The servant almost forgot that behind the Grand Tutor's mansion's current splendor, there was once a dark period.
Apart from the Grand Tutor and the Old Madam, the other masters were all born in the countryside. Their current status is admired by everyone in the capital, but they have never looked down on anyone or put on airs as masters.
The servant, ashamed, admitted his mistake and solemnly apologized to the Ran siblings.
Ran Xiaoqi, however, once again changed her understanding of Sanlang.
My master comes from the countryside. My master has caught frogs in rivers and ponds, dug up kudzu roots, eaten green rice dumplings made of mugwort leaves, and even gnawed on rice crusts!
Oh dear, it feels like my master has suddenly fallen from heaven to earth, and we have so much in common to talk about!
The distance between Ran Xiaoqi and her brother and Sanlang suddenly decreased a lot, and they no longer had any reservations about speaking to each other.
Ran Xiaojiu even eagerly presented Jiang Shan with the mugwort dumplings her sister had made.
"This is... a qingtuan?" Jiang Shan made the judgment based on the smell.
Ran Xiaojiu nodded vigorously with a delighted expression.
This shape...and this color...it's quite different from a qingtuan!
Jiang Shan hesitated for a moment, then took a piece of green rice dumpling from the plate and took a bite.
"It tastes good. Tell your sister that my little kitchen has crushed peanuts and sesame seeds, and she can add some more filling. Sanlang likes the crispy and salty flavor!"
"Yes, yes, my sister also made a box of ghee cakes, and the young master ate them all by himself!"
Ran Xiaojiu smiled so wide her eyes disappeared.
Jiang Shan smiled and patted Ran Xiaojiu's head, then winked at Liang Chen.
A moment later, Liangchen came out carrying several sets of ready-made clothes.
Jiang Shan placed the clothes in Ran Xiaojiu's hands and said, "There are four sets of clothes here. You and your brother will each have two sets. Your sister's clothes have already been sent over. She can wear them when the season changes in a few days."
Ran Xiaojiu stared blankly at Jiang Shan, her lips trembling, but she couldn't utter a single word.
"Go and see if it fits. If it doesn't, come back and let Aunt Liangchen help you alter it."
Ran Xiaojiu bowed silently, then turned and ran away, holding her clothes in her hands.
He ran very fast; his small stature seemed to generate boundless energy. His face turned red from running, and he was panting heavily.
That evening, when the three siblings gathered for dinner, it was not as lively and cheerful as usual; they were all very quiet.
Ran Xiaosan broke the silence first, saying something startling: "Seventh Sister, Third Brother is leaving."
Ran Xiaoqi froze, looking over in disbelief.
"My health has recovered, and in a few days I'll be going to a very far place with Chengbang Logistics. Don't worry, I'm working with your sworn brother on a special route; it's safe, easy, and the pay is high!"
Ran Xiaoqi wanted to say something, but Ran Xiaosan waved his hand to stop her and said in a deep voice, "It is our blessing to meet the young master. As long as you can stay by his side and serve him safely, I will do my best to fight again, not for anything else, but so that you can have a good future!"
Ran Xiaoqi understood perfectly well that the more prestigious and powerful a family was, the clearer its rules and hierarchy were. Neither the Grand Tutor's Mansion nor the Duke's Mansion in Huangshan Garden were places where ordinary people like them could live. Her third brother wanted to earn more money so that he could successfully redeem her and her brother in the future.
Ran Xiaoqi has already arrogantly sold herself and Xiao Jiu into slavery.
Even though they were reluctant to part, the three siblings couldn't bring themselves to say anything to persuade or dissuade them from staying. Compared to their previous life experiences, this was already a blessing!
With this intention and unwavering motivation, the elder brother acted without hesitation, forging ahead with unwavering courage. In just six months, Ran Xiaosan became Jiang Yong's capable assistant.
Naturally, the wages were so high that they made Ran Xiaosan's eyes pop out.
The younger sister was not to be outdone, doing her best to fulfill her duties by Sanlang's side, keeping his courtyard in perfect order. From some point onward, Ran Xiaoqi gradually appeared by Jiao's mother's side, sharing some of the household affairs with her.
So when Ran Xiaosan stood in front of Sanlang with a silver note of one thousand taels, smiling and saying he wanted to redeem his younger brother and sister, he encountered an unprecedented and unimaginable obstacle.
Sanlang's original words were: "You think you can poach the Grand Tutor's chief steward with just a thousand taels of silver?"
Grand Steward?
Ran Xiaosan was stunned for a moment, then carefully emphasized, "No, not the head steward, it's my sister and brother."
Ran Xiaoqi was also in a daze. Her brother wanted to redeem her and take her home, and even bought a new house. Should she go back or not?
Sanlang glanced at Ran Xiaoqi and said expressionlessly, "Tell your third brother how many important things you have to take care of this month, next month, and the month after next?"
Ran Xiaoqi's expression tightened. After a moment's thought, she said seriously, "Young Master, this month is the one-month celebration for Sister Qin's child, and we haven't prepared the birthday gifts for Princess Huai'en yet. The invitations for the lotus-viewing banquet hosted by Madam Wu have just arrived. Next month, His Majesty is hosting a banquet for Consort Su at Huangshan Garden, which is a very important event. There's also the trade fair that my sister is hosting, and the banquet for the Grand Princess... Oh dear, I have to go now! Third Brother, I'll come find you later!"
Watching Ran Xiaoqi run away like a gust of wind, Ran Xiaosan was stunned for a long time.
He could understand each word of what Seventh Sister said individually, but when they were put together, he couldn't understand a single word!
Sister Qin's baby's one-month celebration, Madam Wu's invitation—what do these have to do with Seventh Sister? And His Majesty and Consort Su—can Seventh Sister casually mention these things? Also, who is the sister Seventh Sister is talking about?
In just two years, what exactly did he miss out on?
Seeing Ran Xiaosan's dumbfounded expression, Ran Xiaojiu felt a little sorry for him and lowered her voice to say, "Third Brother, Seventh Sister is very busy right now. Your little bit of money probably won't be enough to redeem her!"
After thinking for a moment, he added, "I'm currently studying at the Holy Academy. Someone wanted to buy my spot before. Guess how much they offered?"
Ran Xiaosan swallowed hard, held up one finger, thought for a moment, then held up two more fingers, "Three...three thousand taels?"
Ran Xiaojiu pursed her lips and said disdainfully, "Poverty limits our imagination. It's not three thousand, it's twenty thousand! Twenty thousand taels of silver to buy a spot in the Holy Academy, and the young master didn't even acknowledge it!"
Ran Xiaosan gasped.
Returning to the two-courtyard house, which he had spent five thousand taels of silver to furnish, Ran Xiaosan felt, for the first time, utterly despondent.
For three whole days, he racked his brains but still couldn't come up with a way to redeem his seventh sister.
On the fourth day, the dejected Ran Xiaosan was awakened by a knock on the door.
Upon opening the courtyard gate, one is greeted by an elderly woman dressed in a festive red dress.
"Who are you looking for?" Ran Xiaoqi asked dejectedly.
The old woman waved her handkerchief, bringing with it a fragrant breeze.
"Oh my, is that Brother Ran? What a wonderful day! I'm Matchmaker Chen, someone has asked me to find a match for your sister!"
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