Laowu Yang Youzhao was terrified when he heard he was going to be sold, clutching Yang Zaizhao’s hand and crying: "Fourth Sister, I don’t want to be sold—"
What else could Yang Zaizhao do? At least she was older, and even if she were sold as a maid, maybe she could carve out a path to survival.
But Laowu Yang Youzhao was timid and young, and if he offended the master’s family, he might not even survive.
She had to grit her teeth and agree.
Once Yang Zaizhao agreed, Yang’s Father immediately went around the village asking if there were any traffickers looking to buy people.
He also found out the price for selling people and nearly sold Yang Zaizhao to a disreputable place. Thankfully, Clan Leader Yang intervened, saying it was acceptable to sell daughters if the family was in dire straits, but they must not be sold to dirty places, tarnishing the Yang family’s reputation.
Yang’s Father had to relent, coincidentally encountering Granny Wang who was looking to buy people in the countryside, offering a fair price.
Yang’s parents feared delaying would complicate matters, so they swiftly sold their daughters to Granny Wang with a death contract, receiving five taels of silver and left.
Initially, Yang Zaizhao felt fear and panic, but later saw that although Granny Wang was stern, she didn’t mistreat the girls.
She taught them manners, ensured they were well-fed and clean,
and hearing that Granny Wang was conscientious in selling girls to decent places, Yang Zaizhao finally felt at ease.
She followed Granny Wang diligently, learning everything Granny Wang taught, knowing that the more she learned and remembered, the longer she’d survive.
Granny Wang initially intimidated them with countless stories of maids who didn’t recognize their place, relying on their looks only to end up in miserable circumstances.
These maids firmly remembered: Be obedient! Loyal! Dutiful!
That’s the way to survive long-term.
Granny Wang bought over a dozen little girls this batch, three or four stood out for their good attitude and promising progress.
Granny Wang singled them out, saying she’d find them a good family, advising them to serve obediently for future prosperity.
No one expected that this good family was Wang Xiuzhu’s household.
Yang Zaizhao, still a young girl, although nearly brainwashed by Granny Wang, couldn’t contain her emotions upon seeing Wang Yongzhu, someone she was familiar with and had interacted briefly before.
"Scholar’s Lady! Please, buy me! I’m quite capable now; I can cook, wash clothes, clean, I can do anything! Just ask you to buy me, give me meals! My life is yours! Whatever you want me to do, I will!"
After saying this, she looked tearfully at Wang Yongzhu.
Wang Yongzhu had a good impression of Yang Zaizhao when she was little, and now seeing her in this state, felt she must lend a helping hand.
It’s merely a matter of a few taels of silver.
However, some matters needed to be clarified beforehand: "I’ll buy you! I’ll give you two options. Consider carefully before answering. One, I’ll buy you and send you with your contract to your third sister. Two, I’ll buy you, and you’ll be mine, your life in my hands, with family ranking behind us. Can you do that?"
Yang Zaizhao opened her mouth to answer, but Wang Yongzhu stopped her: "Don’t rush to answer, think carefully. I’ll give you a day to ponder, once decided, you cannot regret it!"
Yang Zaizhao looked at Wang Yongzhu puzzled, noticing her earnestness and realized Wang Yongzhu truly wanted her to think carefully, not joking.
Yang Zaizhao was clever, sensing something deeper, nodded silently and refrained from hastily making a statement.
Wang Yongzhu then got up, took Granny Wang aside for a few more words.
Granny Wang had guessed since hearing the maid recognize Scholar’s Lady today, she’d likely be bought by her.
Sure enough, she didn’t demand a high price, five taels of silver invested, food and training, selling for ten taels of silver.
Wang Yongzhu readily paid the silver, accepting the contract.
Granny Wang favored such straightforward clients, quick and decisive.
She happily received the silver, leading the remaining maids away.
Wang Yongzhu then instructed Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding to prepare water for Yang Zaizhao to bathe, change into clean clothes, leaving behind the old belongings.
For now, stay with Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding in a room.
Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding, hearing earlier that the new girl seemed acquainted with their lady, understood the situation.
They didn’t put on airs, instead using the opportunity of helping Yang Zaizhao change clothes to chat, perhaps wanting to probe the girl’s thoughts; surprisingly, Yang Zaizhao remained tight-lipped, silent.
Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding grew more respectful of her.
After cleaning, changing into clean clothes, Old Madam Ding noticed Yang Zaizhao was alarmingly thin, with yellow, brittle hair.
Upon asking, she claimed to be twelve years old but appeared less than ten.
She felt a pang of compassion, cooked a pot of porridge, her status as a servant allowed her to eat meat despite the master’s family mourning.
She cooked meat porridge for Yang Zaizhao,
Yang Zaizhao had never tasted meat except occasionally when visiting Yang Zhaodi in Yingzi Gully, living with the Yang Family without ever eating meat.
Especially such delicious meat porridge, devouring the whole pot solo.
Her sallow face gained some color.
Inside, Old Granny Zhang inquired about Yang Zaizhao, to which Wang Yongzhu briefly explained.
Old Granny Zhang angrily slapped the bed: "Such heartless parents—"
Then added: "If the girl is good, she’ll do well serving you!"
Wang Yongzhu smiled: "That’s beyond coercion, it’s up to her fate."
That evening, when Song Chongjin returned, noticing an additional maid at home, he asked no questions, simply nodded, reminding: "Serve the Lady well!"
Yang Zaizhao lay in warm bedding that night, feeling like she was dreaming.
She couldn’t sleep; her mind kept replaying Wang Yongzhu’s words, pondering each word and meaning.
She dared not turn over, fearing she’d wake Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding.
After a long night, Yang Zaizhao heard them awaking and quickly pretended to sleep.
Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding hadn’t noticed, whispered: "Let’s be quieter, don’t wake the girl! Let her sleep a bit longer, poor thing—"
Although Yang Zaizhao had said nothing, her frail body, brittle hair, and sallow complexion spoke volumes, evoking rare pity from the two grannies.
Once Old Granny Wu and Old Madam Ding quietly left to get busy, Yang Zaizhao turned over, climbing out determined.