Chapter 153: Stirring Up Trouble

Chen Feng asked Dabao to take the two dogs and two birds to play at Luo’s house while she returned to Luyuan and called for Mrs. Wang. The two of them then boarded, with Mrs. Luo also sitting in the carriage.

Mrs. Luo smiled and said, “Yesterday, my eldest daughter-in-law brought the vegetarian dishes and garlic sprouts stir-fried with dried tofu from Ms. Feng to Tangyuan. Both my master and the young miss loved it very much. Especially the young miss, she didn’t eat enough. She’s asked Ms. Feng to stir-fry another plate today. It’d be best to make more vegetarian dishes as well. Tomorrow, the madame will return to the temple. While she’s at Lingyin Temple to give the orchid to Master Wuzhi, she also plans to bring some braised dishes to him.”

Chen Feng smiled and nodded, “I can make more braised dishes. But there’s not much garlic sprouts left in the pot, just enough to stir-fry a small dish. I’ll stir-fry some for you to take tonight.”

The couple thanked Chen Feng with smiles.

Chen Feng mentioned her desire to purchase people, not just laborers, but also someone knowledgeable in household affairs and a steward.

Steward Luo said, “It’s easy to buy laborers, they just need to be adults with strong limbs. But it’s not easy to buy people knowledgeable in household affairs and stewardship. These capable individuals are not easily sold by their masters. If they are sold, it’s likely due to a major mistake, and it would be disheartening to buy such a person. Another scenario is when the master commits a crime, and the servant is sold by the authorities. This situation doesn’t happen often.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng felt somewhat worried. A knowledgeable household servant might not necessarily be available for purchase, but she especially wanted one. Chen Ming was quite naive and didn’t understand many things, he needed someone to guide him. She was busy and, as a woman, it wasn’t easy for her to directly manage the fields and the business…

Steward Luo continued, “How about this? There are a few such individuals in the Dingzhou General’s residence. If you trust me, I’ll talk to my master and send two people to you. Rest assured, the slave contract will be provided, and they won’t have any other intentions toward you.”

Chen Feng shook her head and smiled, “The servants from the General’s residence are used to city life, they wouldn’t want to live in our countryside, let alone work for a village girl like me.” She didn’t want someone who would be physically present but mentally absent.

Steward  Luo didn’t press the matter further.

Upon arriving in the county town, Chen Feng and her mother bought some household items and New Year goods, including ginseng, jars of wine, and even brought back two piglets. The Luo family purchased even more New Year goods, it seemed that both Chu Lingxuan and the Luo’s were planning to celebrate the New Year at Tangyuan, so everything had to be fully prepared.

They then hired a cart, with Mrs. Luo taking the cart first to bring the goods back, while Steward Luo and his son went to assist Chen Feng and her mother in purchasing people.

The group ate a bowl of noodles at a noodle shop, and Chen Feng insisted on paying.

There were only two legal store selling servants in the county town, and after visiting both, they indeed didn’t find anyone knowledgeable in household affairs. Chen Feng ended up buying a pair – a 32-year-old woman named Mu and her 13-year-old son Shanzhi.

The process of buying people was similar to buying piglets, a group of people stood there and let them choose, which Chen Feng, coming from a civilized society, found somewhat uncomfortable.

Steward Luo looked around at the people being sold, asked a few questions, and quietly told Chen Feng, “That woman is good, she seems capable and knows her manners. She’ll be able to start working once you buy her.”

Mu was a nimble woman with clear eyes. Even though her clothes were very dirty, she carried herself gracefully, and her hair was neatly combed, making her stand out among the group.

Chen Feng decided to buy her.

However, she didn’t choose Shanzhi, finding him too young and unable to handle physical work or fights. She intended to buy another strong man. Mu knelt down and begged, and as Chen Feng had taken a liking to Mu and didn’t want to separate them, she ended up buying them both. The mother and son were surprised to be sold together and cried as they kowtowed to Chen Feng and her mother.

Afterward, they rushed to the county office to process the slave contracts. When the carriage arrived at the opposite side of the county office, Mrs. Wang asked Chen Feng to wait in the carriage while she and Luo Xiao went to handle the contracts. Steward Luo also got off the carriage and watched from outside.

Chen Feng conversed with Mu and Shanzhi in the carriage, inquiring about their backgrounds.

Mu explained that they had all served the magistrate’s family in a neighboring county. When her husband died, the magistrate wanted to take advantage of her. When Mu resisted, it caused a commotion, and the old lady found out, resulting in them being sold…

As they spoke, a loud voice was heard, “Steward Luo, how fortunate to meet you.”

Steward Luo quickly bowed and smiled, “Zhao Lizheng, what a coincidence.”

The voice continued, “I bumped into Mr. Luo at the office, and the woman with him seemed familiar. Isn’t that Mrs. Wang, whose maiden name is Wang Juan?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng quickly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. It was a man in his fifties, dressed in a cotton robe and a cotton cap, his hands tucked into his sleeves. His large nose was red from the cold, and he seemed rather unpleasant.

Steward Luo responded, “Yes, that’s her. Due to their connections with Tangyuan, my son are helping her with some matters.”

Zhao Lizheng smiled insincerely. He had recently learned that Wang Juan’s daughter was working as a needlework master at Tangyuan for the young miss, and he didn’t want Mrs. Wang and her daughter to get too close to Tangyuan.

He had heard that the master of Tangyuan was a high-ranking official in Dingzhou Prefecture and came from an influential family in the capital city. If he were a local high official, it would be manageable, but he was a military official, and even a person as influential as Lord Qingtian wouldn’t have power over him…

He was afraid that some matters might be known to the master of Tangyuan, which wouldn’t be good.

Zhao Lizheng continued, “Our Zhao family is hosting a flowing water banquet, and we’ve invited all the respectable gentlemen and young masters from the surrounding areas. I also invite Steward Luo to come and have a few drinks.”

Steward Luo replied, “Certainly.”

Zhao Lizheng leaned in closer to Steward Luo and said with a smile, “Steward Luo, please don’t be offended by my words. I’ve heard some rumors about Wang Juan. It seems her daughter, who is working as a needlework master for your young miss, seems to… hehe…”

Steward Luo smiled ambiguously and replied, “Thank you for the reminder, Zhao Lizheng. To avoid tarnishing the reputation of my master, I have always been very cautious in assessing and employing people. Ms. Chen is excellent, and both his character and skills are highly satisfactory to my master. I’ve heard that Ms. Chen’s mother is also very good, virtuous, and thrifty. She, a woman, has single-handedly supported a household, raised a pair of children, and even cured her husband’s illness. Now, she finally has her daughter grown up, and her days are better now.”

Zhao Lizheng was taken aback and chuckled, “Of course, of course,” then he bowed to Steward Luo and departed.

Chen Feng was quite angry. That old rascal was truly despicable, not only trying to tarnish Mrs. Wang’s reputation but also attempting to make her lose her job. Fortunately, Steward Luo was reliable and managed to chase the troublemaker away.