Chapter Five Message

  Zi Qiang picked up the food left on the table and wolfed it down. Just a while ago, he was with Lixiang and didn't feel hungry at all, but now that he smelled the aroma of the dishes, he realized he was truly starving.

  Liu watched him eating so fiercely, and couldn't help but laugh and feel helpless at the same time. "Eating cold rice is no good, take it to the kitchen and let that dead girl heat it up for you."

  Qizhong was delighted in his heart, and everything looked pleasing to him. Not to mention that he was now eating cold rice, even if it were stale rice, he could still savor the flavor. "Mother, I'm enjoying my meal just fine, no need to reheat it."

  Liu heard him say so and didn't force it, only loudly shouting for Qi Zhen'er to bring hot water.

  "You're accompanying Young Master Wu at the Zhuangzi, how come they don't even care about your meals?" Liu's heart ached as she saw her son eating too eagerly, and she couldn't help but complain.

  Qizhong heard her say that, and raised his head from the rice bowl: "No, it's not. Wu Shao Ye and others have been busy lately, renovating the whole village. They said someone from the Qi family in the county town is coming to the village."

  Liu heard this and anxiously asked: "Then do you know why the Qi family from the county town came to manage things in this remote village?"

  Qizhong shook his head: "I don't know specifically, it seems like they're going to collect rent and also recruit a few more maids into the mansion."

  Liu heard it and just responded with a faint "oh", but didn't notice that Qi Feng'er's eyes lit up a lot beside her.

  Qizhen'er brought water into the house just in time to hear Qiqiang's words, and she thought to herself that all of this was just like her past life. The steward of the Qi Manor would probably arrive at the villa in a few days, and when that happened, the small Qi Manor would be bustling again.

  As she put down the water, Qi Zhen'er lifted her head and happened to see Feng'er's face with an exceptionally bright smile and her sparkling eyes. She couldn't help but secretly laugh in her heart, thinking that the opportunity had finally arrived.

  Ziqiang is restless, after eating he ran out again, Liu also didn't stop him, anyway he was going to the Zhuangzi to find Wu Shaoye, this kind of opportunity to get in touch with important people she certainly wouldn't obstruct.

  Qifeng saw Qiqiang leave, her grandparents were old and couldn't sit still, they had gone to sleep. Her father wasn't around either, so it was just her and her mother in the house. After hesitating for a moment, she took out a handkerchief from her pocket and said excitedly: "Mother, look! This is what Ping'er gave me. Look at this silk thread, these embroidery skills, you can't find this kind of quality in the countryside."

  Liu took a look and also liked this handkerchief. This thing is obviously something that only a young lady from a wealthy family would use, with fine workmanship and attention to detail.

  "Hmm, your embroidery is quite good. Our Feng'er also wants her mother to buy silk threads for you to learn embroidery?" Liu said jokingly.

  Zi Feng'er's face turned red with shame as her mother spoke. She stuttered and said, "Mother, look at Ping'er, she used to be such a sloppy person, but after becoming the maid of a wealthy family's young lady, she's changed completely, you haven't noticed how her actions, speech, and demeanor are all different from us now, so I think..."

  Qī Fèng'ér's words were cut off by Liú Shì's fierce gaze. Liú Shì spoke in a low voice, continuing her previous sentence: "So you also want to go and be a maid, is that right?"

  Zi Feng'er nodded reluctantly under her oppressive gaze.

  Liu was so angry that she laughed instead, and asked in a shrill voice: "Did you have this idea before, or did you just hear your brother say that the Qi Manor in the provincial capital is recruiting maids and then had the thought?"

  Qī Fèng'er looked at her mother's obviously furious face, her lips moved but she didn't make a sound.

  Liu didn't care if she replied or not, and continued in a shrill tone: "What's wrong with our family that you'd want to lower yourself to be a maid? Are we lacking food or clothes for you? Get this idea out of your head as soon as possible. If you want to learn embroidery, I'll buy you needles and thread tomorrow and you can practice at home." After finishing speaking, she ignored Qi Feng'er's tear-stained face and walked out of the room with a gloomy expression.

  The kitchen is not far from the main house, and Liu's mother and daughter speak loudly, so Qizhen'er and Huzi in the kitchen can hear their conversation clearly. As soon as she saw Qifeng'er's eyes, Qizhen'er knew that she had this idea, but she didn't expect her to rely on Liu's favor and actually mention it to Liu. Qizhen'er doesn't know whether to say that she is bold or naive, giving up her freedom and wanting to be a servant who can be disposed of at will.

  Mrs. Liu stormed out of the main hall, and she would certainly pick on Qizhen's younger brother again. Qizhen had already told Hu zi that no matter what she said, he couldn't go out, and it was enough for her to deal with it alone. Mrs. Liu didn't dare move against her now, but she still had a grudge against Hu zi, and it would be better if Hu zi could avoid her.

  As expected, soon the courtyard was filled with Liu's scolding voice: "Who fed this chicken? Ah, annoying! This heartless little rascal has ruined my good chicken feed. Be careful or you'll suffer heavenly punishment!"

  Liu scolded harshly, but Qizhen didn't pay attention to her. When Liu's breath weakened a bit, she would saunter out and swing around in front of her, and Liu would start shouting again with renewed energy.

  Liu's anger was still simmering, but Qizhen took action and came back to stir up the emotions that Liu had been suppressing. Her throat was still hoarse from shouting. Seeing Qizhen acting as if nothing was wrong made Liu feel even more unbalanced, so she ordered her to do a lot of chores. Qizhen was clever and didn't confront Liu head-on, instead diligently completing all the tasks Liu had assigned to her until midnight before finally resting.

