Chapter 279: Selling Shuanglian

Chapter 279: Selling Shuanglian

Shuanglian indeed returned with Yu Sanbao—though not exactly side by side. Yu Sanbao rode his horse quickly, while she jogged along, trying to keep up and enter the Yujia gate at nearly the same time.

Wei Pozi stood at the entrance of the main courtyard behind the screen wall, watching with a cold gaze.

Yu Sanbao was momentarily stunned, then called out, "Mother."

Wei Pozi nodded at him, "Go attend to your business."

Yu Sanbao acknowledged and led the horse to the stable in the backyard.

Shuanglian, who had clearly heard Wei Pozi's voice from behind, hesitated as she walked around the screen wall. She lowered her head and greeted, "Madam," then added with a somewhat forced explanation, "I just went out to buy some things in the village and happened to run into Third Master..."

Wei Pozi looked at Shuanglian for a moment, then said indifferently, "Shuanglian, come with me."

Shuanglian felt a bit guilty but not overly so. She knew that although the madam could be sharp-tongued at times, she was kind-hearted and wouldn't punish her harshly.

Shuanglian followed Wei Pozi to the main house without much worry.

However, Wei Pozi's first words were, "Shuanglian, pack your things tomorrow. I'll have Sanbao take you to the county's broker. Don't worry, I'll find you a reliable broker. You won't be sold to a bad place."

Shuanglian paled at these words. She immediately knelt down and begged, "Madam, what have I done wrong? Why are you sending me away?"

Wei Pozi stared at her, "Don't you know what you've done?"

Shuanglian's heart sank, and she stammered, "Madam, are you talking about me going out today? I just wanted to buy some things..."

Wei Pozi, seeing Shuanglian still trying to justify herself, felt the last shred of pity disappear.

She remarked coldly, "Buying things? You were gone for over half an hour and only came back with a piece of tofu?"

Shuanglian had no words.

"This isn't the first time," Wei Pozi recalled the previous incident when Shuanglian had disappeared, and Xingxing had nearly burned herself while pouring hot water. Her anger flared even more, and she no longer cared about sparing Shuanglian's dignity. "Let me be clear with you. Other things aside, there's one thing we cannot tolerate in Yujia—a maid who harbors inappropriate thoughts toward the master!"

Shuanglian trembled all over.

Wei Pozi's words were like stripping her naked, exposing her hidden desires to the world, under the harsh light of day for everyone to witness.

At this point, Shuanglian, her face flushed, exclaimed emotionally, "Madam, if Third Madam can do it, why can't I? My family background is clean, I work diligently, and I would never treat Third Master the way Third Madam does, always giving him the cold shoulder..."

Wei Pozi's face showed clear disgust as she shouted, "Enough! No matter what, Third Madam is my son's lawfully wedded wife! She would never shamelessly try to seduce another woman's husband like you!... There's no need to say more. Tomorrow, I'll have Sanbao take you to the broker."

Wei Pozi's blatant disdain made Shuanglian sway unsteadily.

Wei Pozi gave her no further chance, only looking at her coldly, "Shuanglian, I've treated you well since I bought you. I heard that households in the county pay their maids monthly wages, so I did the same. I even gave you a day off each month... I can say with a clear conscience that I've been fair to you. But you? I bought maids to make my daughters-in-law's lives easier, not to have you cause trouble."

"Go and pack your belongings. Let us part amicably."

Shuanglian, as though struck, burst into tears, "Madam, I know I was wrong. Please don't send me away. I promise I'll never do it again..."

But at this point, no amount of crying could change the outcome.

The next day, Wei Pozi had Yu Sanbao take Shuanglian to the county's broker.

On the way, Shuanglian even tried to throw herself at Yu Sanbao, crying and saying she was willing to serve him. Yu Sanbao, without a moment's hesitation, bound her tightly, gagged her with a cloth, and took her to the broker, selling her for the same price they had originally paid.

But now, Shuangyun was helping out in the third room, and Wei Pozi's main courtyard was left without a maid to assist.

Yu Sanbao then bought another maid who appeared honest, quiet, but very quick and efficient.

It was said that the girl's family had just given birth to another pair of boys and could no longer afford to raise her, so they sold their eldest daughter for some money to get through the New Year.

Yu Sanbao brought her back, and Wei Pozi was quite taken with her, thinking that this maid looked honest and appealed to her, so she named her Shuangxi.

Nanny Xia urgently lectured the maids with "Shuang" in their names in the Yujia, making it clear to them that although the Yujia was a very lenient household, there were still rules to follow. If they violated these rules and remained unrepentant, they should not blame the household for being harsh.

If they were sold off, where they would end up and what kind of household they would encounter was anyone's guess.

The maids with "Shuang" in their names took this as a warning and didn’t dare entertain any other ideas.

...

Two days later, the Zhao family held a funeral for Zhao Youcai and buried him on the hillside behind the village.

Many families in Nantuo Village were buried there, as a fortune-teller had said it was a place of good fortune. If used as a residence, it would bring peace and prosperity to the household; if used as a burial ground, it would protect the descendants and bring great wealth and honor.

When the thin coffin was lowered into the pit and covered with soil, Zhao Meng's mother, Pan Shi, wailed inconsolably, deeply moving many villagers who came to help with the funeral. They felt that although Zhao Youcai was not a good man, Pan Shi was truly devoted to him, a woman of unwavering loyalty and virtue.

Zhao Meng also wept bitterly, but being young and having suffered from Zhao Youcai's constant abuse of him and his mother, his grief passed after a few days.

Ju Geer, however, grew even more kind to Zhao Meng after he lost his father.

Whenever there was something delicious, Ju Geer would first give it to Xingxing, and then share the rest with Zhao Meng.

Sometimes Ju Geer even insisted on keeping Zhao Meng for dinner.

Zhao Meng's mother, Pan Shi, naturally felt very embarrassed and did not want to take advantage of the Yujia, so she brought half a basket of eggs and two fish as gifts.

Wei Pozi refused to accept them, but Pan Shi insisted, "If you don't accept them, I won't feel right letting Ah Meng always take Ju Geer's food. It's not good for one side to always be at a disadvantage when they play together. Although our family's conditions are not as good, we still want to contribute what we can."

Pan Shi looked earnestly at Wei Pozi, "...Ju Geer once saved Ah Meng, and Ah Meng really likes Ju Geer. I want them to remain close for years to come."

Wei Pozi felt that after Zhao Youcai's death, Pan Shi seemed like a different person, living more transparently.

Wei Pozi then stopped refusing and accepted the eggs and fish, often insisting on keeping Ah Meng for meals.

This back-and-forth made Zhao Meng and Ju Geer's relationship even closer, as if they were thick as thieves.