Transmigrated into a fat wife, farming, raising children, and picking up husbands

Master Mei was taken aback, but then recognized who it was.

Isn't this Lin Xiuer, the buyer of the abandoned garden in Zhenxi?

His mind went blank.

Oh no! This woman came to see him so late at night, could it be that she regretted it? Did she buy that haunted house, then realize she got ripped off and wants a refund?

That won't do! The document clearly states, "The buyer of the furniture is aware of all the circumstances." Once something is sold, it's like spilled water; how can it be returned?

His expression changed instantly, and he instinctively turned and ran back, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

No, it wasn't just seeing a ghost; it was an expression even worse than seeing a ghost.

Lin Xiuer was taken aback, not understanding why Master Mei would run away upon seeing her.

But now that she'd finally caught him, how could she let him get away like that?

Lin Xiuer took off chasing after him.

"Master Mei! Don't run away!"

It would have been better if she hadn't shouted. But when she did, Master Mei heard her and turned around to see that the fat woman had actually caught up with them!

They were so frightened that they ran even faster.

Master Mei, that old fellow, moved so fast his legs were flying, his robes billowing up, as if a ghost was chasing him.

The old man who was selling his daughter followed behind, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he watched this scene.

Even the town's clerk is afraid of this woman?

He subconsciously touched his still-aching cheek, his heart pounding. It seemed he hadn't been wronged by the punch he'd taken.

I was just haggling with her, and I even dared to hold up three fingers... This... this... this has really messed with a tough nut to crack!

He shrank back, deciding he had to be as polite as possible later; he couldn't afford to offend this troublemaker again.

But the Wu residence is only so big, with a front yard and a back yard. Where could Master Mei run off to? He couldn't just wander into the inner courtyard.

Before they had gone far, Lin Xiuer blocked them in front of a moon gate.

"Huff, huff..." Master Mei leaned against the wall, panting heavily, his face pale.

Lin Xiuer was also panting, but she had already grabbed his sleeve, afraid that he would run away again.

"Master Mei, why are you running?"

Master Mei finally caught his breath, raised his head and glared at her: "Why would I run? If you don't chase me, how can I run?"

Lin Xiuer was baffled. "If you don't run, how can I chase you?"

The two were panting heavily, staring at each other.

Master Mei struggled to free himself from her sleeves, but couldn't. He glared at her again and asked, "What exactly do you want?"

Lin Xiuer then realized that she had important business to attend to.

She released her grip, took a step back, and forced a smile: "Master Mei, I'd like you to write a contract of servitude and be my witness."

Master Mei was taken aback: "A contract of servitude?"

"Yes." Lin Xiuer pointed behind her, then at the old man, and then at the girl beside her.

"This old man is selling his daughter, and I've bought her. I'd like to trouble Master Mei to write a contract and have it signed, so we can avoid any disputes later."

Master Mei looked in the direction she was pointing and saw the old man with a face full of red wine stains, and then he saw the little girl who was as thin as a stick. His eyes darted around.

He realized that the man hadn't come to return the house, and he immediately felt relieved.

The weight on my heart lifted with a thud, and I straightened my back a bit more.

He flicked off his wrinkled sleeves, straightened his robe, and slowly the panic on his face disappeared, returning to his usual shrewd and calculating demeanor.

"Oh—a contract of servitude." He drawled, then nodded. "That's easy. No problem."

He paused, then stepped outside: "Let's go, to the yamen."

Lin Xiuer followed, and the girl quickly followed as well.

The old man lingered at the back, his eyes constantly glancing furtively at Master Mei's back and then at Lin Xiuer, taking each step cautiously.

The group walked through the town towards the government office.

The sunset on the horizon had darkened, turning into a deep purple. Most of the people on the street had disappeared, with only a few shops that had closed late still having their lights on.

Lin Xiuer walked in front, side by side with Master Mei.

Ping An pushed the stroller, and the girl followed beside him, head down, step by step.

Master Mei had completely returned to normal by now, stroking his two small mustaches as he walked, glancing at the girl every now and then, and then at the old man.

As long as they're not coming to return the house, it's fine. It's just writing a contract of servitude, right? It's a small matter.

"Is this girl your biological daughter?" he asked the old man.

The old man nodded, not daring to utter a sound.

"What's your name?"

"Yi... Yi Liuyun," the old man said in a muffled voice.

Master Mei then looked at Lin Xiuer: "Madam Lin, are you sure you want to buy? Once this contract of indenture is signed, it's a done deal."

"From now on, this girl's birth, old age, illness, death, marriage, and funeral will all be related to you. It's not as simple as buying a chicken or a duck."

Lin Xiuer glanced at the girl.

The girl was looking down, so her face was obscured; all that could be seen were her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.

"I'm sure," she said.

Master Mei nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

By the time they arrived at the government office, it was already dusk. Two lanterns at the entrance lit up, casting a dim yellow light on the stone steps.

Master Mei pushed open the door and led them inside.

An oil lamp was lit in the side hall, casting a dim yellow glow. Master Mei sat behind the desk, spread out a sheet of paper, and began grinding ink.

"Please sit down," he said without looking up.

Lin Xiuer pulled the girl to sit down. Ping An stood behind her. The old man huddled by the door, unsure whether to sit or stand, and finally squatted down next to the door.

Master Mei glanced at him, pursed his lips, and said nothing.

He ground the ink, picked up the brush, and looked at the old man. "Name."

"Yi Huainian," the old man said.

Master Mei raised an eyebrow: "Huai Nian? Which Huai?"

"The 'huai' in 'embracing,' and the 'nian' in 'years.'"

Master Mei looked him up and down: "Have you been to school?"

The old man nodded, then quickly shook his head: "I studied... I studied for a few years..."

"Have you passed the imperial examinations?"

The old man didn't say a word.

Master Mei understood.

He had seen many people like this: they read a little when they were young, thought they were great, and were unwilling to accept that they couldn't pass the imperial examinations.

He felt ashamed to go back to his hometown to farm, and he found the work too tiring, so this is the kind of person he ended up being.

When the urge to drink kicks in, he'll sell anything.

He shook his head, lowered his head and began to write. After making a few strokes on the paper, he asked, "Place of origin?"

"This county...Taohua Town...Yijia Village."

"Is this girl your biological daughter?"

"Yes."

How big?

"Ten...fourteen."

Master Mei raised his eyes, his gaze lingering on the old man's face for a moment. His eyes were like knives, making the old man tremble.

"Fourteen," Master Mei repeated, bowing his head to write, "Where is my birth mother?"

The old man's lips moved, but he didn't speak.

Master Mei put down his pen and looked at him.

"I'm asking you a question, where is your birth mother?"

The old man lowered his head, his voice muffled as if it came from underground: "Dead...dead."

"How did he die?"

The old man fell silent.

Master Mei stared at him for a while, then didn't ask any more questions and continued writing with his head down.

"There is a man named Yi Huainian, a resident of Yijia Village, Taohua Town, in this county. Due to poverty, he is unable to raise his own daughter, Liuyun, who is fourteen years old..."

He wrote and read aloud, the pen scratching on the paper, "Sold to the Lin family as a maid..."

Lin Xiuer, who was listening nearby, interjected, "Not as a maid, but as an adopted child."