Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 18 Conditions for Redemption

Unfortunately, Green Willow was ultimately unable to purchase the peach blossom hairpin.

After noon, the old woman at the side gate sent someone to tell Lv Lv that someone from her family was coming to visit. Lv Lv was overjoyed and pulled Meng Shu along, saying, "The peddler should be here soon too. Come with me and we can go and see him."

The two arrived at the side gate and, sure enough, saw that Granny Wang's gatehouse was open, and she was happily watching the commotion at the small gate.

The Tang family was the wealthiest in Lin'an City, and even the servants of the Tang family had some money. Every time the peddler bribed Granny Wang with seven or eight coins, Granny Wang was happy to do him a favor.

Green Willow's gaze quickly shifted from the stall, and she happily ran towards a couple waiting in the corner. Meng Shu watched from afar as Green Willow and her family of three reunited. The woman spoke, constantly stroking Green Willow's hair, as if she couldn't get enough of looking at her, examining her from head to toe before finally, with tears welling in her eyes, she hugged Green Willow tightly. On the ground lay a bamboo basket covered with a coarse cloth, presumably brought from home for Green Willow.

Watching this scene, Meng Shu felt a pang of envy. When she was little, her mother had also cherished her like a precious jewel, teaching her to read and embroider...

A carrying pole with tall wooden boxes at both ends, each box now has a large basket on it. One end is filled with needles, thread, jewelry, beads, and bells, while the other end contains snacks and sesame candies for easy storage, and even fresh fruits such as peaches and plums.

The peddler was a young man in his twenties, with a rattle drum tucked into his waistband for easy hawking. He was patiently dealing with the chattering customers. Most of the young women in the manor were gathered around the baskets displaying jewelry, while the older women and wives didn't scramble for the items. Instead, they went to choose pastries and fruits first.

The peach blossom hairpins that Green Willow mentioned were indeed very popular; three were sold in no time. The peddler's face was filled with joy, and he became even more patient. After years of traveling the streets and alleys, only the corner gate of Tangjia was the most profitable place.

Meng Shu also selected various colors of silk thread. The fabrics could be exchanged at the mansion, but she had to bring her own needles and thread. After she finished buying, she waited to the side. She didn't intend to wait for Green Willow, but planned to talk business with the peddler when there were fewer people around.

With only one peach blossom hairpin left, Green Willow kept glancing at the stall and whispering something to her mother. But when her mother shook her head, she looked troubled. Meng Shu didn't notice her friend's dilemma. When there were fewer people, she asked the peddler about the price of purses and handkerchiefs in the city. It turned out that the price that Mother An sold them for was indeed slightly higher than what the embroidery shop bought.

As for the netting, the prices of various shapes and colors on the market vary. Meng Shu thought that making netting was simple and she could make more in the future, but the price was indeed too low. She would have to plan it out again later.

“My surname is Li. If you trust me, young lady, I can also consign my items here. I will set up a stall here at the end of each month. I can guarantee my reputation.”

The peddler's eyes lit up when he saw the quiet little girl in front of him; he realized she was different from the other girls. Although they were dressed similarly, he could spot her in the crowd at a glance.

Meng Shu also had the idea of ​​finding other channels, so she smiled and said, "Then I'll have to ask Brother Li for more. I'll bring some embroidered handkerchiefs and tassels later, and I'll trouble you to help me sell them."

After the last peach blossom hairpin was bought by a second-class maid, Meng Shu saw that Green Willow was still talking, so she decided not to wait any longer. She spent fifteen coins to buy a bag of crisp plums, gave two fruits to the old woman at the side gate as a thank you, and returned to Langya Courtyard alone.

The afternoon work was relatively easy. As usual, I cleaned several main rooms with two other maids. If there were any damaged items in the rooms, we had to report them to Steward Cao in time. In addition, we had to take care of the flowers and plants in the rooms and ventilate them.

Busy until late afternoon, when Meng Shu returned to the back room, Lü Liu was sullenly holding a box and staring blankly.

"What's wrong? Aren't you happy to see your family?"

Green Willow snapped out of her reverie and pointed to the bamboo basket under the window, "There are some rice dumplings that my mother brought inside, you can eat them."

The zongzi in Lin'an are much smaller than those in Haijin Town, only about half the size of a palm. Meng Shu picked one up and put it aside to save for dinner.

"I just want to buy some jewelry with my own monthly allowance, but why does my mother absolutely refuse?" Green Willow's voice was muffled as she confided in Meng Shu.

“Mother said she would save money to redeem me from being a servant. Actually, I think it’s quite nice to be a little maid in the Tang family. When I get older, I might be able to serve my master, which is something that people outside can only envy.”

Meng Shu sat down on the edge of the bed and comforted her, "Do you really think it's good to be away from your loving parents and without family around?"

“I was sold here when I was eight years old. At first, I wanted to leave, but here I could eat my fill and stay warm. The headmistress wasn’t strict either. If I didn’t go home, I could save some food and the burden on my family would be lighter. My mother said that to redeem myself, I would need to pay more than twice the amount of money I was sold into, and I don’t know how long it would take to save up ten taels of silver.”

"Five years."

"Huh?" Green Willow looked at Meng Shu with a blank expression.

"If the monthly wage is 200 cash, it would take five years. But if you add the rewards for festivals and the double monthly wage for the month of council meetings, you can save up 10 taels of silver in about four years."

Before Green Willow could react, Meng Shu continued, "But there are always expenses, like social obligations and small things. If you're frugal, you can definitely earn ten taels in five years."

At this point, Meng Shu sighed, her mind racing with calculations. What a tragedy! She had been sold for fifteen taels! To earn thirty taels, she would have to work as a lowly maid for fifteen years.

"Meng Shu, you calculated so fast! Then help me..."

Before Green Willow could finish speaking, a cough came from outside the door. Meng Shu got up and opened the door to find Steward Cao standing there. She quickly bowed.

Seeing this, Green Willow hurriedly got out of bed and bowed, looking at Steward Cao with some trepidation.

"Meng girl is good at math, but you forgot that there are living contracts and dead contracts. If you signed a dead contract, according to the regulations of our Great Zhou government, you are not allowed to redeem yourselves. Whether or not to release your contracts is entirely up to the head of the family."

Only with a living contract can one redeem themselves under specific conditions.

(Refer to the different laws and social regulations concerning the buying and selling of people in Song Dynasty society)

Seeing the meaningful look in Steward Cao's eyes, Meng Shu knew that the contract she had signed was a dead contract. She couldn't quite describe her feelings. If it had to be the Tang family, it would actually be more acceptable to her than staying in Meng Family Village.

I wonder if Meng Chengwen will even be alive to spend those fifteen taels of silver.

Green Willow looked shocked. She had never heard her mother mention living contracts or dead contracts before. She nervously asked Steward Cao:

"Aunt Cao, I wonder why I was sold to your household in the first place?"

Manager Cao was in charge of three courtyards and more than twenty servants. He was naturally very familiar with the situation of his subordinates. Hearing this, he seemed reluctant, but still uttered two words softly—"death contract."

Green Willow was struck as if by lightning and almost fell to the ground. Meng Shu hurriedly stepped forward to support her. This poor girl had been deceived by her own parents for more than two years.

The empty box on the bed told Meng Shu without even guessing that Green Willow's monthly allowance and New Year's gifts had been delivered to her home.