"It's better to go to the hospital for a checkup! The injured foot can be big or small, and it will be bad if the root cause of the disease is revealed! Were all the people rescued that day?"
"They were rescued. Mr. Yin of Shuntian Prefecture also notified their families to come and pick them up. Fortunately, we met the girl, otherwise we would be in trouble!"
Lin Tingya thought of what she had just seen, and she couldn't help but ask, "Then why didn't you go home?"
After hearing this, the expression on the woman's face dimmed. She put on a forced smile and said, "I have no home anymore. My family members have all passed away. I am from the north..."
The woman told her life story.
This woman's name is Yao Yingmei. She is from the north. She and her father are the only two people left in the family to depend on each other. Their family was originally in the city, and her father owned a noodle shop. The business was quite good at first, but due to the drought in the north, It took too long, and there was no business in the shop. Then the price of food was getting higher and higher day by day. They couldn't even pay the rent for the shop. Both father and daughter couldn't afford to eat!
His father decided to sell the house and take her south to a small county near the capital to get through this difficulty.
Unexpectedly, her father got an emergency on the way. Then she used the money from selling the house to bury her father, and continued south with the remaining money. On the way, my baggage was robbed and most of my money was lost. I even reported it to the official but couldn't find it!
At this time, she only had a few taels of silver left on her, and she was worried that it would be spent soon. She wanted to find a job as an embroiderer, and then she met a woman who told her that an embroidery shop in Beijing was looking for embroiderers, and there were embroiderers every month. Five taels of silver, including food and accommodation!
She thought she was going to the capital, so she followed her. Unexpectedly, she overheard their words halfway and realized that she was not going to be an embroiderer, but would be sold to a flower house, so she ran away!
Later, he met Lin Tingya and saved her.
Lin Tingya said in surprise: "Since you have been rescued, why do you still go to Zuixiang Tower to perform?"
After hearing this, a flash of embarrassment flashed across Yao Yingmei's face, and her little face turned red instantly. She whispered: "After I left the Yamen that day, I had no money on me, and I didn't even have a place to live. I I went to the embroidery shop to look for work, but the boss of the embroidery shop saw my embroidery and said I was not good at embroidery, so she didn’t hire me. Then I wandered around the streets of the capital, seeing that it was getting dark and there was nowhere to go. I was about to live on the street. I saw a restaurant looking for a piano player, and they included room and board, so I went in and applied for the job, and then I realized it was a job."
Her voice became lower and lower: "I originally turned around and left immediately, but the madam said that she could tell at a glance that I was a helpless girl who didn't even have a place to stay! She said that after the curfew in the capital, no one was allowed to roam around. I was wandering around, and I was a woman. I was out of the city, and I might encounter something in the suburbs. She said that she could take me in, and that I could be an entertainer instead of selling myself. I could just play the piano in the house for the guests. I think she was right. The truth is, I really have nowhere to go, so..."
She did not continue.
Lin Tingya understood after hearing this.
This world is inherently difficult for women.
When she was helpless and faced with the prospect of living on the streets and sleeping in the wilderness, the Madam was undoubtedly like a piece of driftwood encountered when she was drowning.
Even if there was a venomous snake on that piece of driftwood, you couldn't help but hold on to it.
Caihong is a compassionate person. Her eyes turned red after listening to her narration. She was also sold into slavery by her parents because of floods in her hometown.
How many poor people were affected on this day!
"Then what will you do next?" she couldn't help but ask.
Yao Yingmei lowered her head after hearing this: "I don't know, I'm thinking of going to a dental shop, selling myself, and working as a maid in the future! It's better to be a slave than a prostitute!"
She laughed at herself!
Caihong: "That's true!"
Just like her, after meeting the young lady, although she had a miserable life at the beginning. She was always bullied in the nun's monastery and had to do a lot of things, but the young lady was kind-hearted and never beat or scolded her. Now she is even living a better life. Never had a better time!
She is already very satisfied!
Caihong thought of something and looked at Lin Tingya: "Miss, don't you want to buy a few more servants for the house? Otherwise, just buy Miss Yao!"
Lin Tingya: "..."
She really wants to buy a few maids and wives. Now that they are well trained, she will be able to use them when Sister Wenxin gets married.
But she was planning to go to Guanya to buy it, and she didn’t want to buy it from someone whose origin was unknown!
Yao Yingmei immediately knelt down after hearing this: "Girl, are you the buyer? Buy me! You are my savior, I don't want your money, I am willing to work for the lady! As long as the lady takes me in That’s it! I can do laundry and cooking!”
As she said this, she kowtowed vigorously!
Lin Tingya: "... But I, I don't plan to..."
"Miss, please take me in! Please! I am really desperate and have nowhere to go!" Yao Yingmei kowtowed hard, her forehead turned red and tears fell from her eyes.
Seeing this, Caihong said: "Miss, why don't you just buy her!"
Lin Tingya had a headache. She was not very good at rejecting people: "You... you should get up and talk first! All the servants in my house have signed death contracts."
Most people are not willing to sign a death contract if they sell themselves.
"Miss, are you willing to take me in? I can sign a life contract or a death contract! I can also read a few words and do arithmetic, so I can help the lady a lot!"
Lin Tingya thought for a moment, and if this woman was really as she said, she would be innocent.
Of course, Lin Tingya didn't believe it outright. When the time came, her elder brother could just send someone to investigate.
Lin Tingya nodded: "Okay, if you are willing, then sign the death contract!"
Yao Yingmei's eyes flashed, then she lowered her head and kowtowed again: "Thank you, girl!"
In the blind spot where the two of them couldn't see her, she pursed her lips and saw that Lin Tingya was also on guard against her.
~
other end
After the Wen Nuan sisters separated from Lin Tingya, they went directly back to Anguo Duke's Mansion.
As soon as they got off the carriage, a carriage slowly stopped in front of them.
The driver of the carriage said respectfully with a hint of excitement: "Big girl, second girl, third girl, Miss Lin!"
Wen Nuan looked at Chuan Qiong and said with a smile: "Chuan Qiong, second brother is back?"
Wen Hou jumped out of the carriage from behind and came forward: "Sister Nuan, I'm back!"
The sea breeze blew in Nanyang Mansion for a period of time. Wenhou's whole person has darkened a lot, and he has grown taller. It may be because he was doing some work to settle the people after the war, deal with the remnants of the party, etc. The whole person looks stable and mature. few.
Wen Xin: "Second brother, didn't you say you would arrive the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Wenhou said with a smile: "I happened to meet dad when I came back, so I was delayed for some time."
Hearing this, Wen Rou worriedly said, "Is everything going well with Dad?"