Chapter 127: The Choice
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Han Qiao patted Shulan’s hand.
“You’ve served a wealthy family before, so tell me what you know about managing the inner residence and handling your subordinates.”
“Although I am now the madam of the residence, I was actually just a village woman in the past. 1 know very little about all of this.”
Han Qiao didn’t think that it was shameful to admit this truth.
So what if she was a village woman?
She crawled out step by step, and finally, she reached where she was now.
Shulan was surprised.
She thought for a moment and said, “A combination of being loose and strict. The rewards and punishments should be firm, and certain rules and regulations need to be applied. In fact, the rules of a rich family are very strict. Every rule must be followed. If anyone dares to violate it, they must be punished.”
“If they don’t listen, they’ll have to be beaten and punished to kneel. A cruel master would sell the servant girl who had made a mistake to a brothel.”
Han Qiao remained silent.
She didn’t know much about brothels.
Shulan continued, “Madam, actually, brothels are also divided into three, six, and nine grades.”
“There are elegant ones. The prost.i.tutes there sell their skills and not their bodies. They only accompany the guests to drink and compose poems.”
“There are also those who are moderate.”
“There are even more vulgar ones as well. Regardless of whether the guests are rich or poor, they have to receive them until they die. They will roll up a straw mat and throw their corpse into a ma.s.s grave.”
Han Qiao was very surprised that Shulan would know about this.
“Is Madam surprised that this servant knows about this?” Shulan asked.
“It is indeed a little unexpected.”
“This servant has lived in the Goulan Courtyard 0 since she was young. She did not know who was her mother and who was her father.”
“The parents who raised me, my father is a prost.i.tute, my mother is a cleaning maid. They told outsiders that I was their biological daughter, but 1 knew that I wasn’t.”
“So on the day they sold me, they signed a life and death contract.”
“Despite that, I’m still very grateful that they didn’t sell me to a brothel.”
“Madam, I want to be a servant girl, not for the one tael of silver a month. 1 just want to walk a different life.”
“This servant is not stupid and can still read a few words.”
“I hope Madam will give this servant a chance.”
Han Qiao looked at her and then she was still.
After a long while, she said, “If your adoptive parents come looking for you and ask for money, it won’t be three to five taels, but hundreds of taels. But you can’t take it out. At that moment, if someone came out and told you that as long as you did something according to their request, they could give you this amount of money or even more, what would you do?”
“1 will inform Madam of this matter as soon as possible. Why would a servant girl like me be worth being used by others? What they want me to do will bring harm to Madam’s interests, ruin Madam’s reputation, or even ruin Madam’s life.”
Han Qiao was very satisfied with Shulan’s answer.
Han Qiao looked at Shulan and smiled. “Remember what you said today. Don’t disappoint me in the future.”
She didn’t say that she wanted Shulan to be her servant girl, but at least she wanted to train her well so that she could work for her in the future.
Han Qiao returned to the main courtyard. The room was warm and there were a few oranges on the table. The room was filled with its citrusy fragrance, and it smelled very nice.
She casually took one and handed it to Shulan. “Thank you, Madam.” The servant said.
Han Qiao smiled.
While eating oranges, someone outside reported that Heng Yi had returned.
“Go boil some hot water.”
“Yes.”
Han Qiao saw Heng Yi walking over quickly. He was carrying a bag, and she already guessed what was inside. She smiled and said, “Oh, the Master has returned.”
Heng Yi blushed at Han Qiao’s words.
To hide it, he hugged her and kissed her.
“I’m back.”