Chapter 1 Selling Kids for Food
In the fourth year of the Tongqing Dynasty, there was a severe drought in the whole country, and no crops were harvested in the fields. People were forced to sell their kids for food. Su Jiuyue was sold at that time.
In the dilapidated room, there was only an earth kang(a heatable brick bed in North China) and a wooden table of unknown color. Her mother, Zhang, held her by the hand, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she never said a word to save her.
Su Jiuyue sighed, because her last hope extinguished.
She knew clearly that there were two younger sisters and a younger brother in the family, and if she hadn't be sold, her family members would starve to death.
But even so, she couldn't surmount the obstacle in her mind.
She picked up her little parcel, which contained nothing but a coat. The family had not gave her any pancake.
"I will go." She looked calm.
"Little Jiu, you have to come back often after you get there." Her father squatted at the door, silent for a long time. Seeing her walking out, he raised his head to look at her and told her.
"Yeah." Su Jiuyue replied softly.
In fact, everyone knew that she would go to be a child bride for a family two hills away from their village. How could she come back at will?
"Look at you guys, what are you doing? Jiuya is going to enjoy happiness! That's a well-off family with a abundant cellar. It's good enough to have something to eat at this time. It's not part for ever. What are you doing like this?" The matchmaker smiled and interrupted their gloomy expressions.
Hearing these words, Su Daniu felt less guilty in his heart. He stood up and said to the matchmaker, "You have promised me a thousand of money, don't fool me."
The matchmaker handed him the small basket that had been slung on her arm, "Hey! Everything is here! A thousand of money and five catties of soba noodles. Additionally, there are 20 eggs."
Saying this, the smile on her face even widened. "In my opinion, your girl met a merciful family. Others always give the amount discussed before. They are so stingy that they hope to give as less as possible. How to find a family willing to give more? They said, it's not easy for you to raise a daughter. Give these eggs to her younger siblings."
Su Daniu carried the heavy basket, and the weather-beaten face finally put on a long-lost smile.
"Aunt Li, thanks to your effort this time!"
Matchmaker Li smiled, making her face look like a chrysanthemum, "It owes to your good-looking daughter! Otherwise, who wants to raise one more person in such a famine year?"
While speaking, her eyes fell on the little girl standing in the courtyard.
Because of her young age, her stature is still a bit thin, but it is not difficult to see that this girl is so delicate that she will definitely become a beautiful lady when she grew up. Clothes with layers of patches, are cleanly washed yet. So it can be easily learned that she is a diligent girl.
She sighed silently in her heart, and secretly said what a pity...
"Girl, is your parcel packed?"
Su Jiuyue nodded, and Matchmaker Li looked at the small parcel in her hand, "Then kowtow to your parents, we should go now."
Zhang also chased out from the house, standing behind Su Daniu at this moment.
Su Jiuyue knelt down speechlessly, and knocked her head three times.
Zhang pulled the hem of her husband's clothes, with watering eyes and frowned brows.
Seeing Su Jiuyue stand up, she walked out from behind the man, opened her mouth, and exclaimed, "Jiuyue..."