At the age of eleven, I ran away.

I signed up for the city's mathematics competition.

This competition had a high standard, with participants not only from elementary school but also from junior high school.

While Ms. Chen was still there, I stood before her, crying and pleading for her help.

Me: "Ms. Chen, please save me. Sobbing, my father is going to sell me to Grandpa Lin from the neighboring village. Grandpa Lin gave him ten thousand yuan, and he wants to marry me as his daughter-in-law.

"Ms. Chen, I have no other choice. My mother has also been convinced by my father, sobbing. I don't want to marry Grandpa Lin. I still want to continue my studies. I don't want to leave school like this!"

I cried in despair, tightly gripping her clothes.

Ms. Chen looked at me in astonishment. With a furrowed brow, she asked, "Chen Xinbao, are you telling the truth?"

I nodded tearfully and tremblingly took out a piece of paper from my bag.

It was a contract of indentured servitude.

"How... how can there be such a father in this world? Chen Xinbao, don't be afraid, the teacher will help you!"

I have to thank my grandmother for this.

Originally, my father only cared about the money, but my grandmother was afraid that Grandpa Lin would take me away and then refuse to pay. So she made him sign a contract.

That way, she could peacefully take the ten thousand yuan without worrying about Grandpa Lin changing his mind.

Should I say she was short-sighted or had foresight?

Her precaution helped me.

Ms. Chen wanted to confront my mother. In her eyes, my mother was still rational. But I held onto her tightly, sounding anxious and scared:

"Ms. Chen, my mother has always hated me...

"She always pinches me. She wishes to kill me!"

I uncovered my arm, which was covered with various bruises, hidden by my clothes.

Ms. Chen was speechless.

"Chen Xinbao, would you like to come home with the teacher first?

"Don't be afraid, the teacher will help you."

I couldn't ask for more.

I obediently nodded and followed her home.

"Teacher, can you call my mom? Just say there's something happening at school and you want to tutor me..."

Seeing Ms. Chen's puzzled expression, I continued, "Otherwise, I'm afraid they'll come to get me now! Teacher, please help me!"

At my request, Ms. Chen made a phone call to my mom.

"Is this Chen Xinbao's mother? I'm her homeroom teacher, Ms. Chen.

"Yes.

"Xinbao won't be able to come home today because there's a competition in the city recently. Yes, our school wants Xinbao to participate, so she's with me right now.

"Xinbao's mother, this competition is quite important. It's the city's mathematics competition. Your daughter is talented, and we all believe she has a chance to win the championship. So, before the competition starts, we want to help her with some tutoring.

"What do you think?

"Yes, this competition has a high standard! The winners can directly enter the special class in the city and have a better chance of going to Tsinghua University!"

After some persuasion from Ms. Chen, Xinbao's mother finally agreed.