“Yes, he started from serving in the army and rose up step by step. Madam Ao is a local; she has a very straightforward personality typical of women from the border regions,” Qin Fang explained.

Yang Haiyan understood now; what Qin Fang meant by saying that Madam Ao resembled his mother was likely about their personalities.

“Husband, we don’t need to prepare too extravagant a gift for General Ao; it just needs to be practical. You were a Hundred-Man Commander, and your monthly allowance was only about a tael of silver. General Ao knows our situation; if the gift is too extravagant, it might raise suspicion. What do you think?”

Qin Fang had no opinion on this matter, knowing that his wife was well-informed. “You decide.”

Yang Haiyan continued, “Tell me about the situation in General Ao’s residence, especially the back courtyard. How many children does he have? Does he have any concubines…”

The couple chatted late into the night.

The next day, they went to the county town. Qin Fang, now a Thousand-Man Commander and a seventh-rank military officer, could not be without attendants.

While it was referred to as serving him, it actually meant delivering messages and running errands.

A seventh-rank officer was allowed five personal soldiers, who were considered his trusted confidants.

These personal soldiers were different from the troops in the barracks, but they also had official documents issued by the Yongzhou County government.

Moreover, the personal soldiers shared their honor and disgrace with their master.

On the way to the county town, Yang Haiyan curiously asked, “Husband, what kind of personal soldiers do you want to select?”

Qin Fang replied, “I plan to choose from the soldiers whose service has been completed. The soldiers who joined the military before me will complete their service at the end of the month, and then I’ll select five. They were originally under my command when I was a Hundred-Man Commander, so I have a basic understanding of their abilities and character. I’ll be comfortable using them.”

Yang Haiyan said, “You’ve thought this through. Before these soldiers complete their service, should we ask Uncle Hong to work for you? He’s a local and knows the area well. Then we can buy a few servants.”

“There’s no need; it’s only a few days. As for other matters, you can decide. I’ll go along with whatever you say,” Qin Fang replied.

“You’re so good, husband; you always listen to me,” Yang Haiyan smiled.

Qin Fang enjoyed her praise.

Every time she complimented him, he felt like his tail was about to wag with pride.

Oh, fortunately, he didn’t have a tail.

Yang Haiyan continued, “Let’s choose two servants, both with contracts. Previously, in the town, only Uncle Hong could read, so he had to settle for a living contract. This time, let’s see if we can find some with death contracts who can read.

Let’s pick one who can read and another who can do heavy work.”

It didn’t matter if the one doing heavy work couldn’t read.

Otherwise, Aunt Fan would have to go to the dim sum shop, buy vegetables, cook, and do laundry—too much work for her.

And Aunt Hong had to be at the dim sum shop every day; after all, the shop couldn’t be left unattended.

“Whatever you say,” Qin Fang agreed.

When the couple arrived at the county government office, they headed straight to the teahouse.

The matron of the teahouse welcomed them warmly, “Hello, sir! Hello, madam! Are you here to buy servants?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “We want to buy two servants with death contracts. One should preferably be literate, honest, and steady; it would be best if she can do hair and understands the customs and etiquette of the gentry. The other can do heavy work; literacy is not necessary.”

Although Yang Haiyan knew how to style hair from the original owner’s memories, it was honestly tiring to do so every time.

However, she preferred hiring a mature woman because there was no need for her to be cautious around her; if a young maid developed any troublesome ideas, she would have to deal with it, which was too much trouble.

Moreover, since Qin Fang was now an official, their household would naturally require some rules and etiquette.

She understood them but found it bothersome to teach servants, so it would be better to find someone knowledgeable to instruct them.

The teahouse at the county government office was different from that in the town; it was incomparable.

Upon hearing Yang Haiyan’s requirements, the matron quickly selected six candidates.

“Madam, the three on the left can all read and come from wealthy families. They were originally serving as wet nurses in affluent households, but their masters could no longer support them and sold the servants. The three on the right are all experienced at heavy work and are good at their jobs,” the matron said.

Of course, whether the wet nurses were truly sold for the reasons stated was unknown.

The matron made her descriptions sound appealing to sell the servants quickly.

However, she didn’t dare deceive Yang Haiyan too much.

Upon hearing that Yang Haiyan was looking for someone knowledgeable about the customs of gentry families, she thought the young couple might belong to such a household.

Although the teahouse was official, they didn’t dare to cause trouble.

Yang Haiyan said, “I’ll choose the heavy worker first. You three, please introduce yourselves, stating your previous family, former masters, and the reason for selling yourselves.”

She didn’t want to invite trouble.

Furthermore, she wasn’t afraid of them lying, as everyone’s household registration would have records at the county government.

The first one introduced herself, “Madam, my name is Liu Yue’e. My family was affected by a flood, and I lost my family on the way. I sold myself just to have a place to stay.”

Yang Haiyan looked at her and couldn’t tell her age, but her unhealthy complexion hinted at a decent foundation in her features. “If that’s the case, you sold yourself of your own accord. Why didn’t you sign a living contract? Why sign a death contract instead? Or couldn’t you find a man to rely on, even if he were a widower? That would be better than becoming someone’s servantaàqa.”

“This…”

Yang Haiyan could tell she was lying. “You can leave now. Next!”

