He'd rather run than be turned into a cannon fodder for the broken engagement.

"Little Xun, where have you been?" Leng Huan pushed open the door and saw Yin Xun walking towards him from the country path.

I woke up early this morning and didn't see him. I thought it was all a dream that he brought a child home yesterday.

Leng Huan stretched, but felt a bit tired from the sleep, his whole body aching and numb.

Having your pressure points pressed and lying in one position all night, it's no wonder you feel uncomfortable.

Fu Xun walked over slowly and casually waved the foxtail grass in his hand at her. "You woke up early, so I got up to take a walk."

Leng Huan then noticed that his hair was slightly damp, indicating that he had already washed his face, and that his clothes had some mud and grass clippings on them. She reminded him, "Be careful, it's so early in the morning, don't go into those deep ditches, be careful of snakes."

"Well, I see."

-

After a quick breakfast, Leng Huan went out, and Fu Xun naturally followed.

"Hey, I'm going to work at the restaurant, you might as well stay home and rest."

"Brother Huan, I have something to do in the city."

After he said that, Leng Huan ignored him, and the two of them took an oxcart back to the city.

Work was out of the question for the time being, so Leng Huan went to Li Ji Restaurant as usual, and it was another busy day.

When it was past mealtime and he had some free time to rest, Leng Huan went to the agreed-upon place at the back door to meet the child.

Fu Xunan leaned against the wall quietly, waiting for her.

"Ah Xun, I brought you some steamed buns." Leng Huan looked him over, wondering what he had been doing. "Did you finish your business?"

"Hmm..." Fu Xun hesitated for a moment, then took the steamed bun. "It'll be ready soon."

"I can't go home for the next few days. You go back first and help me take care of Granny Zhou and Sang Biao. I'll be on my day off in six days."

The restaurant operates on a seven-day work week. "You really have to work everywhere," Leng Huan thought to himself, secretly scoffing.

Fu Xun glanced silently at her wrinkled and pale hands, then his gaze fell on her face. Her makeup was already ugly, and because of the sweat, her forehead was smudged, and her two caterpillar-like eyebrows were almost gone. He sighed inwardly. Only those bumpkins wouldn't be able to tell she was a woman looking like this.

After several breaths, Fu Xun finally responded, "Okay. Huan-ge, is it very hot in the kitchen? Your face is all smudged."

Upon hearing this, Leng Huan instinctively reached to touch his face, but then stopped.

“Huan-ge, you’re good-looking, so just dress normally. There’s no need to make yourself look ugly. Also, you can work in a different place.”

Fu Xun took a bite of the steamed bun with her small hands: "I just saw the Qin family recruiting servants."

Qin family?

Leng Huan blinked. Hearing that it was a wealthy family comparable to the Liu family, located at the east end of the city, she happily put her arm around the child's shoulder: "Really?"

Fu Xun nodded: "Really."

Leng Huan realized that he meant he had something to do, probably asking around about where people were hiring. She was surprised that the kid was so thoughtful, so she stuffed her share of steamed buns into the kid's hand as well: "Great, here you go! I'll go check right away."

Before Fu Xun could react, Leng Huan took off running to the Qin family for a job interview. She really didn't want to wash dishes anymore and wanted to escape as soon as possible.

Fu Xun ran after her, calling out, "Wait for me, Huan-ge!"

—

"We're hiring. Young man, are you brave enough?"

The Qin family steward was a slightly overweight middle-aged man with prominent nasolabial folds on his face and a somewhat haggard expression. He frowned as he looked at Leng Huan and asked a question.

“Absolutely! Absolutely! I’m not afraid of anything except being poor!” Leng Huan blurted out.

Afraid of being poor? The manager was taken aback.

"May I ask how much your monthly salary is?" Leng Huan asked expectantly, rubbing his hands together.

