Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Liu Family
Lin Xiao gestured for Jiang Youfu to place the roasted wheat on a clean wooden board and then said to Luan, "This is what Daoist Jiang has brought you for dinner. Tomorrow morning, we'll bring more food for you. Just stay in the hut tonight, and as long as you don't leave, nothing outside will harm you."
Upon seeing the roasted wheat on the board, Luan initially gave a rather perfunctory response to Lin Xiao but then happily thanked Jiang Youfu. However, since Jiang Youfu had not yet learned the Beast Language spell, all he heard was Luan clucking at him.
Even without Lin Xiao translating, Jiang Youfu instinctively felt that Luan was thanking him, so he shyly smiled at the chicken and said, "You're welcome. I'll bring more food for you tomorrow."
Luan, not understanding what he said, felt appreciated nonetheless and happily clucked in response.
Watching the amusing exchange between the chicken and the human, neither of whom could understand the other, Lin Xiao chuckled softly and decided not to translate further.
After saying their goodbyes to Luan, the group headed down the mountain. Once they reached the foot of the mountain, they bid each other farewell and went their separate ways, each returning to their own home.
Liu Yunan's home was in a different direction from the others, so he walked back alone.
The sky darkened quickly that evening. Where just a short while ago, one could still make out the contours and colors of objects, it had now become so dark that Liu Yunan could barely see his own hand in front of his face. He stumbled along, hurrying home.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally saw his family's courtyard.
But instead of the usual dim scene, today, his house was brightly lit, an unusual sight for a home that rarely even lit an oil lamp.
From a distance, Liu Yunan saw several torches illuminating the dilapidated courtyard, making it as bright as day. Shadows moved back and forth in the firelight.
Amidst the darkness, he could hear his mother's cries and hushed whispers.
A sinking feeling gripped his heart, and he began to walk faster. After a few strides, he broke into a run.
He quickly arrived at the entrance to his courtyard.
The gate was wide open, and Liu Yunan immediately saw his mother surrounded by several people. She was clutching his eight-year-old sister tightly, both of them with reddened eyes and faces full of indignation.
The people around them didn't matter to Liu Yunan. He clenched his teeth and pressed his lips together as he forced his way through the crowd. Using his thin frame, he positioned himself in front of his mother and sister, shielding them from the others in the courtyard.
He turned to face the people in the courtyard, his face tense.
It was his grandmother, his aunt, and his third aunt.
As soon as Liu Yunan appeared, his grandmother spoke up before he could say anything. "Yunan, just look at your mother! Oh, she's acting like we're trying to harm them, huh? We just want to send your sister to a wealthy family to work. Even as a maid, she'll be eating well, drinking well, and dressed properly every day! But look at your mother—she's making it seem like we're pushing your sister into a pit of fire! Look at this!"
His aunt quickly chimed in, "Exactly, Yunan. Let me tell you, the business your cousin found is a real moneymaker! If you miss this opportunity, there won't be another! All we need is a ten tael investment, and in just a month, we'll earn twenty taels!"
She continued, "We didn't have enough money at first, so your cousin wasn't going to bother. But today, when he went to town to pick up some work, he happened to hear that a wealthy family in the county is hiring maids for ten taels each! Can you believe it? It's like it was meant to be! Isn't this just perfect timing?"
Third Aunt added, "That's right! And it's twenty taels! Just think, if our family had twenty taels, wouldn't you and your mother get to eat and drink well along with the rest of us?"
One after another, Liu Yunan quickly pieced together what was happening.
Behind him, his sister, Liu Shengsheng, clung to his trousers and sobbed, "Brother, I don't want to leave you and mother. I don't want to be a maid for someone else! Waaaah—"
"Bah! You little girl, what do you know? Those rich families treat even their maids well. You might not even want to come back after you've gone! And anyway, by becoming a maid, you'd bring back ten taels of silver for the family! Finally, you'd stop being such a burden to us!"
Liu Yunan turned and gave his mother and sister a reassuring look. Then, he faced the three women in the courtyard.
His voice calm, he asked, "Where's my cousin?"
His aunt waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, it's just about signing a contract for your sister. Why would your cousin need to bother with that? He's got bigger things to do."
Liu Yunan nodded knowingly and then turned to his third aunt, "What about my cousin-sister?"
Although Liu Yunan hadn't directly asked why, Third Aunt seemed to know what he was implying. Her eyes darted nervously as she replied, "Your cousin-sister is getting older, and she's already being matched for marriage. How could we send her to work as a maid?"
Hearing this, Liu Yunan nodded again.
He muttered softly, "What kind of wealthy family is so generous, paying ten taels for a maid... Ha."
No one heard him.
Then, Liu Yunan took a deep breath, rooted himself in a solid stance, and focused his energy.
The three Liu family women looked at him, puzzled.
They couldn't see it, but the air around Liu Yunan seemed to swirl.
Before they could ask what he was doing, Liu Yunan grabbed his aunt by the arm, supported her back, and, with a burst of strength, lifted her into the air!
His aunt let out a piercing scream as she was hoisted up by her twelve-year-old nephew.
Before she could process what was happening, she found herself soaring through the night sky, over the courtyard wall, and with a heavy thud, she landed outside the Liu family's courtyard.
The moment she hit the ground, her mind went blank. She was so terrified that she didn't even feel the pain coursing through her body.
This nephew of hers was only twelve years old!
Back in the courtyard, Liu Yunan's grandmother and third aunt stood frozen in shock at the unbelievable scene.
Even Liu Yunan's mother and sister, standing behind him, were stunned.
But after the initial surprise, Liu Shengsheng's eyes filled with admiration as she cheered, "Brother, you're amazing!"
Liu Shengsheng's words snapped the two women out of their daze, and they began screaming as if they'd seen a ghost, "Murderer!"
Liu Yunan looked at them coldly and asked in a chilling voice, "Grandmother and Third Aunt, will you leave on your own, or should I send you off too?"
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