Chapter 405 Wanting to be a Concubine
The maid replied, "These ladies are all concubines in our household."
"Auntie?" Tao Meiyu muttered softly.
She knew that "aunt" meant a concubine, but she didn't expect the concubines in the He family to be so glamorous, each one dressed in gold and silver, even more luxurious than Manager Du of the Zhou family.
She became increasingly convinced that what she had heard about Master He was a rumor.
After the maid led her to the backyard, she gave her a peach-colored brocade dress, the kind of dress that only daughters of officials could wear on ordinary days.
Tao Meiyu held it in her hands, delighted with it.
After she changed her clothes, the maid exclaimed, "Miss, these clothes suit you so well!"
Tao Meiyu felt very happy and looked at herself in the mirror again and again.
The maidservant helped her pull up her skirt and said with a smile, "Miss, you are so beautiful, your future husband will surely be rich and noble."
Tao Meiyu slowly stopped smiling and said, "I am just from a farming family, and I'm afraid I will only marry a farmer in the future."
The maidservant quickly replied, "That would be such a pity."
As she spoke, her eyes darted around. "Miss, what do you think of our master?"
Tao Meiyu paused for a moment, "Master He looks quite good, not as old as the rumors say."
The maid smiled and said, "Of course, it's just a rumor. It's just that other masters are jealous of our master."
Tao Meiyu listened and smiled, "So that's how it is."
The maid lowered her voice and said, "Miss, look how beautiful you are. It's such a waste to marry a peasant. Why don't you become our master's concubine?"
"Being a concubine in the He family means wearing gold and silver every day and having no worries about food and clothing. It's much better than working in the fields under the scorching sun."
Tao Meiyu raised her eyes, clearly somewhat tempted.
Although her mother said she would find her a good family, in Cheng'an County, no matter how good the family was, it would never be as wealthy as the He family.
She said, slightly lost in thought, "Even Master He might not think highly of me."
The maid looked outside and said with a smile, "Miss, look, this is your chance."
"What opportunity?" Tao Meiyu asked.
The maid continued, "Look, your family owes our master thirty taels of silver, right? Why don't we just leave the silver as is and you come to the mansion in place of your sister? I don't think our master would object."
Tao Meiyu asked excitedly, "Is this really okay?"
The maid nodded. "Of course, the master knows that you don't know when you'll be able to pay back those thirty taels of silver. So why not let you come into the manor? That way, he won't lose out."
Tao Meiyu became more and more excited as she listened.
The maid then took out a small white jade hairpin and pinned it to her head. "Miss, you look so beautiful in this."
Tao Meiyu reached out and touched the white jade hairpin, looking at herself in the mirror with a smile on her face.
Today, Master He did not make things difficult for them and let Aunt Tao and Tao Meiyu go back first.
After arriving home, Aunt Tao was still worried, "Where are we going to get these thirty taels of silver?!"
Tao Meiyu lowered her head and clenched her handkerchief tightly in her hands, saying, "Mother, I want to go to the He family."
Aunt Tao didn't quite understand. "Meiyu, didn't we just come back from the He family?"
Tao Meiyu hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and replied, "Mother, since we can't repay these thirty taels of silver, let me become a concubine in place of my sister."
Aunt Tao was startled and quickly reassured her, "Child, don't worry, even if I steal or rob, I will return these thirty taels of silver. You don't need to become a concubine."
"Mother...I..." Tao Meiyu was a little anxious, and her words trembled for a long time before she could say them.
Aunt Tao held her hand and said, "Meiyu, don't be afraid, Mother won't let you suffer."
Tao Meiyu couldn't hold back any longer. She pushed Aunt Tao away and said seriously, "Mother, what I mean is, I want to go to the He family to be a concubine."
Aunt Tao stood there stunned after hearing this.
"What...what did you say?"
Tao Meiyu raised her voice and said, "Mother, I said I want to go to the He family to be a concubine."
"Smack!"
Aunt Tao raised her hand and slapped her across the face, her hand trembling as she cursed at her, "How could you be so shameless, eager to become someone's concubine!"
Tao Meiyu was stunned by the beating. With red eyes, she cried, "Mother, what's wrong with being a concubine in the He family? We'll have good food and lodging, and we won't have to work in the fields. It's better than marrying into the Zhou family."
“Good? What’s so good about it? Haven’t you heard that the He family often has their dead concubines brought out?” Aunt Tao said, poking her head hard as she spoke.
Tao Meiyu retorted, unconvinced, "Mother, that's just a rumor, it's completely false!"
Aunt Tao's face turned pale with anger. "Fake? There's no smoke without fire. If Master He didn't do it, how could rumors spread! You stupid girl, have you been kicked in the head by a donkey?!"
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