The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 888 - 887 Sold to Exchange for Sugar Cake

Isn’t that the little girl Yang Zaizhao from Yang Family Village?

How did she end up being sold as a maid?

"How did you end up here? Where are your parents? Does your third sister know?" Wang Yongzhu asked with a frown.

Yang Zaizhao’s eyes reddened, and tears started to fall: "Please, Scholar’s Lady, buy me! My parents don’t want me anymore—"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yongzhu knew there was more to the story. She thought for a moment before informing Granny Wang that she knew this little girl and wanted to ask about her situation, requesting Granny Wang to wait a bit longer.

Granny Wang naturally had no objections.

Sitting down with Old Granny Zhang, Old Madam Ding brought out two more snacks, and they continued exchanging flattering remarks.

Wang Yongzhu led Yang Zaizhao into the house and asked, "What’s really going on?"

Yang Zaizhao choked up and quietly recounted everything.

It turned out that the last time Yang Zaizhao went to Yingzi Gully, Yang Zhaodi gave her some food and wild goods for the return trip, to prevent her parents from scolding or beating her when she got back.

Seeing the things Yang Zaizhao brought back, Yang’s Parents just scolded her lightly and let it go.

Unexpectedly, some days later, Yang’s Parents heard something from somewhere, a rumor that the hunters in Yingzi Gully had made a fortune. An outside businessman reportedly took a liking to the wild leaves there, which were said to be worth a lot of money.

They also heard that this wealthy businessman planned to give each household in Yingzi Gully one hundred taels of silver annually, to help them build large houses.

Hearing this, Yang’s Parents were thrilled by such fortune. Although they had never even visited Yingzi Gully for a wedding, they set out early in the morning to find Yang Zhaodi and demand the one hundred taels of silver, intending to save it for their son, Yang Zubao, for his future marriage.

Unexpectedly, the road to Yingzi Gully was blocked. Only the residents of Yingzi Gully and Zhang Yinbao’s people were allowed in or out, no strangers.

Even when Yang’s Parents claimed that their daughter was married into Yingzi Gully, they were stopped at the entrance.

Frustrated, Yang’s Parents returned home, cursing all the way.

The more they thought about it, the more indignant they felt. Just as Yang Zubao came back and asked, "Dad, Mom, did you bring the silver back? I want to buy some sugar cake. I even told people our family would soon be rich—"

But Yang’s Parents couldn’t provide money to buy sugar cakes for their son.

When Yang Zubao heard there was no silver or sugar cake, he threw a tantrum on the ground, crying and howling, demanding sugar cakes... demanding sugar cakes...

Yang’s Parents had no choice but to coax him, promising that if the sugar cakes weren’t bought today, they would sell one of the girls in the family for some money to buy him the cakes the next day.

Originally, it was meant to be a placation, but Yang Zubao took it seriously. He already found his two sisters annoying, and upon hearing they were to be sold, he immediately started to demand that one of the girls must be sold the next day. He insisted on keeping one to serve him, or he would refuse to eat and starve himself.

To Yang’s Parents, Yang Zubao was the apple of their eye. Hearing their son threaten to stop eating and starve himself, they panicked.

They agreed without hesitation.

That evening, husband and wife discussed that life was indeed hard; they had originally planned to find a good marriage for the two girls when they were a bit older, sell them for a good price, and use the money to get their son a wife.

But hearing about the hundred taels of silver from the third daughter’s in-laws every year, they suddenly didn’t think the money from selling the daughters was worthwhile.

The two figured that since the third daughter would surely return home, they could ask her for the silver to use for themselves and their son. A hundred taels! Enough to build a big house, buy farmland, and eat meat every day.

Only, right now, the big boss was keeping a close watch, but he couldn’t watch forever, right?

Since the silver was already theirs by right, they wouldn’t have to worry about building a new house or finding a wife for their son. Why should they continue to skimp and save and make their precious son suffer, even unable to buy sugar cakes?

So, at this time, they decided to sell Laosi or Laowu.

Yang’s Father had initially planned to sell Laowu. Laosi was now a capable helper in doing household chores, and they could save her for a few more years and marry her off for a good price when the son and wife were settled.

But Yang’s Mother disagreed. She knew Laosi and Laosan had always been close sisters. What if Laosi stayed and leaked the information to Laosan? Besides, Laosi was already twelve or thirteen, and in another two years, they would have to find her a match.

Their son was still young, and marrying a wife to take care of them and their husband was still far off. Wouldn’t they exhaust themselves in the intervening years?

Thinking about it, keeping Laowu was better. Laowu was only ten, very capable of doing chores. He could slowly be taught what he didn’t know.

He could stay home and do chores for a few more years. Later, they would be more ruthless, keep Laowu a couple more years—after all, he wouldn’t be too old to marry and bring home a new wife by then.

Once Yang’s Mother spoke, Yang’s Father thought it indeed made sense and immediately decided to sell Laosi.

Initially, the couple planned to keep it a secret until they found a buyer.

Unexpectedly, Yang Zubao, not being able to keep a secret, the very next day, during a minor disagreement, jumped up and pointed at his two sisters, accusing them of being sold for sugar cakes.

Frightened, Yang Youzhao burst into tears, crying and shouting that she didn’t want to be sold.

Yang Zaizhao, being older, though afraid, managed to hold herself together and asked Yang Zubao, "You’re talking nonsense. Our parents wouldn’t sell us! If you keep it up, I’ll have them spank you!"

When Yang Zubao heard this, how dare they threaten him?

He called Yang’s Parents over as witnesses, demanding in front of them that Yang Zaizhao be sold!

Realizing there was no hiding it now, Yang’s Parents had to cry poverty, claiming that life was too hard and they had no choice. They pleaded with Yang Zaizhao to understand and not let her siblings starve.

They also promised to find her a good family to be a maid, where she would eat and dress well, a hundred times better than at home.

They insisted that it was out of care for her that they found such a good path.

But Yang Zaizhao wasn’t a naive child who could be deceived by such lies.

Being sold as a maid meant her life belonged to others. They could decide whether she lived or died. No parent would sell their child unless they were utterly desperate.

Yet, Yang’s life wasn’t desperate. She and Laowu often missed meals, but her parents and brother fed themselves well.

Desperately, she pleaded with her parents not to sell her, promising to eat less and do more work in the future.

Unfortunately, Yang’s Parents had already made up their minds. They even threatened that if she wasn’t willing to be sold, then they would sell Laowu, Yang Youzhao.

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