coobybook Chapter 139 Arrangements are in order
Chapter 139 Arrangements are in order
Shen Qijun looked at Gu Chenglin, then at his mother. Seeing her red eyes, his nose tingled. He looked at Dongfang Jin and said resolutely, "Yes, we don't need to sign a long-term labor contract. You can just give us a contract of servitude."
Dongfang Jin...
Why didn't this kid understand?
Gu Chenglin...
This kid is a bit stubborn; it seems I need to broaden his horizons and give him some excitement.
Jun Qirui...
Why are you still fixated on the issue of selling yourself?
Jun Wenhui...
Xiao Jin had said so much for nothing.
Dongfang Jin stared at him, her tone somewhat cold: "Do you know that once you sign the contract of servitude, your whole family will be slaves?"
In the future, you can only marry women of slave status, and your sons and grandsons will all be slaves.
Do you want your mother and brothers to become slaves too?!
Shen Qijun's eyes reddened upon hearing her words, his lips trembled, and he bit his lower lip tightly. A closer look revealed that his legs were also shaking.
No, he doesn't want to.
She didn't want her mother and brother to become slaves.
But... can he really trust them?
You know, even her own grandparents, uncles, and other relatives bullied them, but she really...
Seeing his reaction, Dongfang Jin knew that the child didn't trust them yet, but she didn't mind; time would tell.
"Next year I will build some houses around this house. There are quite a few houses now, but they are all planted with vegetables and can't be lived in."
Once the house is built over there, the three of you will have your own yard.
Besides, there won't just be a few of you in this family; things will get busy next spring.
People will come one after another, and of course, they all have indentures. As the number of people increases, there will be a trustworthy person to manage them.
Shen Qijun, do you understand what I'm saying?
Shen Qijun forced back his tears, clenched his fists, and said with trembling lips, "I understand, I... I will definitely study hard with Uncle Chenglin and Master Jun in the future."
Jun Qirui...
How did you become a gentleman?
Can we drop the surname? It sounds kind of awkward.
Forget it, let's not dwell on it. This child is thoughtful; let's just let things take their time.
Dongfang Jin nodded in satisfaction. Once a seed falls to the ground, it begins to take root, sprout, and gradually grow.
"The land and mountains to the south belong to our family. You'll be very busy then, so you'll have a lot to learn and will be more tired than anyone else."
Shen Qijun's eyes were firm, and his usually expressionless face showed emotion: "I'm not afraid of being tired!"
As long as I don't become a slave, what's a little hard work?
He was exhausted at the Shen family's house, and they didn't even give him enough to eat. Now he, his mother, and his younger brother all have enough to eat, a warm kang to sleep on, thick and soft quilts to cover them with, and enough warm and comfortable clothes to wear.
No more getting scolded for carrying extra firewood, no more getting beaten for eating an extra bite of food, no more being covered by a pungent blanket, and no more wearing clothes that are too short...
Dongfang Jin watched his constantly changing little face, suppressing a laugh. After all, he was still just a child. "That's good. Remember, from now on, this place will also be your home, understand?"
"I understand," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. She tried hard to hold them back, but in the end, she couldn't hold them back, and the tears flowed from the corners of her eyes like a dam had been opened.
Seeing his expression, Gu Yumei could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down her face as she covered her mouth.
Jun Wenhui also shed tears, wiping them away with a handkerchief in one hand and gently patting Gu Yumei's arm with the other, silently comforting her.
The three of them can finally stay here in peace.
Although Gu Yumei is a peasant woman, she is broad-minded, not petty, and does not have the greedy look that peasant women often have. She knows how to conduct herself properly and is someone you can confide in.
She and her friend felt like they had known each other for a long time, and could be said to have shared the same plight.
Gu Yumei calmed herself down, wiped away her tears, and said solemnly to her two sons, "Xiaojun, Xiaohui, kowtow to your Uncle Chenglin and Auntie."
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Qijun pulled his younger brother down to kneel before them and kowtowed.
That speed...
Dongfang Jin pulled Gu Chenglin, who was about to get up, signaling him not to stop her.
They gladly accepted the greeting and waited for the brothers to finish kowtowing.
Dongfang Jin smiled gently and said, "Get up. I'll accept this gift."
Now that I've accepted your generous gift, I'll protect your whole family as well.
However, you must not betray my family. If you do, I have plenty of ways to deal with you.
Gu Yumei stood up and walked to her two children: "Chenglin, Xiaojin, I, Gu Yumei, swear that the three of us, mother and children, will never betray your family. If we ever do..."
Shen Qijun raised his hand and continued his mother's words: "If there is any betrayal, may I be struck by lightning."
Shen Qihui also stopped joking and followed his brother's example seriously: "I will not betray either, I am the same as my brother."
Dongfang Jin reached out and pulled Shen Qihui to her side, patted his head, and said seriously, "You are one year older than Jingye, so you are the older brother. You have to protect your younger brother in the future."
Also, you will be studying with Jingye from now on, and you will be living with Jingye from today onwards.
You have what he has, and you learn what he learns.
However, you cannot disturb each other while studying. No matter which one of you doesn't do well, you will both be punished.
"If you study well, I will reward you too."
Shen Qihui, with a serious little face, looked at her and said, "Auntie, I understand. I will study hard to protect my younger brother and my sister Caiwei."
"Okay, I'll see how you do."
After Dongfang Jin finished speaking, she looked at Jun Qixian, who had remained silent, and said, "Xian'er, from now on you will live with Caiwei in the east wing of our courtyard."
Sister Yumei will stay with Aunt Hui. Xiaojun, you'll stay in the room next to Uncle Jun for now.
The group nodded. "Okay."
Jun Wenhui clapped her hands with a smile: "This arrangement is excellent."
……
After Dongfang Jin finished making the arrangements, Jun Qirui left with the three children, while Aunt Hui, Sister Yumei, and Sister Xian stayed in the kitchen to clean up.
Gu Chenglin and Shen Qijun drove an oxcart to the county. There were still things that Liu Xi had sent there before, and they had to bring them back.
I'll buy some more things while I'm at it, otherwise she'll eventually be exposed for constantly taking things out of her spatial storage.
Dongfang Jin went back inside; she was finding it somewhat inconvenient to walk outside right now.
To her surprise, this was all she had on her first visit... and her stomach started to ache slightly. Ruyi had already prepared the medicine.
She plugged the door and went into the space. There was still some wheat left to harvest today, so she quickly gathered it up.
With the snow disaster in Dongzhou, who knows if Long Jiu and the others will be able to get away with it? It's better for her to prepare more.
When Ruyi saw her come in, she urged her to drink her medicine: "Jin'er, drink your medicine quickly. I only used the water from the big red bowl today. Try it and see if it works."
If that still doesn't work, you need to speed up your farming. Once you've done ten plantings, the little pharmacy will appear, and you'll be able to get pills.
Dongfang Jin: "..." This sounds a bit strange.
Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, I'm too tired.
He picked up the bowl, looked at the dark, murky medicine inside, took a deep sip, closed his eyes, and drank the medicine in one gulp.
She admired herself again; taking medicine was her only redeeming quality—she wasn't afraid of bitterness.
Haha, it's a lie to say she's not afraid of hardship; she just wants that bit of self-respect.
"Ruyi, I want to rummage around with that box in Youranju and see what kind of seeds are in those Qiankun bags."
"That's a good idea, but don't plant those spice seeds here. Plant them on your small farm instead."
Dongfang Jin just looked at it calmly without saying a word.
Ruyi felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze. Had she said something wrong?