"Sell another batch of people?" The butler's eyelids twitched. "Has Madam chosen any suitable candidates?"
“Take this list,” Mrs. Jin handed over a piece of paper. “Everything except the ones on the list has been sold.”
The butler took the list and glanced at it, noticing there were only about ten people on it. He gasped, "You're even selling Bi Lian?"
This is the lady's personal maid.
“Hmm,” Madam Jin said, her face grim, “the manor cannot support so many people.”
Madam Jin was quite clever when it came to matters in the inner quarters. Bilian was quick-witted and smooth, but not honest enough. She preferred to keep the clumsy Bihe.
"Hongying is for sale too?" The butler frowned. "She was the second young lady's wet nurse and also the madam's dowry maid. She was quite loyal to the madam."
"So what? Who told her to be so stupid?" Madam Jin sneered. "She can't even handle such a small matter. What use is she?"
"This old servant understands."
The conversation between the two was kept secret, and soon the news that the mistress of the house was going to sell people spread throughout the entire mansion.
When Hongying learned that she had been sold, she could hardly believe it. "Bilian, is Madam really going to sell me?"
She had served Madam Jin since childhood, and even if she hadn't done anything particularly meritorious over the years, she had certainly put in a lot of hard work. Yet, in the end, she ended up like this.
"What, you don't believe me?" Bilian said sarcastically. "Even Madam has abandoned me, so how special can you be?"
“But,” Hongying explained in a panic, “I am utterly loyal to my wife, and I even lost my home, my husband, and my children for her sake.”
"Shut up!" Miss Jin couldn't stand it anymore. "Does the wet nurse resent my mother for being ungrateful?"
Hongying wanted to answer yes, but dared not say it. She buried her head in her chest and bit her lip tightly. "I didn't mean that. I just don't want to leave the Jin family."
As she spoke, she knelt down on the ground with a thud. "Second Miss, please beg for my life, for the sake of how many years I have taken care of you. Don't let Madam sell me off. I'm worthless, really worthless."
At her age, she has neither good looks nor physical strength; no matter where she ends up, she won't fare well.
At that moment, she truly regretted it.
If things hadn't gone too far back then, even if she were sold off, she would still have her husband and children to rely on, and they certainly wouldn't have abandoned her.
“Nanny,” Miss Jin said with difficulty, “given the current situation in the manor, I cannot cause you any more trouble.”
Upon hearing this, Hongying looked at the child she had raised with unfamiliar eyes and suddenly felt that he was a stranger.
“Miss,” her voice was hoarse, “can’t you really plead for me? If I’m sold off, I really have no way to survive.”
“Nanny,” Miss Jin Er turned her face away, “I will go to the temple to pray for your well-being in a while.”
Upon hearing this, Hongying's heart sank to the bottom. After silently shedding tears, she glanced at Miss Jin and stumbled out, crying out, "Karma, karma!"
Seeing this, Miss Jin hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and explained, "It's not that my mother is intolerant, it's just that the wet nurse is too cold-hearted, making it impossible to trust her."
Hearing this, Bilian felt very ironic. "As long as Madam and Miss are happy, that's all that matters. We are nothing but dogs of the Jin family. The master can get rid of us without giving any reason."
After saying this, she wiped away her tears and went outside.
Originally, she wanted to ask Miss Jin for help, but she didn't expect that this person was kind-hearted but ruthless. Bilian didn't want to cause any more trouble, but she hated the Jin family and the entire Jin family in her heart.
She asked herself if she had done anything to wrong the Jin family, yet she ended up like this.
These words made Miss Jin pause, her eyes darkening slightly.
They all came to her for protection, unaware that she herself was struggling to protect herself.
The secrets in the backyard go unnoticed by most.
The manager, with the list tucked into his pocket, rushed over immediately, beaming, and said, "Madam has agreed, so we can proceed with the deed now. Would you like me to show you the shop first?"
“No need, we can just go through the contract,” Jiang Nuan said with a light laugh. “I trust the housekeeper.”
"Don't worry, Madam," the butler said with a smirk, "these shops will definitely be worth the price."
Regardless of whether they had investigated beforehand, these words are still pleasing.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group went to the county government office to complete the contract.
It was already late at night, and the chirping of insects only added to the desolation.
After dealing with the Huang family several times, the county officials were very familiar with them, and things went quite smoothly. The contract was completed and the case was filed within half an hour.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you today, Steward," Jiang Nuan said, giving him a purse after paying for the transaction. "When you have time in the future, feel free to visit my home."
"It's just my duty, Madam Jiang, you're too kind," the steward said respectfully after receiving the silver. "The Jin family also has some antique treasures. If you're interested, Madam, you might as well take a look."
"What kind of things do you have?" Jiang Nuan asked tentatively. "Are they items passed down from the Jin family's ancestors?"
"Indeed, it is a collection of items passed down from our ancestors. We have a wide range of interests, including the Four Treasures of the Study, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and gold, silver and jade artifacts," the butler paused, then hinted, "If Madam does not mind, I would like to select a few for you."
"How much?"
"This kind of item doesn't have a specific price," the butler smiled slightly, "as long as it's roughly the same price."
Having said all that, it would be foolish to refuse. In the end, the group followed the steward back to the Jin residence and entered the storeroom to make their selections.
After a whole night of toil, they finally made their way back at dawn, having loaded a whole oxcart. To avoid attracting attention, they carefully wrapped it tightly in black tarpaulin.
Once they got home, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
With such a large deal looming over him, it was impossible not to feel nervous.
"Mother," Huang Lao Er said impatiently, "bring out the house deed so I can take a good look at it again."
Although he was right next to me when I was going through the ceremony, I was so nervous that my mind went blank and I didn't remember the contents at all. I even forgot where I was.
The same goes for Boss Huang and his group.
A group of young people, this is their first time making such a big deal, and they still haven't quite realized it. Although they seem calm on the surface, they are just putting on a brave face and don't want to embarrass themselves in front of outsiders.
“Okay,” Jiang Nuan looked at them with amusement and took out all the land deeds and house deeds. “These five shops should be the best in the Jin family’s property. They are in good locations and have a large area. Even the smallest shop has seven-tenths of an acre of land.”
A shop of over 460 square meters is really not small.
"Butler Jin really knows how to do things. At least those purses weren't wasted," Huang Xiaosan said happily. "Even if we don't do business in the future, we can still make a good amount of money from collecting rent."
"Such a good thing is rare," Jiang Chao said, somewhat puzzled. "Why didn't we buy more?"
"Always leave some room for maneuver. The Jin family is being watched by so many people, all waiting to get their hands on them. Leaving some room for others will prevent them from being attacked by a group of people."
“I see,” Jiang Chao said with a sudden realization. “I thought Aunt had other plans.”
"That's true, I do have some other ideas!"
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