The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 264

"Ah sneeze."

Zhao Minghua sneezed loudly.

"Young master, you've caught a cold."

Qingsheng was very worried and wanted to give Zhao Minghua an extra coat.

"Nonsense, how could I catch a cold in this weather? It's your young mistress who's missing me."

Celebrating a birthday... The most shameless one is our own young master, always trying to make himself look good.

Even though they are so far apart, he still says that the young mistress misses him.

That said, everyone who's seen it clearly can attest that when the young master is home, he's the one who's always clinging to the young mistress; he thinks the young mistress is more like the young mistress.

However, anyone with such a capable wife would probably want that.

Just like he misses his fiancée.

I can't get married until next year, and the thought of it makes me feel like the time is so long.

"Qingsheng, how is the second young master doing?"

Qing Sheng felt a pang in his heart. This man had finally remembered that he had a second brother in the capital.

"Reporting to Young Master, ever since the Second Young Master entered Hanwen Academy, he has studied diligently and rarely goes out, which has made Mr. Tian quite fond of him."

Qingsheng is quite adept at gathering information; in the two months he's been in Beijing, he's gathered a great deal of information, big and small.

Whose family is related to whose family by marriage? Whose family has a feud with whose family?

Well, you have to be careful with every step you take in Beijing, there are too many pitfalls in the winding streets.

As the young master's right-hand man, Qingsheng naturally did his best to gather information.

Moreover, he has unique methods for gathering information; he can find out things that others cannot.

"Young master, I've also heard some news."

"what news?"

"There is a young lady who is in love with the second young master."

Is this rare?
After he sent his bookish second brother to Hanwen Academy through General Xia, he knew that he would be the target of the young ladies in the capital.

One of the ladies suspected him, saying that the data was inaccurate and that a group of people would be more accurate.

"He already has someone he likes." Zhao Minghua really wanted to know who it was, but the bookworm kept his mouth shut and didn't reveal a word.

Therefore, all the talk of brotherhood is fake. They won't even reveal such trivial matters, and when it comes to real interests, they'll probably avoid you even more.

He didn't let me know, and I couldn't be bothered to care.

I'm quite curious, though. If he achieves great success in the imperial examinations one day, will he still be tempted to stay with his sweetheart? If there are better opportunities to advance his career, will he break his promise for the sake of his future?
Zhao Minghua asked himself: Well, his wife is someone unattainable, and he is definitely not the kind of person who would abandon his wife and children. He can definitely withstand the test.

Zhao Minghua was deep in thought when the gatekeeper came to report.

"Young Master, Yi Ya Xing has arrived with his men."

The gatekeeper was Uncle Tang, whom they had just bought. He was honest and kind, and he respected his new master very much.

Looking at the group of young and beautiful girls that Yi Yaxing brought, he couldn't help but wonder. Qingsheng said that the young master already had a young mistress and no female relatives were present. Was he going to choose a few concubines?
"Let him take me to the outer hall to wait. I'll be there in a bit."

"Yes, Master."

I glanced at the young master; he was young, which was normal.

Zhao Minghua was unaware that Uncle Tang was gossiping about him. After tidying his hair, he went to the front hall.

"Young Master Zhao, this old man has brought you some men."

Yi Yaxing particularly enjoyed dealing with Zhao Minghua. Despite his young age, Zhao Minghua was remarkably experienced in handling affairs. Through Zhao Minghua's hands, Yi Yaxing bought the Ghost House, the Xiao Mansion, and four storefronts. He also bought servants twice, and now he was saying he was adding a few maids.

Well, after being in the capital for so long, I've finally seen a young and beautiful maid in his household. I almost thought he had some kind of hidden illness.

"Young Master Zhao, look at these girls. These are all girls from respectable families whom I personally selected. They are all good in terms of appearance, eloquence, and courage, which is why I brought them to you."

These were selected according to Zhao Minghua's requirements.

