Chapter 125 Adding New Recruits
Ding Yunxiang was stunned by her blunt words, staring at her blankly with an expression of disbelief on her face.
She had previously managed to help her escape from the Spring Candle Pavilion, and it had cost her so much money.
Why won't you even help with this small favor? Is Tao Tao worried that she'll spend her money?
Thinking this, Ding Yunxiang hurriedly said, "Miss Tao, you don't need to worry about me spending your money. I guarantee that every copper coin I spend will be returned tenfold in the future."
Tao Tao rolled her eyes speechlessly and impatiently pushed her out, closing the door behind her.
Ding Yunxiang was not giving up and continued to bang on the door.
Within two seconds, Tao Tao's voice came from inside: "Do you really want me to kick you out right now?"
If we kick her out now, she'll really be left homeless.
Remembering the beggars she had seen on the roadside before, she shuddered with fear.
After he said that, the doorway finally fell silent.
Tao Tao knew that for a young lady like this who was beautiful but powerless, kicking her out now would be like pushing her into a fire pit, as she had no ability to protect herself.
She's not that heartless. There's nothing we can do but let her stay for a couple more days.
She went to bed late, so I didn't disturb her. When she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
After washing up, it was time to prepare for lunch.
During the meal, she didn't see Ding Yunxiang appear. She thought about asking Xixin to call her, but in the end, she decided against it.
It was Tao's mother who spoke up: "Yunxiang is not feeling well. I guess she caught a chill last night. I'll go to the clinic later to get her some medicine."
"Moving didn't take much effort on her, so why would she be uncomfortable..."
Xi Xin muttered to herself.
Tao's mother smiled and said, "He caught a cold, maybe he's not used to the new place."
"Her constitution is really weak, no wonder she comes from an official family."
She pursed her lips, her tone somewhat sarcastic.
Tao Tao quietly stirred the porridge in her bowl, her expression indifferent, revealing no emotion.
Leng Qiao, who was standing to the side, suddenly looked at Tao Tao, who hadn't said a word. Last night, she went back to the Privy Council and saw Ding Yunxiang leaving from the young lady's door when she returned.
Could it be that something happened between them?
She shook her head, thinking it was none of her business, and didn't say anything.
"Leng Qiao, are you enjoying the food? Feel free to ask if there's anything you need."
She looked up and saw Tao's mother's gentle face smiling at her.
She felt a little awkward and nodded hesitantly, "Thank you, Madam."
When Tao Tao spoke to her mother about Leng Qiao's identity, she said that Leng Qiao was a helper she had hired, that she provided Leng Qiao with food and lodging, and that Leng Qiao helped her with chores.
Since she didn't want any money, Tao's mother naturally wanted to treat the person well to prevent them from running away.
She initially tried to correct Leng Qiao's way of addressing her, but after she said it, Leng Qiao insisted on it anyway, so she couldn't do anything about it.
Another busy day. Today we handled funeral arrangements, plus three pet funerals. Running around all day almost killed her.
She also took the time to go to the market and buy four servants, two men and two women, a cook and a steward.
The courtyard is too big to be cleaned by Tao's mother and Xixin alone. Moreover, they also have to look after the shops, and she often goes between several branches, so it's even more impossible for her to come and clean.
There are all kinds of people there, some who sell themselves willingly, and others who are sold by their parents because of poverty.
The two women she bought were sold by their parents, while the two men were unable to find work outside and chose to sell themselves voluntarily due to family poverty.
Tao Tao and her mother sat in the main seats of the hall, with Xi Xin and Leng Qiao standing behind Tao Tao. Ding Yunxiang did not appear.
The people she bought stood in the very center of the hall, so that they could recognize their master.
The housekeeper, Luo De, and the cook, Aunt Wu, were two maids who only had surnames and no given names; they were addressed by their birth order at home.
The two servants did have names, but Tao Tao thought they were too vulgar and sounded like an insult, so all four of them simply changed them.
Tao Tao looked them over. She didn't just buy people randomly; she carefully researched them before choosing them. Otherwise, if she chose someone of bad character, she would be in trouble later.
For example, those two women, whose cheeks were sunken from hunger, were covered in wounds, and whose hands were covered in thick calluses. It was clear at a glance that they had been severely abused by their parents at home.
He had been sold at the market for several days, his face was numb and dull, and his body was thin and weak, so no one came to buy him.
Although the two men were not as scarred and thin as the woman, they also appeared to have suffered a lot. They seemed honest, but were somewhat timid.
Aunt Wu was a widow who lost her husband early in life and her son in her later years. With no other ties, she originally worked as a cook at an inn, but was framed for putting things in the guests' food because of jealousy. With nowhere else to turn, she resorted to prostitution.
Rhodes offended a distinguished guest at his former employer's house and had his leg broken. Fortunately, he was a contract worker and could walk, but because of his broken leg and old age, he could only wait for people to choose him at the market.
The six people looked somewhat uneasy, their hearts pounding like drums.
They didn't relax just because the woman in front of them was young, because they could clearly sense her extraordinary aura.
Furthermore, Tao Tao made it clear from the beginning that she was in the funeral business. A young woman who was neither ashamed nor afraid of the dead, and who had the ability to make a living in the funeral business, proved that she was not an ordinary person.
They were unsure of their mistress's character and temperament, and feared she might abandon them, so tension and caution were inevitable.
Tao Tao looked at the slightly taller woman and said, "Your name is Shujie."
Her eyes lit up, and she quickly knelt down: "Thank you for bestowing a name upon me, Miss."
The shorter one is called Zhu Xia, the stronger one is called Bai Zang, and the thinner one is called Yan Ying.
The three knelt down and said in unison, "Thank you for bestowing a name upon us, Miss."
Tao Tao picked up her teacup, silently observing the expressions on their faces, her voice indifferent:
“You have all signed a contract with the government for life, and you should know that I have the right to do whatever I want with you. Even if I beat you to death, the government will not come after me.”
Upon hearing this, the six people below visibly became uneasy, but in the next instant, they heard her say:
"But I have always been fair in rewarding and punishing. As long as you stick to your duties and are loyal, I will certainly not treat you poorly."
She glanced at Xixin, who nodded, stepped forward, took out a purse, and gave each person ten taels of silver.
The six men's eyes lit up as they looked at the silver in their hands. Overjoyed, they kowtowed and said, "Thank you for your generous gift, Miss! We will be loyal to you to the death!"
Tao Tao reminded her, "And your first wife, my mother."
"We will be loyal to Miss and Madam to the death."
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