Chapter 10: Cutting Off Ties

Hu Zhaodi secretly rolled her eyes. So this village head was just here to mediate?

Was I supposed to come to you with my grievances?

Clearly, everyone in the village knew how I had been mistreated for years, yet you act like you don’t anything I’ve been through all those years, blind, and heartless.

This so-called official wasn’t worth trusting!

After assessing the situation, Hu Zhaodi maintained a calm expression and said, “Uncle Village Head, since you’re here today, please bear witness for us.

For all these years, I’ve worked tirelessly for the Hu family, repaying them for the kindness they showed me as a child.

From today onward, the Hu family is no longer my family; I have no further ties to them.”

Yang’s face turned pale with anger. “You little brat! What nonsense are you spouting? Where else can you go besides the Hu family? We bought you from the traffickers; that saved your life. How can you repay such a life-saving grace so easily?”

Hu Zhaodi shot a cold glance at Yang. “And what do you want from me?”

Yang sneered, “From today onward, you’ll work as a servant for the Hu family for a year. After you come of age, you’ll obediently marry into the village head’s family for the thirty taels of bride price; that’s how you repay our life-saving grace.”

Shameless.

Absolutely shameless.

Hu Zhaodi laughed, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Are you sure you want me to stay in the Hu family for another year?”

“Of course! You must follow my orders for that year. If I tell you to go east, you can’t go west. You must not fight back or curse back.”

“Are you dreaming?”

Yang was seething with rage, her chest heaving. “You…you…”

“What? You think I’ve just let you bully me for years? I used to think of you as my family and didn’t hold it against you, but it turns out you’re just getting more and more unreasonable! I might as well stay in your Hu family and see who wears down who!”

Yang felt a jolt, sensing she had just shot herself in the foot.

“You dare?”

“Watch me.”

Yang looked at the village head.

The village head quickly tried to mediate, “Zhaodi, regardless of anything, Yang is your elder. We shouldn’t take it too far; we’d be criticized for being unfilial.”

Hu Zhaodi smiled coldly. “I’m the kind of person who won’t attack unless you attacked first. But if someone offends me, I’ll repay it a thousand times over.

For years, I’ve practically supported the entire Hu family. Now you want me to be a servant for another year and then sell me off to your crippled son for money?

Uncle Village Head, do you think I’m a fool?”

The village head’s face shifted between shades of blue and white, hearing the words “crippled son” made him feel like a knife was being driven into his heart!

“If you don’t want to marry, then don’t! Do you think my son needs you?”

Hu Zhaodi retorted coldly, “If you don’t need me, that’s great! I’m afraid your son might actually want me.

Uncle Village Head, since you can’t manage this situation fairly, you might as well keep your mouth shut.

As they say, a wise judge can’t resolve family disputes, so we don’t need your intervention in our family affairs.”

The village head was furious, his face turning as red as a boiled liver, and he glared fiercely at Yang and Hu Zhaodi. “Fine, I won’t meddle in your family matters, but if you hit a member of the Hu family again, that’s unfilial and could lead to punishment!”

“Oh? What if the Hu family hits me again?”

“An elder teaching a younger is only right.”

“Alright.” Hu Zhaodi turned around and fetched a sickle, cutting off a piece of her clothing and tossing it at Yang. “I’m cutting off ties today! From now on, the Hu family is no longer my elder. If anyone dares to insult me or lay a hand on me again, don’t blame me for being rude.”

After saying that, Hu Zhaodi turned to leave the Hu family’s courtyard.

Yang was beside herself with anger, shouting, “How dare you! You can’t just cut ties with us on a whim! If you want to leave, you need to compensate us a hundred taels of silver for all the years we’ve raised you!”

Hu Zhaodi couldn’t help but laugh at the shamelessness of the old hag. Turning to Uncle Ji, she asked, “Uncle Ji, do you know how much the Hu family spent to buy me back then?”

“Three taels of silver,” Uncle Ji replied.

Hu Zhaodi nodded. “So they bought me for three taels of silver and made me work like a horse for them all these years. Now they want me to pay them back a hundred taels?

Old hag, I suggest you go wash up and sleep it off. Don’t be surprised if you dream of a thousand taels!”

With that, Hu Zhaodi pulled out the three taels of silver she had earned from selling herbs that day and threw it at Yang. “Here’s your three taels back. From now on, I sever all ties with the Hu family. If you dare cling to me again, watch out—I might just burn your Hu family down to the ground tonight.”

Yang was frightened, but she was also shocked at where Hu Zhaodi had gotten the silver.

She had hidden no more than three taels in her own house; there was no way this little girl could have stolen it!

But then, she remembered checking the silver that morning—it was all there. Hu Zhaodi hadn’t gone into the house since she returned, so she couldn’t have taken any of the family’s silver.

So where had Hu Zhaodi gotten the silver?

Could it be that she had secretly saved some money over the years?

No, that didn’t make sense either; she had never left the village. Where could she have gotten that money?

Hu Dashan couldn’t help but ask, “You little brat, where did you get that silver?”

Hu Zhaodi didn’t even look at her. “Mind your own business! From now on, don’t come bothering me. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Hu Dashan’s face flushed with anger, but she dared not say anything further.

The truth was, none of them could overpower Hu Zhaodi at this moment.

Hu Zhaodi looked at Uncle Ji with a cheerful smile. “Uncle Ji, would you mind letting me stay with you for a few days? I won’t be staying for free; I can either give you silver or treat your family to a meat meal.”

Uncle Ji smiled faintly, remembering how much he enjoyed the roasted meat they shared earlier that day.

He exchanged glances with his wife, who was kind-hearted and already felt sorry for Hu Zhaodi. She smiled and said, “Of course, Zhaodi! We’d love to have you. We don’t need your silver; just having you keep us company is more than enough. Come on, let’s go home!”

Uncle Ji and his wife had two daughters and three sons, all of whom had their own families. With their daughters married off, the couple rarely had the chance to see anyone from the family. They often felt a lack of companionship.

Now that Hu Zhaodi wanted to stay with them for a few days, they couldn’t have been more pleased.

Hu Zhaodi didn’t bother to pack anything and cheerfully followed Uncle Ji and his wife to their home.

However, upon hearing that Hu Zhaodi planned to give Uncle Ji and his family silver or treat them to meat, Hu Dashan immediately stepped in front of her.

“You little brat! Do you have silver and meat on you? Hand it over, or you can’t leave the Hu family!”

Hu Zhaodi shot a cold, fierce glare at Hu Dashan.

Hu Dashan shuddered at her gaze, but still mustered the courage to block Hu Zhaodi’s path.

“Fine, I won’t go then. Don’t regret this!” Hu Zhaodi’s voice was laced with a strange intensity.

Both Hu Dashan and Yang felt a chill run down their spines. When did this little girl’s gaze become so terrifying?

Could it be that she really planned to set the house on fire while they were asleep tonight?

Looking into her eyes, it didn’t seem like that was out of the question!