How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Zhao Huazhang reluctantly said goodbye to Xia Chu and returned to the military camp with Xia Tian. As for the old horse from Grandma Chang's house, Zhao Huazhang said he would bring it back with him.

"It's just a horse, sir, there's no need to laugh like that." Xia Tian noticed that Zhao Huazhang usually looked calm and normal, but after meeting his sister, his brain seemed to be working less effectively. He even couldn't control his expression, like when he volunteered to deliver the horse just now, and he couldn't help laughing.

But Xia Chu was too slow to notice Zhao Huazhang's strange behavior at all.

Zhao Huazhang cleared his throat and covered it up by saying, "I was just laughing because I was thinking about something else."

"Did you think you could see Xiaochu more often?" Xia Tian said unhappily.

Zhao Huazhang didn't care about being exposed in front of him. Xia Tian had guessed what he was thinking anyway. He ignored it, and his mind was reviewing his performance today and Xia Chu's reaction.

During dinner, Xia Chu told Jia Qingwu about what happened today. She was frightened. When she thought about what would have happened if she hadn't run away, she couldn't accept it. "Next time, bring a servant with you."

"It's better to rely on yourself than on others." Wang Yong frowned and said, "Get up early in the morning and practice with Dad."

"Didn't you say that even if you practice, you still can't beat an average man?" Dong Xiaohuan grabbed Xia Chu's hand. "You've been getting up late lately, why don't you practice running more? Even if you can't beat us, at least you can outrun us. Didn't you run with a sandbag tied to your body in the past? It's been a long time since you ran."

"Bring more people." Guan Xu said.

"Who wants to arrest my sister? Can't Dad go and catch the bad guy?" Wang Qiuyu said.

"I remember you had a small dagger before. You should carry it with you when you go out in the future. Otherwise, you can bring Da'an with you." Zhang Zhou said.

Being surrounded by her family, who were offering their care and advice, Xia Chu felt warm. She thought for a moment and said, "Lin'an is usually peaceful. Maybe the place we went to today was a bit remote. I'll just not go next time."

"Are you going to buy flowers today?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Xia Chu nodded, "Well, there are some empty spaces in the yard. I want to find some to replant."

"Let mom cook later tomorrow, and I'll go with you." Zhang Zhou said.

"Okay, I'll prepare it first, and you can put it in the pot when you come back." Dong Xiaohuan responded with a smile.

"I'll transfer two servants from the house over there. Take them with you next time you go out." Jia Qingwu was still a little worried.

Xia Chu didn't refuse outright. Jia Qingwu was simply worried, even though she felt it was too much of a hassle. But today's events were still quite frightening. "No need to call me over specifically. If I need to go out, just call me back."

Seeing her agree, Jia Qingwu smiled and said, "Okay, then next time you go out, have someone call you."

"Cuihua, go back and rest after dinner. You've been quite frightened today. Madam Xu, take some silver and ask Cuihua to get two doses of calming tea." Jia Qingwu ordered.

Aunt Xu knew what she meant and directly took out twenty taels and gave it to Cuihua, which was both money for the medicine and a reward.

"Thank you for the reward, madam." Cuihua took it respectfully, unable to hide the smile on her lips.

Cui Ya was a little envious, but not that much. She wasn't sure if she could decisively fight for her life if she encountered such a situation. But she was happy for her sister. They were both transferred to Qingwu Court together. They followed each other from Huizhou to Lin'an and had a very good relationship. She was a little hesitant at first, and it was Cui Hua who woke her up. Her originally uneasy mood gradually calmed down after meeting the people from the Wang family.

This was an ordinary family, filled with gentle and kind people. They might not have had as many opportunities to receive rewards as they did in the Jia family, but An Ning sometimes felt like being at home. She and Cuihua secretly wondered if they had met parents like them, they would definitely not have been sold as a servant, right?

Before going to bed, Xia Chu knocked on Jia Qingwu's door, ready to discuss something with her.

"Come and sleep with mom?" Jia Qingwu joked.

Sleeping together was fine, as they had shared a bed for so long before, and there was nothing wrong with it. Jia Qingwu had a good sleeping posture, and she hardly moved after falling asleep, unless she had a nightmare. At first, she woke up from time to time, but later it became less common. "Okay, I'll sleep with mom."

It was just a joke, but since Xia Chu had agreed, Jia Qingwu could only be happy. She smiled and took out another pillow. After they both lay down, she asked, "But is there anything you want to tell Mom?"

"There is one thing," Xia Chu said with a sweet smile, "I want to return Cuihua's indenture to her, and I want to ask mother for her opinion."

Jia Qingwu had actually guessed it. When she heard this, she had a feeling that it would be so. She had also thought about this in her heart. It was just a maid's indenture, and it was nothing serious. Moreover, Cuihua's performance was indeed worthy of reward, so it was not impossible to directly transfer the indenture. "I will give you the indentures of Cuihua and Cuiya, and you can make your own decision. But are you sure you want to let her go? There are many loyal maids, but they have all grown up together. Cuihua has not been with you for a long time, and you have done this, which proves that you are very grateful."

"Thank you, mother!" Xia Chu hugged Jia Qingwu and acted coquettishly, then expressed her thoughts, "I returned the indenture to her, not to let her go. I wanted to give her a monthly stipend, just like hiring a house helper. Is this okay, mother?"

"Of course, I can." But Jia Qingwu also had her own concerns. "Without the indenture, it's hard to control people's hearts. If she regains her freedom, she may not be as dedicated as she is now."

With a bond, the master could kill or beat the slave at will, so the slaves had to be loyal. But she didn't care. It wasn't like she needed someone to take the blame all the time. Besides, she felt bad about using someone as cannon fodder. "It's okay. If she really changes, I'll just give her some money and let her go."

"Just make your decision." Jia Qingwu patted her. "As she saw more and met more people, she would slowly understand." A hundred words of advice are useless, but a lesson learned once and for all is deeply moving.

Cuihua held the paper in front of her, incredulous. Her eyes widened, "Is this my indenture?"

"Yes, I'm giving it back to you." Xia Chu said with a smile, "This is Cui Ya's."

Cuihua was delighted at first. What servant wouldn't want to get their indenture back, to escape slavery? But then panic set in. She was a frail woman, in an unfamiliar Lin'an. Where could she go with her indenture? Her knees buckled, and she knelt. "Young lady, are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Miss! No! But what did I do wrong?" Cui Ya also panicked.

"Hey, get up, get up. I'm not trying to chase you away." Xia Chu pulled the two of them a few times, but failed to pull them up. He could only explain, "Now that you have the indenture, you are free. I will invite you to work in my house again, just like before."

"How can this be?" Cuihua knew Xia Chu was doing well, but she hadn't expected her to be this well. She had thought the reward from Aunt Xu yesterday was generous enough, and she had been so happy all night that she'd thought of saving it and spending it slowly. Who could have imagined such a big surprise?