This statent made the faces of the Mo Family People burn hot with sha.
Old Mrs. Mo was caught in a dilemma and could only ask Shuan Da’s wife to wait a mont while she ran to the inner room to consult Elder Mo: "Old man, should we sell her or not?"
Elder Mo, after hearing what Shuan Da’s wife said, was also quite angry, but after calming down, he heartlessly said: "Sell!"
After all, she’s a girl whose reputation is already ruined, keeping her might not end up in a good household anyway. The money received from selling her might not be much, but might provide the Mo Family with an opportunity to connect with the Lu Family and the County Governor.
Don’t look at the Lu Family being scolded for stealing the recipe, weren’t they still standing all the sa?
This was enough to prove the capabilities of the Lu Family, with the County Governor still shielding them.
He also heard that the County Governor was very fond of the Third Young Master, born to Concubine Lu, who was good at his studies and destined to be successful, making marriage into the Lu Family sothing they must strive for.
With Elder Mo’s words, Old Mrs. Mo returned to the main hall and told Shuan Da’s wife: "All right, it’s settled then. Three taels of silver, co and fetch her on the 22nd."
Seeing that the matter was settled, Shuan Da’s wife imdiately bead a smile: "Alright, then it’s decided. Aunt, don’t worry, once Chunyue becos Third Master’s concubine, your family will be relatives with the Lu Family. No one within ten miles and eight villages will dare to bully your family. Just look forward to better days."
However, she added a reminder: "Treat Miss Yue nicely for these three days, do not mistreat her, lest she is injured or too thin and frail, which Third Master might not like."
"Ah, understood, we are treating Chunyue well," said Da Kui’s wife insincerely, even though during this period, because Chunyue refused to sell herself to beco a maid, she was alternately beaten and scolded by the three won of her in-laws, her body covered in bruises from the beatings.
Mo Chunyue hid behind the house, peering through the cracks of the old mud house, morizing the faces of the people inside, feeling both enraged and despaired, not understanding why her family would treat her like this?
Was it just because He Dacai had touched her once?
Or was it because she had lost her mother, making her an easy target?
But she still had her father, Mo Dali.
Yet she had pleaded with Mo Dali many tis, crying, saying she would do embroidery to earn money for the family. Even with a ruined reputation, she could marry a well-off widower, which could still bring a considerable dowry to the family, only hoping that Mo Dali wouldn’t sell her.
Mo Dali wouldn’t listen to her and said, "Miss Yue, our family are outsiders, and to establish ourselves in this village, marriage alliances are necessary. You are the eldest sister, and must think of your younger siblings. Marrying Third Master Lu is the best option, the Lu Family has great influence and can support our family. Plus, after going to the Lu Family, you will always have enough to eat and even enjoy at; what’s not to like?"
What’s not to like?
Did they think she was an idiot?
She had long heard about the filthiness of the Lu Family. How were the tales about Widow Qiu in this village? Widow Qiu wasn’t with just one Third Master Lu; she was involved with all the n of the Lu Family.
If she entered the Lu Family and signed that death-bound contract, who knew how she would be treated by then?
She too was a young woman of good family; why should she be pushed into becoming a courtesan?
And yet they still wished her to consider her younger siblings? Those were only cousins; her own biological brothers and sisters had died on the roads while fleeing famine.
Her father said these things only because his parents had spoken, planning to use the money from selling her to marry him a new wife, to bear him a son and carry on the family line.
Mo Chunyue no longer had tears to shed, and after despondency ca anger... The Mo Family intended to sell her, to use her to climb up to the Lu Family, to make a fortune for the Mo Family? No way!
She was definitely going to make them regret it.
Before Shuan Da’s wife left, Mo Chunyue, dragging her frail body, went back to her room. When the three daughter-in-laws of the Mo Family entered, Mo Chunyue had already taken over the bowl of soybean soup and sweet potatoes from Da Kui’s wife and started eating.
Seeing her no longer starving herself and starting to eat, the Mo Family won felt extrely pleased. Look, they said, a re girl no matter how stubborn, can’t really effect any change, eventually she will have to accept her fate obediently.
Old Mrs. Mo, holding Mo Chunyue’s hand, earnestly said, "Chunyue, it’s good that you’ve co around. The family wouldn’t harm you; the Lu Family is truly respectable. Once you’re in the Lu Family, you’ll eat at every al."
After finishing the soybean soup and the sweet potato in her hand, Mo Chunyue spoke: "Grandma, I’ve thought it through. I was wrong earlier, I shouldn’t have been so defiant to my elders."
She added with a smile, "Father had told about the virtues of the Lu family; even the servants there wear cotton clothes, not coarse hemp clothes. Life is good there. Chunyue... Chunyue is willing to go to the Lu Family."
She reassured Old Mrs. Mo, "Don’t worry, Grandma. Chunyue is a grandchild of the Mo Family; I will rember the kindness I’ve received here, and once I am with the Lu Family, I’ll surely get the Third Master’s favor and make him assist the Mo Family."
"Good gracious, my dear good girl," Old Mrs. Mo was delighted beyond asure, asking Da Kui’s wife to bring another sweet potato for Mo Chunyue, "You’ll be leaving in three days, you need to eat well and keep strong, can’t go hungry."
Mo Chunyue didn’t refuse and quickly ate the sweet potato.
After eating, she said she was tired and wanted to rest.
Old Mrs. Mo said, "Rest well and get your strength back."
She needed to be strong to serve Third Master Lu and secure benefits for the Mo Family.
Old Mrs. Mo took her two daughters-in-law out the door, eager to inform Elder Mo of Mo Chunyue’s change.
Elder Mo was quite shrewd when it ca to his own folks. Frowning upon hearing Old Mrs. Mo’s words, he said, "Are you sure? Isn’t Chunyue playing so trick?"
Old Mrs. Mo’s smile faltered: "Could that be? Does Chunyue have such cunning?"
Elder Mo replied, "It’s always good to be cautious. The Lu Family will co to pick her up in three days. Don’t soften your heart; keep a close watch to ensure she doesn’t run away."
Old Mrs. Mo scoffed, "You’re overthinking it. Chunyue is just a girl and we still hold her household registration. Where could she possibly run? How would she survive without our family?"
Hearing this, Elder Mo felt sowhat reassured by Old Mrs. Mo’s words, but still said uneasily, "Let’s see how it goes in the next two days, lest we fall into the girl’s trap."
"Fine, rest assured, how could I fail in such a small matter?" Old Mrs. Mo was dismissive, thinking Elder Mo was worrying too much.
However, Elder Mo’s concern turned out to be justified; after acting obediently for two days, on the morning of the third day before dawn, Mo Chunyue found a chance to escape. Knowing she couldn’t go far, she didn’t run away but went to He Sanlai’s house instead.
She knew He Sanlai was a rogue and ruffian, vile as He Dacai, a man who could confront and bite back against the Mo Family, so she sought out He Sanlai.
Without much talk, upon seeing He Sanlai, she undressed.
Having been severely beaten by Gu Jinli and after the incident involving He Dacai and others being caught, He Sanlai had been much tad, but even then he couldn’t resist such a temptation, and after much struggle, he gave in and consummated with Mo Chunyue.
When the Mo Family discovered Mo Chunyue missing and found her, it was already too late.
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