Chapter 57 The Property Deed "This..." Jiang Zhenniang hesitated. "...
“This…” Jiang Zhenniang hesitated.
"So you're saying our eldest brother was kidnapped and forced into military service?" Su Zhihan retorted confidently.
"Yes, is that right?"
"Were the soldiers who came to be conscripted supposed to be going to the border?" Su Zhihan asked again.
"No, that's right?" As Su Zhihan brought it up, Jiang Zhenniang recalled the incident. Originally, it wasn't their family's turn to send a male member to join the army. However, when Su's father's brothers heard that they were going to the frontier, they were all so frightened that they spent a lot of money to bribe the officials in charge of the matter and pushed the quota to the strong and powerful Su Dalang.
“That settles it then. We only know we’re going to the border, and the Marquis is also guarding the border. We don’t understand the differences between armies, so it’s normal that we mistakenly thought we were working under the Marquis.” Su Zhihan argued confidently, leaving Jiang Zhenniang stunned.
"Is that right?"
"It seems...so it is?" Jiang Zhenniang murmured in response.
"Furthermore," Su Zhihan said, her voice softening as she grasped Jiang Zhenniang's hand, "my brother sacrificed himself for the country, and no one knows exactly where he died."
In early spring, in order to gain the trust of the people in the manor, Su Zhihan and Jiang Zhenniang went to the brokerage firm to ask the broker to find two merchants who traveled back and forth across the border to do business, and then asked them to help deliver messages and find people.
The difference is that the one who returned did not find any news of Su Dalang, while the other has not returned to this day, and it is unknown when he will return to the capital.
If Jiang Zhenniang still held a sliver of hope when she sent people to search for her, now she had truly given up all hope. Hearing this, she couldn't help but tighten her grip on her daughter's hand: "Yes."
Even though the Marquis of Zhongyong was a commander-in-chief and cared deeply for his subordinates, he could not remember the names of all the fallen soldiers.
After three or six months, when you tell the people in the mansion that Jiang Dalang has passed away, the matter will naturally be over.
Jiang Zhenniang suppressed her thoughts and went out with her daughter the next day to look at houses and shops. After Jiang Zhenniang's observations over the past period, and with the couple having sufficient funds this time, they settled on a two-courtyard house a few days later through the introduction of a broker.
"In addition, two servants are needed."
“That’s right.” Jiang Zhenniang nodded, then added, “It would be even better if you could cook something.”
"Short-term or long-term?"
"It needs to be long-term."
The short-term ones are like Xiao Hong's, mostly from poor families who have a hard time making ends meet. They send their wives and daughters to work to make ends meet. Some live full-time in the master's house as maids or servants, while others do odd jobs and can go home on weekdays. They usually receive money every month.
In the long run, cases like Jiang Zhenniang and Su Zhihan involved either being sold directly to their masters or to a brokerage firm. The former meant they would work directly for their master, while the latter involved the brokerage firm selling them to various households. Usually, a lump sum payment was given upfront, and then no monthly wages were required; occasional bonuses were sufficient. Families like the Marquis of Zhongyong's, which paid their servants monthly wages, were among the wealthiest.
Furthermore, the employment contracts between the two differed significantly. The former only required registration and filing at a brokerage firm, with the government stamping the registration in batches, without needing to verify the identities of both parties. In contrast, the latter required both the employer and the servant to clearly identify their identities and register them with the government.
If the source is illegal or the information contains false information, not only will the transaction be suspended, but both parties will also be held legally responsible.
I don't know about other places, but in previous years in the capital, there were indeed cases where brokers were found to have servants of unknown origin when they went to the government to handle procedures for people. The government then searched for clues about human traffickers.
At the request of the mother and daughter, the broker picked out many names from the register and led them to the back to look at them.
In this respect, the long term is different from the short term. For example, last time, after Jiang Zhenniang and Su Zhihan selected people, the broker had to send someone to call those people to the brokerage to gather, and then invite two more people to make their selections, which took a lot of time.
