children had stopped wailing and were only sobbing quietly.
"Elder Sister-in-law, are you really going to sell Yaya?" This time, Sun Mei didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Elder Sister-in-law, Elder Brother isn't here. If you're facing any difficulties, just tell me. What problem can't be solved? How could you sell Yaya? Isn't that pushing her into a pit of fire? She's your own flesh and blood, after all!"
Miss Zhu's expression was grim, her eyes glaring at Sun Mei with a hint of envy. "What are you talking about? What do you mean, pushing her into a pit of fire? Yaya is going to live a life of comfort! She's going to a wealthy and influential family where she'll eat and drink well. That's much better than starving to death at home..."
Upon hearing these words, Mrs. Sun became instantly enraged. "A life of comfort? You sold her! From now on, she and her descendants will have a lowly status. They won't be able to receive an education or take the imperial examinations. Worse still, what if she ends up in a bad household, where her master can beat or scold her as they please? Her life will be completely in their hands. Do you call that a life of comfort? If this is such a blessing, would you want it for yourself?"
Before Miss Zhu could speak, the Human Trafficker woman interjected, "Oh, you're mistaken. Let this old woman have her say. If a girl is clever and nimble-fingered, and receives good training, she could be placed in a large household to serve a young miss or young master. Wouldn't her life be much better than in this rural backwater?"
While saying this, her eyes kept lingering on Zhao Zhitong. "This young girl of yours is quite a beauty. If you're willing to sell, I'll give you five taels of silver."
Sun Mei immediately pulled Zhao Zhitong behind her and sternly retorted, "We don't sell our children!"
"My, my, if you don't want to sell, then don't. Why get so fierce?" The Human Trafficker woman didn't get angry, just chuckled. "As the saying goes, 'Misfortune and fortune are part of life,' and who hasn't faced desperate times? Anyway, I've had a good haul today, so I won't waste any more breath on ignorant countrywomen like you. I'm off."
Sun Mei was seething with anger but said nothing more to the Human Trafficker woman. She just pitied the child being taken away. To be sold by her own mother... how deeply wounded she must be.
Miss Zhu shot Sun Mei a disdainful look and sneered, "Mrs. Sun, don't always stand there pretending to be a saint. Talk is cheap; anyone can do it. The deed of sale is signed. If you're truly so kind-hearted, then go and buy her back! Redeem her, and she'll be yours. Look, they haven't gone far. If you hurry, you can still catch them."
With that, she grabbed her two sons and stormed into the house, muttering as she went, "Hypocritical do-gooder! Pfft!"
SLAM!
The loud crash of the door shutting left Sun Mei and her daughter outside.
"Mommy."
Zhao Zhitong blinked, looking up at Sun Mei. For some reason, I feel a little sad, she thought.
Thinking Zhao Zhitong had been frightened, Sun Mei quickly comforted her, "It's okay, it's okay. Don't be afraid. Mommy will never, ever sell my Tongtong."
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Then, what about Sister Yaya?"
Sun Mei shook her head helplessly. The deed of sale was signed. To buy Yaya back, they would need to pay fifty times the original price—a full one hundred and fifty taels of silver.
Their family had only received five taels of silver when the family property was divided, and they'd already spent a good deal on vegetables and seeds. They were like clay bodhisattvas crossing a river—hardly able to fend for themselves, let alone come up with the money to redeem Yaya.
After this incident, Zhao Zhitong remained in low spirits. Even when she accompanied Sun Mei to the school, she seemed listless.
After arriving at the school, Sun Mei, as usual, gave Zhao Zhitong a few words of advice before heading into the kitchen.
Usually, as soon as Sun Mei left, Zhao Zhitong would scamper off to the front courtyard to find her friends from the school.
However, after witnessing Elder Aunt sell a child, she was troubled. She sat on a stone stump at the edge of the vegetable patch, cupping her small face in her hands and staring blankly at the leaves.
After pondering for a long time and still not understanding, Zhao Zhitong started chatting with Grandpa Bai in the space. "Grandpa Bai, Sister Yaya is Elder Aunt's child too. Why doesn't she love Sister Yaya?"
Grandpa Bai in the space stroked his beard and said, "Little one, not all parents in this world love their children as much as your mother and father do."
After thinking for a moment, Grandpa Bai continued, "Some may start out like your parents, loving their children dearly. But if various conflicting interests and grudges get involved, constant friction can wear away that love until it turns into resentment. What's more, there are many selfish people in the world who would betray their own kin for personal profit. This is quite normal."
"Grandpa Bai, does that mean that one day, Mommy and Daddy might stop loving me? They might even dislike me?"
Grandpa Bai paused. "From what I've observed, your parents aren't the type to sell their daughter for riches or glory. However, people can change, and love can fade. Time is a very mysterious thing; it can alter everything. No one can guarantee that feelings will remain unchanged forever."
Zhao Zhitong's heart ached at his words. It shouldn't be like this, she thought. The idea that her parents might stop loving her, might abandon her, made her burst into tears. But more than the sadness, she felt disbelief.
"You're lying! Mommy and Daddy love me the most! They won't abandon me!"
Grandpa Bai fell silent. Perhaps it's a bit cruel to tell such things to such a young child, he suddenly thought. So, he changed his tack and said, "Your parents love you very much, that's certain. But you need to understand that love is mutual. If you love others, they will love you back. That's how feelings last."
With red-rimmed eyes, Zhao Zhitong nodded emphatically. "I will love Mommy and Daddy very, very much! And I'll love Grandpa Bai too!"
Our love will definitely last forever and ever!
Hearing this, Grandpa Bai chuckled. "I know you're a good child, little one."
After receiving Grandpa Bai's praise, the gloom in Zhao Zhitong's heart finally lifted a little.
Just as she wiped away her tears and her emotions began to settle, a clear voice of a young boy sounded beside her.
"Are you the Zhao Zhitong the Teacher often mentions?"
Hearing someone call her name, Zhao Zhitong turned her head. She saw a fair-skinned, neat-looking young boy standing before her.