166 Chapter 166: Emotional Blackmail Didn’t Work
Wang Laoshuan stopped in his tracks.
“Oh.” After responding, he didn’t dare to step forward again.
Wang Xiaomei heaved a sigh of relief and went to open the door.
After that, she pushed the handcart into the storeroom.
Then, she sorted out the remaining unsold woven bamboo products and placed them back in their respective positions.
Finally, she tidied up the handcart and put it away before turning around and leaving.
When she stepped out of the storeroom, she saw Wang Laoshuan looking at her.
A wave of frustration washed over her heart. Wang Xiaomei immediately looked away and walked into the courtyard.
As she walked, she spoke, “Tell me, Father. Why did you come to look for me?”
She had already figured it out when she was still in Brook Falls Village.
In her parents’ hearts, there was no one else besides themselves and her big brother.
At that time, even when her parents sold her to the Zhang family, she had never completely given up hope.
She still had a glimmer of hope that they would eventually change their minds and keep her.
However, in the end, if her big brother had not rushed back that day, she would have ended up going to the Zhang family and marrying the retarded fellow.
Hmph! On that day, Big Brother had already pulled out all the stops, yet they never once thought about changing their minds…
In the Wang family, the value of this daughter was even worse than withered grass.
It was good that she had thought it through. If she had no expectations, she would not be disappointed again.
Seeing that Wang Xiaomei was walking in a hurry, Wang Laoshuan felt a little angry.
However, he still restrained his temper and ran after Wang Xiaomei.
He even called after her, “Daughter, walk slower.”
Wang Xiaomei’s lips curled up into a scornful smile. She pretended not to hear him and continued walking towards the stone table and stone bench under the tree.
Wang Laoshuan was furious by now.
However, he didn’t allow himself to lose his temper and simply rushed to catch up.
Finally, he reached the stone table and stone bench.
Wang Xiaomei went up and sat down before looking at Wang Laoshuan leisurely.
She asked sarcastically, “Father, can you tell me why you’re here now?”
Wang Laoshuan was absolutely infuriated by her behavior.
“What kind of attitude is this?” He rebuked her angrily.
Wang Xiaomei didn’t show any fear, unlike in the past. Instead, she smiled.
“What kind of attitude does Father want?”
“I’ve signed an indenture, and I’m now a servant of the Song family. Strictly speaking, I’m no longer Father’s daughter.”
“Father, do you still expect me to be your good daughter like I was in Brook Falls Village?”
“That’s also possible! As long as Father gives me ten taels of silver, I will go and beg Mrs. Song to let me go free.”
“After that, I’ll immediately go back to Brook Falls Village with Father. I will do whatever Father wants me to do then.”
She was really glad that Mrs. Song did not allow her big brother to tell her father about her real situation.
Her status as a slave could save her a lot of trouble from her father.
After following Mrs. Song for the past few days, her knowledge and understanding had expanded a lot. She would never allow herself to be troubled by such matters again.
And she would definitely not allow herself to bring trouble to the Song family because of these trivial matters.
Therefore, since her father had come to look for her, she had to make things clear.
It would also save him from endlessly pestering her in the future.
Wang Laoshuan’s face froze.
“I…” Wang Laoshuan was at a loss for words.
Where would he get ten taels of silver to redeem her?
Even if he had the money, she was doing well in the Song family. Would she go back and suffer with her family?
The corner of Wang Xiaomei’s lips curled up in a mocking smile.
“Since Father can’t produce the silver and has no intention to help me redeem myself, let’s not waste time on such things.”
“Mrs. Song should be back soon. When she sees you, she won’t be happy, Father.”
“So, Father, if you have something to say, say it quickly.”
Wang Laoshuan’s expression changed when he heard Wang Xiaomei mention Qin Xiaoyao.
He was in no mood to get angry anymore, so he turned to look at Wang Xiaomei.
He finally spoke. “Well… Our family has just returned the money we owe your Uncle Village Chief’s family. The handcart that your brother bought was also bought with a loan. Can you…”
Although his daughter was a servant of the Song family, the Song family treated her well and would definitely give her some salary.
She was just a little girl who lived and ate with the Song family. She had no use for money, yet she still didn’t know how to help with the family’s expenses.
His son was too embarrassed to ask her, but as a father, how could he not care?
...
His son said that the money for buying the handcart was borrowed from someone. No matter who he borrowed it from, he had to return the money as soon as possible.
In addition, he didn’t care about the crops in the field anymore. There was a high probability that they wouldn’t be able to harvest this autumn’s grain, so the family had to make early plans.
“I knew it!” Wang Xiaomei thought. A gloating look flashed across Wang Xiaomei’s face as her suspicions were confirmed.
Wang Laoshuan’s heart felt stifled again.
“Even if you’re a slave, you’re still my daughter and your brother’s sister.”
“Your brother gave up his wife for you. You even caused your mother to be divorced, and she had to return to her parents’ home.”
“It’s all because of you that our family is in this state now!”
“At least you’re eating and drinking well every day. You are living well, and you wear nice clothes! Why don’t you think about what kind of life your big brother and I are living back home?” Wang Laoshuan said angrily.
These few words pierced through Wang Xiaomei’s heart.
In her father’s eyes, everything that happened was her fault.
Her mother was not in the wrong, and Father was even less so.
...
He felt that she should have been sold to the Zhang family, and then the whole family would be peaceful and harmonious.
She thought she didn’t care anymore, but why did her heart still ache so much…
Wang Xiaomei couldn’t help but lower her head and she clutched at her chest.
After a long while, she finally suppressed the emotions in her heart.
“Since Father feels that everything that happened is my fault, then you can just pretend that you did not have a daughter like me. I’ve already been sold off by you anyway,” she said.
Her eyes were icy cold, and she looked at Wang Laoshuan as if she was looking at a stranger.
Wang Laoshuan panicked, feeling as if something he couldn’t grasp was slipping through his fingers.
Moreover, if that thing slipped away this time, it would never come back again.
“As for money, I don’t have it. Even if I do, I won’t give it to you.”
Upon hearing this, the panic in Wang Laoshuan’s heart instantly disappeared and turned into anger instead.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard Qin Xiaoyao’s voice coming from outside the courtyard.
The father and daughter looked in the direction of the voice and saw Qin Xiaoyao pushing a handcart filled with sacks into the house.
Wang Xiaomei looked at Wang Laoshuan worriedly. She was worried that Qin Xiaoyao would be displeased to see her father.
Wang Laoshuan quickly looked away. He wanted badly to disappear immediately.
In the Song family, Qin Sanya was the fiercest and most difficult to deal with.
This was a person who could even subdue his wife. He did not have the guts to argue with her.
Qin Xiaoyao also saw Wang Xiaomei and Wang Laoshuan.
When she saw that the courtyard was full of straw, but Wang Dashan was nowhere to be seen, she could guess in her heart what had happened.
“Where’s Dashan?” she asked Wang Xiaomei.
Wang Xiaomei quickly stood up.
“Big Brother has already left!” she answered.
“Oh,” Qin Xiaoyao responded.
Immediately after that, her gaze turned to Wang Laoshuan.
“Uncle, is there something you need from our Xiaomei?” she asked in a quizzical manner. Her expression was clearly displeased.
The reason she asked this was to help Wang Xiaomei.
She was not blind. How could she not see that the old man was pestering Xiaomei?
True enough, as soon as Qin Xiaoyao asked this question, she received a grateful look from Wang Xiaomei.
Wang Laoshuan’s demeanor immediately turned uneasy.