While speaking, she even directly hitched up her pants, and under the dim oil lamp, the bruises on her knees looked particularly frightening.
"I knelt before the boss for a long ti before they agreed to let take a few kids to work."
Her mother-in-law started to believe her: "Really? Then the wages..."
"Sister-in-law, don’t tell you want to take Da Ni away. She’s getting married next month, and we’ve already accepted the betrothal gifts."
The mother-in-law’s expression imdiately turned serious, and she looked at Yang Zhangshi with suspicion in her eyes.
Who would’ve thought that in the next second, tears began to flow from Yang Zhangshi’s eyes, her face full of sorrow.
"Mother, Da Ni is still a part of . I ask for nothing more than to let her work with for half a month, let her earn her own dowry money, and buy so girlish things for herself, wouldn’t that be alright?"
"This..." No one expected Yang Zhangshi to be so straightforward, and for a while, they didn’t know what to say.
But Yang Zhangshi continued to wipe her tears.
"She’s young and can’t do much work. The boss said she could earn up to ten copper coins a day. Working for half a month, she could get over a hundred. Having that as a dowry is better than being looked down upon when she gets married."
As expected, hearing about the hundred-plus copper coins made her mother-in-law’s heart waver, and the third sister-in-law’s eyes sparkled.
"Mother, the elder sister-in-law is thinking of her daughter’s best interests, just let her take Da Ni. Didn’t they say the labor would cover food and lodging? She can earn money and save on the family’s food expenses."
The third sister-in-law’s eyes were shining, thinking if Da Ni went, it would an another hundred-plus copper coins.
As for whether it would ultimately be her dowry, isn’t it ultimately up to the mother-in-law?
Sure enough, the mother-in-law, who always listened to the third sister-in-law, imdiately nodded: "Alright, head out early tomorrow, take all the kids with you. Even the little ones can work."
Yang Zhangshi held back her joy, nodding sadly: "Mother, I’ll take Da Ni to my room first, so she can leave with in the morning."
"Go ahead. By the way, leave early, so you can make it to the boss’s breakfast."
That way, they wouldn’t have to eat at ho. Four people, even if it’s just a bite each, it’s still four servings of food.
Watching her mother-in-law and the third sister-in-law counting money, Yang Zhangshi secretly sighed in relief.
No matter what, tonight’s hurdle was over. It would be fine once she left with the kids tomorrow.
Then she took a trip to the cow shed, carrying back a bundle of straw. As she walked in the shadow next to the eaves, when the third sister-in-law ca out and saw her, she assud she was carrying Da Ni.
This wasn’t part of Mr. Liu’s plan, as he wouldn’t have expected that when she returned, her daughter hadn’t slept and she took her into her own room.
Just entering, Da Ni, who had eaten a bun, quickly turned over in bed. Rembering her mother’s warning to stay silent, she quickly covered her mouth.
Yang Zhangshi tossed the straw under the bed, then locked the door, lying down on the bed, finally letting out a small sigh of relief.
She reached out to hug her daughter, tears of excitent brimming.
This step was over today, which ant her daughter was halfway out of her misery already.
Mr. Liu indeed predicted everything accurately. Just by hearing about the nature of the mother-in-law and third sister-in-law, he knew how they would react and even advised her on how to respond.
Da Ni clung to Yang Zhangshi’s neck: "Mom, I don’t want to get married. They say the man is very fierce, always beating people."
Yang Zhangshi’s tears flowed like a floodgate had opened, yet she continued to comfort her daughter.
"Don’t worry, Da Ni, Mother has a plan, but I can’t tell you now. We’ll quietly leave with your brother tomorrow."
Da Ni didn’t understand what her mother ant but nodded vigorously regardless.
The mother and daughter were very cautious in their conversation, afraid of being overheard.
After a while, Yang Zhangshi told Da Ni to sleep so they could leave early in the morning.
The two sons were sleeping soundly with their cousins from the third uncle’s house, completely unaware of anything.
Early the next morning, before dawn, Yang Zhangshi started packing, gathering clothes into a small bundle for her children, not much to pack, leaving only two buns which she tucked inside the clothes.
Then she woke up the three kids, specifically greeting her parents-in-law before openly taking the children out.
"Mom, where are we going?"
The question ca from the youngest, Stone, who was just over five years old.
Yang Zhangshi’s three children, Da Ni just turned twelve, Lei Zi was nine, and Stone was the third child.
All three children were thin and bony. They hadn’t eaten breakfast and had to travel a long road with their mother, each rubbing their bellies but not saying a word.
Yang Zhangshi looked around, seeing no one, then pulled her children to the roadside.
"We’re going to a place where we can have our fill, and I have things to tell you. You must do as I say and don’t tell your father."
Yang Zhangshi took out two corn buns, now rock hard, but the children were still overjoyed.
"Buns!"
Yang Zhangshi smiled, dividing the buns into four parts.
"We’ll eat as we walk. We need to hurry, or we won’t make it in ti."
She left herself a small piece of the bun as well. Without eating sothing, her starving stomach wouldn’t endure.
The three children now didn’t care where they were going, focusing on eating the buns and following their mother on the road.
On the way, Yang Zhangshi explained carefully to the three children. Though worried, the children saw the seriousness of their mother’s words, so they suppressed their inner panic and nodded earnestly, pledging to obey.
Only upon reaching Xiangmu Village did the morning light shine fully. People were coming and going, so recognized by Yang Zhangshi from working at the Jiang’s the day before.
Taking a deep breath, Yang Zhangshi looked at her three children: "Do you rember what mom just told you?"
"Yes, we rember."
"Good, let’s go. From now on, your future depends on today!"
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