  The next day, the news that the steward of the Qi family in the county town was coming to Zhuangzi's place spread like wildfire. Every day, there were people lingering around the entrance of Zhuangzi's house to ask for news, and the village head was also a gathering place for news, where new news would surely be widely disseminated. Every time Qizhen went to wash clothes, she saw many women and daughters-in-law sewing with shoe soles in their hands.

  The news that Guan Shi was coming to collect rent and hire a few rough maids for the young master of the Qi family soon reached Qi Zhen'er's ears.

  Zijin'er couldn't help but think that everyone should be excited now. Being a young master's servant and being a young lady's servant are completely different, if you have color and are cleverly favored by the young master, then you can count as half of the madam, for the Zhuang family, this is an unimaginable noble status.

  In the afternoon, when Qizhen went to dig pig grass by the river, she deliberately took a detour and saw from afar that there were people gathered in front of the Zhuang's house gate, some watching and others sending gifts inside.

  In her previous life, she was foolishly unaware of these things. Her uncle's family deceived her, saying that after she entered, she would have enough to eat and wear, and more importantly, she could exchange silver for her brother's medical treatment, and later send him to school. She foolishly believed in the big pie they painted for her. If it was really that good, why wouldn't they let Feng'er go and give this opportunity to her instead?

  These families gathered at the Zhuangzi, except for those who are really poor and can't afford to cook, have several households willing to sell their good daughters as maids. Isn't Ping'er, who is already a maid in a wealthy family, also because her father was a gambler, owed debts and sold her to pay them off?

  After digging up the pig grass and heading back, she saw Qi Qiang carrying a lot of things rushing towards home, his excited voice could be heard from afar.

  Liu took over the thing in his hand and asked with a puzzled expression: "Where did this come from?"

  Qizhao handed the things to Liu, laughing with a mouth that couldn't be closed: "I helped Wu Shao in Zhuangzi do things, many families sent things to let Wu Guanshi say some good words in front of Qifu's face, so that their daughters can enter Qifu to work. These things were given by Wu Shao, saying I worked hard."

  The Liu family was even more delighted to hear this, as Qiangzi had already become capable of doing things and had also become good friends with the son of Zhuangzi, who was in charge of managing the Qi estate. For tenant farmers like them, this was a great relationship! How many times do people from the Qi estate come to the county town in a year? What matters isn't decided by Wu, the manager? Qiangzi is good friends with his son, so he can't not give them some real benefits, right?

  The more Liu thought about it, the more he felt that his own son was capable.

  Qī Zhēn'er was watching coldly from the side, the basket that Qī Qiáng brought back seemed to be from Qī Dàzhù's family in the north of the village. Who doesn't know that Qī Dàzhù's family is extremely poor, with four daughters and two sons, one of whom is still waiting to be fed? What good things could they possibly send? It must be something that Wú Guǎnshì looked down on and casually gave to Qī Qiáng. Moreover, she had seen from afar earlier that the basket was obviously fuller than it is now, so Qī Qiáng must have gone to flatter his heart's desire again, right?

  Feng'er, who was standing beside him, heard that many people had gone to the Zhuangzi's house to offer gifts and felt a little anxious. Without caring whether Liu Shi was by his side or not, he hastily asked: "Brother, did Wu Guan Shi say which family's daughter it was?"

  Qī Qiáng shook his head: "No. Choosing a maid is a big deal, and it's for the young master to choose, so Wu can't make decisions arbitrarily. I also heard that this time, the maid who was chosen to enter the Qī family received a generous sum of money, and their rent was even reduced."

  Qī Fèng'ér let out a shriek. Even Liú Shì began to pay attention to this matter.

  The money she received for selling herself is not a big deal, but a family like the Qis must have a very rich foundation. Moreover, the Qis have a good reputation in their village, and they only charge a low rent to begin with. Even so, it's just enough to make ends meet, if they were to reduce the rent, that would be a different story altogether. Who knows which family has such good luck? If they had another daughter, that would be great. Feng'er's temperament is not suitable for being a maid, she's too spoiled and hasn't done any real work before, more importantly, she's their only daughter and they dote on her, how could they bear to let her become a maid and serve others?

  Mrs. Liu thought of those who sold their bodies for money and rented out their children, her heart felt like ants crawling over it, both reluctant and helpless, only regretting that she hadn't given birth to another daughter in her early years. Raising her head, Mrs. Liu noticed Qi Zhen'er threshing pig grass, and her eyes lit up - wasn't this a ready-made solution? Anyway, Qi Zhen'er couldn't do any other work, and when she grew up, they would still have to give her dowry and marry her off; it was better to sell her now and make some money. The more Mrs. Liu thought about it, the better the idea seemed, and she had already planned how to discuss it with Qi Xingwen that night.

  Qī Zhēn ér seriously rolled the pig grass, as if she hadn't heard their conversation, but she clearly felt a strong gaze cast on her, lingering for a long time.

  Hearing Qi Qiang's words, Qi Feng'er's heart was also surging. With these generous conditions, she felt more confident in persuading her mother. Being a maid for the young master, she thought about it and got excited, believing that with her looks, she would definitely win Qi Young Master's favor.

  With a mind full of things, Liu's continuous stirring had already dispelled Qizhen and her siblings' thoughts. After dinner, she pulled Qi Xingwen back to her own room, saying she had something to discuss.

  Come on, give me a recommendation, come on and collect it!