Chapter 80 [VIP]
Ever since Yuanbao suddenly disappeared, Madam Li has been watching him like the apple of her eye, fearing that something might happen to her precious grandson again. She even plans to hire two servants to stay by his side and keep an eye on him.
Wang Ying originally disagreed, but she couldn't go against the old lady's wishes. This was the way of life for wealthy families in ancient times, and it was impossible to change their minds in a short time. In the end, she could only go along with her.
The servants recruited must be well-known, neither too old nor too young, and must be able to take care of Yuanbao and play with him.
It just so happened that there were many children on the estate who met the requirements, so Li called Chen Xi over and asked him to go and tell those who were having a hard time and couldn't afford to raise children, whether they were boys, girls, or young masters, to send them over to take care of the young master.
If other families were hiring servants, no one on the estate would be willing to send their children. No one knew whether the master was good or bad, or whether the child would suffer. But the master was different; he was kind, and even the estate manager was willing to send his son to be a servant. Why wouldn't they be willing?
As soon as the news was released, everyone brought their children over for the employer to choose from.
Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, there were about ten people standing outside the villa. Besides a few adults, there were seven or eight children, all of whom had come to apply for jobs.
"Oh, Sister-in-law Li is here too. You only have one son in your family, and you're willing to send him over?"
"What's there to be reluctant about? It's not like we'll never see them again as servants. It's your two simpletons, though. Even if we sent them over, the master might not even want them."
What did you say?!
"What's wrong with me talking to you? Your snot can stretch two feet long, and you can't even let me talk about it?"
"Bullshit!"
Just as the two women were about to start arguing, someone coughed behind them and said, "Stop arguing. Go home and argue. Don't drag us down with your chances of being selected."
The two of them then stopped arguing, rolled their eyes at each other, spat, and stood on either side with their arms crossed.
Not long after, an elderly woman arrived, leading a thin, dark-skinned boy by the hand.
As soon as the crowd saw the two of them, they scattered. "Old Yang's wife, why did you bring him here?"
The old woman squeezed the child's hand and said, "The employer didn't say anything, so why can't Mu Tou come?"
The woman who had just been called Sister-in-law Li sneered, "If the master wants to hire a servant to take care of the young master, he has to be a decent-looking child. He's cursed his parents and grandparents to death, so get rid of him quickly!"
The old woman remained silent, standing in the corner with the child. She wasn't the child's biological mother, but just an old neighbor.
This child has a hard life. His mother died in childbirth when he was young, and his father and grandfather fell off a cliff and died when they went up the mountain to bury her. Only the grandfather and grandson were left to depend on each other for survival.
Two years ago, the child's grandmother also passed away due to illness, and the six-year-old Mu Tou has been living alone.
He was too young to farm, and his family's fields had all been taken over. He could only wait for the spring and autumn harvests to pick up some leftover wheat ears in the fields to fill his stomach, and he was always bullied by the children in the village.
His neighbor, Granny Yang, couldn't bear to see him suffer, so she would often bring him some food, and he survived by going hungry one day and eating a full one the next.
Granny Yang knew she couldn't raise the child, but she couldn't bear to see him starve to death. When she heard that her employer was hiring servants, she brought the child over, even if he was just a lowly servant and provided with two meals a day.
Around 5 a.m., Uncle Chen opened the gate and was startled by the huge crowd in front of him.
What's everyone doing here?
Chen Xi cupped his hands and said, "Brother Chen, didn't the old lady of the house ask me to help find two children to come over? I told the villagers, and everyone wanted to send their children over. I didn't know who to choose, so I brought them all over to ask the old lady to take a look and pick two suitable ones."
"Please wait here for a moment, I'll go in and let them know."
Before long, Wang Ying came out with them. He looked at the children at the door and said, "If they are only sons or daughters, they can be taken back. The old lady wants servants who sign indentures and stay in the Chen family for the rest of their lives."
Upon hearing this, several of the women immediately backed down and pulled their children away.
Seeing this, the woman behind quickly pulled the child forward, "Master, how about my Qiuhua? She can do any kind of work, washing clothes and cooking!"
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl was pushed forward and told, "Quickly kowtow to the master."
The young girl knelt down hesitantly, "Greetings, Master."
Others followed suit and knelt down to kowtow.
Wang Ying felt a headache just looking at the people kneeling on the ground. Sixteen or seventeen-year-olds should be getting married, and bringing them here would only cause trouble. She couldn't just keep them from getting married, so she simply chose younger children.
He casually pointed to a few children who looked neat and were about the same age, saying, "These children come in with me; the rest of you, go back."
Those who were chosen were overjoyed, while those who weren't left dejected.
Just as Wang Ying was about to go inside with the children, an old man's voice suddenly came from behind her, "Master, please have mercy and choose this child as well."
Granny Li pulled the wooden stick to her knees and kowtowed. The child was honest and his head was banging on the ground so hard it turned red.
"Old man, please get up. Don't kowtow to me. That would shorten my lifespan."
Old Lady Li said urgently, "Master, please don't be offended. This old woman is ignorant of etiquette. This child has a hard life. His parents and grandparents are all dead, and no relatives will take him in. He is all alone and miserable. I am an old woman with my neck buried in the ground. I have no ability to raise him. Please, master, give him some food."
Upon hearing this, Wang Ying stepped forward, reached out and pulled the child up, asking, "How old are you? What's your name?"
"My name is Mutou, and I am eight years old."
The child speaks clearly and is not mentally challenged. His eyes are bright and his appearance is decent, but his clothes are too dirty and torn, and his hair is messy and makes him look sloppy.
