Back when she was married off, my goodness, a whole host of young men, and the villagers of Zhaojiawa all couldn't help but click their tongues in astonishment: her maternal family, was truly formidable.
The other villagers didn't dare to provoke them lightly, and even the in-laws and husband held the new bride in high regard.
They feared that if they slighted her, her family would come rushing over in droves to claim justice.
Having a brother in her natal family meant that if she were wronged by her in-laws, someone would come to her aid.
Zhao Dan and Zhao Xiaoya had grown up in Zhaojiawa and fully agreed with this view.
Thus, although Zhao Dan was clearly sold by her real mother to work in the Southern regions, she never truly harbored any resentment.
Even Zhao Xiaoya might not be able to sacrifice herself like her sister to support her brother, but she too could understand these actions that seemed so bizarre to the average person.