This time, the people recruited by the brokerage firm all lived in cubicles in the backyard. When the broker called out a number and a name, the person inside would come out and stand in front of everyone to wait for selection.
The mother and daughter looked at the booklet and discussed it carefully. Then they decided on four people. One of them was a male servant who used to work in the kitchen of a foot shop. Because the shop owner passed away, the shop was transformed and sold by the master for a price of forty strings of cash.
The other two were women who had previously done manual labor. They were both quite robust. One knew a little needlework, and the other knew a little kitchen work. Together they had a total of forty strings of cash.
After the mother and daughter confirmed the number of people, the broker led the three out. While sending someone to retrieve the three people's indentures, he said to the mother and daughter, "Buying and selling people is more convenient than buying and selling shops last time. After the people sign, you can take them directly back to your residence. I will send the indentures to the government office, get them stamped, and then send them to you."
“Wei Yaren.” Su Zhihan interrupted Wei Yaren, giving an awkward smile: “This person wasn’t bought for the manor.”
"Wasn't it bought for the household?"
"My mother and I have redeemed ourselves from our servitude."
The guards were taken aback: "Redemption?"
Seeing the disbelief in Wei Yaren's eyes, Su Zhihan repeated herself.
Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Wei Yaren felt dizzy. That was the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion! Countless families in the entire capital were eager to get into that place.
Even the three men standing nearby were dumbfounded, glancing sideways frequently. People like them, belonging to the lower to middle class, mostly went to work as slaves or servants in small or middle-class households.
Not to mention the Marquis's mansion, even many other officials prefer younger, more teachable people when making purchases, and almost never choose those from the streets who have no skills.
The three were surprised and kept their heads down, not daring to speak. Wei Yaren originally wanted to speak up to persuade them, but then he remembered that the two had been redeemed, so he swallowed his words and led the group to the government office to complete the formalities.
The person processing the property deed was not Lord Dai, but another unfamiliar official. He glanced at the deed, sipped his tea, and ate some snacks. He didn't bother to stamp or register it, and seemed to lack the energy to even speak to the mother and daughter: "Just leave it there."
Seeing this, Jiang Zhenniang hesitated and said, "Sir, there is a property deed for the Liangting stall ahead of our house."
The official clicked his tongue: "You have nothing else under your name, so go, go, just leave the things there and don't get in my way."
Leaving aside the fact that the mother and daughter were the last to handle the matter, the fact that there were no other items registered under that name also needed to be clarified. Jiang Zhenniang hurriedly explained to the official, "Sir, you are unaware, that pavilion stall is registered under the owner's name..."
"What do you mean by 'master' or 'master'? That's nonsense."
"My lord." Upon seeing this, Su Zhihan took out a money pouch from her sleeve, grabbed a handful of copper coins, and handed them to the official: "This money is just a small token of my respect. Please take it and have a couple of cups of tea."
The official finally looked up at the group, weighed the food in his hand, and said, "You're so young, but you're quite good at dealing with people. Tell me, what kind of pavilion stall?"
After Su Zhihan finished speaking, the officials did not resolve the issue, insisting that the steward of the Marquis's residence must come to confirm before the house deed could be transferred to the two people's names.
Even when Su Zhihan wanted to give more money, the official refused. The mother and daughter had no choice but to take their house deed and then go to process the indemnities for the three servants.
The Wei Ya people watched coldly without saying a word. This is how the world is: the powerful bully the powerless, and the powerless bully those below them. Wherever there are people, there will be bullies.
Ordinary people have no one to rely on, and that's how it is.
The capital city, being under the emperor's nose, still had officials and nobles to worry about impeachment by censors and other officials, so they dared not go too far. But in those poor and remote places, the wealthy were truly local tyrants, with no one having a say, and ordinary people would be trampled underfoot.
He told him that the Jiang family mother and daughter in front of him were really out of their minds. When he saw them last year, the mother and daughter were as thin as monkeys, wearing old clothes. They were clearly servants of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion, but they were out setting up a stall to make money.
Look at them now, things have changed. Not only are they in much better spirits, but their clothes are also made of silk and gauze, no less fine than those of women from humble families outside.
