"Are the people you brought willing to sign a fixed-term contract or a flexible contract?" Jiang Shuyue asked bluntly.
The slave trader quickly bowed and replied, "Miss, whether you want a death contract or a living contract is negotiable. We have people here who are willing to have death contracts and people who are willing to have living contracts."
As the slave trader spoke, he secretly glanced at Jiang Shuyue and saw her sharp gaze fixed on the young girls.
The slave trader, having seen countless people, could tell at a glance that the young lady in front of him was no ordinary person. He immediately lowered his eyes and abandoned any thoughts of underestimating her.
"I want a death contract. If you're willing to sign one, take a step forward."
More than ten girls took a step forward in unison.
Several older girls hesitated, exchanged glances, clutched their clothes, bit their lips, and lowered their heads.
When they reached marriageable age, they only wanted to sign a one-year contract; if they signed a fixed-term contract, the marriage would be decided by their master.
“Look up at me, everyone. Those of us who feel a connection will stay.”
Jiang Shuyue walked back and forth in front of the girls.
The young girls were very curious. The master chose servants based on first impressions, so they all looked up timidly at the girl who might become their master.
Seeing Jiang Shuyue's gaze sweeping back and forth across the girls' faces, just like a spoiled young master browsing a brothel and choosing girls, Gao Mu's forehead twitched as he watched from the side.
After a moment, Jiang Shuyue asked, "What are your skills?"
The slave trader, fearing that everyone would speak at once, pointed to the girl on the right and said, "You can all speak one by one, just tell the truth."
"Greetings, young lady. I can do embroidery and other chores as well."
"Hmm, not bad, you stand over here."
The girl was pretty with clear eyes and a straightforward manner of speaking, which pleased Jiang Shuyue greatly.
"This servant can cook."
"This servant knows how to wash clothes."
Soon, Jiang Shuyue selected ten suitable candidates, each of whom was of decent appearance.
The ancients said that one's face reflects one's heart, and Jiang Shuyue somewhat believed in the concept of physiognomy.
However, she mainly judges people by their eyes. The eyes are the windows to the soul. If you observe carefully, you can tell that the eyes of an honest and simple person are different from those of a cunning and calculating person.
It took Jiang Shuyue half an hour to select all the people she needed.
The gardener tended the garden, the gatekeeper worked in shifts, the stable boy also served as the coachman, and the servants swept and cleaned the inner and outer courtyards.
Thinking that the kitchen also needed strong men, she specially assigned two servants who could cook to the kitchen.
The maid who was assigned to cook in the kitchen was secretly delighted.
There were more than twenty people in total, all young men and women.
After selecting the right person, Jiang Shuyue left the rest to Qiuju and returned to the inner courtyard.
Qiuju put away everyone's indentures and paid them the money.
It's rare for a human trafficker to encounter someone who doesn't haggle.
He carefully tucked the silver notes into his pocket and bowed to Qiuju, saying, "If you need anyone else in the future, please just send someone to tell me. I will still send you the most clever person in our brokerage for your review."
Qiuju has suddenly become the head aunt, and she's still a little unaccustomed to it.
Qiuju asked Cangyun to send the slave trader away.
She said to the new maid, "Our young lady is kind. Although you have signed a contract of indenture, if you find someone you like and leave the manor to get married, the young lady will return the contract to you. After you have worked for three years, she will also give you a settlement allowance."
"The monthly allowance will be the same for everyone. Each girl will receive two taels of silver per month. If they are loyal to their master, the allowance will be increased in the future."
The little girls looked at each other excitedly, their joy barely concealed.
When a maid first enters a wealthy household as a servant, she usually receives only one tael of silver as a stipend.
Only the head maids who served her closely received two taels of silver.
In the Jiang family, there was only a division of labor, not a hierarchy. The young girls were overjoyed, as if they had found a treasure.
The girls who had just reached the door were filled with regret upon hearing about such generous treatment.
If they had known that working here wouldn't interfere with their marriages, they would have tried their best to stay.
Urged on by the slave trader, the group reluctantly went out.
Qiuju gave the girls silver ingots as a reward, and then asked Gao Mu to take them to the inner courtyard's covered room to settle in.
When the servants heard that even the maids were treated so well, they were all eager to try their luck, waiting for Qiuju to announce their monthly allowances.
Qiuju looked at the servants who were looking at her with expectant eyes.
She pointed to the few people who had been assigned to be gardeners, "You can ask them for help when you're too busy. Each of them gets five taels of silver a month. If they do well and are loyal to their master, they'll get a raise later."
Qiuju took out silver ingots to tip the servants.
She warned, "The other conditions are the same as those for the girls serving in the inner courtyard. If anyone betrays their master, they will be handed over to the authorities if the crime is serious, and sold off again if the crime is minor."
"Don't worry, Aunt. With the conditions of our Jiang family, you can't find anything like it in the whole capital."
The gatekeeper took the silver ingot and grinned, pledging his loyalty.
“That’s right. Once you enter the Jiang family mansion, you should consider yourself a member of the Jiang family.”
"Everyone, please go to the front room to settle in first. The clothes and other necessities will be distributed later."
After making the arrangements, Qiuju went to find Gao Mu.
Time was too short to prepare uniforms for the maids and servants.
Just as they reached the first hanging flower gate, Gao Mu came out from inside.
Seeing Qiu Ju looking radiant, Gao Mu smiled and said, "Congratulations, Miss Qiu Ju, on becoming an aunt."
Qiuju glared at him. "You used to be quite honest. They say you become like those you associate with, and it's really true. You've learned to be glib and smooth-talking from Young Master Nangong."
"No, did I... say something wrong?"
Gao Mu's dazed and innocent appearance was so endearing that Qiu Ju couldn't help but want to laugh.
“Miss doesn’t have many trustworthy people to rely on. We are the old hands around her. There are so many big and small matters in the Jiang family. You and Cangyun will have to help me share the burden.”
"Miss Qiuju, you're too kind. It's my pleasure."
Qiuju didn't hold back when ordering Gao Mu around. She walked towards the backyard without stopping, saying without turning her head, "Wait for me outside for a while, we're going to the street to buy clothes."
An hour later, Gao Mu and Qiu Ju returned. Gao Mu distributed all the clothes, and Qiu Ju also bought two sets of clothes for him and Cang Yun.
Back at Xingyue Courtyard, Jiang Shuyue handed a stack of silver notes to Qiuju.
"Miss, I'll just need to ask you when I need it."
Jiang Shuyue smiled and said, "Silly girl, things are different now than before. You need to learn how to use people. Take Lan'er and Mei'er with you when it comes to purchasing and other things. They are smart and they will learn with more practice."
Qiuju took the silver note and said, "Miss is right. I can't handle it all by myself. From now on, I will leave the purchasing to Lan'er and Mei'er, and I will be the head steward."
Jiang Shuyue burst out laughing at her appearance.
She glared at her playfully, "What kind of head steward are you? Do you think you're a eunuch? From now on, you'll be the steward of the Jiang family."
After saying that, he added, "Tomorrow, go and find out how Jiang Jiaojiao's marriage is going. Now that we've settled down, it's time to take care of our former half-sister."
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