Chapter 37 (1/2)

“Concubine mother, don’t worry, A-Heng will be kind to third sister.” Feng Yu Heng had no intention of promising An shi anything. She knew that for An shi, Xiang Rong’s well being was what she cared most for.

Sending off An shi and Xiang Rong, Yao shi pulled Feng Yu Heng and asked her: “Do you remember the matter from that year of medicine being changed?”

Feng Yu Heng nodded, “I originally did not remember too much, but speaking with concubine mother An for a bit jogged up some memories from childhood.”

Yao shi told her: “You concubine mother An is someone who is very understanding. When your mother was the head wife, she did not try to curry favor, and when the Yao family ran in to trouble, she did not kick me while I was down. Instead, when we were about to leave, she secretly hid some silver in to Zi Rui’s collar.”

“Good people will have good returns.” She handed a cup of tea over to Yao shi, “Mother, drink some tea. There’s no need to think too much. In a few days, we will move in next door, then there will be many things for mother to take care of.”

Yao shi had been the family’s head wife, and although her personality was a bit weak, taking care of a small courtyard was more than manageable. She immediately responded: “A-Heng, don’t worry. You do not need to concern yourself with the miscellaneous matters of the family. As for Zi Rui, he should start learning rudimentary knowledge soon.”

Only after she reminded Feng Yu Heng, did she remember, that’s right, Zi Rui was still only six years old. He had reached school age.”

“A-Heng has really been careless about this matter. It’s good that mother has remembered it. But the current attitude of the Feng family still needs some improvement. Let’s just wait and observe for a few days, then when we find an opportunity, we can bring it up with the manor.”

As mother and daughter spoke, granny Sun came in with granny Zhao. Behind granny Zhao was an elderly woman and a group of female servants. Originally, it had been filled with betrothal gifts, but now that Willow courtyard had seen these people enter, it was truly filled to capacity.

Granny Sun brought granny Zhao around the various chests and arrived at the main hall with much difficulty. Granny Zhao’s face sported a ridiculing smile. As she entered the room, she raised her voice to say: “Second young miss really is fortunate. Truly very fortunate!”

Feng Yu Heng snorted internally. Who was it earlier that, along with her master, did not even bother looking her in the eye?

“Granny Zhao’s words, I am but a concubine’s daughter, how do I have good fortune? All of the fortune in this manor are with my eldest sister and elder brother. Granny is older now, you should pay attention to the words you say.”

Her words had rendered granny Zhao speechless. The old lady did not understand. It was clearly just some small talk, so why did the second young miss seem to not at all understand.

But she only dared to belittle her in her heart. Currently, she did not dare display even a hint of displeasure in the face of Feng Yu Heng. As a result, she smiled even more widely. Since she had no way to respond earlier, she could only gloss over it and directly change the subject- “This old servant has invited a famous servant merchant from the capital. I brought some girls for the second young miss to choose. Also, the matriarch ordered this old servant to go to the best ready-made clothing store in the capital to pick some clothes for the second young miss, the second young master and concubine mother Yao. The clothes were also brought along, second young miss, please take a look!”

As she finished speaking, she waved her hands and the servant girls behind her brought in multiple sets of clothing.

The clothing that was brought this time was naturally good. The material was good, the design was good and there were none of the little tricks like before. Feng Yu Heng roughly glanced over them before having Huang Quan and Wang Chuan bring them in to the inner room.

Following that, the servant merchant, with a mouth full of yellowish teeth, also entered the hall followed by twenty or so young girls.

Very quickly, the small hall was also filled. Feng Yu Heng randomly looked around the room. Seeing that they were all around thirteen years old, she became a little annoyed, but there was nothing she could do. In this era, aside from working as a servant, the children of poor families did not have any better paths to choose from. Moreover, girls could be married out at age fifteen. Those that went out to work after ten years old could be found everywhere. She had always wanted to do something but never had the ability.

She bit the bullet and looked over the servant girls. Feng Yu Heng eventually ended up picking five who had slightly sturdier bodies to help with the cleaning. She then chose another three as attendants. One would follow granny Sun and attend to Yao shi. Another would work with Huang Quan and take care of Zi Rui. The last one would work with Wang Chuan and stay at her side.

Granny Zhao saw that Feng Yu Heng had no intention of picking any more and asked: “Will just these few be enough? After you have moved in to the neighboring house, there will be many places that need servants.”

She shook her hand, “Just these will be sufficient. I don’t like having too many people.”

Granny Zhao nodded her head, “All will be done according to the second young miss.” Then she turned to the servant merchant and gave her a look. That woman quickly pulled out eight contracts from the pile and handed them to Feng Yu Heng, “Second young miss, these are the contracts for the eight girls you have chosen. They have all been recorded by the government. I hope the second young miss can rest assured.”

Feng Yu Heng was very satisfied with this.

Seeing that she did not have any other requests, granny Zhao took the remaining people and left. The remaining eight girls stood in the hall awaiting their orders.

Feng Yu Heng did not have much experience in this field, so she looked towards Yao shi.

Yao shi was very familiar with this and took over this matter. She began to ask: “Did you have names originally?”

One of the braver girls replied: “I did, but it was a lowly name. I fear that speaking it would dirty madam’s ears. I hope madam will grant me a name.”

Yao shi thought for a while and said to the five sturdier girls: “I grant you the name Ruo. After Ruo, just add your former names.”

The five girls gave their thanks in unison.