Chapter 204: Um, It Seems She Didn’t Ask About That?
Broker Deng glanced at Wen Yao with a beaming smile, stroking his beard as he nodded. He whispered to Wen Xiuyi, “This girl Yao’er is definitely going to be someone formidable in the future.”
Previously, he had been worried that the members of the Wen family were too kind-hearted. To prevent slaves from growing arrogant and taking advantage of their masters, he had specifically picked out honest, dutiful, and thoroughly obedient people for them.
However, these three hadn’t stayed in his hands for long, and he hadn’t gained a deep understanding of their character. Just now, he had felt a bit regretful about rashly bringing them before the father and daughter. He hadn’t expected the girl to be able to hold her own and suppress them. In that case, he would just wait and see.
Although Wen Yao’s current body was only around ten years old, the soul inside belonged to an adult in her twenties. Standing there, it was quite simple for her to put on an intimidating aura to bluff people. Even if she hadn’t eaten pork, she had at least seen a pig run.
Sure enough, the three older maids looked at each other, hesitation flickering in all of their eyes.
Wen Yao wasn’t in a hurry either, waiting for them to consider it themselves. She could accept their refusal, but she absolutely could not accept them stirring up trouble after arriving at her home.
The three whispered together as if discussing something. The one standing in the middle was the most stable and composed; her brow was slightly furrowed, and her expression seemed somewhat disapproving. The one on the left looked anxious, constantly glancing toward the middle one; she clearly lacked a mind of her own and listened entirely to the one in the center.
As for the one on the right, a touch of shrewdness gleamed in her eyes, and she was also the one speaking the most.
Wen Yao appeared casual, but in reality, she had been observing the three of them the entire time.
“Have you finished discussing?” Wen Yao caught the right moment and directly interrupted the three women’s whispered conversation.
The three instantly restored their low-browed, submissive expressions from before. The one in the middle slowly stepped forward, saluting Wen Yao. “Miss, this old servant is willing to return with Miss.”
The one on the left hesitated for a moment, glanced at the one on the right, but ultimately took a step forward as well. “This old servant is also willing.”
Only the one on the right kept her head lowered, remaining completely motionless. Her intentions were plain to see.
Broker Deng’s brow furrowed slightly. He swept a glance at the person who remained, but said nothing. Instead, he looked at Wen Yao. “Yao’er, what do you think?”
Wen Yao glanced at the one left behind and said indifferently, “You may go back.”
Broker Deng knew Wen Yao had made her choice. He waved his hand and said, “Take her down.” This girl had actually done him a favor by exposing the three women’s dispositions. Leaving that proud and arrogant one behind meant he would have to pay more attention when selling her off, lest the ship capsize unexpectedly.
After that person was led away, Wen Yao looked at the remaining two. She didn’t ask them anything else, but instead began to haggle with Broker Deng.
In the end, the six young and strong men cost ninety taels, and the two older maids together cost twenty taels. He really didn’t make any money off Wen Yao for the two maids.
A single horse carriage couldn’t fit everyone, so only the father and daughter, Uncle Qin, and the two maids rode in the carriage. The remaining six young men walked alongside it.
The carriage moved very slowly. The two maids sat inside the carriage while Wen Yao sat by the door. Uncle Qin and Wen Xiuyi sat on the edge of the carriage driver’s seat. The three of them discussed the affairs of the winery the entire way, directly leaving the two maids to the side.
The maid on the left, who looked a bit younger, kept gripping the middle maid’s hand tightly. Looking at the increasingly remote road, her heart was in a state of wild panic.
Yet Wen Yao seemed to have forgotten about them entirely, never asking them a single thing since they left the brokerage.
It wasn’t until the carriage entered the village and they saw the scenery outside that the two realized Wen Yao hadn’t lied. They really were just an ordinary farming household.
However, the middle maid cast a glance at Wen Yao’s silhouette from behind, her eyes lowering slightly. The poise of this young lady—how does it look like someone raised in the rural wilderness?
