Chapter 347: There Must Be a Way Out

Chapter 347: There Must Be a Way Out

Huang Xiaocao signed her niece up and immediately regretted it after being pushed out of the crowd.

Xiaoya is about to be sold, why did I sign her up?

Although learning medicine might be a way out for Xiaoya now, if the men in the family find out, they'll surely kill me!

No matter what, this is Zhu Da's business, not mine.

Well, if Xiaoya doesn't go, the Female Doctor Clinic probably won't pursue it.

Huang Xiaocao hurriedly returned home, only to find a group of people already blocking the entrance to the Zhu household.

"Hurry up! Either pay five hundred taels of silver or hand over your daughter!"

Zhu Da's wife, Sun Qiuxia, shook her head vigorously. Seeing Huang Xiaocao return alone, a glimmer of despair flashed in her eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she tentatively asked, "Sir, could we sell her somewhere else, not to a brothel? As long as she doesn't end up there, even being a maid would be fine!"

The leader sneered, "Who do you think you are? We've already negotiated the price with the brothel. Hand her over!"

Sun Qiuxia glanced at the tightly closed door behind her, her face showing a mix of emotions. Although she favored her son more, she didn't want to push her daughter into such a fate!

The men started pushing Sun Qiuxia. Just then, the door behind her creaked open, and a thin girl stepped out.

The girl looked at her mother with a numb expression before walking towards the group.

"This girl is quite obedient. Follow us, and you'll suffer less," the man chuckled.

Sun Qiuxia watched her daughter approach the group, her face expressionless, without even looking back. Her heart suddenly ached, and she couldn't help but call out, "Xiaoya..."

Zhu Xiaoya turned around, her face devoid of emotion.

Sun Qiuxia felt even worse, stammering, "You... don't blame your mother; I had no choice..."

After saying that, she turned away, unable to bear the sight.

Just as she waited for the group to take Zhu Xiaoya away, Zhu Xiaoya suddenly spoke, "Why shouldn't I blame you?"

Sun Qiuxia was stunned.

Zhu Xiaoya's voice was cold. "From the day I was born, you've never treated me fairly. You followed Father's every command. What difference does it make between you and him? Why did you even give birth to me?"

"In my next life, I don't want to be your child."

Zhu Xiaoya's frail body seemed like a straw that could be bent by the wind, yet her eyes were as hard as stone.

Tears instantly welled up in Sun Qiuxia's eyes. Even though she didn't think she had done anything wrong, hearing Xiaoya say she didn't want to be her child felt like a knife stabbing her heart.

Seeing Zhu Xiaoya walk away with the group, Sun Qiuxia trembled all over. Gathering her courage, she suddenly rushed towards them. "Please, don't sell her to the brothel. I beg you."

She fell to her knees and repeatedly bowed her head until it swelled.

Huang Xiaocao, who had heard Zhu Xiaoya's words, felt her heart tighten. Watching this scene, she clenched her fists and pulled Zhu Xiaoya aside. "Our child can't go to the brothel!"

Zhu Xiaoya looked at her mother and aunt, a flicker of something passing through her eyes.

"Don't go? Then pay up!" the man grabbed Zhu Xiaoya's shoulder.

Sun Qiuxia felt another wave of despair, but touching her daughter's thin hand gave her unexpected courage. She ran home, grabbed a box, and shouted, "We'll pay! Give us our child back!"

At this point, Sun Qiuxia seemed determined. Even if she faced death, she wouldn't let Xiaoya be sold to the brothel.

She took out five hundred taels of silver from the box and shoved it into the man's hands, then snatched Zhu Xiaoya back and hugged her tightly.

"Xiaoya..."

In Zhu Xiaoya's dull eyes, a spark ignited, flickering uncertainly.

The man glanced at them, placed the contract in Sun Qiuxia's hand, and waved his hand. "Let's go!"

As the group left, the Zhu household's courtyard became empty once again.

"Xiaoya, don't blame your mother. You said I'm biased, but I didn't know any better... I grew up this way, with no one teaching me..." Sun Qiuxia held her daughter and cried, feeling lost and pained.

Slowly, Zhu Xiaoya raised her hand and patted her mother's back. Her tearless eyes suddenly felt sore.

Huang Xiaocao, having regained her composure, began to regret it again. Her sister-in-law had given those men five hundred taels of silver, and when the two men returned, they would surely beat them to death!

"Sister-in-law, what do we do now?"

Sun Qiuxia, unsure of what to do, could only shake her head.

At that moment, Zhu Xiaoya suddenly spoke, "Mother, Aunt, let's run away like Auntie did."

Run away?

The women instinctively wanted to shake their heads, considering it a grave sin, but Zhu Xiaoya continued, "I'll find work to support Mother and Aunt!"

She had thought about this for a long time. Whenever the family mentioned Auntie, they cursed her, but Zhu Xiaoya admired her courage and determination.

Thinking about work, Huang Xiaocao suddenly remembered the Female Doctor Clinic. "Sister-in-law, how about sending Xiaoya to learn medicine? Today, Lady Su from the Su residence announced the opening of the Female Doctor Clinic, specifically recruiting female students. If Xiaoya can learn there, she will surely have a future!"

Zhu Xiaoya shook her head. "No, we spent so much silver today; Father and Uncle will definitely beat us to death! Besides, we caused trouble at the Su residence before. How could they possibly accept me?"

The women fell into another dilemma.

At that moment, a carriage stopped outside the Zhu household. They were startled, thinking it was Zhu Da and Zhu Er returning, but upon seeing Wen Qingyu, they relaxed.

"Miss Wen..."

Wen Qingyu walked in quickly and handed Sun Qiuxia five silver notes worth a hundred taels each. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. I've heard about this and have brought money for you. This way, Xiao Ya, the child, will be considered bought by me. I've already arranged a place for her to study medicine at the Female Doctor Clinic run by the Su Mansion!"

Sun Qiuxia nearly shed tears again. "This, how can we trouble Miss Wen like this... Besides, we caused such a scene at the Su Mansion before; they definitely won't allow Xiao Ya to go there."

Wen Qingyu smiled. "Don't worry. Miss Su said that when she saw Xiao Ya last time, she thought she had potential for learning medicine and specifically asked me to come and inquire about it."