Liu Juan smiled, "I still want to go. If I can't serve the young lady directly, I'll start by following her head maid. Sister Fu Dong says I'm dexterous and learn quickly—I can begin by learning cooking from her. Brother, you have no idea how delicious Sister Fu Dong's food is. In the future, I'll prepare meals for the young lady."
Watching his stubborn sister, Liu Jiang didn't know how to dissuade her. "Juan'er, I'll repay the young lady's life-saving grace myself. You don't need to sacrifice your entire future for this."
"At first it was about repaying the debt, but later it became something else. It's like... it's like..." Liu Juan paused, searching her limited vocabulary for the right words, "like when someone freezing cold sees a fire ahead, they'd throw themselves into it without fear of being burned. To me, the young lady is that fire."
Seeing her brother's worried expression, Liu Juan felt a surge of sorrow, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. "Brother, I still have nightmares every night. But whenever I'm most terrified, the young lady appears in my dreams—holding a knife, covered in blood. That's when my fear vanishes. I know she'll protect me, just like she did that day and that night. These past couple days, I'm not even scared in my dreams anymore because even in my dreams I know the young lady will come."
Large teardrops fell as Liu Juan knelt before her brother. "These days following Sister Fu Dong, I've seen so many things. I dare not hope to become like the young lady—I can't even compare to Sister Fu Dong's little finger. But I still want to work hard to become like the other sisters. Though they're maids, they can read and do calculations. Things that seem incredibly difficult to me, they solve with ease. I want to become like that—not like Sister Liu next door, spending every day revolving around her husband and children, constantly facing her husband's fists. Brother, that scares me more than my nightmares ever could."
"Silly girl." Liu Jiang's eyes also reddened as he helped her up. Having relied on each other for survival all these years, their bond was deeper than most siblings. Hearing her words, he could no longer hold his position.
"You're silly too, brother—so afraid of marrying someone who might treat me poorly that you won't even let matchmakers visit. I'll receive payment for entering service—use it to fix up the house and find a wife. Don't delay any longer. Second Niu, who's a year younger than you, is going to be a father by year's end."
"How could I use your money?" Liu Jiang rubbed his face vigorously. "Alright, alright. This is the first time you've been so determined about something in all these years. I won't stop you. You're right—the young lady is a good person. When you come of age, she'll naturally arrange a marriage for you. She won't let you become an old maid. Whoever she matches you with in the mansion will be better than farming until your back breaks. Yes, I won't stop you. I won't stop you."
Having made up his mind, Liu Jiang picked up his sister's bundle and strode out the door first.
Watching from behind, Liu Juan smiled through her tears. What did marriage matter? What did being a servant matter? By the young lady's side, her heart was at peace.
Hua Zhi looked with surprise at Liu Juan kneeling before her. She hadn't expected such determination from the girl.
"Did your brother agree?"
Liu Juan bit her lip. "He disagreed at first, but I convinced him."Hua Zhi rested her head on her hand and pondered for a moment. "No need for a permanent contract. Let’s make it a three-year contract."
"I’d like to sign a permanent contract. Please accept me as your servant, Miss."
Already calling herself a servant? Hua Zhi looked at her, puzzled. "Why insist on a permanent contract? What’s so good about spending your whole life serving others?"
"I think it’s good. Besides, Miss only uses servants with permanent contracts. I want to serve you forever."
"Is this a decision made on impulse?"
"No, I’ve thought about it for several days."
Hua Zhi stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Bao Xia, take care of this matter and give her twenty taels of silver."
"Yes."
"Thank you, Miss."
"Fu Dong mentioned you’re skilled with your hands. From now on, you’ll work with her."
"Yes."
Watching Liu Juan skip away joyfully, Hua Zhi couldn’t help but laugh. "It feels like I’ve done a good deed, even though I’ve just taken on a servant."
"It does seem like you’ve done a good deed, Miss. Which family would spend twenty taels to buy a maid?" Nian Qiu chuckled as she brought over ginseng tea and held it to her mistress’s lips.
Hua Zhi disliked the taste and reluctantly took two sips before pushing it away. "She’s repaying a kindness. If I hadn’t accepted her, she’d have carried this debt forever. It’s better to take her in and find a reason to release her in a few years. Please remind me of this. If I forget and ruin her life, it would be my fault."
"Yes, I’ll remember."
With Ying Chun, who managed all affairs, absent and Bao Xia being rather careless, Nian Qiu had to take charge of everything. Even though she handled as much as she could, many matters still required the young lady’s direction.
Yet, looking at her mistress’s condition, Nian Qiu couldn’t help but think that none of those matters were as important as the young lady’s health. It wouldn’t hurt to slow down—after all, no one was starving now. But if the young lady’s health wasn’t properly restored, it would affect her for a lifetime.
"Nian Qiu."
Nian Qiu snapped back to attention and responded softly.
"Do you know what I thought that night when I was hanging by a thread between life and death?"
Nian Qiu froze, biting her lip as she knelt.
Hua Zhi didn’t ask her to rise. Several days had passed since the incident, and she had assumed they would come to terms with it. It seemed she had overestimated their ability to cope.
"At that moment, I thought that even if I died, I could rest in peace. The enemy was already half-dead from my efforts, and if all of you joined forces, they wouldn’t survive. You’re all loyal by nature, and with the debt of saving my life, you’d surely do everything in your power to protect Berlin. You see, in the end, all I cared about was Berlin."
Hua Zhi smiled faintly. "After all these years with me, you should understand—I’m not truly a kind or gentle person. I took charge of the Hua family only because I didn’t want to disappoint Grandfather and didn’t want Berlin to learn the taste of hardship too early. As the eldest legitimate son of the main branch, if the Hua family were to fall completely, the responsibility and suffering would fall on his shoulders. I couldn’t bear to see him carry such burdens at such a young age."Looking at Nian Qiu, Hua Zhi softened her tone, "But the Hua family must eventually be handed over to him. We don't know when the men of the Hua family will return. As Berlin and his brothers gradually grow up, marry and have children, even if I'm willing to remain an old maid at home, others might not tolerate me, let alone allow me to remain in charge all along. I don't want to be the head of this family either, but when I hand it over to Berlin, I hope it won't be in such a destitute state. Nian Qiu, do you understand what I mean?"
PS: Characters with more detailed descriptions will inevitably appear more frequently. Having some appropriate ambition can lead to more possibilities. Still seeking monthly votes - we haven't reached fifty yet!
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