尾行3通关图片

Chapter 83: Status Position

Jin Qiao finished speaking and kowtowed three loud times to Jin Dacheng, knocking her forehead until it bled. When she stood up, her face was devoid of any expression. It was only then that Jin Dacheng truly felt heartbroken, as if he had just realized that he had lost a daughter.

“Qiao Qiao, it’s Dad who has wronged you. But Dad really had no other choice. Don’t blame me, please? The child your mother is carrying is your direct younger brother. You wouldn’t want your brother to endure days of going hungry either, right?” Jin Dacheng still attempted to salvage his daughter’s affection. Perhaps it wasn’t out of fear of losing a daughter, but hoping that once she was in the Su Family, she would be able to help out at home.

“That’s not my mother; my mother died long ago. If it weren’t for my mother’s death, I wouldn’t have been abused by my stepmother, nearly beaten to death, living like a child who is unloved by both parents. And Uncle, you should stop calling yourself ‘Dad’. I’ve already sold myself to the Su Family, and the money from selling myself is still in your hands. From now on, whether I live or die, I belong to the Su Family, and I have nothing to do with the Jin family anymore. I don’t have a brother either. Now that you’ve taken the money, you should leave quickly.”

Jin Qiao’s determined detachment from the Jin family was not just empty words. Su Wenyue’s appreciation for Jin Qiao’s demeanor grew, and seeing Jin Dacheng speechless, she felt a sense of satisfaction.

Jin Dacheng had initially felt some guilt, but seeing how cold and unyielding Jin Qiao was, he became angry. Thinks to himself that his wife was right, this girl was ungrateful. Even though he was her real father, she didn’t show a hint of affection and declared she was severing ties, no longer a member of the Jin family. He thought that selling her was the right decision, at least it would bring some money to buy food.

What Jin Dacheng was thinking, nobody knew, but his earlier actions gave everyone a clue. Su Wenyue never had a good impression of Jin Dacheng, an irresponsible father to Jin Qiao, and now her disdain for him grew even stronger.

“Qiao Qiao is right. Since she signed a death contract and became part of the Su Family, she has no further connection with the Jin family. Jin Dacheng, since you took the silver, you ought to understand this principle. Don’t come harassing Qiao Qiao again, or our Su Family won’t be so easy to talk to. You better weigh your options!”

Jin Dacheng might not take Jin Qiao’s words to heart despite his dissatisfaction, but Su Wenyue’s words were different. She spoke on behalf of the Su Family. Jin Dacheng was just a farmer scraping out a living from the fields, and he was no match for a prominent family like the Su’s. He quickly agreed and left.

Mrs. Liu Jin didn’t follow Jin Dacheng out when he left; perhaps she had more to say to Jin Qiao. While Jin Qiao had not spent much time with her aunt, although the emotional connection might not have been deep, gratitude was definitely there. If not for Mrs. Liu Jin’s intervention, Jin Qiao might have remained at home to be tormented by her stepmother and could have been worn down to death, never having the chance to end up with the Su Family.

“Qiao Qiao, don’t blame your father. He…” Ultimately, it was her own flesh and blood brother, and Mrs. Liu Jin wanted to say something in defense of Jin Dacheng. But once she began, she couldn’t find any words to excuse him. Her brother had truly been neglectful of his daughter, Qiao Qiao.

Jin Qiao didn’t blame Mrs. Liu Jin for speaking on Jin Dacheng’s behalf. Instead, she knelt before Mrs. Liu Jin: “Qiao Qiao thanks Aunt for her great kindness and for giving Qiao Qiao a chance at life. I will remember Aunt’s favor in my heart and will certainly repay you if the opportunity arises. But please don’t bring up the Jin family again, as my life from now on belongs to the Su Family.”

Having said that, she then approached Su Wenyue: “Qiao Qiao is also grateful to Miss Su for giving Qiao Qiao the opportunity to live.”

Su Wenyue nodded, then took out five taels of silver and gestured for Jin Qiao to give it to Mrs. Liu Jin. Jin Qiao looked both surprised and puzzled at Su Wenyue, but without much questioning, after a moment of hesitation, she followed Su Wenyue’s intent and handed the silver to Mrs. Liu Jin.

Mrs. Liu Jin was also visibly surprised and astonished. The Liu Family wasn’t wealthy, and faced with so much silver, she was naturally tempted. Yet, she couldn’t just accept it blindly. Mrs. Liu Jin was a tactful and astute woman with a line she wouldn’t cross, which actually made her better than Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu’s eyes had practically stuck to the silver when Su Wenyue took it out, too bad the silver wasn’t meant for her.

“Fourth Daughter-in-law, what is this about?”

“Mrs. Liu, this silver is given on behalf of Qiao Qiao to repay your kindness. If not for Aunt’s careful arrangements for her, God knows what would have happened to the child. Now that Qiao Qiao belongs to my Su Family, I will repay this debt of kindness for her.”

When Mrs. Liu Jin heard Su Wenyue’s intention, she felt as though this silver was meant to cut off her connection with her niece, which was hard for her to accept. She didn’t orchestrate everything for the sake of silver but out of gratitude for the kindness her sister-in-law had shown her and because Qiao Qiao was her niece. To take the silver would seem as if she were motivated by profit.

However, Mrs. Liu Jin was just an ordinary woman, and it was impossible not to be moved by the silver laid out before her. In these hard times, so much silver could greatly improve her family’s life and ensure her children were well-fed. She hesitated for a moment.

On the surface, Jin Qiao appeared decisive and resolute, but internally she was a sensitive child, acutely aware of people’s emotions. Although she felt bittersweet about her aunt’s reaction, she understood her aunt’s predicament.

She had been to the Liu Family with her aunt before. The living conditions there were not much better than the Jin’s, with her younger cousins looking emaciated and their clothes only slightly better than hers, adorned with many patches. Yet with these five taels of silver, her cousins could be well-fed. Moreover, her aunt’s reaction, compared to her father’s, was already much better. At least, she didn’t completely ignore her existence. It was clear that she genuinely cared for her niece, but now she had caused Miss Su to spend so much silver on her behalf. In the future, she would surely find a way to repay her.

“Aunt, please take the silver. With this, my cousins can lead a better life.”

“This…”

Before Mrs. Liu Jin could decide, her niece had already advised her. She wasn’t sure if her niece understood the meaning behind the silver. In the past two days, her niece’s behavior had changed so much that she no longer recognized the timid child who was afraid to even speak aloud. She must not judge her niece with past understandings. But her niece was still young, and even if she was clever, she might not fully understand everything.

Su Wenyue saw Mrs. Liu Jin’s dilemma and understood that giving the silver was not solely to sever the connection between her and Jin Qiao. It was more about making them aware of their statuses and positions so that if they were to have a relationship in the future, they could maintain proper boundaries and limits.