As the carriage traveled along the path with six young men following behind, it naturally attracted a crowd of onlookers from the village.
“Scholar Wen, what is this for? What are these people doing?”
Wen Xiuyi laughed it off, “Ah? These are workers Uncle Qin found to work at the winery. Well, go ahead and keep busy, we’ll head out first.”
After exchanging greetings, he drove the carriage and slipped away, leaving the six people behind to quicken their pace to keep up.
Only after the carriage had gone far did the villagers gather to gossip.
“I saw two more people sitting inside the carriage. The Wen family has truly become landlord masters now, suddenly having so many people working in their household.”
“Who knows? Scholar Wen teaches us how to farm out of the goodness of his heart; we can’t go arranging things behind his back.”
“Do you think this winery of the Wen family can really open up? Will it be convenient for us to drink wine in the future then?”
“Keep dreaming. They are definitely going to sell it for money. Wine sells for so much; I’m afraid that even if they sell it, you won’t be able to afford it.”
“Hahaha, exactly, exactly.”
Laughing and joking, the crowd dispersed. Seeing the crops in the fields growing better by the day, no one doubted Wen Xiuyi’s ability anymore, nor would they gossip excessively about the Wen family’s affairs.
“Grandma, I’m back, Grandma.” Before Wen Xiuyi’s carriage had even come to a halt, Wen Yao bounced straight down and ran inside.
Hearing the commotion, Old Madam Luo and the younger Old Madam Luo walked out, only to see a row of young men behind the carriage.
With just one glance, Old Madam Luo withdrew her gaze. “Settled?”
Wen Yao nodded. “Mm, settled.”
The two maids on the carriage also hurriedly followed down, standing in a perfectly orderly fashion alongside the six men.
“Old Madam.” Uncle Qin stepped forward to salute. The eight people behind him immediately followed suit, respectfully saluting and calling out, “Old Madam.”
Old Madam Luo’s skin was already thick enough by now, and her expression was calm enough as well.
“Alright, our family doesn’t have so many rules. Uncle Qin, the old man has already made arrangements over at the winery. Take them over first to settle in,” Old Madam Luo said.
Knowing they were setting out early in the morning, Old Madam Luo had Old Man Wen take his two sons to clean up at the winery, clearing out two completed rooms first for the people to live in. The main residence could no longer accommodate so many people.
“Yes, this old servant takes his leave.” Uncle Qin responded and led the six men away.
The two maids looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
Looking at these two, Old Madam Luo let out a helpless sigh and shot a glare at Wen Yao. This wretched girl.
“Eldest, lead the people over to your side first. I’ll head over after I finish cleaning up here,” Old Madam Luo said.
Wen Xiuyi gave an “um,” told the two maids to follow him, and drove the carriage home.
The moment she stepped through the door, Wen Yao caught a fierce pinch from Old Madam Luo’s clutches.
“Wretched girl, you really brought two people back.” Old Madam Luo was truly both angry and amused—angry that this girl spent money recklessly, and amused by the girl’s filial piety.
“Grandma, hurry and clean up so we can go over and take a look,” Wen Yao urged.
Helpless, Old Madam Luo could only untie her apron, tuck Wen Yao’s hand under her arm, and head toward the new residence.
On the way, Old Madam Luo couldn’t resist asking Wen Yao, “How old are these two? What are their names? Where are their homes from?”
Wen Yao: “…”
Um, it seems she didn’t ask about that?
Old Madam Luo: “…”
Does she need to get some walnuts to nourish this girl’s brain?
After bringing the two maids home, Wen Xiuyi simply told them to find a place to wait, and then went about his own business. The two maids stood in the empty courtyard, filled with anxiety, until they heard the sound of the door opening and saw Wen Yao walking in with her arm linked through Old Madam Luo’s.
The two hurriedly stepped forward to kneel and salute. “This old servant greets the Old Madam and Miss.”