"Alright, come in with them."
Granny Li happily bowed again and quickly followed, pushing the log along.
After passing through the corridor to the backyard, Li was holding Yuanbao and sitting in the yard eating fruit puree. She had peeled the apple, poured honey on it, steamed it in a pot until it was soft, and fed it to him little by little with a spoon.
This stuff is sweet and sour and good for the spleen and stomach; Yuanbao loves it.
Wang Ying led the children over, and Yuanbao, no longer concerned with eating, stared at them with wide, curious eyes.
"Mother, these are the children Uncle Chen helped find. I picked a few of the younger ones. Take a look and see which ones you like and keep two."
Li took a handkerchief and wiped Yuanbao's mouth, then looked him over carefully.
There were five children in total, three boys, one lad, and one girl, all around seven or eight years old. Li looked them over and nodded to the one with the tallest head, "What's your name?"
The boy knelt down and kowtowed respectfully, "Greetings to the old lady. My name is Chen Chunsheng, and I am the youngest son of Chen Shugen."
Chen Shugen is Chen Xi's nephew, so they are related by blood.
"You stay, the rest..."
Before she could speak, Wang Ying pulled the last boy, Mu Tou, forward and said, "I'll pick one. This boy is called Mu Tou. I think he's quite suitable. Let's keep him as Yuanbao's playmate."
Mrs. Li frowned slightly. The child looked too sloppy, and she didn't like him much, but since her son-in-law had taken a liking to him, she would let him be.
The remaining children didn't leave empty-handed either. Wang Ying handed them three strings of copper coins, saying, "Take these back and buy some candy."
The three children left, clutching the copper coins, leaving only Chunsheng and Mutou, who had been chosen, in the courtyard.
"Let's take the two children to wash up first." Especially this child named Mu Tou, who was covered in dirt and who knew if he was sick, Li Shi dared not leave her grandson in his care.
Since both were boys, Wang Ying asked Uncle Chen to take them to the servants' bathing area in the front yard to wash up.
Because both of them had lice on their heads, which couldn't be removed quickly, Uncle Chen took it upon himself to shave their heads, turning them into bald little monks.
After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, I took it to the backyard and finally got a good look at the wood.
This kid isn't ugly; he has thick eyebrows, big eyes, and dimples when he smiles. He's just too thin, making his head look big and his body look like a tiny sling.
Li called the two children over and began to explain the rules to them.
"You two will be responsible for looking after the young master from now on. Make sure he doesn't fall, bump, or trip. Once he starts learning, help him with his studies and writing. Under no circumstances should you teach him to be naughty or mischievous. If anything happens to Yuanbao, I won't forgive you!"
The two children immediately knelt down and said, "We will certainly serve the young master well."
After giving you a warning, they offered a sweet treat: "Of course, we can't let you work for nothing. From now on, we'll take care of your food, clothing, lodging, and transportation. You'll also get a hundred coins a month for pocket money. If you do well, there will be additional rewards. You'd better work hard."
"yes!"
The two children didn't have much of a concept of money, but they were relieved to hear that they would be provided with food, shelter, and wood. The children were afraid of going hungry, and they were willing to do anything as long as they had something to eat.
It has to be said that poor children mature early. In Wang Ying's world, children this age are just starting elementary school, and some even need their teachers to help them wipe their poop. These two children are like little adults, capable of doing everything.
Wood, in particular, is very diligent and always has a work in mind.
The old lady had just peeled an apple, and before anyone could tell him to, he quickly took it away and threw it away. When Yuanbao wanted to see the dog, he carried Yuanbao to the front yard to see the puppy. When he wanted to see the cat, he stood in front of Yuanbao to prevent him from getting scratched. He was quite the adult.
Although Chunsheng was not as capable as him, he had a good personality and was always smiling. He often made Yuanbao laugh, and the three of them got along exceptionally well together.
With a playmate by his side, Yuanbao's personality became much more cheerful, and Li Shi no longer had to keep a close eye on him every day, which was mentally exhausting.
A few days later, Chen Qingyan left a note in the experimental field, saying that they had arrived in Jizhou Prefecture and wanted to see their son that night.
That evening, Wang Ying made an excuse to take Yuanbao to her room and brought him back to the experimental field.
Before entering, Wang Ying was a little worried, fearing that her son would be rejected by the experimental field. But as soon as he was about to activate the treasure, he walked in on his own. It seemed that the child could enter without even having to activate it in his mind.
When they arrived, Chen Qingyan hadn't arrived yet, so Wang Ying led him to pick grapes to eat. After the autumn grapes ripened, Wang Ying adjusted the weather and picked some more, which were now perfectly ripe.
The grapes were a bit sour, and Yuanbao only ate a few before stopping, sticking out his tongue and scrunching his face like a bun.
Wang Ying couldn't help but laugh. It was a pity she didn't have a camera, otherwise she would have taken some photos of him to keep as a memento for him to enjoy when he grows up.
As the two were eating, Chen Qingyan walked in and asked, "What are you two laughing about?"
"Father!" Yuanbao called out and ran towards him.
He had drunk some wine today, and his cheeks were flushed. He picked up his son and carried him on his shoulder.
"Be careful not to drop the child."
"The gold ingot has become heavier."
Wang Ying said, "He has gained a little weight. A few days ago, his mother found him two playmates. He runs around outside every day, and when he gets tired, he eats a lot. His little face has gotten tanned."
The two sat together and started talking about what had happened in the past few days. Little Yuanbao only understood half of what they were saying, and soon fell asleep.
A note from the author:
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