Country Maiden: Fields and Fortune

326, Warning (6 more)

All sorts of trivial matters required her arrangement.

Buying salt, vegetables, preparing rice, spices, various other groceries-she had to arrange everything. She was extremely busy and had no time to dawdle here with Xiaoyue.

“I, I…” Xiaoyue pursed her lips.

The foolish girl glanced at her and said sternly, “Remember, do not casually inquire about the matters of the restaurant or the young lady’s affairs. Don’t forget, if it weren’t for the young lady, you would have long been suffocated to death in the cellar. If you dare repay kindness with ingratitude, even if the young lady doesn’t deal with you, I will not let you off easily!”

Having said that, the foolish girl strode away.

“…”

Xiaoyue stood there, her eyes slowly filling with hatred and darkness.

Finally, she let out a cold snort and turned to leave.

Yin Suwen emerged from around the corner, her eyelids fluttering slightly, yet she said nothing and turned to busy herself with her own matters.

This time, Madam Lian took Xie Zhinuan to look at ships as well.

“This one, with two cabin rooms, plus a kitchen and a small hall, and below there’s a cabin that can accommodate people and storage. The outer cabin also has some depth, perfect for storing things!”@@novelbin@@

Xie Zhinuan looked it over and felt it was not bad. She asked for the price-it was one thousand two hundred taels of silver, more expensive than she had anticipated. Eight hundred taels could have bought it.

“The most important thing for this ship is to apply several coats of oil to ensure it doesn’t leak, and that oil is quite expensive!”

Xie Zhinuan nodded slightly.

The two cabin rooms were also quite big, divided into inner and outer rooms. The inner room for the bed, trunks, and cabinets, and the outer room for a table and benches-both the width and the length were satisfying.

“Can you ask if it can be sold for eight hundred taels? The highest I can go is one thousand taels!” Xie Zhinuan said softly.

If she could buy it, she planned to purchase the ship and travel on her own vessel.

“Mmhm!” Madam Lian nodded and went off.

Xie Rong stepped forward and asked Xie Zhinuan, “Are you buying a ship?”

“Yes, this ship will be useful for going out to buy things, and I’m also planning to buy one with more cabin rooms for when we travel out!”

“…” Xie Rong thought for a moment before saying, “So this ship you’re buying is for the servants to use?”

“They haul goods back and forth for me every day; it’s only right that they have better accommodations!” Xie Zhinuan said softly.

“…”

Xie Rong pursed his lips.

Gradually, it seemed as if he understood.

In the end, the ship was purchased for eight hundred taels of silver, along with the family that steered it.

This family consisted of slaves originally purchased by the ship’s former owner-a couple with three sons, the eldest of whom was already married, and the whole family usually crammed into the ship’s cabin.

The four men had faces weathered by the elements, and the two women appeared somewhat restrained.

“…”

Xie Zhinuan remained silent.

They first respectfully knelt down to kowtow, calling out “East Owner!”

“Alright, get up. Don’t live in the cabin below in the future. The two cabin rooms above are for you to stay in. As for those two boys, they seem quite clever. I’m short-handed for errand runners, so if you’re willing, you can come work for me!”

The entire family was astonished.

Looking up at Xie Zhinuan, they asked, “East Owner, are you serious?”

“Of course I am serious. I will also grant you a favor: serve me well, and in time, I will arrange a residence for you in the county town. It won’t be very big, but it will have at least four rooms!”

People don’t fear hardship or exhaustion; they fear a lack of hope and future.

With Xie Zhinuan’s words, the two women began to cry.

“Tell me, what are your names?”

The slave with surname Zhu tearfully recounted, “Our family suffered a flood disaster back home, with houses and fields all washed away, leaving us as refugees in Fengping County. Our elderly parents were severely ill, and out of desperation, we sold ourselves into slavery…” Old Zhu said, breaking into sobs.

Chapter 328