As for the Zhou family, Wufu couldn’t care less. The person who deserved punishment had been punished, and the affairs that needed handling had been handled, so she had no reason to linger any longer. Along with Ah Jiu, she returned to Huayang County.
"I am most grateful for Ninth Master’s help these past few days," Wufu said as she stood at the entrance to her own house, bowing respectfully to Ah Jiu.
Ah Jiu kept a straight face and nodded slightly, looking towards the house.
Seeing his gaze, Wufu smiled and said, "We’ve just moved in, and the house is quite a mess. Once we get settled, I’ll send an invitation for Ninth Master to come over for a drink."
With matters having come this far, could Ah Jiu really force his way into someone else’s home just to have a cup of tea before leaving?
He turned, mounted his horse, and with a grunt, he rode away.
Wufu knocked on the door and then remembered there weren’t many people at home. Who was going to answer her knocking? This wasn’t her small house near the mountain—the front gate was quite a distance from the back residence.
She stepped back out and looked at the walls on either side, wondering which side she should climb over, but just then the door creaked open.
A man about fifty, with an honest and loyal face, poked his head out, "Who is it?"
"Who are you?" Wufu took a look in front of the door. The large apricot tree was definitely a part of her home.
The man sized her up, asking tentatively, "Could you be Miss Wufu?"
The man’s eyes lit up as he immediately opened the door wider and knelt down, saying respectfully, "My name is Ji Yongqing, new to service, and I have seen Miss."
A hint of surprise crossed Wufu’s face. A servant of her family?
"Rise," Wufu said as she walked through the entrance and headed straight through the front yard to the back, needing to pay her respects to Madam Zhou first.
Just as she reached the Moon Gate, Wufu was called out to and, turning around, saw Liu Jin running over quickly, followed by Xiao Li.
"Yes, I have returned. You’ve worked hard these last few days," Wufu said with a smile, then turned to Xiao Li and added, "And you’ve worked hard as well, Master Li. Your master has returned too."
Xiao Li’s eyes curved up happily as he replied, "That’s perfect then. I shall return to my master and resume my duties."
"There’s no need to rush," Wufu called out to him, "I said that once we get settled in a few days, I will invite your master over for a drink. Look, the elders in my family are sick, the young ones are just children, and I’ve only just returned. I’m hoping you could fill me in on the household situation!"
Before Xiao Li could speak, she added, "I’ll go see my mother first, and we can talk later."
Watching her dash off quickly, Xiao Li said to Liu Jin, "Your miss seems to be someone who doesn’t worry about anything. It seems you have a lot to learn."
Liu Jin smiled and said, "Isn’t it our duty as servants to share our master’s worries? Please feel free to teach me, Master Li."
Just by being around him and observing, Liu Jin had broadened his horizons considerably. He wasn’t sure what Ninth Master’s standing was, but his family’s young manservant was very well-mannered and knowledgeable about propriety. Everything he saw and heard from him, as well as his methods of handling issues, were quite eye-opening.
Liu Jin was determined to become the foremost favored servant by Wufu’s side. Learning the rules and ways of conducting affairs from Xiao Li was like a fish soaking up water, absorbing everything eagerly.
"There’s a saying, ’Teach your apprentice well, and he may come to starve his master,’" Xiao Li said, knocking on his head.
Grinning, Liu Jin clasped his hands and said, "There’s also a saying, ’One day as your teacher gives you a lifelong father.’ Master Li, you should accept my bow."
Xiao Li huffed lightly, a proud look on his face, "We each serve our own masters. It seems there won’t be any conflicts between us. Well, you’re also quite clever. Let’s go, your misses will have questions for you later."
Liu Jin hurried to follow.