Sold for Twenty Bucks Chapter 2

My uncle lived in a remote area. He pedaled a long way with me on the back of his bike.

Just when I thought we were almost there, he took a detour to buy a pound of pork.

"Sweetheart, before we go home, let's change your name."

My last name was Liu. My parents had always wanted a son. When I was born, they went to a fortune teller.

The fortune teller said they were destined to have a son, but they couldn't be too good to me. Even my name had to pave the way for my brother.

He suggested names like "Beckoning Brother" or "Hoping for Brother."

But my mother didn't hesitate. She named me "Cheap Girl."

Yes, my name was Liu Jiannü—Liu Cheap Girl.

I was young, but I knew it was an ugly name.

The village kids wouldn't play with me because of it.

They’d circle around me, throwing stones and shouting my name, laughing.

Until my parents abandoned me, my name was the village joke.

No one thought it was wrong. It seemed I was born with a cheap fate.

A cheap girl in the family.

But now, my uncle touched my head with pity, his eyes rimmed with red.

"Let's go. Uncle will find someone to give you a new name, okay?"

"Our girl is so pretty; she needs the prettiest name!"

Uncle went to the village chief.

He named me "Joy."

Meaning eloquent and full of happiness.

"Joy... Lin Joy... Nice, very nice!" Uncle muttered, holding my hand.

"Do you like your new name, sweetheart?" Uncle picked me up and carried me home.

I finally smiled. I was too scared to show it fully, so I buried my face in his broad back and grinned secretly.

My smile grew wider and wider.

I finally had a beautiful name.

I wanted to run back to the village and brag.

Let those people who looked down on my name hear this!

But starting today, I didn't belong there anymore.

I had someone protecting me now.

When Uncle brought me home, my aunt and cousin were there.

They only had one son at the time.

He was four years older than me.

Uncle held my hand and, meeting Aunt's confused gaze, cheerfully explained, "Didn't you always want a daughter?"

"Here she is. Her name is Lin Joy. From now on, she's our daughter. She lives here."

Aunt's face, which had been relatively kind, fell instantly.

She didn't say a word and went straight to her room.

My cousin was at that mischievous age.

Seeing me, he threw a tantrum at Uncle. "She's not my sister! She's Auntie's kid! She's not my sister!"

Uncle tweaked his ear. "Behave! She is your sister. Her last name is Lin now. She's family!"

Cousin ran crying to his mom.

Uncle was handy. He set up a small cot for me next to my cousin's bed.

Considering I was a girl, he hung a curtain around it for privacy.

"Joy, make do with sharing a room with your brother for now, okay?"

"When Uncle makes big money, I'll get you the biggest, prettiest room."

I nodded obediently.

"Bragging again? Don't you know how poor we are?" Aunt's voice drifted from the other room.

Uncle and I looked at each other and giggled.

He lowered his voice. "Joy, ignore your aunt. She's all bark and no bite."

I knew. Uncle and Aunt were my saviors.

I silently vowed to be good to them.

Compared to my birth family's sudden wealth, Uncle's family was truly poor.

And Uncle had spent a huge chunk of their hard-earned savings on me.