The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 720 - 719 I’ve seen many maids like you

Chapter 720: Chapter 719 I’ve seen many maids like you

Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang both turned to look, and while Wang Yongzhu had no particular reaction, Old Granny Zhang couldn’t help but slap her thigh, "Whose young man is this? He’s so handsome, even prettier than a girl!"

Ninth Master Lee, who had been smiling, suddenly felt his face drop at Old Granny Zhang’s words.

Which family’s old lady is this, with such poor eyesight? I’m a man! A pure man!

If this had happened in the Capital City, he, Ninth Master Lee, would either grab a weapon to beat someone himself or at least have his lackeys teach them a lesson.

Shopkeeper Wu, noticing the change in Ninth Master Lee’s expression, knew trouble was brewing and quickly whispered, "Ninth Young Master, this is Lady Wang’s mother."

He didn’t say much, just one line, getting straight to the point.

Ninth Master Lee, who had half rolled up his sleeve, silently let it down and forced out an awkward smile, "So it’s the old lady!"

Old Granny Zhang returned the smile out of politeness and took a doubtful glance at Ninth Master Lee before turning to whisper to her daughter, "Daughter, whose child is this? How come I’ve never seen him before?"

After pausing, she added, "The young man is really handsome, and he even speaks so nicely. In all my life, I’ve never had someone call me ’old lady’ before!"

She was quite satisfied inside; the person was good-looking and sweet-talking, as if his mouth was coated with honey.

Wang Yongzhu whispered an introduction, "Mother, this is the Ninth Young Master of the Lee Family—"

Old Granny Zhang’s smile was only halfway out when it suddenly froze. Wasn’t this the same quirky and troublesome youngster who had been duped by her daughter into spending ten thousand taels of silver to buy the dye shop and fabric?

This was a major wealthy patron! Her daughter’s ten thousand taels of silver hadn’t been secured yet; she couldn’t afford to offend him!

Old Granny Zhang brushed off the incident and squeezed out the rest of her smile, "So you are the Ninth Young Master, Ninth Young Master, how nice! Has Ninth Young Master come to the market himself?"

Ninth Master Lee...

The onlookers, now focusing their attention on Ninth Master Lee, found this situation extraordinary. Selling oneself to bury a father was not rare, but a stunningly beautiful man like this was certainly unusual.

The chance to see such a sight was once in a lifetime!

Especially for the young women and wives, their eyes were nearly stuck to Ninth Master Lee.

"This young master is so good-looking!"

"Isn’t that the truth! If such a handsome young master would just speak a word to me, I could die happy!"

...

And some bolder ones were batting their eyelashes and throwing handkerchiefs at Ninth Master Lee.

Thankfully, Ninth Master Lee had his guards with him, who all took it as routine and smoothly kept people at a distance.

Ninth Master Lee, too, was used to such attention and had developed a skill for ignoring and not seeing it!

None of these people were better looking than him; he didn’t even have the interest to give them a second glance.

If we’re talking about beauties, the quality in Capital City would definitely surpass that of Jing County. He didn’t even fancy the beauties in Capital City, so these were not even worth mentioning.

Without paying them any heed, he said, "Lady Wang, have you taken the old lady out for a stroll?"

Before Wang Yongzhu could respond, Old Granny Zhang, feeling that Ninth Master Lee shouldn’t be offended but not wanting her daughter to talk too much with him, quickly stepped in front, "My son-in-law is so filial, he was worried I would get tired and wanted to buy me two maids to serve me. That’s why we came out today to buy a couple of maids."

Ninth Master Lee’s eyes lit up, "What a coincidence, I was just planning to buy a residence to stay in Jing County temporarily and also need to buy a few maids to serve me. Does Lady Wang have any suitable person to recommend?"

Shopkeeper Wu and Ninth Master Lee’s young servant silently followed behind. Given the Lee family’s immense wealth, their standards were naturally high. How was it possible that they would buy a maid here in Jing County? They always bought maids from traffickers in the Capital City to ensure quality!

Yet no one had the nerve to expose Ninth Young Master Lee.

Old Granny Zhang slapped her thigh, "What a coincidence! My daughter and I happened to be walking past and saw someone selling herself to afford her father’s burial! The maid selling herself seemed quite pitiable, a shame she costs ten taels of silver, which a household like ours can’t afford. But it’s a matter for someone like Ninth Young Master—"

Ninth Young Master Lee...

Wang Yongzhu stifled her laughter, daring not to look at Ninth Young Master Lee’s expression.

Shopkeeper Wu looked to the sky, Ninth Young Master Lee’s personal young servant gazed at the ground, both carefully avoiding their young master’s face.

Meanwhile, the onlookers started to get excited.

"Isn’t that right? You can tell this young master is rich. Since he’s buying a maid anyway, he might as well spend a little more and buy this one. It would be considered a charitable act!"

"The girl is unquestionably worth the ten taels of silver. She seems bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Given a couple of years to grow and she could turn into a stunning beauty. You might even profit from it, young master!"

"Exactly, such a beauty raised by yourself, personally taught, to add fragrance to your evenings with her red sleeves..."

...

Even the maid who was selling herself to bury her father looked over with wide eyes upon hearing this.

Why would Ninth Master Lee ever fancy such a dark, thin, sallow maid? A maid like her wouldn’t even be allowed through the doors of the Lee family’s house!

He was ready to refuse!

He had yet to open his mouth when the dark, thin, sallow maid began to kowtow fervently toward Ninth Young Master Lee, "Young Master, please buy me! I eat very little and can do anything! I’ll serve you like an ox or a horse in gratitude!"

In just a moment, her forehead began to bleed from the force of her kowtowing.

This sight garnered sympathy from the onlookers.

They started to speak up, "That’s true, young master, just buy her. It’s heartbreaking to see her in such a state!"

"Buy her! Look at her, she’s bleeding from her head. How can you be so heartless?"

"Indeed! These wealthy young masters are all so haughty, probably because they find the maid unattractive, right?"

...

Although Ninth Young Master Lee was young, he had spent many years in the business world alongside his father and had seen it all. Did they really think that he would be swayed by a few inconsequential, sour remarks?

In your dreams!

With a cold chuckle, his eyes frosty, he turned and issued a command.

Young Servant Zhao Cai approached the maid who was selling herself for her father’s funeral, took out two pieces of patterned silver worth five taels each, and threw them into the maid’s arms, "Our young master pities you, here are ten taels of silver to bury your father with. No need to demean yourself by selling your body anymore!"

The maid held the two pieces of silver tightly in her trembling hands, incredulous. After a while, she regained her composure and kowtowed several times to Ninth Young Master Lee, "Thank you, young master. For your great kindness, Xiao Cui will work like an ox or a horse in repayment! Where does the young master live? Once my father is buried, I’ll come to work as a maid, washing clothes, cooking; I can do anything!"

Young Servant Zhao Cai sneered, "Didn’t you hear clearly? Our young master gave you the silver out of pity. There’s no need for you to work like an ox or a horse! And you have the wild idea of becoming our young master’s maid? Take a good look at yourself and consider whether you’re fit for it. I’ve seen plenty like you. You think serving as our young master’s maid is repaying a favor? Nonsense! To be a maid for our young master is a fortune earned over eight lifetimes! Take the silver and get out of here quickly, or don’t blame us for being rude!"