Chapter 2

I was sold off for ten dollars by my parents because my brother was about to marry, and they needed the money to pay for the wedding gift.

It was hard to say how I felt at the time. I only remember the day before I left, my mother gave me a boiled egg, muttering as she handed it to me, "If you can do something for your brother, at least you won't have come into this world in vain."

So, it was hard to tell if I should feel sad or, like she said, feel lucky to be the family's benefactor.

The place I married was far from home. It would take more than fifty hours on a train to get there. The only thing I took with me was a dress my mother had made for herself the year before. She said that since I was married, I should at least look decent.

The train ticket was too expensive, and they were afraid I might run away, so my father had to accompany me.

It just so happened that the new school year was starting, and a girl sat next to me on the train. Seeing that we were about the same age, she took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

She asked, "Are you going to register for college? How lucky! Your father is even sending you off to school.

"Actually, I think I'm quite fortunate too. Girls my age back home are all married. My parents may be poor, but they didn't just pick any man for me to marry. I'm really thankful to them. We're going to school now, and we'll definitely see a bigger world in the future."

Her energy was infectious, but unfortunately, I wasn't the kind of person she spoke about, someone who could go out and explore the world.

I just gave a faint smile and didn't respond. My father remained silent, staring out the window.

I was just a pigeon that had been let out of a cage, and after a brief breath of freedom, I would soon be trapped in another dark cage.

When the train stopped at a shared station, most of the passengers got off. I watched her grab her bag and stand up, and when she saw that I hadn't moved, her expression turned puzzled.

I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye. After passing by each other, we were heading toward two entirely different worlds. I had merely exchanged a brief encounter with a future, capable woman.

Yet, at that moment, I felt a glimmer of hope. I may have ended up like this, but I prayed that my child would be able to walk out into the world just like her. Maybe, one day, they could take me with them.