Chapter 441: Chapter 441: Song Yu’s Family

A quiet little mountain village, suddenly a bullock cart arrives.

At this time, every household has finished their dinner and is about to go to bed, with only the occasional sound of dog barking.

The bullock cart passes through the quiet village and stops in front of a small bridge, where a couple in their mid-twenties, leading an eight or nine-year-old boy, pick up their bundles from the cart and get off.

The man pays the fare and asks the driver again: “It’s the courtyard after the bridge, right?”

The driver, from the Lower River Village, often comes to this place, and with a smile takes the fare and nods repeatedly, “Yes, yes, that’s Manager Qin’s house.”

Curiously, the driver asks, “Are you relatives of her family?”

The couple shakes their heads, not intending to answer, thanks the driver, and leads their curious son towards the small courtyard on the other side of the river.

Qin Yao’s house was bustling at this time.

Tonight’s dinner was held a bit late, with the children having to do homework and the adults with endless chores. They were just sitting at the dinner table digesting after dinner, except for Ah Wang, the rest of the six members of the family couldn’t move.

The four siblings of Da Lang discussed how the new exquisite hairstyles of Sanlang and Si Niang caused a stir in the school today. Liu Ji, who had just learned new knowledge for a day, only felt his mind buzzed and dizzy at the moment he heard this.

He was just about to shout for them to go back to their room to make noise when a strange voice outside interrupted.

“Knock knock,” a couple of knocks on the door, a man’s voice sounding refined loudly said:

“Manager Qin, this slave Song Yu reports as ordered by Mr. Song. Delayed on the road for a while, just arrived now, please open the door and let this slave and family apologize to you in person!”

The six in the main room looked at each other and instantly quieted down, then Liu Ji and the four siblings collectively glanced at Qin Yao, who was lazily lying on a chair.

After all, it was Manager Qin they called.

Qin Yao had instructed Song Zhang yesterday when leaving the county government not to forget his promise. At that time, she left in a hurry and only heard from afar that Song Zhang stated he would arrange it the next day.

But all day today no one had shown up, and she thought Song Zhang was delayed by affairs and had no time to arrange.

Unexpectedly, he actually did what he said.

Although it was completely dark now, just two hours shy of tomorrow.

But considering it, it’s still within the promise.

Qin Yao stood up and called out to Ah Wang to open the door.

At the door stood a young couple with a little boy about the same age as Second Lang.

The three were intimately close, clearly a family of three.

Song Yu led his wife and child in, knelt down immediately upon seeing Qin Yao.

“This slave Song Yu, bringing wife Mrs. Li and son Little Lai Fu, greet Madam, Master, and the three young masters and miss!”

After speaking, the three firmly knocked their heads on the ground.

The four siblings following Qin Yao saw Little Lai Fu’s firm kowtow and instinctively wanted to step out and pull him up.

However, though thinking like this, the four siblings did not act rashly.

Having stayed by Mother’s side for a long time, under Qin Yao’s guidance, the siblings had learned to think before acting.

Song Yu took out two deeds of sale from his bundle, held them over his head, and presented them to Qin Yao.

“Madam, here are the deeds of sale for this slave’s family. You are now the master of this slave’s family. Should the master need anything, Song Yu and wife Mrs. Li will ensure to execute it fully!”

Qin Yao raised her eyebrows, looking down at the two deeds Song Yu handed over.

The yard was dimly lit, and Liu Ji somehow got hold of an indoor candlestick, raising it high for Qin Yao to see clearly.

These were two deeds of sale, the owner’s name written as Qin Yao.

With these deeds of sale, the fate of Song Yu and his wife will be in Qin Yao’s hands.

She wants them to live; they cannot die. She can sell them to others at any time; even if the family of three runs away, with this deed of sale, she can use the power of the government to bring them back.

This couple, two living individuals, have turned into her private property.

Because they are slaves, at the lowest level of Sheng Country’s hierarchy.

It’s the first time in Liu Ji’s life he sees such a deed of sale; his gaze darted back and forth between the paper and Song Yu’s family of three, feeling both novel and incredulous.

Song Yu’s family is dressed neatly and cleanly, with cotton-made clothes, without a single patch.

The three are healthy and well-fed, showing they previously had good meals.

Dressed like this, they appear more glamorous than ordinary folks in the Liu Family Village. Where is there a hint of being slaves?

If Song Yu hadn’t revealed his identity, who would have known he was a slave?

Moreover, with his eloquence, is he actually knowledgeable?

If not for the situation, Liu Ji would like to ask: Do the nobles now have such high requirements for slaves?

Of course, as a master, he must not appear timid.

At Qin Yao’s nod, Liu Ji raised his hand, calling Song Yu’s family of three to get up from the ground, “Our family’s rule, the first one, is not to allow kneeling.”

But that doesn’t include big Master me. Little person in Liu Ji’s heart bursts into tears.

Song Yu and Mrs. Li immediately nodded, “Yes.”

No surprise, no questioning why, complete obedience, making them seem trustworthy.

Qin Yao handed the deeds to Ah Wang to store and gestured Song Yu’s family to follow her into the main room.

“Ah Wang, prepare three bowls of noodles for Song Yu’s family,” Qin Yao instructed.

By the way, introduced to the family of three: “This is Ah Wang, who manages all major and minor affairs at home; if there is anything unclear, you can ask him first.”

Song Yu and his wife quickly and politely called out to Ah Wang: “Manager Ah Wang.”

Mrs. Li said, “Madam, it’s better for this maidservant to go, following Manager Ah Wang, to familiarize with the kitchen.”

Song Yu also said, “Madam, this slave is late, disturbing Madams and Masters, being initially our fault, yet Madam does not blame us but rather takes care of us. This slave is extremely grateful, not daring to trouble Manager Ah Wang further.”

“Luckily, Mrs. Li is good at cooking, let her prepare. Fine white noodles are too luxurious, just three bowls of coarse grain porridge will do.”

Mrs. Li looked over, an expression of probing and pleasing.

Qin Yao squinted her eyes slightly, “No need to test the waters. Here in the countryside, there are no rigid rules, nor can we afford them.”

“I don’t know what treatment you had at the Song Family, but here, you eat what I eat, wear what I wear, use what I use.”

Qin Yao solemnly added: “What I need is someone to shoulder work, not a servant to pamper.”

Saying this, she motioned Ah Wang to proceed as instructed and turned to step into the main room with big strides.

Liu Ji pulled out a Taishi Chair for her, and as Qin Yao sat down, he took a seat on another chair.

Although the couple sat equally, Song Yu and Mrs. Li could clearly see who truly had authority in this house.

Qin Yao signaled Da Lang, and the siblings, who had been well-behaved, moved forward, warmly greeting Little Lai Fu. Being similar in age, the five children quickly started playing together.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep