When they left the Yan family home, Old Mrs. Yan, leaning on her cane, insisted on seeing the family of three to the door.
As Jiang Huai left, he glanced back at Old Madam Yan but didn't say those two words, "Goodbye."
He would say goodbye to all his acquaintances. But with Old Mrs. Yan, he felt he would never see her again.
On the way home, Jiang Huai buried his head in Jiang Shan's arms and asked, "Mother, do people really go to heaven after they die?"
Jiang Shan was startled. She cupped Jiang Huai's face in her hands, looked at him intently, and said seriously, "Huai'er, I can't answer this question for you, but I think that when a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; all that remains in the world are memories. Therefore, we should cherish every day we live and have no regrets. What do you think?"
Jiang Huai thought for a moment, nodded, and hugged Jiang Shan without saying a word.
Jiang Shan looked at Fu Qiyuan with some worry.
Fu Qiyuan gently shook his head, indicating that she didn't need to worry.
Jiang Huai was lively and energetic as soon as he returned to the inn, and he even took out the antidote packet that Manager Yan had given him and showed it off for a while.
When Saburo returned from the mountain, his little face was dark and gloomy, and a big tail following behind him was leaning on a cane.
Jiang Shan stepped forward, patted Sanlang's head, and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Who owes money?"
Sanlang turned around and glared at Gu Yuchun angrily, saying, "You can't even walk properly and you're running around up and down the mountain. What, do you want to rely on me for the rest of your life?"
Gu Yuchun swallowed hard and said weakly, "I...I picked some mushrooms for the county princess..."
Jiang Shan then noticed that Gu Yuchun was carrying a basket on his back.
Liangchen quickly stepped forward to help Gu Yuchun remove the basket, which was found to be full of mushrooms.
"Oh my, this is delicious! Liangchen, quickly send it to the kitchen and have them stew it with pork!" Jiang Shan smiled, his eyes crinkling.
"Sister!" Sanlang stamped his foot, then turned and went to his room, looking somewhat disappointed.
Gu Yuchun's smile froze instantly, and he looked utterly dejected and pitiful.
Jiang Shan sighed inwardly and called Gu Yuchun in to sit down.
Gu Yuchun sat there in a state of trepidation, not daring to even look up.
Only now did he truly realize what kind of people the Jiao family were.
Their guards were the Imperial Guards who protected the capital. When they bought things, maids and attendants paid for them. Their carriages were incredibly beautiful. Even the county magistrate had to bow when he saw them. A single word from them could decide a person's life or death.
He didn't even know how he had the audacity to make such a request to the third young master of the Jiao family!
But he doesn't regret it!
He didn't want to live his life in such a muddled way! Even being a dog by the side of Young Master Jiao was better than just wasting his days in this place!
"Gu Yuchun! Gu Yuchun!!" Jiang Shan called out several times before Gu Yuchun finally came to his senses.
A maidservant served tea, and Jiang Shan gestured, "Have a sip of hot tea first."
Gu Yuchun obediently picked up the cup and took a sip.
I don't know what kind of tea it is, but it smells really good.
"Gu Yuchun, as you can see, we've returned to our hometown to rebuild my father's tombstone. We won't be leaving anytime soon. You should focus on recovering from your injuries. We'll send someone to find you before we leave, and then we'll decide whether to take you with us. If your leg doesn't heal properly, we definitely won't want you!"
Gu Yuchun said excitedly, "Princess, I will listen to you. I will take good care of my injury. I won't run around these days and I won't bother the Third... Third Young Master again. I will ask Aunt Fu to make me bone broth. I will recover from my leg injury quickly!"
Jiang Shan smiled and said, "I've had some food and medicine prepared. Take them back and have Aunt Fu take good care of you. That will help you recover faster."
Gu Yuchun thanked them profusely and went back with his bags. Sanlang watched from upstairs and breathed a sigh of relief.
The servant beside Sanlang asked cautiously, "Third Young Master, will you take him back?"
Sanlang curled his lip and said, "So stupid and so dim-witted, who would want him to serve them!"
The servant let out a soft breath, his face beaming with undisguised joy.
"It was quite stupid. Knowing that the Third Young Master was just saying it casually, he actually jumped in, causing the Third Young Master to be scolded by the Old Madam."
Sanlang glanced at the servant and said, "Whether I take him or not is not up to me, it's up to my sister!"
The servant's face stiffened, and his shoulders slumped.
Sanlang suppressed a laugh and said, "Are you stupid? Even if we take him with us, why do we have to have him come with me? We have everything we need, except for manpower! The city logistics is short of people, the shops are short of people, Shangjing and Yuzhou are short of people, and Brother Asheng's side is short of people. Tell me, where can't we put him?"
The servant raised an eyebrow, his worry instantly turning to joy.
"The Third Young Master is absolutely right, hehehe!"
However, Sanlang never dreamed that with so many opportunities, Gu Yuchun would choose to go down one wrong alley and kneel down in front of Sanlang in front of everyone, selling himself.
It's normal for someone to sell themselves; once the contract of servitude is signed, Gu Yuchun's life is no longer his own!
No matter how much Jiao's mother tried to persuade him, and no matter what others said, Gu Yuchun was determined to follow Sanlang!
After half a month of entanglement, Sanlang reluctantly accepted Gu Yuchun's indenture.
Sanlang's servant was filled with bitterness and resentment...!
Just as the tomb was nearing completion, the Yan family came to announce the passing of Old Madam Yan.
Jiang Shan was startled. He stood up, sat down, and stood up again. It took him a long time to recover.
The servant who came to announce the death said it was a joyous occasion.
The night the old lady passed away, she kept asking for chestnut pastries that Jiangshan had sent over, and she also drank a cup of hot milk tea before falling asleep contentedly.
She had a smile on her face even when she was asleep, and that smile became eternal.
The entire Jiao family went to see the old lady off, and Jiang Huai even wore mourning clothes and kowtowed to her.
Old Master Yan and Manager Yan were filled with mixed emotions. They knew it was against the law, but they could not refuse Jiang Shan's offer.
Jiang Shan quickly accepted this cruel reality. After sending off Old Madam Yan, Jiao Tongchun's tomb was also repaired, and villagers from all the villages covering the entire hill went to pay their respects.
The Jiao family took Jiao Tongchun's memorial tablet and returned home.
Gu Yuchun's legs had not fully healed yet, and he was not very agile when walking, so he followed several maids and sat in the carriage behind.
Liangchen looked at Gu Yuchun's uncomfortable face with amusement and said with a smile, "You don't need to worry. The old lady, the young lady, the master, the young master and the heir are all very good people. They never treat us like servants. They even give us monthly allowances and clothes for all four seasons. We live a very good life in the manor!"
Gu Yuchun's heart eased slightly, and she asked cautiously, "Sister Liangchen, I am a country girl, I don't know etiquette, I can't read, and I can't do anything. I know that the Third Young Master is willing to keep me because he is kind-hearted. I will work hard in the future and I will never dare to be lazy!"
Liang Chun smiled, pursing her lips, "There are only a few masters in the manor, where would there be so much work to do? As long as you don't try anything funny and are absolutely loyal to your masters, that's enough!"
"Yes, yes, I will!" Gu Yuchun hugged his bundle tightly and nodded vigorously.
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