Chapter 9: Childhood Sweethearts Meet
"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..."