Zhu Xiuxiu spoke to Huo Xing’Er in a sowhat puzzled manner. Huo Xing’Er didn’t say a word. Xiaosuisui, in her arms, was sprawled over her, playing with her earring the entire ti, so Huo Xing’Er hadn’t really noticed the commotion from the Luo Family and Xie Pan’Er.
Hearing Zhu Xiuxiu’s words now, she promptly caught hold of Xiaosuisui’s hand. "Sweet darling, stop playing. If you keep going like this, your Second Aunt’s ear will be ruined." Only then did Xiaosuisui stop and begin to fiddle with a stray lock of hair hanging by Huo Xing’Er’s ear. She then cast a glance towards the room, remarking, "This Luo Family seems to be harboring so hidden trouble!"
Zhu Xiuxiu frowned. "What hidden trouble could she possibly have? In my opinion, perhaps after spending so long as a servant, she no longer wishes to turn things around and properly assu the role of mistress of the household. Her master always called her lowly; could it be that this ’lowly’ is so ingrained in her bones that she can’t shake it off? Look at what a good daughter this is! For her daughter’s indenture contract, to prevent her from being tornted, she knelt before begging for grace. But look at what she’s done now. Does anyone appreciate it?"
Zhu Xiuxiu spoke these words loudly and indignantly, deliberately trying to catch Huo Xing’Er’s eye. Huo Xing’Er, however, was currently engrossed in a battle of wits with Xiaosuisui’s tiny hand and didn’t see Zhu Xiuxiu signaling her, so she didn’t promptly respond.
Seeing that Huo Xing’Er wasn’t cooperating, Zhu Xiuxiu beca sowhat flustered. She pitied Xie Pan’Er’s situation and wanted to help the girl. Huo Xing’Er had discerned that the Luo Family seed to be hiding sothing, and Zhu Xiuxiu, naturally, had realized it too. As an outsider, she felt it wasn’t her place to interfere directly, so she planned to use her words to provoke the Luo Family from the side. However, she hadn’t expected Huo Xing’Er to miss her cue and fail to respond in ti. Zhu Xiuxiu had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue her one-woman show.
"Sigh... I, Zhu Xiuxiu, have seen plenty of the sordid affairs of these wealthy households since I was young. Indeed, so people do have hidden troubles they cannot speak of. But even if they have such troubles, what parent doesn’t want the best for their children? If one becos a servant, their children are destined to be servants too. How many parents try every possible way, begging for grace, seeking out their masters to redeem their indenture contracts, all to give their children a good start in life? Second Sister-in-law, tell , have you ever seen anyone like Pan’Er’s mother, who, having clearly gotten her indenture contract in hand, still wants to return it?"
"Never!" This ti, since Zhu Xiuxiu had directly addressed her, Huo Xing’Er naturally picked up the conversation.
Zhu Xiuxiu said no more. She pulled a long, three-legged bench from a corner of the courtyard and sat down, openly staring at the faces of the Luo Family and Xie Pan’Er.
The Luo Family completely collapsed, and Xie Pan’Er couldn’t even support her. The Luo Family had heard all of Zhu Xiuxiu’s words and understood that Zhu Xiuxiu was deliberately trying to provoke her.
But she couldn’t say anything, nor could she do anything. Who wouldn’t want their freedom? She wanted it too, but the price was too high; she didn’t dare take the gamble!
"Mother! Do you have so hidden trouble you can’t speak of?"
Zhu Xiuxiu’s words not only struck a chord with the Luo Family, but they also gave Xie Pan’Er, who had never suspected her mother might be concealing sothing, a crucial hint.
The Luo Family clenched her teeth tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably. Xie Pan’Er hurriedly helped her sit down on the only armchair in the room. She spoke softly again, questioning the Luo Family.
"Mother! Tell , why are you insisting I return this indenture contract? Could it really be as Third Lady Ji said, that you’ve grown so accustod to being a servant that you’d rather die than beco the mistress of your own household?"
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