Zhao Minghua glanced over and indeed there were none of those who looked ugly or deformed; they all looked alright.

To put it simply, ever since I was captivated by Nuannuan's face, all other women in the world have paled in comparison. "Those who can read and do math, take a step forward."

To Zhao Minghua's surprise, they all took a step forward.

"Young Master Zhao, you may not know this, but these girls have been learning to read and write since they were young. It is also a way for poor families like ours to make a living."

When Zhao Minghua learned that these girls from ordinary families were gritting their teeth and sending themselves to girls' schools for two years to learn to read and do arithmetic in order to become maids in wealthy households, she was no longer so calm.

Yes, people's joys and sorrows are never shared.

In Changzhou, ordinary families had no opportunity for boys to attend school, let alone girls.

In their family's eyes, going to school was something only wealthy children did, something they did to pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to their ancestors. When boys were able to work, they would help out in the fields, and if they could support their families through their labor when they grew up, that was considered a skill.

What should girls study?
Learning spinning, weaving, needlework, cooking, and household chores was something only young ladies from wealthy families could learn.

It's surprising that girls from ordinary families in the capital also learn these skills, but their purpose is quite different: to find a job in a wealthy family.

Now that I've met myself, it's quite fitting.

Zhao Minghua then asked them to introduce themselves.

It must be said that Yi Ya Hang is quite efficient; these girls are articulate and can speak very clearly.

Three girls glanced at Zhao Minghua secretly, their pretty faces slightly flushed.

A young master like that would be willing to have them as his concubines!
Little did anyone know that with such a small action, Zhao Minghua had Yi Yaxing take the three people away.

For the remaining six people, Zhao Minghua asked them whether they wanted to sign a fixed contract or a flexible contract.

"They all signed lifelong contracts."

Yi Yaxing quickly replied, "Once Young Master Zhao signs, he's one of yours."

Zhao Minghua felt very uncomfortable when she heard this.

I used to think that people from Beijing were indeed different from others, and that they knew how to raise their daughters well.

Even if we send them to wealthy families as maids, we can redeem them when they are older and they can marry into good families.

There is a saying that it is better to marry a servant girl from a wealthy family than a girl from a poor family. After working as a maid in a wealthy family, one can find a good husband when she returns home. However, unexpectedly, the family abandons them when they enter the household as maids.

This was purely for investment purposes, with no regard for blood ties whatsoever.

Every penny spent on them from childhood must be earned back tenfold or a hundredfold.

"Alright, let's sign a lifelong contract then."

The people Zhao Minghua needs are indeed those who have signed a life-or-death contract.

“I bought you not to serve in the courtyard, but to work as waiters in the shop. If any of you are unwilling, you can go with Uncle Yi; if you are willing, you can stay.”

Zhao Minghua never forces anything and always speaks his mind.

Sure enough, these words surprised not only the maids but also Yi Ya Xing.

For a woman to work as a waitress and show her face in public is something no one in this era would dare to imagine.

So, two girls hesitated, and in that instant of hesitation, Zhao Minghua eliminated them.

"Are the four of you willing to stay?"

"Yes, young master, I am willing."

The four answered readily, and there was even a hint of secret delight in their hearts.

Serving people in the inner quarters is nowhere near as comfortable as being a waiter in a shop outside.

The inner quarters only allow contact with the master, while working as a waiter outside allows one to meet different people and gain more experience.

"Very well, the four of you can stay."

Nine people were brought, but four were ultimately left. Yi Yaxing was certain: this Young Master Zhao's use of people is truly extraordinary.

The five people he didn't choose were all more attractive than the four he kept. It seems that he wasn't looking for looks.

Moreover, he said he was going to work as a waiter, but even in the capital, there are no female waiters in shops that sell cosmetics... Oh, there is one, Qingyan Pavilion has female waiters.

Could it be that this Qingyan Pavilion is related to Young Master Zhao?