"Mom, can my daughter not get married?" I suppressed the sorrow and fear in my heart and asked my mother in a trembling voice that was almost pleading.
My mother was sitting by the bed, unable to bear to look at me. Her eyes moved back and forth between the two children sleeping next to her and the one hundred taels of silver on the table by the wall, and she remained silent for a while.
It was difficult to realize what my mother meant. I was desperate. I opened my mouth and couldn't spit out a word. "My daughter knows." My voice was hoarse, and my throat felt like it was burning.
I don't know how I got out of the house. I just feel as if this body is no longer my own. The rain is hitting my face, and my body is getting colder and colder, but it can't stop my heart from sinking.
Mom is right. My father is gone, my siblings are still young, and there is nothing left in the house. If we don't do this, everyone will starve to death soon. The only one worth a bit of money in the family is me! Look, it's worth a hundred taels of silver, enough to last the family for several years. The corners of my mouth raised into a sarcastic smile, why don't I just get married?
Mom is right! I told myself that my teeth were biting my lower lip so hard that it even bled, but I didn't feel any pain.