Chapter 29: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
.png)
Chapter 29: Selling Oneself to Bury a Father
Madam Li led Yan Zhiqiang to visit the tenant farmers on the manor, where they got an understanding of the situation. Afterward, they set off back to the county.
From then on, the management of the manor was officially handed over to Yan Zhiqiang.
On the carriage, Daohua sat next to Old Madam Yan and said, “Grandmother, the manor is so big. Third Uncle can’t manage it all by himself. When spring planting comes, we should help him too.”
Old Madam Yan tapped Daohua’s forehead and smiled, glancing at Madam Li. "I think you just want to go out and play!"
Daohua immediately turned to Madam Li.
Seeing the eager look in her daughter’s eyes, Madam Li smiled but knew that her daughter was a bit too carefree. However, this wasn’t Yan Family Village, and Daohua couldn't act as she pleased.
Although their family wasn’t an aristocratic household with strict rules for women, they still couldn’t wander around freely. These past days, having just arrived in the county, Daohua had been indulged, but from now on, the proper rules needed to be enforced, or else other family members would start to complain.
Madam Li thought for a moment and said, “Your father values education a lot. Your third sister is already studying the Analects, as the eldest sister, you can’t fall behind.”
Daohua immediately replied, “The Analects? I’ve already read it!”
Madam Li was taken aback and surprised. “Daohua, you’ve started studying the Analects too?”
At this point, Old Madam Yan chimed in with a smile, “This girl has a good memory. Third Uncle often says that if Daohua were a boy, she could have been the one to bring glory to our family with her talent, surpassing even the eldest grandson.”
Madam Li was genuinely surprised. “Third Uncle thinks so highly of Daohua?”
Old Madam Yan beamed proudly. “Yes, do you remember the clan leader’s grandson? He’s a few years older than Daohua, but his academic progress hasn’t even matched up to hers.”
Hearing Old Madam Yan’s pride, Daohua felt a little embarrassed.
She knew she wasn’t particularly smart. The reason she studied quickly was that her soul was an adult one. Naturally, she was more focused and calm than the children around her. After all, she had nine years of modern schooling, and it was easy for her to pick up things quickly. Plus, the food grown in the space she had access to was of much better quality, which likely contributed to her sharp memory.
Her family, including Old Madam Yan, Yan Wentao, and Yan Wenhui, all ate food from this space, and their health was notably better than the average person’s.
For example, Third Aunt Wu, despite having worked under the sun in the countryside, had skin and a figure that could rival those of the pampered ladies like Madam Li and Sun Shi.
Sun Shi had even asked Wu several times how she kept her appearance, but Wu Shi was clueless, claiming she never did anything special.
The journey continued with Old Madam Yan praising Daohua’s intelligence, almost to the point of exaggeration. If not for her gender, it almost seemed like she was being compared to the Goddess of Literature. Daohua herself blushed from all the praise, but surprisingly, Madam Li didn’t find it odd at all and smiled along, occasionally agreeing with her mother-in-law.
After about half an hour, Daohua was lost in thought when she suddenly heard Third Uncle mention they had arrived at the city gate.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, they had arrived. She was afraid she would feel like the person being talked about wasn’t even her anymore.
However, as they approached the gate, the carriage suddenly stopped.
“Why are we stopping?” Daohua lifted the curtain to find the road blocked by a crowd of people.
After waiting for a while, the carriage still hadn’t moved. Unable to contain her curiosity, Daohua was about to lift the curtain again when Yan Wentao opened it first.
“Third Brother, what’s going on?”
Yan Wentao replied, “There’s someone selling themselves to bury their father, and it’s blocking the road. Father asked me to come and inform Grandmother and Aunt that we might have to wait a bit before we can enter the city.”
Hearing this, Daohua’s eyes lit up. “Selling oneself to bury a father?!” She had seen this kind of plot in novels and on TV, but never thought she’d witness it in real life.
Daohua eagerly looked at Old Madam Yan and Madam Li. “Grandmother, Mother, can I go and see?”
Madam Li wanted to refuse, but seeing her daughter’s eager expression, she hesitated and then looked to Old Madam Yan.
Old Madam Yan knew her granddaughter’s nature well and figured if she didn’t let Daohua go now, she would be badgering them for a long time. So she said, “Don’t cause any trouble. Just go and watch from the outside.”
Daohua immediately promised, “Don’t worry, I won’t cause any trouble.” She quickly jumped down from the carriage.
Watching this, Old Madam Yan shook her head. “I don’t know who she takes after.”
Madam Li smiled and said, “Your husband says Daohua’s character is very much like yours when you were young.”
Old Madam Yan thought back to her own younger days and laughed, “Come to think of it, that girl is indeed like me.”
Outside the carriage, Daohua had squeezed through the crowd with Yan Wentao.
“Wait, there’s more than one person selling themselves?” Daohua saw three bodies lying on the ground covered only with straw, while three young girls, around fifteen or sixteen, were kneeling in front of them.
Looking more closely at the girls, Daohua noticed that one of them was quite pretty, with big, teary eyes, looking pitiful due to the loss of her family. The other two girls looked ordinary, and one was so emaciated that she looked almost skeletal, which was a bit frightening.
The surrounding crowd had a mix of sympathizers and those just watching for entertainment, but very few seemed willing to purchase anyone.
At this time, a young scholar came forward and gave the pretty girl a silver coin. “Miss, take this to bury your father.”
The girl looked at him without accepting the money.
The scholar immediately explained, “I’m not asking for your body. Just take the silver and bury your father.”
The girl shook her head, biting her lip without speaking. Her stubbornness made the surrounding men feel sorry for her.
Yan Wentao, concerned, asked, “Why doesn’t she take the silver?”
Daohua smiled and replied, “It’s probably because the scholar isn’t her target.” The scholar didn’t look like someone wealthy, so the girl might not be interested.
Just then, a well-dressed young man appeared, surrounded by others. As soon as he stood still, the girl who had refused the scholar’s silver suddenly looked up with tear-filled eyes, gazing at the young man with a pleading expression.
Upon seeing her face, the young man’s eyes flashed with surprise before he gently smiled. “I’ll help you bury your father.”
The girl tearfully replied, “Thank you, young master. I have nothing to repay you but my body.”
At this, Daohua revealed an expression of realization.
“Of course, she’s interested in the rich young master!”
Yan Wentao finally understood as well.
Not only him, but the other people around also seemed to understand.
As the girl left with the young master, the scholar stood there, embarrassed and angry.
Then, another girl spoke up.
“Please, young master, I can cook, chop wood, and farm. I can do any work. I’m willing to work like an ox or a horse to repay you.”
The scholar looked at her and, without a word, threw down a silver coin and walked away.
The girl picked it up, kowtowed three times, and loudly said, “After burying my father, I’ll be right there to serve you.” She then asked some nearby refugees to help carry her father for burial.
The crowd was left with just the emaciated girl.
“They’re all pitiful,” Daohua sighed, but since two of the girls had left, the road was clear, and the Yan family’s carriage could move forward. Yan Zhiqiang called them to get back in the carriage.
As Daohua turned around, the remaining girl suddenly looked up, as if gathering her courage, and in a hoarse voice said, “Please, miss, buy me.”
(End of Chapter)
►►CLICK HERE FOR ADVANCE CHAPTERS◄◄
Comments
Post a Comment