Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Entering the Mansion (2)
Li Xiaoxiao honestly replied, "If we don't go and cook, we won't have any food to eat, so we have no choice but to go."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the courtyard became tense. A hint of pity flashed in Granny Qi's eyes, and she sighed, "She's a pitiful person. In that case, come with me to see Madam."
Wei Yingjie's eyes widened. He'd been chosen? He was going to see the magistrate's wife?
He remembered Granny Qin's instructions. The job at the county government office had been going on for a few days, and Steward Zhao wanted to find a few literate servants, regardless of their level of literacy, as long as they could recognize some characters. Literate servants were a few taels more expensive than ordinary servants, and their brokerage firm had taken it to heart and had been searching for them for days.
But how easy is it to find literate people? They wanted to get on good terms with the new magistrate, and they searched in that direction but couldn't find anyone. Finally, they found a half-baked Li Xiaoxiao, who didn't know many words, but was enough to be a servant.
They originally intended to sell her for a high price, but somehow she offended Granny Qin. Granny Qin asked him to help conceal the fact that she could read, intending to take her back and teach her a lesson after she failed the selection. Who knew that things would turn out so badly, and she was actually selected anyway?
Wei Yingjie was filled with regret. To curry favor with Granny Qin, he and Steward Zhao had concealed the fact that Li Xiaoxiao was literate. Now that she had been selected, he couldn't go back on his word and say that she was literate, otherwise he would offend Steward Zhao. He could only sell Li Xiaoxiao as an ordinary servant, losing ten taels of silver for nothing!
Granny Qi selected four maids, including Li Xiaoxiao, and headed towards the inner courtyard. Erniu watched helplessly as her figure disappeared in front of the hanging flower gate, her eyes red as if they were about to bleed.
Her face flushed red, she stamped her foot, and mustered her courage to shout, "Wait—wait a minute!"
Everyone in the courtyard was startled by her voice and turned to look, including Granny Qi, who was about to reach the hanging flower gate.
When Wei Yingjie saw Erniu stepping forward, his heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong. Just as he was about to reprimand her, Granny Qi spoke up in front of him: "What do you want?"
Erniu said hurriedly, "Granny Qi, you, you choose me! I can do everything. I'm used to sweeping, washing clothes, cooking, and chopping wood. I'm the most suitable person to be a servant..."
Granny Qi glanced at it indifferently, then turned around and continued walking forward.
Erniu cried out in alarm, "Granny Qi, listen to me! Even if you look down on me, you can't take a liking to this Li Xiaoxiao! You don't know her, she slept until noon this morning and still hadn't woken up. When Granny Qin went to wake her, she hit her! She... she's not fit to be a servant in the county government!"
Granny Qi stopped in her tracks, looking at Li Xiaoxiao with surprise: "Is what she said true?"
Li Xiaoxiao never expected that being just a servant would make her the target of hatred. Moreover, this Granny Qi clearly said that she would take them to see the madam, and hadn't even mentioned buying her yet, but Erniu was so eager to bring her down.
Li Xiaoxiao frowned. It turned out that the world was not as simple as she thought. Some people were quite disgusting. Just because she woke up late and accidentally injured Granny Qin due to stress, she never expected that she would become someone else's handle to bring her down.
Seeing Granny Qi looking at her, Li Xiaoxiao said expressionlessly, "Forty-two days ago, I escaped from the flood and traveled south with the refugee group. Because I was all alone, I had to sleep with one eye open. That's why I was bought back to the brokerage yesterday and haven't woken up since..."
She looked into Granny Qi's eyes without looking away, and didn't mention why she had hit her.
Granny Qi sighed and instantly understood her predicament.
Seeing that Granny Qi had been persuaded by her in just a few words and was about to turn and walk away, Erniu immediately became anxious: "Then hit someone—"
Butler Zhao suddenly spoke up and shouted, "Enough! This is the magistrate's residence. Who gives a servant like you the right to speak out of turn?"
Erniu was startled, and Wei Yingjie quickly abandoned his spectator attitude, stepped forward and slapped Erniu: "You brat, who gave you permission to make such a racket here? What did I warn you about before we left?"
Faced with his cannibalistic gaze, Erniu finally became frightened. If she couldn't stay today, wouldn't Wei Yingjie eat her when he got back?
She took a few steps forward and knelt down in front of Butler Zhao with a thud, grabbing his hem: "Butler Zhao, I really can work, please give me a chance, I will definitely do better than Li Xiaoxiao—"
Steward Zhao frowned, trying to snatch the hem of the dress back, but Erniu held on tightly, pleading with him tearfully for mercy. Granny Qi sneered, "Zhao Zhiren, if this shameless, unruly troublemaker were to enter our county government—"
Steward Zhao was startled and immediately shoved Erniu away. Erniu was no match for his strength and was pushed to the ground. Without him saying a word, Wei Yingjie had already ordered his attendants to each take one of Erniu's arms and pull her away. Erniu was crying with tears streaming down her face and still wanted to speak, but Wei Yingjie took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and stuffed it into her mouth. As he did so, he sternly told his attendants, "Take her back to the brokerage immediately and keep a close watch on her!"
Large tears dripped from his forehead, and he inwardly groaned in despair.
Erniu's actions have really ruined their brokerage business. If the county magistrate's mansion thinks that all the servants he brought are of the same quality as Erniu, then Jinji will not be able to survive in Biyang County.
Wei Yingjie realized he had done something foolish. He had been too careless; he shouldn't have brought out a servant who wasn't properly trained. Someone with Erniu's personality would only bring shame to the brokerage business, even if she were sold! If word got out about what happened today, his colleagues would laugh at him to death!
