The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 2366: Chapter 2341: Not Going Hungry

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang don’t have any maidservants around them. Because they grew up in the village, they don’t even have personal Xiaos like Changshou and Jiyu.

Because it’s unnecessary, who would bring a Xiao to class at school or to play in the mud in the village?

Daji, who is by Bai Shan’s side, only makes sure Bai Shan doesn’t encounter danger. Whether he’s climbing trees to take bird eggs or fishing, as long as there is no risk to his life, Daji doesn’t intervene.

But at home, other than dressing and eating, there are people to serve them.

Whether in Qili Village, Yizhou City or the capital city, the people serving them are always the same group—the travel escorts, the familiar household servants, and it’s the same for Manbao.

Since coming to the capital, Old Madam Liu arranged two people to take care of Manbao so that they would have more time to do their own things.

Actually, they don’t do much, occasionally they warm some water for Manbao when she won’t get out of bed, mostly they sweep the courtyard, wash clothes, do some mending or serve snacks. The work isn’t much.

For two or three years, this was how everyone got along. The two maidservants both knew that Miss Manbao would eventually marry the young master, and early on, they considered her their mistress. They hoped that after Miss Manbao married the young master, they could continue to serve, thus accumulating experience and eventually marry one of the young master’s servants, becoming a housekeeper aunt...

But who would have thought Miss Manbao suddenly brought back ten maids; not only were they very beautiful, but they could dance and sing. According to them, they’ve shared hardships with their masters along the way.

The two maidservants suddenly felt pressured, thinking they might lose their positions.

After all, nominally they’re still Bai Family’s servants, but these ten were brought in by Miss Manbao from outside and are likely more justified.

So in the past few days, the two of them have been scrambling to do work, being extremely diligent.

Before, Manbao would go to the kitchen to fetch hot water to wash her face after rising, and Bai Shan and Bai Erlang were used to doing such things themselves. Lining up in the kitchen would help them wake up, review the day’s plans, and have casual conversations.

But Manbao hadn’t gone to the kitchen to fetch water for four consecutive days, because each time she woke, the two maidservants have already had the water ready outside.

Xi Bing and the others didn’t know the inside story. They thought that’s the kind of work a maid should do, fearing that if they didn’t do well, they’d be sold again, so they’re eager to show themselves.

Manbao isn’t home a lot each day, so she doesn’t feel much impact, but Junior Ms. Qian and others, who are home most of the time, become the focus of the maidservants’ competition when Manbao is absent.

They: ...are quite anxious too.

Junior Ms. Qian said, "Because when you came home, there was no one at the gatehouse, your Third Brother had to open the door. After that, Old Madam Liu severely punished those at the gatehouse, and your Third Brother felt very bad, thinking he caused their trouble."

Manbao frowned, "What does it have to do with Third Brother? There should always be someone at the gatehouse, they have their shifts, Grandma Liu got angry because they weren’t following the rules."

"Your Third Brother felt he let them leave to rest..."

Manbao laughed, "I know, I’ll talk to Third Brother later. If he really feels guilty, we can ask Sister-in-law to make some dishes and let Third Brother send it to them."

Junior Ms. Qian poked Manbao’s forehead and said, "Is that the important thing? The important thing is about the ten girls in your room, how do you plan to arrange them?"

Manbao smiled, "It’s not difficult, I’ll ask them first."

The ten girls had Gaochang names that weren’t their own, translated to Chinese would be lengthy, so on their way back, they approached Manbao wanting a name change.

Because they were sold young, without remembering their families or surname, after discussing, Manbao suggestions were, "You all came with us from Xizhou, and since you are from the Western Regions, let’s choose a name with ’Xi’, and you can choose the rest."

Manbao encouraged them at the time, "Your name partly chosen by yourselves, it’s an expression of your hopes and your favorite things. Isn’t that great?"

If she could choose her own name...

Manbao thought and felt she had no better name.

So the ten chose new names, most constantly taking care of Manbao were Xi Bing and Xi Hua, who were competing most fiercely with the two maidservants.

After returning, Manbao found a time to gather the ten people, asking, "Now that you’re in the capital, do you want to stay serving indoors, or go outside?"

The ten were surprised, Xi Bing and Xi Hua’s faces changed in fright, they kneeled and pleaded, "Lord Zhou, please don’t drive us away."

Manbao quickly helped them up and said, "I have no intention of driving you away, you followed us all this way, you should know, I have some properties outside, like my second niece, they’ll often go to the grassland and maybe to the Western Regions in the future."

"You can speak local languages and know the customs. If you don’t wish to stay inside, you could follow my second niece, your pay wouldn’t be less." Manbao said, "Besides, I have a shop outside specially for making ointments. Since you helped make medicines in the Western Regions, if you’re willing to learn, you could make ointments there too."

"Of course, if you don’t like either, you could stay indoors," Manbao smiled, "Later I’ll take you to meet Old Madam Liu and Madame Zheng, they’ll arrange a position for you, it’s not too tiring."

The ten were finally relieved, and after quietly discussing, four chose to make ointments, five elected to stay indoors, except Xi Cong chose to follow Zhou Lijun.

She asked, "Lord, if I go to the Western Regions, can I marry a good man there?"

Manbao nodded, "As long as the man you like is willing to marry you, I’ll give you the contract without charge."

Xi Cong breathed a sigh of relief and admitted to Manbao, "I want to marry Dayu."

Manbao almost choked on her saliva, coughing several times before asking, "Why? Do you like him?"

Xi Cong said, "He’s wealthy and powerful. If he’s willing to marry me, I’ll follow him."

She bluntly stated, "I think following him won’t leave me hungry."

Manbao: ...following me also won’t leave you hungry.