A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

The son of the father and son was arguing with a well-dressed woman who looked like a steward.

His face was flushed with anxiety, and he was bowing repeatedly to the old woman, his lips moving rapidly as if he were urgently trying to explain something.

The woman in charge on the other side, however, looked impatient and waved her hand as if shooing away flies.

Chen Wanxing paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over the two people struggling. Amber followed Chen Wanxing's gaze, but she didn't immediately recognize them.

"What's wrong?" Amber asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Nothing much, just ran into someone I know. Well, kind of like someone I know."

Upon hearing this, Amber looked at him more closely. "Isn't this the guy who brought us firewood the other day? Why is he arguing with someone here?"

The two continued walking forward, and as they got closer, the conversation on the other side became clearer.

His voice trembled, his face drained of color, filled with disappointment and resentment: "Aunt Cui, please think about it again? We inquired through many channels before finally finding you here."

His voice lowered, "Of all the girls who entered the manor twelve years ago, was there really none from that place we mentioned? Perhaps we simply forgot?"

The old woman, called Aunt Cui, had her hands tucked into her sleeves, her face showing undisguised impatience, and she said in a shrill voice:

"I checked and there's nothing there. Do you think I'd lie to you for a hundred copper coins? The rules in the manor are strict. I've checked the roster from twelve years ago and everyone whose place of origin matches. If there's no one, there's no one."

"Hurry up and get out of here! Don't stand around like this. If you keep bothering me, I'll call my men to chase you away."

As she spoke, she made a gesture as if to call for help.

The young man's face turned even paler as she scolded him, and his lips tightened.

Chen Wanxing overheard this conversation and remembered that the matchmaker had said they came to search for their relatives every year. She felt that their persistence was not easy.

She had little family connection in either of her lives. In her previous life in the modern world, her parents died unexpectedly when she was very young. Fortunately, her family still had three houses, so she had a place to live.

The village officials had suggested that her uncle adopt her, but Chen Wanxing refused. She didn't have many expenses, and the money her parents left her was enough to last her a long time.

However, if she goes to a relative's house, things might be different. It's easy to give money away, but difficult to get it back, and you end up making them feel indebted to you for raising her.

Rural areas don't have strict regulations on these matters, so in the end, they just let her have her way, and since her aunt was farming her few acres of land, it was a free benefit for her.

As a result, she actually won over her aunt's favor, and was always very friendly whenever she saw her.

Rural schools don't charge tuition or miscellaneous fees, so she saved money and managed to get through school with the tens of thousands of yuan left by her parents, eventually getting into university.

Just when she thought graduation was just around the corner and good days were about to begin, she woke up to find herself transported to this godforsaken place.

Fortunately, she had parents here, but things didn't go as planned. Her hometown was flooded, and Chen Wanxing was alone again.

When she first transmigrated, she was still an infant. Perhaps due to the effects of being a child, she had forgotten most of her memories from those years, even her original name.

Her current name, Chen Wanxing, is the same name she used for twenty years before she transmigrated.

Chen Wanxing wasn't a pushover, but seeing the young man's embarrassed state, she stepped forward and calmly helped him out of the predicament: "Ma'am, what's gotten into you so much?"

Hearing the voice, Mrs. Cui turned her head and saw two well-dressed and distinguished young women. Although she did not recognize them, she dared not underestimate them based on their appearance.

The stern look on her face softened slightly, and she forced a smile: "Oh, it's two young ladies. It's nothing serious, just some rude and uncouth man who insisted on asking me to help him find someone. I already told him we couldn't find him, but he's still bothering us and disturbing your peace. I'll send him away now."

When the young man saw Chen Wanxing, he recognized him as the employer from a few days ago. His face immediately showed a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude.

Chen Wanxing nodded slightly to the mother, "I see. I hired them to work a few days ago; they are honest and law-abiding people."

Since they can't find them here, Mother, it must be that our time hasn't come yet, and they won't bother us any longer. Mother, please go on with your work; I'll say a few words to them.

Mrs. Cui looked at her suspiciously, but ultimately said nothing and turned to walk towards the alley entrance.

Chen Wanxing then looked at the ashen-faced young man, her tone softening slightly: "We meet again. I overheard you arguing earlier; were you looking for someone?"

The young man's lips trembled, and he couldn't speak for a moment.

Chen Wanxing led the person to the nearby general store, where the shopkeeper had set up a small stall on the road outside, selling tea.

She asked the innkeeper to bring three bowls of water. Only then did the young man seem to realize what was happening. He bowed deeply, his voice hoarse but clear:

"I am returning to my master's house to find my sister. Twelve years ago, my family suffered a disaster and could no longer survive, so we fled to Kaifeng Prefecture."

My sister, in order to ensure the survival of our family, put up straw markers and sold herself.

His voice choked as he said this.

Chen Wanxing listened quietly. Twelve years ago, the floods affected almost the entire Henan province, and countless people fled their homes and sold their children.

"My sister's name is Chunlan. She was about this tall back then," the young man said, gesturing with his hand to indicate a short stature.

"All we know is that she sold herself in Kaifeng, but after all these years, we've asked every brokerage firm and now we're asking every wealthy family, but we still haven't heard anything."

His tone was filled with helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wanxing pondered for a moment and objectively analyzed, "If she were truly sold into the household as a maid, the master would most likely bestow a new name upon her, as it would indeed be difficult to find someone with her original name."

Seeing the young man's anxious expression, she asked again, "Judging from your persistence, are you determined to keep searching?"

The young man nodded heavily, his eyes resolute: "Our family has recovered over the years, and things are a little better now. Every autumn after the harvest, my father and I go out together, looking for work and people to help us."

They'd practically exhausted all the wealthy households in Kaifeng, and this time they'd finally managed to get someone to contact the madam of the Marquis's residence, but still no word.

His face showed obvious disappointment and growing anxiety. There were only so many wealthy households in Kaifeng Prefecture, and now he had asked most of them but had not received any news. The further he went, the less hope he had.

Chen Wanxing hesitated for a moment, feeling that her words were a bit too cruel and unsure whether she should say them. But looking at the stubborn young man in front of her, Chen Wanxing finally spoke.

"Have you ever thought about what would have happened if she hadn't been sold into servitude as a maid?"