The maid's road to success

Before they had finished packing, An Gu came with his son in a donkey cart. They drove the cart out specially because they bought a lot of things today.

"Brother, keep this bag of money. Give the money for this house, exchange the deed and come back. Then, register with Fourth Uncle, have a meal, and buy some things."

An Zizhong nodded, took the purse, and followed An Gu. Wang also got off the donkey cart, bringing Meihua with her to help An Wenniang clean up the house.

"Sister Meihua, I'm weeding outside, you can help Fourth Aunt clean up the house. You're getting engaged soon, don't get your face tanned."

When Wang heard this, she realized that An Wenniang was a worldly-wise and thoughtful person, so she snatched the hoe from her daughter's hand and pushed her into the house.

"Go, Wen Niang and I will clean up outside. You can't do much with your little strength. Clean up the house."

An Meihua looked at An Wenniang helplessly and went into the house to clean up.

The previous owner of the house had moved away everything usable, leaving nothing behind except two kangs in the two rooms, a shabby table, and a few clay pots.

"Your second brother is learning carpentry now. He can't make complicated things, but he may be able to make stools and cabinets. They don't look good, but they are practical. Let him go to the mountains to chop some wood and make some for you."

An Wenniang was not polite. She had to buy these things anyway and would convert them into silver to pay An Ershan later.

"Okay, let Ershan do more and I'll pay you later."

Wang slapped An Wenniang on the back so hard that she almost knocked her to the ground.

"Girl, how much money do you have? It's enough for you to buy this and that. You don't need to eat or drink anymore. You can chop wood in the mountains by yourself. You won't be busy when you get home. Why should you pay for your work?"

An Wenniang knew that Wang really didn't intend to take any money from them, and she was deeply touched.

"That's fine. If you don't want me to play with them, I'll make a few more handkerchief insoles that the ladies will like and give them to Meihua to take to her husband's house to give to her sister-in-law and her parents-in-law."

Wang nodded in satisfaction. The three of them were busy until the evening. Even the meals were prepared and delivered by the eldest sister-in-law of the An family. The villagers knew that An Wenniang had good luck and was released from slavery, so many people came to help.

The people in the village are very simple and honest, and they don't care about gains and losses. Some people repaired the courtyard wall, some built the stove, and even the half-grown girls and boys came to paste the windows and tidy up the yard. When Chen Luoxi came back in the evening, the house was already in good shape.

"Mrs. Wen, I bought the things back."

An Wenniang was afraid that Chen Luoxi might not recognize her and be exposed, so she quickly ran over and pulled him.

"Today, all the uncles and aunts in the village came to help. This is Great Grandpa. When you were a child, you broke his pipe and he beat you up. And Second Uncle. When we were young, we were hungry and it was Second Uncle who brought us delicious food."

When Chen Luoxi met An Wenniang's eyes, he immediately understood what she meant and followed her to call for help.

"These two kids still remember their childhood."

After hearing what An Wenniang said, those who had some doubts about their sudden return dispelled their doubts.

"It just so happens that I bought two jars of wine and some food today. You can keep some for a drink. We haven't built a house yet, and we don't plan to hold a banquet. Please make do with what you have and don't mind."

Farmers don't care about any reward or not. After work, they just sit together and eat and drink, which is the most comfortable thing.

Fortunately, Chen Luoxi was reminded by An Gu to go back and buy some wine and food and find someone to help clean up the house, so he also bought some living supplies. Unexpectedly, people from the village came to help today, which was just what he needed.

Not caring about the lack of tables, chairs or benches, they tidied the kang, spread a piece of oil paper, poured some peanuts on it, and started drinking the braised beef with the wine from a newly bought coarse porcelain bowl. The wives and girls went to the next room to chat with some snacks and sunflower seeds.

Wang saw the situation and realized that they couldn't leave early today, so she cleaned up the kitchen with her two good daughters-in-law, took out new iron pots and earthenware jars, and made some simple stir-fried dishes and corn porridge for everyone to eat.

