Chapter 34: Changed to Xiao Ling
"Really? Ten taels of silver."
Chen Qi paused and looked at Xiao Si's thin little face.
"It's just that the family that wants to buy the maid said that this is a buyout. In other words, once you come to their house, you are theirs. From now on, you will no longer receive monthly wages, and you can't go home and get married. Your future prospects will be entirely at their disposal. If you agree, I won't go to other families to ask again."
Chen Qi remained calm and his tone was flat, just like buying tofu on the street.
She knew that if she showed even the slightest sign that she wanted Si'er, her mother would immediately raise the price.
"Yes! Yes!"
Why wouldn't she be willing to pay ten taels of silver?
If she married someone, it would only be a gift money, but if she was sold to Chen Qi, it would be a clean slate.
Ten taels of silver is enough for the whole family, young and old, to eat porridge for two or three years.
"In that case, I'll write you a list and make the payment. I'll take her away in a moment."
"Oh, Miss Shen, no, Grandma Shen! Why are you still writing a list? Just give me the money and take me away. We don't want this thing in our family, and no one can read."
When Chen Qi came, she brought paper and pen and insisted on writing.
After a while, the documents were written, the fingerprints were pressed, and the payment was settled.
Chen Qi asked Si'er, "Is there anything you need to bring?"
Her mother immediately became alert, fearing that Si'er would take away the old clothes at home and leave them for the children in the yard to wear.
Si'er shook his head and said that he wanted to leave empty-handed and not take anything.
Chen Qi took Si'er out of the door. Just after taking a few steps, she heard the footsteps of her mother chasing after her.
Chen Qi turned around, thinking her mother had something to say to Si'er.
Unexpectedly, her mother walked around the two of them and ran away without stopping.
"Sister, stop looking. She's gone to tell her man the good news. I guess they're going to order some wine and have a good drink to celebrate finally selling me."
Si'er's tone was very calm, with no hint of sadness or joy.
Instead, Chen Qi couldn't bear it, so she asked Si'er to pull her and quickly walked back to the Shen family on the front street.
As soon as he entered the door, Wu'er was eating dates given by Shen's father in the Shen family yard, and saw Shen Qi bringing a disheveled child over.
"Second Madam, didn't you say you wanted to find a girl? Why did you bring back a brat?"
Xiao Si walked up to him, his hair disheveled, like a little lion.
"I'm not a brat, you are!"
Wu'er was so frightened that he took a step back and even dropped the dates.
Chen Qi smiled and pulled Xiao Si back to her room.
Then he brought some hot water and jasmine soap and asked her to wash her hair and wipe her body.
Xiao Si didn't know how long it had been since he had washed his hair. It was not until he changed the water for the third time that his messy hair became smooth.
Chen Qi found her an old light yellow dress that she had worn before she got married, so that she could replace the tattered one.
Unfortunately, Xiao Si'er is too thin and small, so the clothes look empty in his eyes because of the long sleeves and trouser legs.
Chen Qi tucked her clothes up a few times, dried her hair, and combed it straight.
After finishing the cleanup, Chen Qi looked left and right and was barely satisfied.
"In a moment, you will follow me to the Xie family in Pingshan County, which is also my home. Do you understand? From now on, you are mine."
Xiao Si'er sat on the chair and nodded.
"As soon as my sister said that, I knew it wasn't some other family in the county that wanted a maid, it was you who wanted me."
Shen Qi smiled.
"Si'er is really smart. However, the Xie family is a little different from the families in our town. They have a big house and many people. Sometimes, they have their own rules, and I have to follow them, and so do you."
Xiao Si'er nodded vigorously.
"I just told you that after I buy someone, I won't give them monthly allowance, and I won't let them go home. That's actually a lie. From now on, I'll give you monthly allowance on time. If you want to keep it for yourself, they won't know you have money. If you want to spend it on your family, that's up to you."
Xiao Si shook his head.
"No, I won't give them the money. I remember that you took me, and from now on, I am yours. I will never return to that home."
Chen Qi touched Si'er's head and felt emotional.
After the two of them had discussed it, Shen Qi took her out to meet everyone in the Shen family.
When they arrived in the yard, Wu'er's eyes lit up.
"Oh, it's not a bad boy, it's a sweet girl!"
Chen Qi touched Si'er's hair and said with a smile: "Indeed, our Si'er is doing well!"
Du Xiaowu looked at her skinny little face.
"Your name is Si'er? What a coincidence! My name is Du Xiaowu. No, my name is Du Yingzong, Ying as in response, Zong as in ancestor. I'm the fifth child in the family, so they like to call me Wu'er."
He took out a handful of dates from his arms and handed them over.
"I saved this for you. Consider it my apology. It's so sweet."
Si'er stared at him for a long time without moving.
Xiaowu walked closer and handed it to her.
"Take it, please."
Si'er finally stretched out his skinny little hand, took the handful of dates, picked up one and put it in his mouth, as if accepting his apology.
In the courtyard, mother Zhang and sister-in-law Qiao were very pleased to see that Chen Qi had indeed brought Si'er back. They found a lot of half-new clothes and shoes, packed them up, and gave them to Si'er to wear, without missing a lot of instructions.
"Si'er, when you go to the Xie family in the future, even though your sister Yue is around, you must remember to read people's expressions, work more and talk less, and don't cause trouble."
"Everyone has their own rules. Whatever you say or do, follow the rules."
"Ask your elder sister first about everything. She is the mistress of the Xie family's main house. As long as she nods, you will have someone to back you up."
"The name Si'er doesn't sound nice, nor does it sound like a proper name for a girl. Why not pick another one?"
"I have a ready-made name here. When your little brother was born, your father and I decided on it: a boy named Ji and a girl named Ling, similar to Shao'er and Qi'er. How about calling her Xiao Ling? Do you like it?"
Si'er nodded repeatedly.
Xiao Wu shouted from the side: "Xiao Ling Xiao Ling, this is a good name!"
Everyone laughed.
Everyone talked for a while, and in the afternoon, Chen Qi took Xiao Ling and Xiao Wu and drove back to the Xie family.
When they arrived at the East Courtyard, Chen Qi gave Xiao Ling another good bath, changed her into clean clothes that fit her, and arranged for her to live with Chun Liu.
Xiao Ling is smart. Although she is thin, she is strong. She works hard at fetching water and mopping the floor. Yu Jing and Chun Liu both like her.
She was very perceptive and quickly figured out the rules of the Xie family.
After a few days, Chen Qi saw that she looked quite well, so she took her to meet the old lady and everyone in the west courtyard, saying that she was her maid. With the old lady's permission, she was allowed to move freely in the Xie family mansion.
By the time Chen Qi went to the Zhou family for a banquet, Xiao Ling looked like a maid in a mansion.
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