Chapter 17: Peony

Feng Chuchen was amused and helped her up. "Get up and talk."

Although Guo Daya had a youthful face, her build was like that of an adult man, measuring roughly 1.7 meters.

This household lacked an adult male; it indeed needed someone capable of fighting.

This child was truly endearing.

Feng Chuchen understood Guo Lei's good intentions.

Daya had just grown up; she could not only do housework but also help Guo Lei hunt to earn money. Guo Lei had sent this eldest daughter over because he saw the Feng family was weak and being bullied; this was their way of repaying the kindness of the eldest aunt.

Guo Lei and his wife were people of deep loyalty and righteousness; their children would not be wrong.

Feng Chuchen asked, "Does Uncle Guo want Daya to be a short-term worker or a long-term servant?"

Short-term workers worked anywhere from a few days to a few months, while long-term servants stayed for years.

In her heart, Feng Chuchen hoped for the latter.

Guo Lei said, "If Miss Feng does not mind, let her be a servant for life, just like Miss Banxia. She will surely live better at your house than at mine. Ever since Daya's mother gave birth to Xiao Si, her health has been poor, and half the family's money goes toward her medicine."

Feng Chuchen, of course, hoped even more that Guo Daya could stay with them for a lifetime.

Guo Lei spoke that way so she wouldn't feel burdened by taking Daya in.

Feng Chuchen did not stand on ceremony. "Alright. Once Auntie Wang returns home, I will invite Brother Guo to the yamen to process the servant contract."

Without going through a broker, the buyer and seller had to go to the county yamen together to register the deed.

Feng Chuchen stood up, took out seven taels of silver, and handed it over.

In the capital, unless a girl was exceptionally beautiful or capable, a girl of this age was generally valued between six and eight taels, depending on her health and appearance.

Feng Chuchen gave a middle-ground price.

Guo Lei refused with a flushed face, "Miss Feng, you are making me blush. Sister Feng saved my son and daughter-in-law's lives and even forgave us fifty strings of cash; how could I have the face to take this money? Would I even be human if I accepted it?"

Feng Chuchen's attitude was firm. "That money was my eldest aunt's charity; I have no reason to take it back on her behalf. If Brother Guo will not accept this money, then take Daya back."

Only then did Guo Lei reluctantly accept it.

Feng Chuchen was quite moved by this family's sense of gratitude.

The two families that had been consecutively treated with the Yin-Spirit Needles were one in the capital, surnamed Li, and one in a neighboring village, surnamed Cai.

After the eldest aunt died, the man from the Cai family came to the Feng house to offer incense, but the Li family never appeared.

Is a drop of kindness to be repaid with a spring?

Some people are not like that. They receive great kindness from others only to forget it the moment they turn around.

Auntie Wang was extremely indignant and had cursed them many times.

"Sister was too kind-hearted; she lost her life for those ungrateful people, it truly wasn't worth it. Especially that Li family—they used the Yin-Spirit Needles to save their infant, yet they only gave three strings of cash, barely enough to make one piece of this life incense.

"They sell tofu and their business is quite good; they could certainly afford eighty taels, but they insisted they had no money. When I wanted to ask for more, Sister wouldn't allow it, saying that money was just her way of paying off her debts..."

"Look at those shameless people; even after Sister passed, they didn't even come to pay their respects. Those ungrateful wretches will face retribution one day...

"And that Cai family—I told them Sister had just used the Yin-Spirit Needles and her spirit was low, but the whole family knelt and insisted. After Sister administered the needles, she sat on the ground unable to get up, yet they still claimed they were poor and only gave one string of cash..."

When Guo Lei left, Feng Chuchen packed a small bag of malt candy for him. "Give this to Daya's younger siblings."

Guo Lei took it. "Thank you, Miss Feng."

As Daya saw her father out, Guo Lei whispered instructions, "The Feng family only has Midwife Wang earning money now, and now there is your mouth to feed as well. Do not eat until you are stuffed; eating until half-full is enough.

"If you are hungry, find wild fruit when you go up the mountain to chop wood. It would be best if you could catch some small wild game to sell, and give the money to your master."

Daya said, "I know. Father, don't work too hard. In the future, I will save my monthly wages to bring home to treat Mother and buy delicious food for my brother."

Guo Lei's face darkened. "We owe the Feng family fifty taels. Without Sister Feng, your brother wouldn't exist. You are not allowed to ask for wages."

Daya hurriedly said, "Alright, I understand." Then she added weakly, "When I grow up and earn merit by driving away bad people, I'll ask for monthly wages then to treat Mother."

Seeing her father's face darken even further, she quickly added, "Alright, I won't take monthly wages. As long as the masters provide food and clothing, it's enough."

Daya returned to her room. Feng Chuchen looked at the clothes tied around her body; they were patched over and over again. The skirt was short, revealing the inner trousers, which were also patched at the edges, and her shoes had a hole.

She was tall, and there were no clothes in this house that she could wear.

Feng Chuchen said, "Tomorrow, when we go to the market, I'll get you two pieces of cloth to make clothes. From now on, you will get one hundred wen in cash per month, two sets of clothes a year, and two pairs of shoes. This is all the house can manage for now; once life improves, the wages will increase."

Banxia received one hundred and fifty wen a month. Auntie Wang had no monthly wage, but every time she delivered a baby or acted as a midwife, she would set aside a portion of the money for her.

Guo Daya hurriedly said, "I haven't even started working yet; how could I have the nerve to let my master spend money on clothes, let alone ask for monthly wages. Eldest Aunt Feng saved my brother's life; my life belongs to my masters."

The young girl was bold, unlike many timid and quiet country girls.

Feng Chuchen did not argue with her; she would simply give them to her when the time came.

She added, "From now on, your name will be Shaoyao."

Shaoyao was both a flower and a medicine.

Since Banxia was a medicine name, she gave Daya a similar name. In the future, all the girls she bought would be named after medicines.

Shaoyao was so happy her large front teeth showed. She tugged at her collar and said coyly, "This name is so beautiful and soft, so delicate. I am so sturdy, yet I got such a lovely name. Hehe, my two younger sisters will be so envious."

Feng Bu-ji and Banxia both laughed.

Feng Chuchen was also amused. "As long as you like it."

She let her live in the south room of the west wing with Banxia.

Although Banxia currently stayed in the east wing at night to care for Feng Bu-ji, her personal belongings were kept in the south room of the west wing; she would move back there once Feng Bu-ji grew up.

After Shaoyao tidied her bedding, she went to the courtyard to find work. Seeing only half a tub of water left, she first refilled it, then took an axe to chop wood.

As the sun set, the rosy glow covered the earth, and the distant mountains shimmered with golden light.

Banxia cooked, Shaoyao tended the fire, wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, and the sounds of spatulas and the aroma of food drifted from the kitchen.

Feng Bu-ji stood at the courtyard gate, loudly calling to his flock of chickens, "Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck..."

This was the job he had fought hard to get, and he was doing it very well.

Hearing this sound, eight chickens happily ran from outside into the courtyard and then toward the backyard.

This was the sense of domestic warmth that Feng Chuchen had longed for in her past life but could never attain.

She finally possessed it in this life.

Though separated by only a dozen days, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

Seeing his sister staring blankly at him through the small window, Feng Bu-ji asked in surprise, "Why are you looking at me like that, Sister?"

Feng Chuchen smiled. "Sister just realized how handsome my brother is. You must find a beautiful little lady in the future."

Feng Bu-ji pursed his lips shyly. Ever since his sister had been in prison, his temperament had changed significantly.

He no longer blushed when marriage was mentioned; he would hold his face and speak so sweetly it made people feel embarrassed...