Abandoned Peasant Girl Has Her Own Space

Chapter 32: Servants

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“How about this? That’s my elder sister there. Go and ask her! If she takes them in, then your two daughters will be her servants! My elder sister is kind. If she takes them in, she will treat them well.”

The woman thanked Wunian and walked towards Juxiang. As expected, Juxiang was kind-hearted. Knowing that Wunian had no objections, she agreed. Juxiang walked to Wunian’s side and said, “Little Sister, forget it. Leave them to it! Let’s go to the carriage.”

“Yes! Alright! How did it go, Big Sister? Have you decided to accept that woman’s two daughters?”

“Little Sister, do you think it’s right for me to do this?”

“Yes, we have the means now. We have to make our own decisions in our lives and do as we wish.”

Wunian looked up and happened to see that the woman was carrying a child while two followed behind her. The older child was even holding the hand of a child who looked about three years old. He came up to Mother Juxiang and said, “Hurry up and kowtow to our benefactor, the two of you.”

The two older ones took a step forward and knelt in front of Juxiang and Wunian. Juxiang went forward to help them up. “How old are you? What’s your name? Who’s your sister? Are you willing to follow us?”

“I’m Big Sister Da Ya. I’m 13 years old this year. I’m willing to follow you.”

“I’m Younger Sister, Er Ya. I’m 11 years old this year. I’m willing to follow you too.”

The two of them kowtowed to Juxiang in unison. “Miss, please will you give my mother some more food so that our younger siblings won’t starve to death.”

“Where’s your father? Even if I gave you food, what if you can’t hold on to it and get beaten up again?” Juxiang was worried about what could potentially happen.

“Our father broke his leg and can’t walk now.”

“Then if you leave with me, what will happen to the two young ones and the crippled one? How can your mother fend for everyone alone?”

Da Ya kowtowed to Juxiang two more times and cried, “Benefactor, we’re going to starve to death if we stayed together. If we follow Miss, it would be as though Miss is buying us by giving Father and Mother some money and food. Perhaps they will be able to survive!” Da Ya cried pitifully while Er Ya kept kowtowing.

At this moment, the refugees’ porridge was ready. All the men, women, old, and young wanted to go forward to snatch it. Wunian walked forward and shouted, “Stop! How can you do this?” Everyone stopped and thought that their benefactor was going to go back on her word and take back the food. They all quietened down and did not dare to move.

“How can you do this? Let’s not talk about snatching food for yourselves with no thought for whether others will get any. What if you knock the pot over and burn someone? Go and form a line. The children should be at the front because the children are the future. The elderly should be next because the old have worked hard their entire lives. We can’t let them starve to death in the end. Then come the young ones. Don’t always fear that you’re at a disadvantage. It’s fine to give way to each other.”

The old and young were all saying words of gratitude. The young men and women also felt the same. They voluntarily lined up at the back so that everyone could have a bowl of porridge.

Wunian walked to the side of the auntie and uncle in charge of the ladle and said to them, “Today, they’ve been hungry for too long and can’t eat hard and meat. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, their stomachs will adapt and we can make some steamed buns! And those meat dishes! You’re in charge of the ladle. Everyone has to be equal and strive for fairness. Okay?”

The two dishers nodded and bowed, thanking their benefactors for their generosity.

After saying that, Wunian turned around and returned to Juxiang’s side. When Juxiang saw Wunian coming over, she said to her, “Little Sister, I’ve decided to buy them with ten taels of silver and give them another twenty catties of food. What do you think, Little Sister?”

“Sure! Big Sister may decide!”

The family standing before her kowtowed excitedly. Juxiang took out ten taels of silver and gave it to the woman.

Then, she took out two indentures from her sleeve and said, “This is a proper transaction after all. I’m giving you out of my kindness, but selling your daughter to us is a transaction.

As parents, sign your name and put your thumb print on this. The sisters may do the same.”

The woman was a little uncomfortable, but she complied with Wunian’s instructions. When it was Da Ya’s and Er Ya’s turns, Wunian said, “Think about it carefully. This is an indenture. Once you’ve signed your name and put your hand prints on it, you will be servants and no longer have freedom.”