The steward suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a smile that was hard to decipher: "Easy, easy. As long as you're bold enough, monthly wages are no problem. Ten taels of silver a month, how about it?"

Leng Huan was overjoyed, his eyes practically glowing with delight. He nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, thank you, steward. Can I get to work right away?"

If she starts working sooner, she can earn money sooner. At ten taels of silver a month, she can save up enough money quickly!

Fu Xun, watching her beaming smile, raised an eyebrow slightly.

-

“Ah Xun, go back and tell Granny Zhou that I’ve changed jobs. Tell her not to worry. Buy a roast chicken and give it to Manager Wang. Just say that I left the restaurant because of my own reasons…”

Leng Huan carefully instructed the child, took out fifty copper coins and handed them to him. Then she went to the restaurant to tell Manager Li, and even gave away a roast chicken. If it weren't for Manager Li's help, she would have been scolded to death by the head chef.

He went to the woodshed to take his temporary belongings and officially began working at the Qin residence.

—

The Qin family mansion is very large, with deep courtyards, and it's easy to get lost without someone to guide you.

Leng Huan followed Steward Qin through the side gate, past a side courtyard, around several covered corridors and gates, until they arrived at a garden to meet Madam Qin.

"Madam, this is the new night watchman."

Through layers of light gauze curtains, Steward Qin bowed respectfully and reported.

Leng Huan looked at the indistinct figure behind the gauze curtain, stepped forward, and said politely, "Greetings, Madam. My name is Leng Huan."

A soft, languid voice rang out: "Leng Huan, is it? Get back to work and get down."

"Yes, Madam." Leng Huan bowed respectfully to her boss and then followed the steward away.

Upon arriving at the servants' quarters, the steward told Leng Huan about his job duties: "You are the night watchman of the main courtyard. You only need to walk around and do work in the main courtyard. You don't need to do any work during the day. Remember, you must not wander around the other courtyards."

If you make a mistake, no one can save your job. The lady doesn't like people getting close, and she doesn't like being looked at directly. Most importantly, no loud noises or unnecessary movement at night!

Leng Huan expressed his understanding.

At this time, the sky was bright, and apart from feeling that the Qin family courtyard was a bit too shady and there were too few servants, and when they were encountered, they were always in a hurry, there was nothing else wrong.

After a few days of peaceful coexistence, Leng Huan had gotten used to resting during the day and working at night.

She secretly sighed, thinking how leisurely the job was; there was nothing to do during the night watch, and she could even take a nap.

The downside is that every time she manages to catch a servant and try to chat with them, they ignore her, look inscrutable, and leave in a hurry.

The master hadn't said anything about forbidding the servants from socializing, so Leng Huan couldn't help but feel a little bored.

I took a long nap last night and slept too much, so I wasn't sleepy during the day. Leng Huan dawdled as he went to the kitchen to have lunch.

I eavesdropped on the whispers of several servants at the door.

"Hey, a new night watchman has come to the main courtyard, and he's quite handsome."

"Yes, I've seen her before. She's pretty, what a pity..."

"Shh! I heard that servant boy from last time has been missing for a long time, and it seems he hasn't been found yet..."

"Shh, keep your voice down, or the manager will find out."

Upon hearing this, the servants scattered like birds and beasts. Leng Huan was completely bewildered. They seemed to be talking about her, but had the servant from before disappeared?

She thought she had been fired. Leng Huan frowned and wanted to grab a maid to ask her about it, but then the manager gave her a scolding, and everyone hurriedly finished their meal and left the kitchen.

That night, there was a gentle breeze, and not a single star.

Having something on his mind during the day, Leng Huan didn't sleep well, so he was very sleepy now. He blinked his sore eyes and quietly yawned.

Just as Leng Huan was about to doze off, he suddenly heard a soft creaking sound. It was the door to his wife's room that had opened. Leng Huan was jolted awake!

She turned her head and suddenly screamed uncontrollably, "Aaaaaah!!!"

-