Chapter 8: Being Sold

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Little Sister, listen carefully to what I’m saying now.”

Wunian looked at her sister in confusion and said, “Big Sister, what do you want to tell me?”

“Little Sister, I’ve been sold by Grandma to a rich family to be a servant girl. We won’t be able to see each other in the future. After I leave, Little Sister, you have to go on with life. Do chores for Grandma in exchange for food. Whatever you don’t know how to do, take it slow. Try not to make any mistakes. If you make any mistakes, you’ll be beaten. Little Sister, do you understand?!”

Wunian nodded.

“Little Sister, I’ve taught you how to wash dishes. Do you know how to do that now? If you don’t, take it slow. Don’t break the bowl, or Grandma will beat you to death. If you wash it slowly, you’ll be scolded! But as long as you don’t get beaten up, it’s fine. I took you to cut hogweed today. Do you know how to do that now? If you don’t, recall how I did it, understand? Don’t talk back to them. You have to grow up well. We made a deal.”

Seeing that Juxiang was crying so hard, Wunian started crying uncontrollably as well. She didn’t know why her sister was telling her all this, but Wunian remembered everything her elder sister said.

Juxiang hugged her sister and the girls cried together. At this point, the village ox cart could be heard at the entrance of the courtyard. Madam Wang came to the entrance of the dilapidated house and shouted, “Juxiang, come out. It’s time to go.”

Juxiang hugged Wunian even tighter. Wunian cried and asked, “Big Sister, where are you going?”

“Little Sister, I’m leaving. I might never see you again. You have to take good care of yourself.”

Immediately, Wunian panicked. She didn’t really understand what her sister had said earlier. But now that she heard her elder sister was leaving and they may not see each other again, she understood.

Madam Wang walked in and pulled the sisters apart. Little Wunian could not withstand Madam Wang’s yanking and fell to the ground. Madam Wang did not care and dragged Juxiang out of the door with one hand. Wunian, who was on the ground, quickly got up and ran after them. As she cried, she shouted, “Don’t take my big sister away. Don’t take my big sister away. I want my big sister! Boohoo!”

Juxiang looked at her little sister who was giving chase and cried. “Little Sister, you have to grow up well!”

The neighbors next door and some villagers who were passing by gathered around to see what was going on. An elder asked, “I say, Zhuangzhu’s family, what are you doing? Juxiang has always been obedient and sensible. If she’s done anything wrong, tell her. Don’t hit her. The child is still young. Look at how frightened both of them are.”

Madam Wang dragged Juxiang out without a care. At this point, Weixin and Madam Liu also arrived. Weixin walked over and opened the courtyard door. He said to the people outside, “It’s like this. My classmate’s grandmother is recruiting a servant girl. Juxiang is just the right age. She wishes to go, so that she can at least earn some monthly wage and spend it with Wunian. Now that it’s time to go, the sisters can’t bear to part.”

Madam Wang whispered into Juxiang’s ear, “I’m warning you, be obedient. Otherwise, I won’t give your sister any food and starve her to death! Do you believe I’ll do just that?”

When Juxiang heard this, she quietened down and stopped crying. She turned around and looked at her sister again. Then, she got onto the ox cart on her own. Weixin also got onto the ox cart. After sitting down, the old man driving the ox swung the whip in his hand with great ease. As it landed on the ox’s butt, the beast started walking. Madam Wang restrained Wunian, who wanted to run after the cart. She yanked the girl in and threw her into the dilapidated house before shutting the door.

Seeing that the drama was over, the onlookers left one after another.

Madam Wang and Madam Liu also went back to their residence. It was quiet. Wunian could not hear anything outside and began to knock on the door in panic. Madam Wang had bolted the door with a stick from the outside. Not to mention a child, even an adult would not be able to open it from inside.

Just like that, Wunian knocked on the door and cried loudly. When she was tired, she fell to the ground and drifted into sleep. No one asked about her until night fell.

After dinner, Madam Wang habitually called out, “Juxiang, that brat is slacking off again.”

Madam Liu looked at Madam Wang and said, “Mother, didn’t that girl leave with Weixin?!”

“Oh! That’s right! Then who’s going to wash the dishes?”

Madam Ma said in a fit of pique, “Whoever wishes to do the dishes can go ahead. It’s just not going to be me.” With that, she took the children back to her own courtyard.

Madam Wang and Madam Liu looked at each other. Madam Wang said, “You can’t ask an old woman like me to do chores, right?”