In the Liu family of Jiangnan, Liu Huan was resigning from his post. He was originally a steward born into the family and had long since obtained his indenture.
As the head steward of the Liu family and the master's most trusted person, even if he was just putting on a show for his subordinates, he still had to return the contract of servitude.
"Liu Huan, you grew up in the Liu family and have been by my side for ten years. Why do you have to leave?"
Master Liu doesn't understand. Is it because the gold and silver treasures weren't enough? Or is it because the status isn't high enough? Do you perhaps want to turn the tables and become the master yourself?
"A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on."
Liu Huan was essentially laying her cards on the table: someone wanted to recruit me, and I accepted.
Master Liu nodded.
"Since that's the case, I won't stop you if you want to leave, but as a servant born into the Liu family, I want you to return everything that belongs to the Liu family."
"Yes, sir."
The man tidied up everything in the room, leaving all the monthly allowances and rewards that Master Liu had given him over the years untouched on the table.
Liu Huan stood tall and accepted the inspection by the servant beside Master Liu. The bundle she had just wrapped was shaken off, revealing nothing but a few clothes.
The servant then told Liu Huan to take off her coat.
"What? You think this respectable-looking coat doesn't belong to the Liu family?"
The man nodded and went down the steps in his undergarments. The servant standing above kicked him, and Liu Huan rolled down the steps. Fortunately, it wasn't a high fall, and she only suffered a few scrapes.
Master Liu pushed open the window, looking down at Liu Huan, who was walking out through the side gate with several scratches on his face, and said to the servant who had returned to report...
"Go investigate. Anyone who dares to poach people from my Liu family will be made to crawl back the same way they left with their head held high. A servant will be a servant for life."
"Yes, sir."
As Liu Huan, dressed in his undergarments, stepped out of the Liu family mansion, a carriage was waiting for him at the gate. The carriage was luxurious and exquisitely crafted; even Master Liu himself did not usually travel in such a manner.
Beside the carriage stood several managers of Jiangnan Huaxuetang. The man sitting outside cracked his whip and shouted loudly at the door.
"The managers of all the stores of Jiangnan Huaxuetang, on the orders of the owner, are to bring Steward Liu home."
No need to check anymore, they've already identified themselves at your doorstep.
Liu Huan's eyes were red. He didn't feel bad when he was insulted by Master Liu, nor did he feel anything when he was bullied by the servant and kicked down the steps.
Miss, what are you doing?
He was just a servant. Madam Liu had been kind to him, and he only wanted to repay that kindness, nothing more.
"Manager Liu, get in the car, let's go home."
Liu Huan nodded and, with the help of others, boarded the carriage.
Miss, Liu Huan will not fail in her mission and will await your return.
Previously, he only felt that Liu Xu had changed, but now it seems that the young lady is really capable. If it weren't for her wanting to go home and take back what belonged to her, Liu Xu wouldn't have taken the mere Liu family seriously.
"Has the letter been sent to the people in Jiangnan?" Miao Cuifang said from behind Liu Xu, as she had braided Liu Xu's hair for several days every month for the past three years.
At first, Huanlv was a little angry. What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to steal my job?
These little maids already don't have much time to serve their young lady, and then your master, who teaches Liuxu martial arts every day, takes away half of that time too. It's so annoying!
"Um."
The woman's eyes were half-closed, her mind going through last month's accounts, before she spoke to her beloved behind her.
"Shouldn't you go home and visit your family? You told me before that you should stay with your wife for three years, and this is the third year."
Miao Cuifang paused her busy work and then replied.
"I can't go back alone; you have to come with me too."
“I might not be able to leave here. Why don’t you go back and bring your family over? I can afford to support them.”
“I can’t spend your money anymore, you always buy me clothes…you always secretly pay for our meals.”
At this point, Miao Cuifang's face turned a little red. He really tried his best to pay, but the man's brain couldn't keep up with Liu Xu's. Many times, Liu Xu would ask Huan Lu to go ahead and deposit the money in the account beforehand, and then leave directly.
The Miao youth also wanted to pay for his meals outside like Erhei; he felt it made him look manly. He didn't want to end up like Huo Shuwen, Huo Xiaocheng, and Zhao Kai, where the waiter came over and asked...
"Look, this table costs a total of two taels of silver, as for the money..."
All the men at the table stared at the women beside them. Then the waiter smiled at He Yi, and the beauty took out a piece of silver from her waist and handed it over.
Well, it seems that most families in the border town are like this.
"Master Miao, your period's here," Huo Xiaolong said, knocking twice on Liu Xu's door.
After wandering around the building for a while without finding Miao Cuifang, the little dumpling went straight to Liu Xu. After all these years, she wasn't stupid; she knew that Miao Cuifang was still after her.
But I'm so happy to hear from my brother that men in Miao areas all marry into their wives' families!
"hold head high?"
"What are you arguing about, you're my relative?" Liu Xu retorted, giving him a couple of sharp retorts.
"My relative?"
Having wandered the world for three or four years, Miao Cuifang had never encountered any other Miao people, let alone relatives. Accompanied by Liu Xu, she walked down the stairs to the backyard.
As soon as I entered the kitchen, I saw a man and a woman dressed in Miao ethnic costumes. They were slender and had long, delicate eyes, but their gazes were clear. They were holding bowls of rice and waiting in line next to Zhang Mama's iron pot.
The pot contained today's lunch, and the bowls in their hands indicated that the two had already started eating, though it was unclear how many bowls they had consumed.
"Could I have another chicken leg, ma'am?"
"Me too...I want one too."
Looking at the two children, Zhang's mother felt heartbroken. How could they be so thin? They were even thinner than Liu Xu. No matter how much she fed Liu Xu, she couldn't gain weight, and Zhang's mother had given up.
Two more skinny kids have arrived. Mom's ambition is rising; she'll make sure you two gain some weight.
"Are there enough children?" the woman asked, serving the two of them a bowl of chicken soup.
"That's enough! Let's eat first!"
Er Ya is grilling squid and sausages over there, and it smells delicious!
The two sat back to back against two large blocks of ice in the kitchen, looking like refugees who had just arrived from a famine. They quickly finished a bowl of chicken soup. Er Ya then brought them some snacks.
I remember when Master Miao first came, he ate just like them. It was so pitiful; people in Miao areas often don't have enough to eat.
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