The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 719 - 718 Selling Oneself to Bury One’s Father

Chapter 719: Chapter 718 Selling Oneself to Bury One’s Father

Ninth Master Lee’s face changed instantly as Yongzhu leaped down; he suddenly stood up, his startled exclamation caught in his throat. But seeing that Yongzhu had landed safely, he immediately regained his haughty demeanor, sat down with a cold expression, and pretended as if nothing had happened.

Yongzhu waved at Shopkeeper Wu and Ninth Master Lee before turning and squeezing into the crowd.

Only after Yongzhu had walked away did Shopkeeper Wu lower the curtain and turn around to find Ninth Master Lee holding out a hand with a grim expression: "Hand it over—"

Understanding, Shopkeeper Wu hurriedly took out the jade pendant from his bosom and carefully placed it in Ninth Master Lee’s hand.

Ninth Master Lee snorted coldly and reattached the jade pendant.

Shopkeeper Wu cautiously suggested, "Ninth Young Master, with the dye workshop matter and the cloth business nearing resolution, plus Lady Wang’s project proposal, if we’re to proceed, it’s no small matter. All decisions will need to be made by you, Ninth Young Master! Jing County is somewhat remote and lacks the prosperity of Prefecture City, not to mention the inconvenience of transportation and the fact that it’s impractical always staying in an inn—"

"Then go and inquire if there’s a decent residence nearby that we can buy!" Ninth Master Lee interrupted Shopkeeper Wu impatiently.

Shopkeeper Wu really wanted to slap himself for speaking out of turn.

His original point was to highlight Jing County’s inconveniences and that a pampered young master like Ninth Master Lee should stay in the bustling Prefecture City, to trouble others instead.

But unexpectedly, Ninth Master Lee was different from the others; he actually wanted to buy a residence. Did this mean he intended to stay long-term?

Shopkeeper Wu felt darkness before his eyes and wanted to faint.

But his last shred of rationality kept him upright, and he even managed to ask calmly, "Then what size of residence does Ninth Master Lee wish to purchase? Do you have any specific requirements?"

Ninth Master Lee answered nonchalantly, "The residence should be quiet, larger, and clean! Once that’s settled, find some honest and respectable maids to buy. Do I need to spell out the rest for you?"

Shopkeeper Wu dared not make another sound.

When Yongzhu returned home, Old Granny Zhang had just finished preparing lunch. She had told her yesterday to come home to eat, and as soon as she arrived, hot water and a towel were ready for her.

After wiping her face, it wasn’t worth it to set the table for just two people, so they arranged the food on the kang table in Old Granny Zhang’s room.

Mother and daughter sat on the kang, enjoying their steamy meal.

Yongzhu roughly explained the day’s events before apologizing, "Mother, once I finish these busy days, I’ll come back to keep you company! I’ll go in the afternoon to find someone to hire a couple of older women and buy a couple of maids to take care of you. Then you won’t have to get up early to cook; just enjoy your leisure time!"

Old Granny Zhang was no pretentious old woman; she had already expressed her wish back in Qilidun to experience life as an attended city lady.

Now, seeing her daughter and son-in-law being so filial, planning to buy help to care for her, her face blossomed with joy.

"Well, that’s just fantastic! Mother can finally be a lavish old lady! When we have two maids, one for mother and one for you! My daughter is a person of great matters, and now she’s also the Scholar’s Lady; you surely need to have a maid. Let’s go after we finish eating!"

Seeing Old Granny Zhang so eager, it was clear she couldn’t wait another moment.

Yongzhu, seeing her mother’s rare enthusiasm, didn’t bother with hiring a carriage after eating; instead, the two of them walked slowly along the alley to aid their digestion.

Yan Zhongren’s house wasn’t too far from the small courtyard; after about the time it took to drink two cups of tea, they arrived.

Yan Zhongren was at home and hurried out to greet them with a smile when he heard the knock at the door. He ushered them to the guest seats and ordered tea and snacks to be served.

Soon, a maid dressed in plain green clothes, looking rather clumsy but quite nimble with her hands, brought in the tea and snacks.

After a couple of sips of tea, Yongzhu stated her purpose for the visit.

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhongren realized it was another business opportunity and quickly asked, "Do you have any specific requirements?"

Old Granny Zhang immediately rattled off a bunch of conditions, "It’s fine if she’s a bit slow, just so long as she’s not too pretty; she must be nimble with her hands and able to work, we can’t afford any delicate misses; she has to be honest and upright, with no crooked thoughts; her background must be clean, certainly not coming from a vulgar place; having a skill would be best, whether it’s cooking or making shoes, our family won’t support any idlers!"

Fortuitously, Yan Zhongren had seen many people and managed to listen to it all with an unchanging expression, and even with great patience, "Auntie speaks truthfully!"

Old Granny Zhang felt as if she met a kindred spirit, "Isn’t that the case? We buy them to work, don’t we? Are we supposed to buy them to worship them as ancestors? A small household like ours can’t afford the delicate maidservants in operas! I think a maid like the one who serves tea would be just fine!"

Yan Zhongren got the picture, "Auntie, rest assured, I have taken this to heart. Coincidentally, in a couple of days, a group of people will be arriving. How about auntie comes to pick one out in person then?"

Old Granny Zhang nodded her head again and again!

Wang Yongzhu also asked Yan Zhongren to look for two nearby old ladies or those who were selling themselves, as long as they had a clean history, knew how to cook and wash clothes, and were honest and straightforward without spreading rumors.

Yan Zhongren also took note of each request.

Only then did the mother and daughter walk home, contented.

Upon reaching the busiest street in Jing County, they saw that ahead was a sparse crowd of about a dozen people encircling a frail figure.

Wang Yongzhu had good hearing and from a distance, she heard something about "selling oneself to bury one’s father—"

And "That would need about ten pieces of silver..."

...

Instantly, she understood in her heart that it was very likely someone selling themselves to bury their father.

Wang Yongzhu wasn’t one to join in the excitement, but Old Granny Zhang had been stifled at home and, seeing a rare spectacle, couldn’t resist dragging Wang Yongzhu with her into the crowd.

Wang Yongzhu had no choice but to follow.

In the middle of the crowd, a frail girl knelt on the ground, a straw marker stuck in her hair, with a bamboo mat carelessly wrapped around a corpse lying behind her.

Approaching closer, the discussions became clearer, "Our Jing County hasn’t seen someone sell themselves to bury their father in many years!"

"Indeed, looking at that girl’s physique, what use would she be if bought?"

...

Wang Yongzhu looked carefully, and saw the frail girl, with her head hung low, her hair yellow and tousled. Despite it being early spring, the girl still wore a tattered cotton-padded coat.

Through the holes in the coat, bulrush fuzz was visible; it turned out that instead of cotton, bulrush fuzz had been stuffed inside.

This bulrush was a flimsy material; many poor people, unable to afford cotton, used to stuff bulrush fuzz in their coats for warmth.

Some even stuffed the bulrush into quilt battings to use as blankets.

But in recent years, as the price of cotton had dropped, most people could afford cotton blankets, so the use of bulrush had declined.

Also, the girl’s exposed hands showed all ten fingers afflicted with frostbite, swollen like carrots.

The wind blew and lifted the hair that covered the girl’s face, revealing a delicate countenance. Though her skin was waxen yellow and thin, it was apparent that her features were still graceful.

Old Granny Zhang had initially charged into the scene excitedly, but upon seeing the girl’s state, she frowned. Not a word was spoken before a voice was heard.

"Lady Wang? What a coincidence! We meet again!"