He felt his back was soaked with sweat, and for a moment he hated Granny Qin again. If it weren't for her insisting that he do favors, he wouldn't have hidden the fact that Li Xiaoxiao could read. Now that the girl was favored, he had earned less money, and he had offended Steward Zhao because of Erniu. This was simply the worst luck ever!
As Erniu's figure finally disappeared from sight, he wiped away his cold sweat and bowed to Steward Zhao to apologize: "Steward Zhao, the servants were ignorant. I will take them back and teach them a lesson. I'm sorry you had to see this. Don't worry, of the people I brought today, only eight were picked from the refugee camp outside the city yesterday. The remaining dozen or so have been trained in the brokerage firm for a while. They are absolutely obedient, capable, and will not cause trouble. You can choose whichever you like."
But because of Erniu's commotion, Steward Zhao's mood had already soured. He waved his hand, signaling him to take the person away. Wei Yingjie's heart was bleeding, but he dared not say anything. He could only wave his hand and tell the remaining servants to go outside and wait, leaving him alone to wait for news from the inner courtyard.
Granny Qi called four away. If he was lucky, two could stay. Then the trip wouldn't have been a complete waste. He thought dejectedly.
Less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn out came out of there with four maids. Wei Yingjie felt a chill in his heart. Could it be? Didn't she find a single one she liked?
Granny Qi said to Wei Yingjie, "Mama Mao from the kitchen has kept Li Xiaoxiao here. She will help out in the kitchen from now on. The other ladies didn't take a liking to her, so you can take them back."
He only had eyes for Li Xiaoxiao...
Wei Yingjie suppressed his heartache and took out Li Xiaoxiao's indenture. He hesitated and dared not say that Li Xiaoxiao could read. If he did, it would be another charge of deception, and he might not even want Li Xiaoxiao anymore.
The brokerage firm openly advertises prices for maids, with each maid signing a life contract costing eighteen taels. Granny Qi tossed him the money bag containing the silver: "Eighteen taels, it's all here, count it."
Li Xiaoxiao's half-open eyes widened instantly. Eighteen taels?! This slave trader only spent five taels to buy her, and only gave her half the money. In just one day, the price had more than tripled?
And why does he look like he's getting ripped off? These ancient people are disgusting! Not a single one of them is good!
Seeing that Wei Yingjie had taken the silver, accepted her indenture, and was about to leave, Li Xiaoxiao couldn't help but step forward and block his way: "Where's the rest of the money? Are you trying to renege on your debt?"
Wei Yingjie immediately came to his senses and complained incessantly: "No, no, how could that be? Our Jinji Brokerage has a prestigious reputation, how could we owe you such a small amount of money, hehe—Granny Qi, please do me a favor, I need to speak with this girl in private."
Granny Qi said calmly, "Alright, hurry up, I have other errands to run. Liuzhi, you stay here. After they finish handing over the duties, take the person to Mama Mao. She will arrange her future."
Willow branches responded crisply and stood under the eaves waiting for them.
Wei Yingjie quickly pulled Li Xiaoxiao to the corner of the corridor, looked around to make sure no one was there, and then took out three taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to her: "Here, this is the money you have left."
Li Xiaoxiao took the money and left. Although she was very unhappy that Wei Yingjie had made three times his initial investment by buying her property for only one day and then reselling it, the deed was done and she wouldn't dwell on it anymore. Besides, she already had a place to stay, so whether it was five taels or three taels made no difference to her...
Wei Yingjie quickly grabbed her. Although he had suffered a crushing defeat today, he still wanted to take the opportunity to find out the preferences of the important people, in case there was another chance to cooperate next time: "Why were you the only one among the four of you who went in? What happened? Tell me in detail."
Li Xiaoxiao glanced at him sideways, looked at the three taels of silver in her hand, and tossed the money in her hand: "If you want to trick me into telling me something, give me another hundred coins."
Wei Yingjie nearly vomited blood: "I'll just ask you two questions, and you dare to ask for a hundred coins?"
Li Xiaoxiao said, "You bought me for five taels of silver yesterday, and sold me for eighteen taels today. What's wrong with me asking for an extra hundred coins? If you don't want it, fine." She turned around and was about to go find Liu Zhi.
Wei Yingjie stamped his foot, quickly grabbed her, and reluctantly took out another hundred coins from his purse: "Alright, alright, I'll give it to you. Tell me carefully what happened."
Li Xiaoxiao took the money and stuffed it into her pocket before speaking: "We went to the backyard to see Madam. Madam asked us a few questions about where we came from, and then said she had a headache. She was helped inside, and Granny Qi told us to come out and said that Madam hadn't taken a liking to anyone and gave each of us a string of coins. It's a pity, because she took a liking to me, so I didn't get any."
She shook her head regretfully, looking very disappointed. That string of coins probably had a dozen or twenty pieces, enough to buy a dozen or so vegetarian buns.
Wei Yingjie's eyes widened: "That's it? You're just dismissed like that? No, then how did you even get noticed?"
Li Xiaoxiao proudly raised her head: "Of course it's because I'm strong. When Mama Mao heard that I worked in the mines, she carried two buckets and asked me to walk a few steps. I lifted them with one hand, and she immediately informed Madam that she had bought me."
Wei Yingjie sighed, "You really do need to have some strengths. You're lucky. You really offended Granny Qin this time. If it weren't for the magistrate's wife taking a liking to you, she would have skinned you alive when you got back."
A note from the author:
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