Chapter 82: No More Connection

Translator: 549690339

“Since you’ve made up your mind, I respect your decision, but it’s not just up to you, your family must agree as well.”

“Miss Su, don’t worry. The silver from selling myself is more than for just working, my stepmother will surely agree, and as long as my stepmother agrees, my father will too,” said Jin Qiao. Yet, her words were filled with deep sorrow and helplessness. In this era that values sons over daughters, a woman’s fate is already unpredictable, let alone a girl who lives under a stepmother without her birth mother—it’s even tougher.”

Mrs. Liu Jin, standing by and listening, shed tears but didn’t counter Jin Qiao’s words. If her big brother truly had the resolve to protect his niece, it wouldn’t have come to this point. What a hard life for the child. “Why put yourself through this, child? Just keep working slowly; there’s always a way.”

“Miss Su, I am resolved, and I won’t regret it. I only ask for Miss Su to grant my request,” Jin Qiao said, kowtowing several times to Su Wenyue, hitting her head until it reddened.

“Alright, if that’s the case, go home and explain the situation, then bring your father here to sign the contract.”

Seeing the matter progress to this point, Mrs. Liu Jin knew she couldn’t stop it, and deep down she acknowledged the truth in her niece’s words. At least this was better than being beaten to death at home by the stepmother; it was still a way to live. Seeing that Miss Su was kind-hearted and the Su Family had a good reputation, perhaps her niece would have a good future.

As a member of Mrs. Liu’s mother’s family, she knew a bit about the Han Family’s affairs, aware that little Xiao Xi had previously been a servant in the Su Mansion under a death contract. Now she had redeemed herself and was rather esteemed by Miss Su and Han Yu. Xiao Xi now assisted Miss Su in her affairs quite splendidly. If Jin Qiao were loyal and served her master well, she too might have such a fortune. In reality, a servant’s future depended on the master’s wishes.

“This… I am a bit embarrassed to say it, but with my big brother’s household situation, I have no idea how the stepmother might mistreat Qiao Qiao if she returns. Is there a place for Qiao Qiao to stay for the night? I’ll bring my big brother over tomorrow to sign the contract and settle everything,” Mrs. Liu Jin said, feeling somewhat embarrassed but left without options. With Qiao Qiao unable to return to her father’s house, and her own home too cramped, there was no other choice.

“This…” Su Wenyue was inclined to agree, yet with Yang Juxiang and her daughter staying in the Han Family, there truly were no spare rooms left in the house.

“Sister-in-law, it’s not that Fourth Daughter-in-law is being stingy and refuses you. It’s just that we really don’t have any spare rooms. The only room we could free up is where those two mother and daughter are staying now. You’ve seen for yourself how arrogant they are; it’s absolutely impossible for them to agree to let Qiao Qiao stay with them. Perhaps you should consider some other solution,” Mrs. Liu hurriedly explained, since she had asked the Fourth Daughter-in-law for help and couldn’t impose on her too much.

Mrs. Liu Jin was at a loss for what to do. “How, how should we arrange this? You don’t know how cruel Qiao Qiao’s stepmother is, taking advantage of the fact that she gave my big brother a son, without any scruples. In just these few days, Qiao Qiao has accumulated even more new scars.”

Su Wenyue genuinely liked Jin Qiao, a child who was not only sensible and clever but also very decisive. Once she had made up her mind, she acted without procrastination. If well-trained, she would certainly be an excellent helper.

“Let it be, I’ll make the arrangements. Although there are no vacant rooms in the house, it’s possible to borrow a place in the village for a day and pay some rent. I’ll handle it.” In the end, Su Wenyue still took on the matter, and Mrs. Liu Jin was naturally overjoyed. Mrs. Liu, seeing Su Wenyue exert effort and money for her sake, felt genuinely grateful.

Perhaps fearing a change in circumstances, Mrs. Liu Jin brought Jin Qiao’s birth father to the Han Family bright and early. However, as Jin Qiao herself had said, although Jin Dacheng felt some familial affection for Jin Qiao due to their blood relation, when it came to the matter of selling her into servitude, all he showed was some pity and guilt, without any indication of dissuasion—it was apparent that he didn’t care much for this eldest daughter from his former wife.

“Big brother, why don’t you try convincing Qiao Qiao? Once the death contract is signed, there’s no turning back. Her life and death are for the master to decide, and she’ll have nothing to do with the Jin family. I still hope to see Qiao Qiao get married and have children to call me auntie. Don’t you feel the same?” Mrs. Liu Jin, still somewhat in denial, spoke through her tears.

Jin Qiao had already made up her mind, but after all, Jin Dacheng was her biological father. Even though her decision wouldn’t change, she still wished to hear some concern from him, to know she wasn’t so disposable.

“This is Qiao Qiao’s own wish, and I, as a father, shouldn’t obstruct her. Besides, the child’s mother is pregnant again, and you know my brother’s household is not well-off. Moreover, the blood relation is inherent from birth, and Qiao Qiao carries our old Jin family’s blood, which cannot be bought off.”

Jin Dacheng’s words were tactful, yet the implication was clear: not only did he not follow Mrs. Liu Jin’s suggestion to persuade, but he actually seemed to endorse Jin Qiao’s decision. With her own father reacting this way, it was truly disheartening.

Mrs. Liu Jin hadn’t expected her big brother to be so heartless. Qiao Qiao was, after all, his own child. If it were her, she would never be able to be so indifferent.

Su Wenyue was also disdainful. Jin Dacheng didn’t deserve to be Qiao Qiao’s father. Furthermore, from his words, he seemed reluctant to fully sever emotional ties, claiming some connections can’t be sold. How ludicrous. He probably wanted to use Qiao Qiao to extract more benefits; such cheap tricks are not so easily come by in the world.

Any last hope Jin Qiao may have had for her birth father was completely extinguished. At this moment, she saw no difference between him and her stepmother; aside from not beating her, he was just as indifferent, treating her as a tool for gaining benefits. It was understandable for her stepmother to act this way since she wasn’t her child, but for Jin Dacheng, her own father, such behavior chilled her to the bone.

“Father, what you’re saying isn’t right. Since it’s selling myself, both my life and my fate belong to my master, and the blood relations are naturally severed as well.”

Jin Qiao didn’t say much, only pleading with Su Wenyue to give her the silver for selling herself—anxious to take the total of two silver coins. Considering the price for such a skinny and unattractive little girl, it was already quite generous. Qiao Qiao gave the silver to Jin Dacheng without any sentimentality and then knelt before him.

“Father, this is the last time I’ll call you father. This silver repays you for my upbringing, severing our father-daughter relationship. From now on, I, Jin Qiao, have nothing to do with the Jin family.”