Chapter 32: The Poor Maid
At the border in August, as autumn deepens, the weather changes from four seasons in one day, with warm to cold.
The camp closed in the morning and Su Shengsheng gained a lot.
Thinking about the unpredictable climate, my grandparents’ winter clothes are no longer suitable, and my brother is growing taller.
So, after she discussed the construction with the craftsmen who were decorating the shop, she bought a few pieces of brocade and took them home.
Unexpectedly, she returned home early, and as soon as she entered the door, she heard Yunxiang and Yunyi crying in the corner of the yard.
"What happened?" Su Shengsheng stepped forward and asked, worried that what happened last night had caused them trouble.
Yunxiang and Yunyi were not surprised by her coming back so early. They just wiped their tears with handkerchiefs and forced a smile, "It's okay, we just miss home."
Su Shengsheng didn't believe it.
Ever since Yunxiang and Yunyi were sold into the mansion, their families only hoped that they would bring money home and never cared about them.
"If you don't tell me, I'll go ask my mother." Su Shengsheng pretended to be scared, and sure enough, the two of them panicked.
"Madam San didn't sleep all night last night. Miss, please don't make her worry."
Qing Ning urged, "Yunxiang and Yunyi, please speak quickly. Don't make the young lady anxious."
After hearing this, Yunxiang looked at Su Shengsheng, then at Yunyi, and finally, with red eyes, she was about to kneel down.
But Su Shengsheng held her back and said, "Just talk it out nicely. You're already a grown-up girl, and you're still making trouble."
Yunxiang and Yunyi couldn't hold it in any longer after hearing her say this.
"Miss, today the Fourth Madam came to us and asked us to give them the ten taels of silver and to re-sign the indenture."
After Su Shengsheng heard this, the fire in her heart suddenly ignited.
Here, those who signed a contract to sell themselves have no human rights and are like kittens and puppies, subject to being beaten and scolded by their masters.
No one would choose this path unless they had no chance to survive.
Su Shengsheng never expected that the fourth branch would set its sights on this again for money.
There were many wars in the Nanling Kingdom, and in order to increase the population, it required girls to get married when they reached the age of marriage.
But even so, no one was willing to sell themselves into slavery to avoid the five taels fine.
Because once the contract of selling oneself is signed, even the children born will be of low status.
If you meet a good host, you can barely earn some money to take home. If you meet a bad one, life and death will depend on fate.
Yunxiang and Yunyi are different from Qingning and Ningyu.
Because their family was large and their life was difficult, they sold their daughter into the palace as a slave.
It is already a blessing to meet the Su family, a family of scholars without any dirty or underworld affairs.
They were redeemed by Su Shengsheng again, and the reason they did not choose to go home was because their mother had passed away.
Their father and brothers would never raise them for free, except for extorting money from them.
Therefore, this is also the reason why they still chose to follow after Qing told Su Shengsheng that he had set them free.
They have reached the age of marriage, and after returning home, their families may even sell them to others as concubines in order to earn more betrothal money.
After so many years of taking back the monthly allowance, no one has come to redeem them. Instead, some have remarried, and some have taken in concubines.
So they had seen through it a long time ago, and it would be better for them to be the lady in charge like the two aunts Tingwan.
They were originally very hesitant when they came here, but Su Shengsheng gave them new hope.
But now they are asked to sign the indenture contract again, which is naturally hard for them to accept.
Qing Ning was anxious when she heard this, "Have you signed it?"
Yunxiang and Yunyi quickly shook their heads, "We hid in the old lady's room, and the fourth lady didn't dare go in."
Qing Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest.
After Yunxiang finished speaking, she saw that Su Shengsheng was silent, and she couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Su Shengsheng came back to her senses and said, "If you believe me, I will definitely take you out within a month."
Yunxiang and Yunyi were delighted, but before they could express their feelings, Su Shengsheng said, "If the Fourth Madam comes to ask again, you can hide if you can, but if you can't, just push it onto me."
She knew that maids who had signed a contract to sell themselves were different from ordinary women and would not be fined even if they were over the marriageable age.
The fourth wife is now obsessed with money and has even set her sights on them.
Yunxiang and Yunyi were originally struggling with whether or not to tell Su Shengsheng about this. After all, unlike Qingning and Ningyu, they did not have the credit of selling their property to support the Su family.
Su Shengsheng redeemed them. Although the indentures were given to them at the time, it was equivalent to them owing two redemption payments.
Unexpectedly, after Su Shengsheng came back, she not only did not mention the matter of selling her indentures, but also gave each of them five taels of silver.
This meant that she really had no intention of enslaving them again, and she was not planning to marry them off casually.
That's why the two of them had the idea that it would be better to live a good life with the Su family than to return to their home where they would be left to fend for themselves.
"Keep all the money. Even if my mother wants it, she can't. And you don't have to help with the family expenses. Do you understand what I say?"
Upon hearing this, Yunxiang and Yunyi's doubts vanished. "We know that Miss needs money to make a living, and we are willing to give it to her."
The two of them had heard more or less from Qingning about what Su Shengsheng was doing now.
Su Shengsheng smiled and patted their hands. "You are helping me take care of the family now, and I will give you monthly wages when things get better."
After comforting the two people, Su Shengsheng pulled them into the yard, and saw a figure flash by the small door connecting to the west yard.
It seems that she still left them too idle!
Knowing that it was pointless to argue with others at this time, Su Shengsheng pretended not to see it and led the four people into the house.
…
After returning from work in the evening, Su Deyong rarely complained.
However, when he saw that Su Shengsheng only bought brocade and satin for the third house, Old Master Su, and Old Madam Su to make clothes, he couldn't help but complain during the meal.
After everyone put down their chopsticks, Su Shengsheng spoke up, "Grandma, my shop is a bit busy, and I'd like to ask you two aunts to come over and help out later."
They had originally parted on bad terms last night and hadn't had time to talk about the shop, but when Su Shengsheng brought it up herself, they all changed their minds.
Grandmother was a little hesitant, "Sheng girl, it's not good to show up in public. Why don't you sublet the shop?"
Su Shengsheng smiled warmly, "Don't worry, Grandma. I just set up a separate room with the bookshop owner, just for the scholars to review their lessons."
Seeing that her grandfather was also a little worried, she said, "Master Ji is also studying there, and he will help with anything."
In the past, Su Shengsheng could only hide the truth and sneak out of the house, but now he tells lies one after another and can do it with ease.
Qing Ning sighed inwardly when she heard this, but she was too obedient to mention what happened in the bookstore that morning.
When Mrs. Su and Mrs. Li heard this, their expressions immediately relaxed.
Su Shengsheng had anticipated this effect.
Since her grandparents are eager for her to get married soon, and Ji Yanli refuses to leave, why doesn't she use their strength to her advantage?
Seeing that Old Master Su hadn't said anything, the Fourth Madam's face turned ugly. "We have such a big family! There's so much work waiting to be done! Aren't Qingning and the other two girls enough for you?"
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