If there are not enough bowls and chopsticks, the first group eats first and then washes them before the next group eats.

All the rice and flour that An Zizhong bought today were used up, the wine was drunk up, and not even a drop of the sunflower seeds were left. Everyone left feeling very satisfied.

Fortunately, everyone packed up before leaving while there were more people around.

An Gu took the two taels of silver that An Zizhong had stuffed into his arms and reluctantly took his family back.

"Boss, how much money do you think the Zizhong brothers and sisters have left to buy things by the truckload?"

An Gu touched the pipe at hand and spoke in a muffled voice.

"How much money can they have? You've heard of the illegal coal mines. I wonder how much they must have been paid to release the people. Look how skinny Zi Zhong has become. He's only sixteen years old, skinny as a bone. I don't know how many crimes he's committed. It's good to have a few dozen taels left. They bought so many things today, and it was An Hu who took away everything that could be used when they moved out. He didn't even leave a single bowl. What should we do if they don't buy anything?"

Wang thought of the two taels of silver and smiled.

"They are still young. I will talk to them more in the future and ask them to save money. But I think these two brothers and sisters have really learned a lot. They have been busy all day today, and everyone praised Wen Niang for her courtesy and generosity. She even gave us money to buy things when we went to register as a resident."

When it comes to settling down, An Gu feels so angry that his teeth itch.

"A bunch of blood-sucking leeches. There are clear laws for settling down. If you have a clean background, you can settle down in any village with the consent of the village head. Each person only needs to pay 500 yuan. Today, they cheated you out of 3 taels of silver before they stamped the settlement document."

Wang was also very angry when she mentioned this matter. Normally, there are few people who settle down here. If An Dahai had not sold the children, there would be no need to settle down again.

It was obvious that the people from Anjia Village came back to apply for a new household registration document, but it was stuck and refused to be stamped. It was only when Zi Zhong paid three taels of silver that the document was stamped and registered.

Three taels of silver is half a year's expenses for a farmer's family.

"Then, boss, let's return these two taels of silver to Zizhong and the others."

An Yu shook his head. An Zizhong had stuffed the money into his pocket countless times along the way in order to get him to keep it, but he wouldn't listen. Even if he gave it back, he would still find a way to give it back again.

"Forget it. The children will not feel at ease unless they give it to us. Let's just keep it. Many villagers went to help today, and all the food they bought is gone. You can take the wives to send some rice and flour over tomorrow, and send more vegetables from the cellar. They definitely haven't hoarded vegetables. Ask the second and first sons to go back and chop more wood for the tables, chairs and benches, and store some firewood."

After listening to this, Wang felt that An Gu was very thoughtful. She was also happy about the extra two taels of silver she had gained today, and slept peacefully.

An Zizhong was busy all day, but he couldn't fall asleep when he lay in bed. When he fell asleep, he would dream of his father, elder brother, ancestors, and people from Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion, standing in front of him with blood on their faces, asking him to take revenge.

An Wenniang cleaned up everything, brought hot water, and took off An Zizhong's shoes and socks.

"The conditions are not good nowadays and I can't take a bath. Soaking my feet more often at night can relieve the pain a lot."

An Zizhong propped himself up and sat up, pulled An Wenniang to sit next to him, and pulled up his trouser legs to wash his feet.

"Sit down. You've been busy all day. You should take a break."

Wen Niang nodded, turned around, took the sewing basket and started embroidering a purse.

"Stop it and talk to me."

Wen Niang put down the sewing basket, and her hand was grabbed by An Zizhong, who held it tightly. Looking at An Zizhong's face, An Wen Niang did not struggle. At this time, he needed someone's company.

"I heard it today when I was shopping."

When An Wenniang heard him say this, she stopped talking and looked at his face, revealing some worry.

"I heard someone say that my ancestors and mother were exiled to the northwest."

An Wenniang's heart tightened and she exerted a little force with her hands. An Zizhong held her hands even tighter.

