After receiving the order, Steward Li summoned Wei Fu and Zhao Wu, along with two guards, and together they went to the newly purchased estate.
"Manager Wei, are there any other people on the estate besides the tenants?"
"That's all. At the time, we were celebrating the old lady's birthday, so all the servants from the neighborhood went back to the city. Some went to help out, and others went to make a good impression on their master."
As a result, the day before the birthday celebration, the host's house was suddenly raided. We were all stunned and locked up in an empty courtyard.
Later, I was taken to a brokerage firm. Those days were truly desperate; I was terrified of being sold separately. My family was old and young; if they were sold separately, their fate would be uncertain.
Wei Fu's heart still pounds when he thinks about it now.
“I understand how you feel. We were in a similar situation back then. My father was getting old, and I had two young children who didn’t know any better. I was afraid they would be sold off separately.”
Butler Li knew what that feeling of fear was like; it was truly unbearable.
"Life is really good now. At least the whole family is together and we all have things to do. People are afraid of having nothing to do."
“What you said is the truth. My husband and I are kind-hearted people who are fair in rewarding and punishing. As long as we stay true to ourselves and do our jobs well, we will have peaceful days.”
Butler Li doesn't care about others; his family is very satisfied with their current life, and he doesn't want anyone to ruin it.
"You can tell that the master and mistress treat us servants very politely and regard us as human beings."
The Wei family had a good reputation with their previous employer, but when the family members were in a bad mood, they would be beaten and scolded for no reason.
Especially the eldest brother, Wei Dong, who was sent to learn martial arts from a young age and was trained as a guard. He was often ordered around by the young master of the family to do outrageous things.
"You've felt it too, we understand it all too well. The master and mistress never lose their temper with the servants for no reason, not even with the young masters and misses, they don't take their anger out on those around them."
Butler Li had no idea that his master and mistress had traveled from an era of equality for all, and that they respected every life.
Children are like blank slates; they learn by imitation and unconsciously develop the ability to respect others.
"Butler Li, I will try to forget my past experiences and integrate well into my new life. I look forward to your guidance in the future."
"Steward Wei, you're being too polite. As servants, all we need is a stable life. What more could we ask for?"
From now on, let's work together to serve the master and mistress. Only when the master is well can we be well.
The two middle-aged men cautiously probed each other, both thinking about how to cherish this rare moment of life.
Zhao Wu, who was driving the carriage ahead, and another guard, Jia Yong, also heard what Steward Li and Steward Wei said, and they agreed with them.
Who would give up a good life to cause trouble? What good will it do for people who have sold themselves into slavery to cause trouble?
The carriage stopped at the manor. Zhao Wu accompanied Steward Li and Steward Wei to check on it, while Jia Yong stayed outside to watch the carriage.
The courtyards on the estate were locked. The steward and servants who originally lived on the estate had all been sold off, leaving none behind.
"Manager Wei, is that you?"
A middle-aged man approached from a distance, his trousers rolled up and his feet bare.
"It's me, Lao Zhang. What are you doing?"
"Look at the fields, the wheat is filling out. I won't feel at ease unless I come and check on it. Where are Steward Wei and Steward Zhu? I haven't seen them for over a month."
Not only was Steward Zhu absent, but the people who used to work in the yard were also gone. The yard hadn't been opened for over a month.
“I’m here today to talk about this. Gather all the tenants here. I have something to say. Everyone must come. This is a big deal.”
Manager Wei told him to gather everyone together, but he didn't know how many tenants there were on the estate. There should be a roster in the courtyard; they should go look for it first.
"Steward Li, let's go to the steward's room and look for the tenants' roster and ledgers. I don't know the specifics either."
"Okay, let's go look for it right away, this is quite important."
Steward Li also knew that for such a large estate, account books were essential, and that all hope lay in them.
The two found the courtyard where the steward lived; it wasn't in the main courtyard, but a separate small courtyard.
Without a key, Zhao Wu pried open the lock, and the group went inside together.
"Let's split up and search."
"Okay, let me know when you find it."
The courtyard wasn't big, so the three of them each found a room.
Butler Li has been found. In the main room, there is a camphor wood chest containing the estate's roster and account books from recent years.
"Manager Wei, Master Zhao, we've found them."
Wei Fu and Zhao Wu heard the shouts and went to investigate.
Do you have a roster?
"Yes, we have them, as well as account books from recent years, but I don't know if they're complete?"
Butler Li just glanced through it, but doesn't know the specifics yet.
"We just need detailed information about the tenants; that's the most crucial thing. We should take a look before they arrive so we have a clear understanding of the situation."
Wei Fu breathed a sigh of relief; without the roster, things would have been much more difficult.
"Okay, we'll each take one. Zhao Wu, you go out and keep an eye out. When they arrive, you keep things under control."
"clear."
Zhao Wu went out, and Steward Li and Wei Fu began to look at the roster.
The estate has over a thousand acres of land and dozens of tenant farmers.
Some families rented twenty mu of land, while others rented four or five mu.
According to the records, all 500 mu of paddy fields on the estate were rented out, but the dry land was all cultivated by the owners themselves and not rented out.
"I have thirty tenant farmers here, how about you?"
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