A Good Country Wife
Chapter 488 - 482_1

Chapter 488: 482_1

When the time came, she would need to select a few more suitable ones, especially those who were clever with their hands and possessed a particular skill. Even if it cost more silver, it wouldn’t matter. With Zhao Erhu embarking on overseas trade, this was indeed a lucrative business. Unless something unexpected happened, they were likely to continue this business. The more goods they required, the fewer skilled workers she seemed to have trained, not only in embroidery but in other aspects as well. And she couldn’t be as hands-on as she was now forever, so she needed to bring in more help.

However, these skilled talents would need to be bound by a servitude contract to ensure they stayed under her control. In the past, she felt that there was too little regard for human rights in ancient times, yet it wasn’t without its advantages. It all depended on one’s status, and for her, the current situation was beneficial. Once she bought the servants and they signed the servitude contracts, their lives and personal security would be in her hands. Whether they were to be punished, killed, or sold, it was up to her word, and even the government wouldn’t be able to intervene.

As Lin Yue was reflecting on this, she looked up to see Zhao Erhu approaching, followed by several people. She asked, "Erhu, who are these people?"

Upon Lin Yue’s inquiry, they preempted Zhao Erhu’s introduction by offering her a salutation, "Servant Haishi/Musheng/Zhang Kui/Zhuzi, at your service, Mistress Dongjia."

From their self-introduction, Lin Yue understood that these were the servants Zhao Erhu had brought back. Although they were dressed in tattered clothes and looked disheveled and destitute, they didn’t seem like ordinary people; their demeanor and behavior suggested they came from prestigious backgrounds. Their expressions were calm and bright, with an air of integrity about them. She was curious about their origins and how they ended up being brought back by Zhao Erhu to serve in their household, but it was not the time to ask in front of others; she would have to inquire further from Zhao Erhu later.

"There’s no need for formalities, please rise," Lin Yue said, then looked to Zhao Erhu. Since he had brought them, and she was not familiar with the circumstances, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to say anything more; it was up to him to make the arrangements.

Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue exchanged a glance, and he knew exactly what his young wife was thinking. She must have many questions about why he brought these people home so suddenly, so he instructed Xixi, who was next to Lin Yue, "Xixi, these brothers haven’t eaten lunch yet. Take them to the dining hall first and have the kitchen prepare some extra delicious food. After they’ve eaten, bring them back here."

"Understood, Dongjia," Xixi acknowledged Zhao Erhu’s instructions and said to the men, "Please follow me, sirs."

Once Xixi had taken them away, Lin Yue expressed her curiosity, "Erhu, what’s going on? Why did you suddenly bring back these people? They don’t seem like your typical folks. What did they do before?"

"Wife, you are indeed insightful and observant. Without me saying anything, you’ve already guessed it—they are not ordinary people and all possess Martial Arts skills. The more I thought about it, the more I worried about you being at home alone, so I bought them to serve as your guards. This way, I can leave the house with peace of mind."

Zhao Erhu had been busy preparing the goods for overseas trade from morning till night without rest, but he was still deeply concerned for her security, making it his top priority. Lin Yue was touched, though she was also curious about how Zhao Erhu managed to find such people. Skilled servants who knew Martial Arts were rare to come by, even less so in groups, and it’s no wonder Lin Yue found it odd.

"You haven’t told me where you found these people."

Zhao Erhu had been meaning to explain everything to Lin Yue, and upon her repeated inquiry, knowing his wife’s impatience, he recounted the events after he entered the city that day in full detail.

That morning, Zhao Erhu had gone out early to discuss matters with Manager Liu, who also concerned himself with Lin Yue’s safety. After some thought, Manager Liu advised Zhao Erhu to employ a few individuals from the Escort Agency to ensure her protection.

"Although your household has servants and long-term workers, they are all ordinary people with limited abilities. If faced with more dangerous criminals, they might not hold up. To be on the safe side, it’s better to hire a few people from the Escort Agency. Although it will cost some silver, it will buy peace of mind," Manager Liu had said.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Erhu realized it was a good idea. As a result of his last trip to the South, he had already made inquiries about the Escort Agencies in Xin’an City and its vicinity, so he didn’t need Manager Liu’s introduction. He went directly to Escort Agency Head Feng San, whom he had worked with previously, and shared his intentions.

"Brother San, please pick a few who are the best in Martial Arts. They don’t need to do anything else, just protect my wife. It’s for a total of two months, just tell me how much silver you want," Zhao Erhu said.

A business proposition like this was not something one would turn away, especially because the Escort Agency had not been thriving lately. Any business that offered low risk but substantial returns was gladly accepted by any Agency. However, Escort Head Feng San, upon hearing Zhao Erhu’s request, had a different idea in mind and hesitated whether to ask Zhao Erhu for a favor, considering not everyone would willingly take on such a task.

After contemplating, Escort Head Feng San decided to speak up. It wasn’t for him to insist on Zhao Erhu agreeing, but having spent some time together on the trip south, he respected Zhao Erhu for his character and integrity. Thinking of his friend in distress, if this could be arranged, Zhao Erhu would gain a valuable servant, and his friend would not be left to the mercy of contemptible people. He trusted Zhao Erhu would not mistreat his friend, having observed how generously Zhao Erhu treated his servants during their journey south.

"Brother Erhu, strictly speaking, your business venture carries little risk and doesn’t require you to travel far from home, so naturally, I’m very willing to accept it. But speaking honestly, for your household’s trade, whether it’s ensuring the safety of someone at home or during travels, having a skilled Martial Arts servant would alleviate any security concerns. I do happen to have a candidate I’d like to recommend to you, Brother Erhu."

"Oh? Who might this person be?" Zhao Erhu asked, raising an eyebrow with curiosity rather than immediately consenting. While he believed Escort Head Feng San to be a trustworthy and principled man, recommending a candidate so hastily and essentially turning away a straightforward business deal did seem somewhat unusual.

Escort Head Feng San knew of Zhao Erhu’s reservations, so he laid out the entire situation to gain his help. As it turned out, his friend had been a Protector in a well-off household, but that family was implicated in a crime committed by a prominent family in the Capital City. Everyone from that household, from men and women to the elderly and the servants, had been taken by the government. Those with blood ties to the guilty family were executed, while the rest were either exiled or sold off. Feng San’s friend had been a child born in that household and later promoted to Protector after mastering Martial Arts, which meant he could not escape this fate either.

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