"You didn't say it was also the order of our ancestors?"

An Wenniang nodded. Sure enough, he knew it. Would he be stubborn and go to the northwest to find the ancestors?

"The old ancestor privately told me and Sister Yulan that if the Marquis' Mansion is ever harmed, no matter which master they can save, we must not let him know the fate of the Marquis' Mansion. The worst case scenario is that everyone is executed, and the best case scenario is exile. We must not let that person know."

An Zizhong's hands were clenched so tightly that An Wenniang felt like her hands were about to break. She watched him gritting his teeth, his eyes red but he still tried not to cry. She knelt down and hugged him to comfort him.

"Fourth Young Master, I know you are upset. Sister Yulan's brother is Wu Shi, the one who was saved from slavery by Sister Bai Ling before she left the mansion. He also received instructions from the ancestors. We met in Linjing City. I was responsible for taking you away. He had already left for the northwest to make arrangements along the way. The ancestors left him tens of thousands of taels of money to ensure the survival of the women of Huaiyuan Marquis's mansion in the northwest. The most urgent task is to protect you."

"If you can redress the injustice of the Huaiyuan Marquis's mansion one day, our ancestors will be able to leave the wild land of the northwest. You want to take the imperial examination, so you can't rashly go to the northwest to get caught. We must use An Zizhong's name to take the examination here. Fourth Master, the enemy is too powerful, and we can't take the risk."

An Zizhong came to his senses, hugged An Wenniang, buried his head in her arms and cried.

An Wenniang knew that this was inappropriate. It was too much for a maid to hug the young master, even if it was to comfort him. But An Zizhong hugged her so tightly that she couldn't move.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Outside, the wind rustled the leaves. An Zizhong sat all night, watching An Wenniang, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

The next morning, he got up early, picked up a newly bought axe and went up the mountain.

"Go up the mountain to chop wood."

When An Wenniang woke up early, she didn't see An Zizhong, so she looked for him anxiously. Only when she saw the note he left did she relax. She ran out of the door and looked up the mountain. Sure enough, he was there. Only then did she feel relieved and started to light a fire and cook.

Since the Fourth Young Master has made up his mind to return to Beijing for revenge, he cannot waste his time on farming and firewood. It is better to let him go to school as soon as possible. Although it is not too early for An Zizhong to take the imperial examination at the age of seventeen, it is the safest way.

"Mrs. Wen, I've been collecting more wood and firewood with Brother An Dashan these days. Please help me find out how to get into the academy. You're more familiar with this place than I am. I can't have too much contact with people or I'll be exposed."

When An Wenniang saw An Zizhong's appearance, although he was still very thin, he was much better and more energetic than the walking corpse he had been in the past two days.

I knew in my heart that An Zizhong had figured it out.

"Okay, I'll go find the headman after dinner."

After all, An Wenniang had no intention of really farming like a farmer. She was only a 13-year-old girl, and the Fourth Young Master was not able to do such work, so buying land would be a waste.

It would be more practical for her to earn some money every month by embroidering shoes, handkerchiefs and purses.

An Wenniang took her sewing basket and went to find An Gu.

"Fourth uncle, my brother and I discussed it all night and felt that we don't remember much about farming skills now. My brother has learned a lot from the coal mine master and wants to try to study. If he can't pass the exam, he can still be a teacher, which is more cost-effective than farming."

An Gu was a little surprised to hear that An Zizhong could read and was going to the academy.

"Zi Zhong has ever been to school?"

"My brother said that the young master from the coal mine always asked him to help with his homework and copy books. He has learned a lot in the past few years. But he still needs to study."

An Gu nodded. In that case, it would be more suitable for him to study.

"Then how are you going to live? How long will the little money you have last? Going to the academy is very expensive."

An Wenniang took out the half-flower embroidery she had made this morning.

"I used to be good at sewing in the mansion. I plan to make handkerchief purses and sell them."

Wang heard it and scolded him.