Chapter 104: Observing The Servant
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The old woman still remembered Han Qiao and Heng Yi when they walked in.
Although not many people bought from her shop, their requirements were different. Moreover, it had only been a short while since she had last seen them.
“What kind of people does Master and Madam want to buy this time?”
“We want servants who can work. Is there anyone who has been a steward in a rich family, is literate, and knows how to plan?”
“Madam, you don’t even need to ask.”
There was a family of three that fits the description.
The head of the family was in his thirties. The couple had a daughter who was nineteen years old. She was a little unintelligent and did not look normal.
Her eyes were dull and lifeless.
However, the head of the house had some skills. In his early years, he managed a shop for a main family and was considered a capable man. However, the old woman did not know why he was sold by the main family. Even after landing a few jobs, she still did not understand.
Han Qiao met the couple.
The couple was dressed in clean and decent clothes. They stood differently from ordinary people. There was a faint hatred in their eyes, even though they tried their best to hide it.
Their daughter was pretty, and her clothes were clean and tidy. She hid behind them and observed her and Heng Yi.
Then, she frowned, obviously not looking at them.
This…
Han Qiao shook her head.
She wouldn’t want this.
Because they were an invisible bomb.
Although she wasn’t sure what had happened between them, she had a guess.
Beautiful girls, when they reached the age of fifteen or sixteen, would always be young and sentimental. Her parents had some skills yet were sold off, which meant that the main family was powerful and did not lack useful people around them.
After they were sold, this family did not even have the chance to turn things around. This further proved that the main family had power and influence, suppressing them.
“Hm…”
The old woman was a little surprised at her hesitation.
They were the most presentable people among the servants in her Broker Home.
“Let’s see other people first.” Han Qiao said softly.
Heng Yi did not object.
He sat there without touching his teacup.
The old woman thought for a moment before turning to the family, “You can go back inside first.”
“Why didn’t Madam take a fancy to me?” The man asked.
Han Qiao chuckled, “Let’s just say that our fate did not align.”
Buying people also depended on luck.
Just like Aunt Zhao and Lady Lin, she had a good feeling about them.
She felt worry-free after buying them.
Another family of three came up again.
The head of the family was also in his thirties, but they had a son with them.
Their clothes were washed until they were white, and they looked very pleasing to the eye.
“They are also a family of three. Back then, they opened a cloth shop. Later, they encountered some problems. The family property was not enough to pay off their debts. Because the elders in the family died of illness and needed to be buried, they could only sell themselves.”
This family of three had only changed hands twice, so the granny knew their past very well.
The three of them had clear and peaceful gazes. They did not feel inferior just because they had become servants.
“I want them.”
Usually, a family of three would be more expensive than buying one servant at a time.
The old woman offered twenty-five taels of silver, and Han Qiao calmly bargained for twenty taels of silver. In the end, they were sold for twenty-two taels of silver.
Heng Yi sat on the side and looked at Han Qiao, thinking that he had learned something.
After that, they bought two manservants, two maids, and two old women.
They bought nine people at once and spent fifty-two taels of silver.
Han Qiao and the old woman of the Broker House chatted for a while before they went to pack their things.
When the old woman learned that Han Qiao had bought the house of the county magistrate in front of West Street, she exclaimed, “I didn’t recognize you.”
“That house is good. Many people want to buy it, but no one can. I didn’t expect it to be bought by you. It really must be fate.”
“We are quite fated.”
After they were done packing, the old woman even called a carriage to send them off.
With a few more people, food, clothing, and other necessities would cost a lot.
Grandma and the three children were very worried when they saw this.
With so many people, how much food would they need to eat three meals a day?
Han Qiao didn’t change their names.
“Uncle Hu, I’ll have to trouble you to arrange and take care of the big and small matters in this residence in the future. Aunt Hu first took care of them cleaning the courtyard. Uncle Hu spent a lot of effort buying things. He did not want to buy the cheapest one, but he had to at least compare the prices with others to see if the prices were reasonable. Food could be bought at the morning market or night market. But it was cheaper to buy it at the market.”
“No one’s silver comes from the wind, don’t you think so, Uncle Hu and Auntie Hu?”
Uncle Hu quickly agreed, “Madam is right. I will remember it.”
“Yes.” Han Qiao nodded.
She then looked at the servant girls, old women, and manservants. “You too. Since you’ve come to the Heng family, you’re all servants. Although I’m from the countryside, I might not have as much knowledge as you. But you must remember one thing. I am the master, and you are the servants. In my territory, you must listen to my orders. I will not easily forgive those who side with outsiders, betray their masters, and bully their masters, let alone show mercy.”
Han Qiao warned them in a low voice.
It was also a warning to them.
She wasn’t afraid of these people, but the three children were still young, and Heng Yi was honest. Once his ident.i.ty changed, she would be nervous.
She wasn’t willing to see her servants take advantage of her or her family.
Han Qiao took out twenty taels of silver and gave it to Uncle Hu.
“The house is empty, and many things need to be bought. First, buy the food, oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar that the kitchen needs. Prepare three meals a day, and make two sets of autumn clothes for each of you. Clean the house, and we will choose a good day to move in.”
“Since we’re not at home, you can’t leave the residence at will.”
“There must be a reason for going in and out.”
Han Qiao instructed.
She was calm and composed, and she spoke in an orderly manner. Who would dare to underestimate her?
“Alright, that’s it for now. You all think of a way to solve your lunch. We’ll also pack up and prepare to return to our hometown.”
They still had to go for lunch.
Han Qiao and Heng Yi left with their people, but they left behind a lot of beans.
As the resident steward, Uncle Hu thought for a moment and said, “It’s our first time serving the Heng family, and Madam obviously wants to consider us. We can’t take whatever she left behind.”
Auntie Hu nodded.
“It’s impossible to have noodles, white rice, and miscellaneous grains for every meal.”
“Then it’s okay to eat a meal of steamed bread and rice porridge every two days, right?” Auntie Hu asked.
Uncle Hu nodded, “It should be possible.”
“Let’s finish lunch first.”
Uncle Hu sent someone to buy steamed buns. He planned to buy two steamed buns for each person and eat them first. They would eat dinner in the residence.
“How about making noodle soup? One bowl for each person, save on flour, just a little bit of rape would do.” Auntie Hu asked her husband.
Auntie Hu was also very good at living.
However, after selling his family and becoming a slave, she had been depressed for a few days. Later on, she understood that she could not turn things around in a short period, so she might as well accept reality.
Now that the owner of the house looked kind, she wanted to settle down first and save some money to redeem her son’s indwelling contract so that her son could be a good citizen.
She and her husband had nothing to do other than being a slave for the rest of their life.
But not their son.
Moreover, he still had to start a family in the future.
“Although Madam gave twenty taels of silver, this silver cannot be used indiscriminately. Every sum of money must be clearly remembered where it was used and the cost of each item.”
“Alright, we’ll eat dough dumpling soup tonight. I’ll take Jiancheng to buy food at noon and go to the night market to buy the rest.”
It was not easy to take care of such a big house without anything.
Uncle Hu naturally wanted to stay in his position as the butler..