So, Second Aunt pointed her in the right direction, but didn’t follow her. Instead, she turned towards the pigsty.
Qixi was busy upstairs at the pigsty, Aunt Yang was collecting eggs, and Second Aunt added a couple of logs to the fire, then went to help chop wild grass to feed the chickens.
Not long after, Qixi brought down a bag of rice bran. It turned out that the rice bran for the chickens was gone, so mixing the rice bran with chopped wild grass, and scooping up a couple of worms with a bamboo rake, made excellent chicken feed.
The two also inquired about Yang Zhang’s matters; Aunt Yang and Qixi had been with the Jiang family for many years and never considered themselves servants of the Liu family, always treating each other like family.
They knew about most of the household affairs, such as Zhang Yuan seeking their help this ti.
Second Aunt didn’t hide anything and explained simply, especially the situation of the old widower, shaking her head afterward.
"Seeing Yang Cheng today, hiding here and there, almost wanting to hide behind his woman; it’s no wonder the children and daughters-in-law are bullied."
Aunt Yang: "That’s quite useless, isn’t it? If my daughter were bullied like that, it’s strange if I didn’t deal with that old man severely!"
Second Aunt laughed: "Aunt Yang is quite like Xiao Xue. Xiao Xue said the sa thing last night."
Aunt Yang chuckled: "Of course, don’t judge Xiao Xue for being so docile daily, only liking embroidery and cooking; but we’ve seen Xiao Xue kill snakes, chickens, eels in a blink without batting an eyelid."
These words even made Qixi nod repeatedly.
"I rember when Second Miss heard about it for the first ti, she was almost scared."
The Liu family’s Second Miss, Liu Yajing, was indeed a true prestigious lady, one whose fingers never touched the spring water.
Not to ntion killing chickens and snakes, even occasionally making so pastries when in a good mood was considered good enough.
Second Aunt shook her head helplessly: "Rural girls aren’t afraid of those things."
"That’s not exactly right; rural girls aren’t afraid of eels, but surely fear snakes. It just shows that Xiao Xue, though usually reserved, is not easily bullied, just like Xiao Mi."
Second Aunt was very pleased to hear this. Raising daughters, the biggest fear is them being bullied at their husband’s ho. She originally worried about this matter, but now she felt more at ease.
Even though Xiao Xue’s words last night were opposed, and a series of consequences were listed, there was no bla ant.
In the future, she would educate her well, and occasionally Madam Liu would give her tips too. Xiao Xue certainly wouldn’t be bullied by her husband’s family.
Even though Second Aunt never voiced her concern aloud, had she nagged a bit, Aunt Yang and Qixi would definitely tell her that such worries were superfluous!
The so-called darkness under the lamp, maybe this is what it ans.
Among the various people in the household, probably only this couple hadn’t noticed that their two daughters were already being considered by others.
After feeding the pigs, feeding the chickens, ducks, and rabbits, the three then cleaned up the eggs picked in previous days, and caught a few chickens and rabbits, also planning to gather vegetables from the fields.
This morning, before making lunch, the steward would bring people to take things away, then deliver them to various mansions in the city according to their list.
"By the way, sister-in-law, the master ntioned giving us our deed of sale in a few days, freeing us from servitude."
While sorting vegetables, Qixi suddenly said.
Second Aunt was pleasantly surprised: "Really? That’s worthy of congratulations!"
Qixi and Aunt Yang were servants of the Liu family, bound by a deed of sale.
Speaking of which, Qixi wasn’t young anymore, almost twenty. A couple of years ago in Fu’an Village, soone even fancied him and wanted to arrange a marriage for him.
Later, when they knew he was just a servant of the Liu family, they directly dropped the idea, only because marrying in servitude made the wife and children part of servitude too, while the girl the family proposed was free-born.
Moreover, usually, servants of large families would marry soone of similar status.
Originally, Qixi would also do the sa, but now it wasn’t certain.
"Once you’re free-born, find a wife and live peacefully and happily as a family; that would be great."
Qixi had been with the Jiang family for five or six years, always calling them Brother Jiang and Sister-in-law, to the point where the couple regarded him like a younger brother.
Now knowing this matter, they were truly happy for him.
Qixi was overjoyed: "Sister-in-law, Madam also said that after freeing us from servitude, we’d still be looking after Grandpa."
aning they’d still remain with the Jiang family.
"That’s wonderful! I say, you must have saved so money over these years. Why not settle in Xiangmu Village, build a small yard; nurous would propose marriage to you by then."
Though Aunt Yang and Qixi were servants of the Liu family, they stayed with the Jiang family to take care of Grandpa Liu.
However, during regular days, they never slacken in helping with farm work, so every month, Jiang Hu’s Second Aunt would give them a wage, not more than what the Liu family gave, but enough for food and drink, almost all saved up.
Throughout these years, adding to the monthly silver provided by the Liu family, their wealth surely accumulated, far better than ordinary people of their age.
Imagine when Jiang Hu settled with his wife and children in Fu’an Village at twenty-sothing, he didn’t even have a copper coin to his na!
Yet Qixi was under twenty!
Qixi nodded enthusiastically, his face blushing slightly.
Aunt Yang observed and humorously said: "Second Aunt, you don’t know this lad, he’s already fancied soone; but she’s free-born, making him not dare have any thought."
"Last ti when he went back, he actively sought the master, wanting to use all his wealth to buy his freedom. The master asked his reasons, then returned his deed due to his service over the years in caring for Grandpa."
Second Aunt was amazed: "Really? Found a girl you fancy, that’s wonderful. Whose family is she from?"
Qixi waved his hands repeatedly: "Sister-in-law, don’t ask for now. I have nothing yet, let’s wait till my yard is up."
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