The pretty widow is addicted to money, and the little wolfdog asks for a hug

In the middle of the earthen brick house stands a long desk with a teapot and teacups on it, which looks simple and clean.

There were ten armchairs placed around the long table, and several long benches were placed in the rest of the room.

This room was used as Zhuangzi's temporary meeting room.

Farming starts in spring, time waits for no one.

Gu Qinghuai thought about it and called Gu Heng and Cui Laosi over, deciding to resolve the issue of the thousand acres of land all at once.

Cui Laosi is a bit stupid and not suitable for doing things that involve risking life and death. Cui Laoda doesn't want him to die young, so he begs Gu Qinghuai to let him do something that is not related to fighting and killing.

Gu Qinghuai felt that his father would be too busy to manage a thousand acres of land and so many prisoners by himself, so he decided to assign Cui Laosi to his father so that he would have an assistant.

Although Cui Laosi's brain is not very flexible, he has strong execution ability and is a simple and kind person. He is most suitable to work in a village with simple relationships.

Gu Qinghuai sat in the main seat.

Cui Shishi is Gu Qinghuai's personal bodyguard, so of course she has to follow her closely.

She still had her arms crossed over her chest, standing proudly behind Gu Qinghuai.

Qi Yuanshuo, the former personal bodyguard, was also very clingy. He followed Gu Qinghuai wherever he went. At this time, he sat on Gu Qinghuai's right hand side and took the initiative to take minutes of the meeting for Gu Qinghuai.

Gu Heng sat on the left of Gu Qinghuai, and Cui Laosi sat next to him.

The women and children sat on the benches.

After everyone was seated, Dou'er saw tea and cups on the wooden table, so she took the initiative to come over and pour tea for Gu Qinghuai and the others.

Fearing that the host would dislike her, Douer put down the teapot and added sheepishly: "I washed my hands before, my hands... my hands are clean."

Gu Qinghuai smiled at her and said, "Thank you, Aunt Douer."

When Dou'er heard her new name from Gu Qinghuai's mouth for the first time, and the word "elder" was added at the end, her nose suddenly felt sore, her eyes turned red, and she sat down with an excited look on her face.

When Zhen'er saw this scene, she clenched her fingers.

She had been paying attention to Madam Gu's father, Gu Heng, and didn't notice that Dou Nu had the chance to steal the limelight.

It’s a pity that Madam Gu’s father didn’t even look at her.

What Zhen'er didn't know was that her every move was seen by Gu Qinghuai.

Gu Qinghuai took a sip of tea and said, "Let me introduce you first. This is my father, Gu Heng, the second of two brothers. You can call him Master Gu Er."

Ever since Grandpa severed ties with the old house, Gu Qinghuai told his family that Gu Xiang would be the eldest brother and Gu Heng would be the second brother, and from now on they would only have two brothers.

"Second Master Gu!" The women and children bowed to Gu Heng and called him respectfully.

Gu Heng smiled and nodded.

He has now gotten used to people calling him "Master" in various ways. His biological mother is the daughter of the crown princess of the previous dynasty, so he deserves it.

Gu Qinghuai pointed at Cui Laosi and said, "This is my Uncle Cui Si, you can call him Master Cui Si."

"Master Cui Si!" everyone called out in unison again.

Cui Laosi was not good at speaking and didn’t know what to say, so he could only laugh foolishly.

Seeing his silly look, Dou'er couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

Gu Qinghuai continued, "You all sold your bodies to me voluntarily, and it's a death contract. Before signing the contract, I want to confirm it one last time. Is there anyone who regrets it?"

Gu Qinghuai's gaze swept across the women and lingered on Zhen'er's face for a while.

"No regrets!"

"We're determined to follow Madam Gu!"

Except for Zhen'er, the women all looked determined.

Zhen'er originally thought that Gu Qinghuai came from a prominent family, and was at least a wealthy family in the county, with a large mansion in the county. She didn't expect that she would bring them to this dilapidated and desolate earthen brick house.

There is nothing here except a few mud brick houses and ten thatched huts.

She couldn't waste the second half of her life, which she had worked so hard to get, here. She didn't want to live with her back to the sky and her face to the earth.

"Madam Gu, I...I don't want to sell myself anymore. Does what you said before about giving me some money and food to support myself still count?" Zhen'er stood up and said, pinching the corner of her clothes.

Gu Qinghuai smiled faintly: "Of course it counts!"

After saying that, he glanced at Cui Shishi, who immediately took out five hundred coins and a bag of dry food and placed them in front of her.

Zhen'er didn't expect Madam Gu to move so quickly, as if she was waiting for her to call her away.

Dou'er and the other women looked at Zhen'er with complicated expressions. They wanted to speak out to keep her, but they couldn't come up with any words.

Everyone has their own way out, and they cannot make the decision for Zhen'er. If they persuade her to stay, she will regret it later and will definitely resent them.

Zhen Er took the five hundred coins and the bundle, hesitated for a moment and said, "Madam Gu, it's night time now, it's not safe for me to go out, can you let me rest here for one night, and I'll leave tomorrow morning?"

"Okay," Gu Qinghuai turned to Cui Shishi and said, "Sister Shishi, take her to the next room."

Cui Shishi took Zhen'er to the next room.

Gu Qinghuai tapped the table lightly, drawing everyone's attention away: "If you sell your bodies to me, you will sign a death contract, and I will give you three taels of silver each, including the children. Sign the contract now, and then I will pay you the money."

The indenture was written with the help of Qi Yuanshuo during the night break on the way back.

The deed states each person's physical characteristics, age, gender, and reason for selling their body. All that is required is for each person to sign and seal the deed.

The next room was not soundproof. Zhen'er, who was sitting next to the big bunk bed, was leaning against the wall, eavesdropping on the noise here.

When she heard that each person could be sold for three taels of silver, she was tempted. If she had known this earlier, she would have sold herself first and then secretly escaped with the money.

However, this is Madam Gu's territory, and she has so many fast horses that I might not be able to escape at all.

Zhen Er sighed and immediately drove away the dangerous thoughts that popped up in her mind.

Continue to eavesdrop with your ear close to your chest.

When the women and children were in the Northern Barbarians, they all learned some Daxia characters from Yun Nu, so they had no problem writing their own names.

After signing the contract, Gu Heng and Cui Laosi took out some small change and distributed the money for selling their bodies to each person. Qi Yuanshuo immediately stood up to help.

The women who received the real money felt very at ease.

They all held the silver tightly in their hands, fearing that it would disappear if they were not careful.

Gu Qinghuai smiled gently and said, "I still say the same thing. From now on, as long as you keep your duties and work hard, I will never treat you unfairly. Of course, if someone has bad intentions and betrays the master, I will never show mercy. You have all seen my methods."

Dou'er immediately stood up and expressed his loyalty: "Madam Gu and Master Xiaoshi are our saviors. Without you, we would still be slaves in the Northern Barbarians. We would rather die than betray our masters!"

The other women nodded in agreement.

Cui Shishi filled Gu Qinghuai's cup with tea again.