Her dagger tip glided across the little girl’s dirty face, making her whole body tremble with fear.
Even though she thought she would die instantly, which would be over in a mont without much pain, the person in front of her didn’t take her life right away. The known fear only made her more terrified and frightened.
"Being young is nice, the flesh is still tender."
The surrounding refugees beca intimidated upon hearing this and imdiately backed off to a safe distance. No wonder these people looked so healthy.
At this mont, the girl’s parents finally couldn’t hold back. If their daughter were killed just like this, they’d be at a huge loss! At the very least, they should exchange her for so food.
So they rushed out in a huff.
"In broad daylight, what do you think you’re doing? What are you doing? This is my daughter, damn you, are you even human? You’re worse than beasts."
Cheng Xiaoxiao looked amusingly at the filthy woman accusing her, and with a curious face said, "Oh, she’s your daughter?" Then she glanced at the little boy standing behind the man, noticing he had so flesh on his face while the girl was skin and bones. It seed to be another family favoring boys over girls.
"So what if she is?"
"I think she’s barely okay. How about it, one tael of silver, will you sell?" Cheng Xiaoxiao slightly raised an eyebrow, with a roguish look, teasing with a wicked smile.
"You, you actually want to..." The woman was incredulous.
However, upon looking at the vulnerable old and young behind them, who clearly didn’t look short of clothing or food, she was sure this woman was lying. Maybe if her daughter stayed with their team, she could have a better life.
Yet she was reluctant, thinking that if her daughter could live well, why shouldn’t her precious son have the chance too? She dared not sell her son.
"Why are you looking at them? They’re my food supply; how else do I feed so many strongn?" Cheng Xiaoxiao dropped another heavy remark.
The woman swallowed in fear, seeing the guard team of thirty to forty people, causing her heart to tremble.
She automatically imagined these robust brawny n could only be so fierce by eating at; otherwise, in such dire conditions, who could afford to keep such a large group? She no longer dared to think about selling her son.
Though she gave up on that thought, she couldn’t help but consider once more, since the wild vegetables around had almost all been dug up by them. If she didn’t figure out a solution, the whole family might starve to death. If selling her daughter could let them all live a bit longer, there might still be hope.
"You, you can buy, but I don’t want silver, I only want food."
"I don’t have extra food for you." Cheng Xiaoxiao tossed a tael of broken silver, playing with it in her hand. You sell if you want, if not, forget it.
The girl was already scared out of her wits from Cheng Xiaoxiao’s intimidation and had let go.
Seeing the woman hesitate, unwilling to make the deal, she didn’t force it and simply called the team to move on.
The woman, not giving up, ran after Cheng Xiaoxiao, "If you won’t give food, you can give ten taels of silver."
Although silver was useless to them now, who could predict the future? Maybe they could leave soon.
If she could sell her for a good price, she could still buy food later, so she gritted her teeth and demanded a high price.
Cheng Xiaoxiao was amused by the woman’s outrageous demand, trying to sell for ten taels of silver when human life was cheap; it was simply a fool’s dream.
She pondered whether to rescue the little girl.
Following such unkind parents would eventually lead to death anyway, but she wasn’t sure if the girl had been raised wrongly in such an environnt. Ah! It was truly vexing.
"How about this? You give food, five pounds of coarse grain would do."
Seeing Cheng Xiaoxiao unmoved, "Three pounds, three pounds would do, or two pounds, two pounds must be okay, right?" Cheng Xiaoxiao remained unmoved, and the team continued forward.
The woman was annoyed; the girl was so difficult, refusing to give food no matter what.
Cheng Xiaoxiao, seemingly aware of the woman’s silent curses, didn’t relent. Seeing the woman catch up again, she spoke coldly, "No food, at most two taels; if you’re not selling, get lost. I’m not short on at. Your daughter is so skinny, she probably doesn’t have a few taels of at on her. Tsk tsk! Those two taels probably...aren’t worth it."
Cheng Xiaoxiao shook her head in disappointnt.
It seed she didn’t intend to buy anymore.
The woman panicked upon hearing this. Was her daughter not worth two taels?
She was unwilling; after raising her for so many years, not only couldn’t they break even, they couldn’t even get a few pounds of food. What bad luck.
At this mont, the man ca over, holding the little girl’s hand firmly, and declared, "Sell, we’ll sell."
"But the head of the family..." the woman hadn’t finished speaking but was silenced by the man’s sharp glare.
He had been observing from the side, realizing the girl’s threatening words were teasing, not truly fierce; her eyes didn’t match. Perhaps there was a great benefit in their daughter following them.
If that happened, their family could rely on the daughter’s charity to live.
The man thought slyly, even if they sold her, they were still her parents. This was an unchangeable fact. Later, he could have his wife and son secretly appeal to her, pretending to be poor. Could she really watch them starve to death?
The man made up his mind decisively, predicting that Cheng Xiaoxiao and her group wouldn’t be able to cross the river. Wouldn’t they return and set up a camp here?
Then, being nearby, wouldn’t they get food easily, so he glared fiercely at his short-sighted wife, fearing she might ruin his plan.
Cheng Xiaoxiao, unaware of the man’s sches, gladly paid the silver and took the little girl away.
The girl’s eyes were filled with despair, finally seeing her parents’ true colors today. For survival, they were willing to give up her life; what hope did she still have? Hadn’t she always known?
Even after doing so much housework and pleasing her younger brother, it never earned her a glance or a word of praise from them. Life was nothing but scolding, beatings, and hunger.
With such a bitter life, what was there to linger for? Death might be the best relief.
Soon the despair in the girl’s eyes turned into calm indifference, walking dazedly as she was led away.
The further the team moved forward, the more broken tents appeared on both sides of the woods, densely packed. Most tents were patched together with mats and blankets sewn together.
Most of the people on the low slopes earlier were carrying baskets, presumably out foraging for food. This forest seed to be their camp area.
At least seven to eight hundred refugees had gathered here.
The system spoke: "Ahead is a ferry crossing; without a boat, these people probably can’t get across and can only linger here."
Although this place was outside Yan State County’s boundary, to reach Dingzhou, one had to cross the Shunjiang River, and they didn’t accept refugees from this side, so no boats were heading over.
The group ca to the ferry, greeted by desolation. On both sides of the road were several broken tea stalls, toppled over and leaving only broken bowls and wine jars, scattered all around as if left in a hurry.
The tarp from the canopies was all torn away, most likely done by those refugees.
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