The second one stepped forward, “Madam, my name is Yu Zhaodi. I’m 36 years old. I originally had a son and a daughter, but my son died in an accident. My husband wanted a son to carry on the family line, but I’m too old to have children now. So he knocked me out and sold me. He probably used the money to marry someone else.”

She had always known he wanted to divorce her to marry again, but marrying someone else would cost money, and they had none. What she didn’t expect was that he would heartlessly sell her to use the money for a new wife.

Yang Haiyan was taken aback by this story.

Yu Zhaodi knelt down again, pleading, “Madam, please buy me! I can do any heavy work. I originally thought of ending my life, but I can’t stop worrying about my daughter. Please, I beg you…”

As she spoke, Yu Zhaodi knocked her head on the ground, doing it with great force. The sadness in her eyes was genuine, and her tears were certainly not fake.

In an instant, after only a few knocks, her forehead turned red from the impact, showing her desperation.

Yang Haiyan sighed, “You can get up and stand aside for now; let me listen to this one.”

Yu Zhaodi refused to get up. “Madam, I’m truly capable of work. I can give up everything; I don’t need to be full every day, nor do I need a monthly allowance. I beg you to buy me…”

Yang Haiyan frowned, “According to our laws, it is illegal to pawn or sell one’s wife or daughter, unless it is a concubine. You are a legitimate wife, aren’t you?”

Before Yu Zhaodi could reply, the matron interjected, “Madam, don’t worry. Our official teahouse is legitimate; we won’t sell anyone with a problematic identity. I’ve seen her contract; she was sold by her family to her previous husband as a child bride. Strictly speaking, she is a servant bought by her previous husband. Many child brides are in servitude, but some charitable families will free them from servitude after marriage and return the contract. However, her contract remains as a servant’s contract, not a living one, but a death one.”

Yang Haiyan hadn’t anticipated this issue. She turned to Yu Zhaodi and asked, “Is that true?”

Hearing the name Zhaodi… Yang Haiyan believed the matron’s words; this woman had likely been mistreated in her family.

Yu Zhaodi nodded, “Yes. But madam, I can work. I was very capable at home, and when I was with my husband’s family, I served the entire household. Please, I beg you to buy me.” As she spoke, she continued to knock her head on the ground.

Yang Haiyan said, “Enough.”

She turned to the matron, “Give me her contract.” For good deeds within her capabilities, she wasn’t opposed.

Of course, if the person’s character was unworthy, she could still sell them later.

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhaodi knocked her head a few more times, saying, “Thank you, madam… thank you…”

Yang Haiyan replied, “Stand aside for now; let’s hear from the next three.”

The first one spoke up, “Greetings, madam. I am a wet nurse from a wealthy family; I was sold because of food poisoning…”

Yang Haiyan knew that many wet nurses were selected from families and felt reassured about them.

However, if she had a child, she would surely want to nurse her own, unless she had no milk.

Otherwise, she couldn’t bear the thought of her child drinking another’s milk.

Hearing this wet nurse say she had issues with her milk due to food poisoning, even if the child was ultimately fine, Yang Haiyan couldn’t take the risk.

In any position, attention to detail was crucial.

She could tolerate foolishness in her subordinates but not carelessness, as it could be deadly.

Yang Haiyan said, “Next, please introduce yourself.”

The second woman stepped forward, first bowing to Yang Haiyan, “Greetings, madam. I do not have a surname; I am 42 years old. I was sold to serve a young lady when I was a child, and the lady named me Xiao Lian. After she got married, I followed her. Later, when she had a son who was unwell, he passed away after a few years. Originally, I was to stay and care for him, but after the young master married again, the new mistress sold me and a few others by mistake.”

Yang Haiyan noticed her demeanor was respectful, indicating she had been trained, just like the original owner. She couldn’t help but ask, “Which family were you originally from? Which family did your young lady marry into?”

The second woman replied, “I was originally with the Yuan family of Qingzhou; the old master had once held a second-rank official position, and my young lady married into a matching family.”

Yang Haiyan mused, “With your background, how could the new mistress dare to sell you? Even if for the sake of the Yuan family’s reputation, she wouldn’t sell you. Besides, she shouldn’t even have your contract.”

The second woman explained, “After my young lady passed, my contract was in the young master’s hands. The new mistress’s family is more powerful than the Yuan family. Moreover, while I was with my young lady, I wasn’t the favored wet nurse; the primary wet nurse would never be sold by the new mistress.”

Yang Haiyan had a good impression of her, mainly due to her refined manner and exposure to the world.

However, she didn’t make a decision right away and nodded, “Let’s hear from the third one.”

The third woman stepped forward, saying, “Greetings, madam. I didn’t want to sign a death contract, and I haven’t signed anything with the teahouse. The matron is a friend, which is why I came to try.”

Yang Haiyan asked, “What’s the story behind this?”

The third woman slowly explained, “I was originally from Qingshui Village. My parents died when I was young, and I was raised by my uncle and aunt.

When I was 13, the court held a selection of young women for the palace. Unmarried girls of 15 had to be chosen.

My aunt didn’t want my 15-year-old cousin to go to the palace, so she asked me to impersonate her… Thus, I entered the palace and became a palace maid.

According to the law, palace maids could only leave at the age of 25. When I reached that age, I thought I had no family left, and my bond with my uncle was severed once I entered the palace.

So, I used connections to remain in the palace until my master passed away when I was 40. We, the servants, were all sent out when we reached a certain age…”

As Yang Haiyan listened to this, she was utterly astonished.