A’Zhu’s older brother didn’t take long to fetch a physician. Watching her brother bustling about, A’Zhu fell into thought.

Could it be that after not seeing him for a year, her eldest brother had changed his nature?

The fragrant aroma of food wafted over as A’Zhu’s sister-in-law bent over to put meat into the large pot. The savory smell of meat carried far, attracting many children who swallowed their saliva as they gazed longingly. Adults would occasionally ask, “Sister-in-law Xiang, do you have guests? You’re stewing meat.”

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law couldn’t hide the pride in her voice: “Yes, we found our little sister-in-law.”

The questioning woman immediately stopped: “Oh my, is this the little sister-in-law you mentioned who works for a high official’s family?”

“That’s right! Our little sister-in-law is very accomplished – she’s the personal maid to a young lady from a prestigious family!”

“Tsk tsk, that’s something! Old Han’s daughter from up front, ever since she became a personal maid to a noble family’s daughter, she has constantly sent home rice, flour, and silver! Sister-in-law Xiang, your family will have good days ahead!”

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law smiled with pursed lips. Noticing her two sons standing around the stove drooling, she slapped each of them once: “Go play somewhere else! What if your drool drips into the pot?”

Zhaocai and Jinbao ran away, looking aggrieved.

“Auntie, do you have more candy?” Jinbao asked, tilting his little face up.

“Yes, I do.” A’Zhu took out some silk sugar and distributed it to the two brothers.

Seeing her kind expression, the two children gathered around and wouldn’t leave.

“Zhaocai, where are your eldest and second sisters?” A’Zhu asked casually, seeing the two children growing more affectionate toward her.

“Eldest sister and second sister were sold by father and mother—” Zhaocai’s mouth was suddenly covered.

A’Zhu’s expression darkened slightly as she looked at her brother: “Big brother, why won’t you let the child finish speaking?”

A’Zhu’s brother released his hand and kicked Zhaocai: “Take your little brother and go play! Don’t cause trouble here!”

After the two children left, A’Zhu quietly looked at her brother.

A’Zhu’s brother awkwardly scratched his head, his face full of ingratiation: “Your sister-in-law and I didn’t want to either! The palm and back of the hand are both flesh, but our home was destroyed by the flood. We were traveling with our mother, and we didn’t even have a bite to eat. Juan’er, think about it – our whole family had to survive, right? Your sister-in-law and I had no choice but to sell Jixiang and Ruyi. But don’t worry, they’re like you – they all went to wealthy families to enjoy good fortune!”

“Stop talking.” A’Zhu coldly interrupted her brother’s words.

Enjoy good fortune?

Now that she served the young lady, she indeed lived better days than she had ever dared to imagine before, but what kind of days had she lived previously?

The young lady she had served before was petty-minded. In front of others, she was gentle and refined, but the displeasure she endured in public was turned around and vented on her maids.

Her back still bore several scars from being burned by her previous mistress with burning charcoal. Moreover, to prevent discovery, her previous mistress wouldn’t allow them to use medicine – they could only endure the pain.

Later, when that family’s master committed a crime, servants like them were resold. The rough maids who had once envied her said many gloating words, but they didn’t know the relief in her heart.

As long as one could get by, what did days of fine clothes and rich food matter? Who wouldn’t want to live with their family?

A’Zhu’s ears seemed to echo again with what her old mother had said to her back then: “A’Zhu, the palm and back of the hand are both flesh, but the family is too poor. Your brother can’t even marry a wife. You can’t let our family line be cut off, right? Don’t worry, father and mother will find you a good master family…”

A’Zhu only felt her chest tighten, making it hard for her to breathe.

Just because she was a girl, she would always be the one to be sold? She was like this, and her two nieces were the same. Why should it be this way?

“Juan’er, Juan’er—”

Hearing her brother’s voice, A’Zhu came back to her senses and said indifferently: “Big brother, don’t call me Juan’er anymore. The young lady bestowed upon me the name A’Zhu.”

“A’Zhu?” A’Zhu’s brother nodded repeatedly: “A’Zhu sounds nice, A’Zhu sounds nice.”

Seeing the physician they had summoned come out, A’Zhu ignored her brother and went forward to ask detailed questions about the situation.

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law quietly tugged at her husband’s sleeve and gestured toward A’Zhu with her chin.

A’Zhu’s brother impatiently pulled back his sleeve and said in a low voice: “I know, why are you so anxious!”

“This is the advance payment for medical fees. I’d trouble the physician to come daily to examine my mother. If anything happens—” A’Zhu hesitated for a moment, “I’ll come to check every few days. If anything happens, the physician can tell me then.”

Seeing the large piece of silver A’Zhu handed over, A’Zhu’s sister-in-law almost popped her eyes out, gripping A’Zhu’s brother’s hand tightly: “So big, so big—”

Good heavens, if they kept this silver, it would be enough for their whole family to live on for two years, yet her sister-in-law just gave it to that old physician like that!

“Shut your mouth!” A’Zhu’s brother scolded in a low voice.

After the physician left, the couple both surrounded A’Zhu.

“Juan’er— uh, A’Zhu, which residence are you working at now?” A’Zhu’s brother asked with a beaming smile.

A’Zhu avoided answering and changed the subject: “Mother is ill now, and this place isn’t suitable for living. I’ll find someone to rent a house for you to move to.”

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law was overjoyed: “Wonderful! This place is no fit dwelling for people – it’s not even as good as our old cow shed. Meeting natural disasters is truly sinful…”

A’Zhu was impatient listening to her sister-in-law’s complaints and found a suitable private residence in the eastern part of the city that very day.

The private residence wasn’t large, with only three main rooms. The two low rooms on the left served as the kitchen and woodshed, while the right side had the privy and chicken coop. The small courtyard was arranged very compactly. The gray walls and green tiles appeared clean and tidy, and there was even a pomegranate tree in the courtyard that had just sprouted new buds this season.

Zhaocai and Jinbao, the two little boys, ran back and forth in the courtyard, their faces full of excitement.

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law showed satisfaction in her eyebrows and eyes, yet still quietly complained to her husband: “Why didn’t little sister-in-law find us a house in the western part of the city? The eastern part is full of poor people…”

“It’s getting late. I should go back.”

“A’Zhu, look, the family doesn’t even have money to buy firewood—” A’Zhu’s brother said with a dry laugh.

A’Zhu frowned and handed over a small pouch: “This is all I have. Big brother, use it for now. I’ll come to see mother again tomorrow.”

A’Zhu returned to the Li Residence and took out the box where she kept her monthly wages, silently counting the amount.

The Li Residence wasn’t wealthy. A personal maid like her, who served the young lady, only received five qian of silver per month. However, the Grand Madam doted on her daughter, and to make her and Binglu serve more diligently, she generously added an extra tael of silver for each of them. Combined with the young lady’s occasional rewards, though she had served the young lady for less than a year, she had saved quite a bit.

“A’Zhu.”

A gentle voice came, and A’Zhu immediately stood up: “Young lady—”

Qiao Zhao walked in, glanced lightly at the box, and said indifferently: “If you have any difficulties, tell me.”

A’Zhu quickly shook her head: “No need, young lady. This servant has had enough. This servant was thinking that my brother and sister-in-law’s family situation isn’t a long-term solution, so I plan to set up a stall for them to do some small business.”

Qiao Zhao nodded approvingly: “Teaching someone to fish is better than giving them fish. If you don’t have enough money, tell me.”