He just didn't like living a good life in the mansion and insisted on coming out. He really was making a fuss over nothing.
Just you wait, it'll be the same when we go to deal with the indenture department later.
Just as Wei Yaren was secretly grumbling to himself, the official in charge of processing the indentures glanced at the list and his tense face instantly broke into a smile: "Madam Jiang and Madam Su, right? Xue Ge'er mentioned the two of you to me a couple of days ago."
Xue Ge'er was the servant whom Mama Li had sent out to process the indentures of Jiang Zhenniang and Su Zhihan.
"You recognize Brother Xue?"
"Oh, of course I recognize it. Come, come, I'll take care of it for you." The official smiled and processed the indentures efficiently. He repeatedly refused the money offered by Jiang Zhenniang, saying, "Why would I give money for such a small matter?"
The officials in front kept turning around to look at the sound, their eyes full of questions. They knew that Magistrate Ma was a man who would not get up early for nothing, and his methods were much more ruthless than Magistrate Ma's.
When handling property deeds himself, he would at most charge half a string of cash as a bribe, while ordinary people who went to the official's office to handle property deeds would also have to pay about half a string of cash.
Why are you being so polite today? You didn't even charge for the tea? As soon as Su Zhihan and the others left with their things, he couldn't wait to step forward and asked curiously, "Brother Ma, why were you so polite to those two? Aren't they just two redeemed servant women? Why did the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion let them out for no reason? Did they do something wrong?"
Ma Guanren glanced at him and picked up his teacup.
The official hurriedly picked up the teapot, poured a cup for the man named Ma, and bowed deeply, saying, "Please teach me, brother."
Ma Guanren smiled and whispered, "Brother Duan, take my advice and quickly help me deal with them all..."
Duan Guanren was stunned for a moment: "Huh?"
Ma Guanren stroked his beard: "Let's not even talk about the fact that the procedures from the previous two days were handled by someone sent by the Marquis's wife. Do you know where they live?"
"Where do you live?"
"Brother Xue told me that they are staying in the courtyard of the Marquis's mansion where guests are entertained."
Mr. Duan was taken aback at first, then gasped. His previous contempt vanished instantly, and he hurriedly got up to search for the house deed.
Over there, as Jiang Zhenniang stepped out of the government office, she couldn't help but mutter a complaint: "Judging from the official's attitude, I'm afraid this will happen two or three more times."
Su Zhihan nodded; she had anticipated this situation. It was the same in later generations; in many cities and even counties, it was often incredibly difficult for ordinary people to get things done. People often lamented that they hadn't offended anyone, yet no one was willing to help them; they had to find connections to get things done.
This is largely the case nowadays.
Su Zhihan comforted her, "Give it a try first. If it doesn't work, I'll ask Pearl for help."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yaren thought that this Pearl Girl must be a connection between the mother and daughter in the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. He secretly shook his head, not taking it seriously. They could help this time, but there would be another time, and another time after that. Did they expect to ask for help every time?
He was not optimistic about the future of the mother and daughter.
Before Wei Yaren could even process what was happening, he heard shouts: "Madam Jiang, Madam Su!"
"Stop! Wait for me!"
"...Is someone calling us?" Jiang Zhenniang heard the sound, subconsciously paused, and looked behind her.
"It must be someone else... right?"
"Madam Jiang, Madam Su—" As the voices grew closer, Su Zhihan couldn't help but follow them. She saw a figure gradually growing larger at a street corner in the distance, rushing towards them.
Su Zhihan looked again and was shocked to see it was the same official from before! She and Jiang Zhenniang exchanged a glance, then the mother and daughter both smiled and stepped forward: "Master Duan, are you looking for us?"
"Yes, yes." Duan Guanren ignored the surprised looks around him and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. He smiled and hurriedly handed the house deed and other items to Jiang Zhenniang: "You left in such a hurry that you forgot to take your things."
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Author's Note: [Clown] Making up for yesterday's post; there will be another update tonight. [Kiss]
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