Chapter 228: Chapter 213: Failed to Deceive, Lost the Rice (3rd Update)
When Song Wei and Wen Wan arrived at the broker’s, they were unsurprised to see the little girl they had anticipated.
Even if she was a Yao Jie, having been carefully dressed up, she merely appeared to be a pure and lively legitimate maid.
Wen Wan quickly looked away, considering that when it came to dealing with Song Wei, Hao Yun was indeed meticulous, becoming more attentive each time.
The shopkeeper was merely a middleman; it was the broker who had the people. Now, she had brought them all out to stand in a line.
Those who could afford to purchase servants were generally respectable families. Once chosen, their future would be to serve these families.
So unless the master spoke, the maids and old women all bowed their heads, even their breathing intentionally subdued.
Song Wei pointed at a fat woman on the left, "I think this one is not bad."
Wen Wan scoffed directly, "So fat, she hasn’t done much work, but she’ll fill several bowls of rice first. With that spare money, could I just keep a servant?"
The fat woman felt aggrieved, "..."
Song Wei then pointed at another woman who was rather skinny, "How about this one?"
Wen Wan was still unsatisfied, "Yellow-skinned and frail, won’t last long after buying."
The skinny woman trembled, "..."
This husband and wife had been performing together not just once or twice, so there was no need for prior rehearsals; their on-the-spot cooperation seemed seamless.
"Don’t like the old women, then pick a maid." Song Wei casually pointed, "This one seems not bad."
"Too ugly, facing each other every day, I’d lose my appetite."
"..."
"This one is good-looking." Song Wei pointed to one with a fair complexion and an almond-shaped face.
Wen Wan disagreed even more and spat, "A face full of charm, bringing her home would surely bring disaster! Don’t forget, Master, that last little tramp who tried to climb into your bed, I beat her until her skin was torn open, and now her bones are still growing grass in the dry well in our backyard. If you’re not afraid of that well becoming more crowded, then go ahead and bring her back!"
In just a quarter of an hour, Wen Wan managed to craft herself into the image of both a venomous and fierce wife.
Even the broker’s shopkeeper couldn’t help but sigh, indeed, people are not what they seem.
Among those who were pointed at earlier, whether maid or servant woman, none were not terrified.
The madam of the house was too "fierce," leaving Song Wei, this official, with no choice but to let her pick for herself.
"Madam, you choose yourself. Whichever you fancy, we’ll buy that one."
Wen Wan’s gaze slowly moved over these people, and whoever she looked at couldn’t help but tremble.
They thought that once bought, they could lead a stable life with their new masters, no longer worrying about being homeless, hungry, or cold. Who would have thought the mistress, looking soft and weak, was actually fierce and ruthless at heart?
Following such a family, you’d have to keep your head tethered to your belt daily. Who would willingly approach, unless they had a death wish?
Wen Wan looked for a long time, and finally glanced at the Yao Jie, pointing her out to Song Wei, "Master, what do you think of this one?"
The Yao Jie trembled more than anyone when pointed at.
She was just paid to seduce this official, hadn’t heard that his wife was a vicious woman!
If she had known earlier, would she have accepted that life-risking money?
The Yao Jie was pondering how to escape this muddled task when she heard the official’s wife ask her, "What’s your name?"
The Yao Jie lowered her head even further, her voice slightly trembling, "Slave, slave is called Xiao Tao."
"Xiao Tao?" Wen Wan tasted the name thoroughly and suddenly said, "I think you’re not bad, are you willing to serve in our home?"
The Yao Jie raised her head and happened to see the official opposite her giving her an unusual look.
She was skilled in her old trade, seeing at a glance that he favored her, signaling her to agree!
In the past, with such a handsome man, even if he didn’t look favorably upon her, she would find a way to throw herself at him, especially when he showed interest.
But now, the Yao Jie only felt that the official’s gaze was deadly. If he kept looking like that, the fierce wife beside him would not need to wait to bring her home to reduce her to a pile of bones right there at the broker’s, torn to shreds.
The broker was anxious that she was silent for so long and might anger the master, scolding, "The madam is speaking to you, are you mute?"
Wen Wan’s smile was pure and kind, "This girl’s probably timid; don’t scare her."
The broker quickly put on a smile and agreed, secretly glaring fiercely at Xiao Tao, thinking what a clueless little wench she was. If she didn’t manage to leave today and got returned by the family, she’d see her dead!
