"What?" Jiang Nuan raised an eyebrow, suppressing her shock, and asked in a low voice, "What about the mistress?"
She was truly afraid that her son would also be sold into slavery.
“Mother, I didn’t sell myself,” Huang Xiaosan said, his eyes flashing. “My wife was also released from her contract, so don’t worry.”
Huang Xiaosan felt a little guilty. Although he hadn't sold himself into servitude, he had signed a 20-year contract.
This contract provided him with a guarantee, but it also bound him tightly to the owner of Wuweilou Restaurant.
"That's good," Jiang Nuan breathed a sigh of relief, but seized on the loophole in Huang Xiaosan's words, "What's your situation at Wuweilou? Why can't you leave?"
“Mother,” Huang Xiaosan lowered his head and spoke with a lack of confidence, “I signed a twenty-year indenture. The employer will not release me before the time is up.”
This long-term contract was signed without his family's knowledge; Huang Xiaosan never told anyone about it.
If Jiang Nuan hadn't asked him today, he would have kept it a secret forever.
Only those who sign long-term contracts are considered true members of Wuweilou, receiving better treatment and receiving more dedicated instruction from their mentors.
Those who didn't sign long-term contracts were the lowest-ranking servants, doing a lot of work and not even getting enough to eat.
After a long silence, Jiang Nuan finally asked, "When was it signed?"
A twenty-year contract, in ancient times when sixty years old was considered a long life, was almost equivalent to spending half a lifetime on it.
"It was during the marriage proposal," Huang Xiao said, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, "that my father-in-law's family's indentures were all in the hands of the landlord. My wife was released by the head of the household with a clemency. My father-in-law was worried about marrying his daughter off to an outsider, so he made me sign a long-term contract."
Long-term contracts aren't something just anyone can sign; only those with the ability and the favor of the family are qualified to sign. Huang Xiaosan was excited about it for quite a while.
Only now do I realize how inconvenient it is to have this extra long contract.
Juquanlou's business is getting better and better. If this continues, Wuweilou will have to close down sooner or later. What will happen to those who have signed long-term contracts then?
“Mother,” Jin said, bowing her head, “it’s all my fault.”
She was, after all, a maid raised in a wealthy family, and she knew better than anyone what a long-term contract meant.
Once you sign a long-term contract, you become someone else's servant. Although you can regain your freedom after a certain number of years, it's such a long time, who knows what changes might happen?
She had begged her father not to do it, but he said that this was the rule in the family.
Her employer has kindly cancelled her indenture, so she should now do something to help him gain favor...
Because of this, Jin felt extremely guilty and stayed in the county town, afraid to return to the Huang family.
"Mistress," Jiang Nuan wanted to curse, "why didn't you discuss such a big thing with your family?"
Twenty years from now, the flowers will have all withered, and who knows what will happen?
“Mother,” Huang Xiaosan said helplessly, rubbing his hands together. “I’m afraid you won’t agree.”
His mother didn't really agree with him becoming an apprentice. If she had known he was going to sign a long-term contract, she might have had him dragged home.
He had finally gotten this opportunity to marry a beautiful and lovely wife, and he didn't want to give it up.
Jiang Nuan was about to speak when the waiter came in.
"Sir, your steamed lamb, roast goose, dried meat, and smoked chicken have arrived. Please enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, Brother Er," Jiang Nuan said, then turned to the three of them and said, "Eat up. We can talk about it after we finish eating."
She needs some time to process things and think about what to do.
Jiang Nuan ordered only meat this time.
Before, she didn't feel anything when she ate meat every day, but suddenly she could only eat a tiny bit of minced meat, and she was so hungry that her eyes would light up when she saw meat.
Although the Huang family occasionally cuts off some meat, there are too many people in the family, so each person gets only a few pieces.
The disparity in living standards made Jiang Nuan, who prides herself on not liking meat, wish she could soak in a bucket of meat.
Madam Xie was also tempted, but she still had some sense. "Mother, let's eat less. We can take the rest back with our husbands."
"Don't worry about that, just eat first. If it's good, we'll buy another one to take home."
The cost of living in the county town seemed high to Xie and Huang Xiaosan, but to her it was good value for money. Four dishes cost only a little over 180 coins, averaging a little over 40 coins per dish. They were all meat, and the portions were generous. It was a very good deal.
"Mother," Xie Shi wanted to say something, but after moving her lips, she obediently agreed.
Jiang Nuan nodded, picked up her chopsticks to add more food, but found that the dishes she wanted to eat were already placed in her bowl.
“Mother,” Jin said respectfully, standing beside Jiang Nuan, “I will serve you your meal.”
“No, no need,” Jiang Nuan said stiffly. “You sit down and eat properly. I can do it myself.”
Has she been set up with rules?
Jiang Nuan showed no outward signs of distress, but she was utterly bewildered inside.
“Mother, please let her serve you,” Huang Xiaosan said sincerely. “It’s our way of showing filial piety, so please don’t stop us.”
“No need,” Jiang Nuan said, her tone becoming more serious. “I’m still quite mobile and don’t need anyone to serve me. You can eat your food.”
Forgive her for being weak-willed and used to being self-sufficient; she feels uncomfortable being waited on like this.
“Mother,” Jin looked at Jiang Nuan with a careful and aggrieved expression, “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought trouble to my husband. I’m the one who has wronged the Huang family.”
What's wrong now?
Jiang Nuan was completely confused.
I have absolutely no idea how things turned out this way.
She didn't seem to say anything, so why did the third son's wife look like she was blaming her?
Confused, Jiang Nuan quickly sought help from Xie Shi.
Upon receiving Jiang Nuan's look, Xie Shi immediately understood and stepped in to defuse the situation, "Third sister-in-law, please sit down. Mother is not blaming you. Our family is not a mean family. We will not set rules for our daughters-in-law, nor will we blame people for no reason."
“Wife,” Huang Xiaosan tugged at Jin Shi, “Don’t overthink it, just sit down and eat.”
“Yes,” Kim replied obediently, but she ate the meal absentmindedly.
She was always afraid that her family would find out that Huang Xiaosan had signed a long-term contract.
Now that Jiang Nuan knows, she avoids talking about it, which makes her even more afraid.
No one would be at peace knowing that their son had signed a contract to sell himself into servitude because of a woman, and the mother-in-law would not easily let go of this troublemaker.
A meal takes only about fifteen minutes.
After having the dishes cleared away and ordering a pot of tea, Jiang Nuan rinsed her mouth before speaking, "Continuing from what we were saying, how can you get rid of this long-term contract?"
“Mother,” Jin Shi said, her face turning deathly pale, “only the master’s grace can erase the long-term contract.”
"Isn't there any way?" Jiang Nuan looked at Jin Shi seriously. "Servants who have been sold into servitude can at least redeem themselves with money, but can't long-term contracts do the same?"
“Mother,” Huang Xiaosan lowered her head, “When I signed the contract, I already agreed on the ransom, and our family can’t afford that much.”
"How much silver?"
"Five, five hundred taels." Huang Xiaosan said, then lowered his head in shame.
Five hundred taels of silver—that's more than their family could ever earn in their entire lives.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan laughed angrily, "Five hundred taels, what a fine five hundred taels!"
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