Chapter 133: Staying or Leaving Undecided
Mu Jin looked at Madam Min with anticipation, "Whatever Madam says, we will do. We will follow Madam's arrangements in everything."
Madam Min thought for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "In three days, the ship will dock at the Suzhou pier. I'll give you some money, and you can take these children and run away. What do you think?"
Mu Jin stared wide-eyed at Madam Min Qiao in disbelief. "Grand Madam, do you not want to take us away from Jiangnan?"
Madam Min frowned. "Then I'll let you disembark after we leave Jiangnan."
Mu Jin immediately shook her head frantically and said, "Madam, without you, I can't raise so many children on my own!"
"I'll give you some money, enough for you to support them."
"Madam, the children won't survive without you!"
Mu Jin knelt down before Madam Min Qiao with a thud. "Madam, I only know how to treat illnesses. I really can't take care of so many children."
"Moreover, these children have been sent to assassin organizations from a young age to be trained in how to kill. They have lost their basic survival skills. If the old lady leaves them unattended, they will only become beggars, thugs, villains, murderers... their lives will be ruined!"
"Now, Old Woodcutter rescued them from the assassin organization in the hope that Madam Tai could give them a different way of life."
"Can you really bear to watch them, who have just left the assassin organization, become homeless orphans again, and eventually become vermin despised by everyone?"
Ajiu also looked hesitant, but she held back and didn't say anything, only looking at Min Qiaoshi with a pair of longing eyes.
Min Qiao paced back and forth in the cabin, somewhat agitated.
She kept Ajiu because when Ajiu came to her side, she was just a normal little maid.
The reason she later spent a fortune to cure Ajiu's poison was because they had developed a deep bond of master and servant over the course of several months.
Moreover, she was thinking that since she had money, she would rather give it to the loyal maidservant by her side than to the Min family, which is why she generously gave Ajiu the antidote.
But now, suddenly dozens of children with similar backgrounds to A-Jiu have appeared...
She really couldn't take it anymore!
Seeing Min Qiao's prolonged silence, Mu Jin gritted her teeth and said, "Madam, these children won't eat and drink for free. I will teach them to identify herbs and treat illnesses. They can also help you with farming, raising chickens and ducks. The older ones can even serve as your guards, just like A-Jiu."
"Madam, these children are all unfortunate. Some were sold by their families, and some were kidnapped. After joining the assassin organization, they have never lived a normal life."
“Look at the clothes they’re wearing, look at their injuries, and look at their thin, frail bodies… If you just give them a place to live and a meal to eat, they will follow you wholeheartedly and be completely devoted to you!”
"Madam, if you're willing to take these children in, I'm willing to serve you like a slave!"
"I can't guarantee anything else, but I can guarantee your health! I can't say I can make you live to be a hundred, but I can definitely make you live to be ninety!"
Upon hearing the end, Madam Min Qiao couldn't help but roll her eyes. She wasn't an emperor who wanted to live to a ripe old age and hold onto power.
She's fifty years old now, and she lived to sixty in her previous life. In this life, she'll just live long enough to see the end of Min Rong and the others.
She has nothing to hold her back, so why live so long?
Seeing that Min Qiaoshi remained unmoved, Mu Jin immediately became anxious and looked to A Jiu for help.
Ah Jiu endured it all, but finally knelt down and kowtowed heavily to Min Qiao Shi. Then she looked up without saying a word, just pitifully staring at Min Qiao Shi.
Min Qiao rolled her eyes again, feeling helpless, helpless, and helpless all at once.
Since she couldn't make a decision, Min Qiao decided to leave the answer to time.
“We’ll discuss that later. Right now, I need to confirm one thing.”
Mu Jin breathed a slight sigh of relief. As long as Madam Min Qiao did not refuse outright, there was still room for negotiation.
She composed herself and said politely, "Please speak, Madam."
"These children should wake up soon, right?"
"Yes."
"Then can you ensure they obey all orders?"
Mu Jin was taken aback and asked in confusion, "What does the Grand Madam mean?"
Min Qiaoshi: "Can you get them to do all that—not to suddenly attack or hurt anyone, not to make too much of a commotion, and not to let the other people on the ship discover their presence?"
“I can!” Mu Jin nodded without hesitation.
Having received an affirmative reply, Madam Min breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Alright, I'll leave this place to you. I'll have someone bring you some blankets and quilts. You can make do in this cabin for now."
He turned and left the cabin without even glancing at Ah Jiu.
Ajiu hesitated for a moment, wanting to get up and follow. But in the end, she didn't follow and chose to stay and help Mujin take care of the children.
"Aren't you going to follow them?" Mu Jin asked A Jiu.
Ajiu shook her head. "The Grand Madam didn't call me, which means she tacitly agreed to let me stay and help you."
Mu Jin nodded. "Alright then. Perfect, if anyone misbehaves later, you can help me out."
"Mm." Ajiu nodded.
She must make these children obedient so that they can stay.
As soon as Min Qiaoshi stepped out of the cabin, Ayi and the others who were guarding the other side of the ship quickly came over to serve her.
After thinking for a moment, Madam Min Qiao instructed Asi to cook a large pot of congee for the children and steam several large baskets of buns, to be brought over when they woke up. She also instructed Ayi and the others to take turns guarding the third-floor stairs, forbidding anyone from coming up. She then went back to her cabin to rest.
She had gotten up early this morning to rush to the dock, and after all that commotion, Min Qiao was really tired. She lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.
When she woke up, it was already dark.
Hearing the noise, Ayi quickly brought Ashuang in to help her wash and dress.
After washing up, Asi brought in dinner at just the right time.
"Madam, please have something to eat. You didn't have lunch, you must be hungry now?"
A bowl of congee and five small dishes of vegetables were served, the portions of which were based on Min Qiao's appetite, and the dishes were all to Min Qiao's liking.
Min Qiao was indeed hungry, so she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
After eating half a bowl of porridge, feeling somewhat full, Madam Min Qiao asked, "How is the situation over there? Are they all awake? Is anyone making a fuss?"
Ayi replied with a smile, "Don't worry, Madam, all the children are awake. And no one is causing trouble."
Asi, standing to the side, added hesitantly, "Exactly, those kids all look at people with wariness. And some of the older ones have eyes as fierce as wolves. When I went to bring them food, they looked at me with such trepidation. I was afraid that if I wasn't careful, they would pounce on me and tear me to pieces."
Asi spoke with obvious apprehension and fear.
Madam Min sighed; this was one of the reasons why she dared not easily keep these children.
"Let's see." If it really doesn't work, she'll just have to disappoint Qiao Jingyao, Mu Jin, and A Jiu.
...
PS: Assassins are in position! The medics are in position! The thugs are in position! ...
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