Yao Jie was caught in a dilemma, if she followed, she feared she’d be whipped to death by the official’s wife and thrown into a well.
If she didn’t follow, she wouldn’t have any way to explain herself upon returning.
After hesitating for quite a while, she finally gathered her courage and said she’s willing to serve beside the lord and lady.
Wen Wan glanced at the man beside her, asking if he was satisfied.
Song Wei said he was satisfied.
Wen Wan didn’t say a word more and directly handed over the money and took the indenture contract, leaving.
The lord and lady rode the carriage, but as a serving girl, Yao Jie could only follow outside.
At first, the speed was slow, and while she was contemplating matters, she could barely keep up. Before long, the carriage picked up speed, and walking couldn’t keep up the pace, so she had to run.
Yao Jie, back when she was at the brothel, though not a top card, was of average beauty, always had maids serving her, and hadn’t faced hardship for years. Patrons had spoiled her into the sickness of a lady.
Today she ran a leg, her soles were punctured with large blisters, and by the time she reached the front of the Song Mansion, she was so dizzy she couldn’t even find the main door, clutching a tree at the entrance to bend over and vomit.
When she finished vomiting and entered the courtyard, she hoped to say as a newcomer, she felt unwell, and go to the servants’ quarters, sleep awhile, and then think about what to do next.
Seeing the official’s wife, she didn’t make things difficult, saying since she was new, heavier work wouldn’t be assigned for now, just go sweep the courtyard.
Yao Jie thought, sweeping the courtyard was good; no one would be watching, allowing her to slack off and think of ways to connect with their people, repay money, and leave.
But when she picked up the broom, she found it wasn’t anything like she imagined.
There was a little master sitting in the courtyard, unbeknownst to her, playing not with anything else but mud.
The wet mud in the flower bed had been scooped everywhere by him, the originally smooth and clean bluestone floor was messed up like someone mortally dragged their feces across it.
Yao Jie wanted to go up and tell him children shouldn’t play with mud, when a boy of about ten years emerged, lifting the child up, telling her to fetch water and scrub the floor clean, but not using soapberry powder—it was too expensive—and use free well water instead, adding that the courtyard was newly bought, and scrubbing must be done sparingly, clean but not too forceful, otherwise she’d have to compensate if she damaged it.
The blisters on her soles still throbbing with pain, Yao Jie hearing these words was incredibly angry; her brain must have grown a bump to be momentarily enchanted, taking people’s money and suffering here.
With great effort, she fetched several large buckets of water, scrubbed the floor clean, gobbled down two cold buns to fill her stomach; by then, it was twilight, she wanted to return to her room, find a needle to pop the blisters and sleep well, only to see the lord heading toward the study, calling her to serve before entering.
Earlier, when fetching water, light was dim, and the reflections in the well flickered, scaring her into shivering several times.
Thinking of the maid beaten to death by the official’s wife, she had no courage left to seduce the lord, pondering multiple times, she decided to run.
Just crouching and exiting the main door, she saw the official’s wife who had carried the little master to visit the Xie Family next door standing outside, smiling insincerely at her.
"M-M-Madam." Yao Jie was nearly scared out of her wits.
Wen Wan hugged Jinbao tightly, asking her, "Stealing from our family, where do you think you’re going?"
Yao Jie paled, eyes widening, "What stealing, I didn’t!"
"Just because you say you didn’t, doesn’t mean you didn’t. Let’s take a trip to the government office!" With Wen Wan’s words, several government officers holding torches rushed over from not far away.
Wen Wan had instructed Uncle Lin to report to the officials while Yao Jie was scrubbing the floor.
Yao Jie was beyond defending herself now, her legs weakening at the sight of the government officers, she insisted she hadn’t stolen.
The officer, with a cold face, asked, "If you didn’t steal, why were you sneaking out of the house?"
Yao Jie quickly explained she was their family’s maid.
"Nonsense!" Wen Wan said, "Our bought maid is named Xiao Tao, what’s your name?"
"I-I am Xiao Tao!" Yao Jie blurted out in panic.
Wen Wan didn’t waste words on her, instructing the officer to take her back for interrogation.
At the government office, a few board strikes later, Yao Jie confessed everything, saying she had taken money from someone to pose as a maid and discredit Mr. Song’s reputation.
Being the newly minted third-place scholar, the Shuntian Prefect gave Song Wei face and thoroughly investigated upwards, leading directly to Hao Yun, the son-in-law from the Su Family at the Prime Minister’s Mansion.