Liu was also sitting at the head of the table. When she saw them kneeling down, she was so startled that she almost jumped up from her chair.
Fortunately, none of the servants dared to look up, so no one saw her embarrassing situation.
Wu Chunhua patted Liu's hand to comfort her; in truth, she had almost been frightened herself. Growing up, she was always the one kneeling before others; when had it ever been someone else kneeling before her?
"Now that you have come to my house, you are my servants. Let's get this straight: as servants, you must do your duty, and most importantly, be loyal. If anyone dares to betray their master, being sold off is the lightest punishment," Qin San Niang said sternly. Without rules, there can be no order; this is the foundation of managing a household.
"Yes, sir." A chorus of voices rang out from below. They had already learned from the brokerage that the woman sitting at the head of the table was the major owner of several shops in He County. Anyone who became an owner was no ordinary person, especially a woman, which made her even more formidable. Therefore, no one dared to question Qin San Niang's authority.
"Alright. Now let's talk about your rights and obligations. The obligation is naturally to complete the tasks assigned by the employer, and there will be rewards for doing them well. You'll get three coins a month, and if you do well, you can get a raise. By the way, what are your names?"
“Reporting to the master, my surname is Zhang, and my given name is Zhang Cheng. My father is Zhang Sandong, and my mother is Song. Please bestow a name upon me, sir!”
"My name is Diao Xi, and these are my cousins, Diao Qing and Diao Le. Please bestow names upon them, sir!"
"Hmm, all of your names are quite nice, so let's not change them. Just keep calling them that." Qin San Niang was terrible at naming people, and besides, these names were very simple and easy to pronounce. They weren't from any scholarly family, so there was no need for those fancy fancy names. Simple and easy to pronounce were more in line with their status.
Hearing that they didn't need to change their names, the group showed expressions of delight. Usually, their employers would change their names; for example, the three Diao brothers' previous employers had given them names like "Green Robe" and "Southern Prosperity," which sounded awkward and made them completely unaware that they were being called! Old Zhang almost wept with joy; this was to preserve a lineage for the Zhang family!
They had been forced to take out a high-interest loan because their daughter-in-law and grandson were ill, but ended up losing both their money and their loved ones. They were selling themselves, hoping that being together as a family would provide for each other, so no one had bought them yet. The elderly couple knew they were the ones who had dragged their son down with them, and were even planning to hang themselves from the roof beam when they unexpectedly met a benefactor who not only bought them all but also wouldn't let them change their surname. What a kind landlord!
“Zhang Cheng, you’ll go to the county town to deliver wine on weekdays. I’ll have someone take you there later. If you don’t know how to drive, you can learn from him. Old Man Zhang, since you have trouble walking, you can guard the gate. Granny Song, your job is to take care of the children and help my mother with chores. Diao Xi, Diao Le, and Diao Qing, the three of you will work at the winery. Also, if you have time, you can learn martial arts from the young master and the others.”
Martial arts? They can practice martial arts? The three Diao brothers all looked incredulous. They knew that the young masters of noble families also taught martial arts with their servants, but the servants were only responsible for serving tea and water, wiping sweat and leading horses. They figured they would be doing the same thing.
"Alright, if there are no further questions, please come with me to the room to tidy up. By the way, your cotton-padded coats are all old. After you give me your measurements, come to my place to get the fabric and cotton. Does Granny Song know how to sew?"
I never thought I'd get new cotton-padded clothes! The master is so kind! Hearing that her name had been called, Granny Song hurriedly came out, "Yes, I will."
“Alright, then I’ll ask Granny Song to make clothes for our own family. As for the clothes for the Diao brothers, I’ll find someone else to make them.”
Granny Song quickly reassured everyone that she was quick and efficient and didn't need any outsiders. She said she could finish making the clothes for these people in a few days without delaying her work.
Having found such a good employer, Granny Song didn't want to be disliked or kicked out. Before, many families were afraid that she would come to their homes to eat for free because of her age, but Granny Song was actually a very capable woman.
Qin San Niang nodded, still feeling that making clothes for so many people was a bit much, but it would be better to make them for her than to have someone else do it.
"Then I'll have to trouble Granny Song."
"It's no trouble at all, it's all my duty."
After seeing the houses their employer had arranged for them, the three Diao brothers and the Zhang family were all so excited they didn't know what to do. They had all had employers before, and even though those families were much wealthier than their current employer, the servants' quarters they lived in were still very low and cramped, incomparable to the brick and tile houses they lived in now.
Grandma Song touched the thick cotton quilt, her face beaming with joy. "We've really met a good family this time. This quilt is so thick, is it new cotton?"
"Hmm." Old Zhang sat on the edge of the kang and patted the surface. "This kang is warm! The landlord is kind enough to let us heat the kang, so we won't be cold this winter. We can't let the landlord down, so we'll work hard here from now on! If we could retire here, that would be the best thing."
"Yes, Father and Mother, I will work hard for the employer from now on. If the employer is satisfied, they will definitely let us stay." Zhang Cheng raised his head and said with a bright smile, just like when he insisted on bringing his parents with him. It seems that his filial piety moved heaven and earth, which is why he found such a good employer. As long as he works hard, the employer will definitely see it.
In the dim light, Granny Song tidied the bedding. She and the old man exchanged a glance, both seeing relief and helplessness in each other's eyes. If it weren't for their deep concern for their stubborn son, they would have rather died than be a burden to him. Fortunately, heaven had been kind to them. After wandering for so long, they could finally settle down. Their hearts were at ease, and this night, they were all destined to sleep well.
The three Diao brothers next door were already asleep, their even breathing echoing throughout the Gu family's courtyard.
A month later, the weather in He County grew even colder. For someone as sensitive to the cold as Qin Sanniang, the only way to stay warm was to wear a thick cotton-padded coat and hide in the heated room. Old Doctor Cao took her pulse and diagnosed her with insufficient qi and blood, then prescribed her some medicine.
Because of the damp and cold weather, she hadn't gone out for a long time. Da Wa was in charge of all the business in He County. Now, Da Wa, Mu Chun, and Cao Wenshan, the two shopkeepers, had developed a good tacit understanding. Da Wa's talent in business was also gradually showing. Whenever he came up with a good idea, he could drive the shop's turnover to rise sharply.
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