Quick Travel: Jing Yuan's Wanderings

The next day, we woke up early again and arrived outside Xizhimen at 4:10 in the mule cart.

They lined up in the row of carriages and horses, waiting for the morning drum to sound and the city gate to open.

It couldn’t be better to not have to rely on your own legs to travel!

Lieutenant General Jing Yuan also had the leisure to carefully observe the capital city at dawn.

The early risers can be roughly divided into three groups.

A group rushed to the center of imperial power, the palace gate.

A group rushed to Xicheng District, Caishijie.

A group of people pulled goods and rushed to the back doors of various houses or shops.

Lieutenant General Jing Yuan could barely be included in the third group.

Without waiting for the car to stop, Jiang Ershan asked with a puzzled look on his face: "Brother Jing? Is it you? Why are you driving a mule cart here?"

"Well, this is a long story." Lieutenant General Jing Yuan jumped out of the car, not knowing where to start for a moment.

"Then keep your story short."

Lieutenant General Jing Yuan choked, scratched his head, organized his words simply, and then began to narrate the story.

"Isn't it that we are going to hold the Enke this fall?

Coincidentally, I also found a job doing business in Northeast China.

We'll leave early tomorrow morning and won't be back until October.

So I simply rented out the new yard at home.

Including the chickens and sheep at home, there are four?

One mu of sweet potatoes and three mu of vegetable plot were also handed over.

I received a total of 100 taels of silver in rent, so I hurried over to redeem the two children’s indentures.”

Jiang Ershan clapped his thigh excitedly, very happy for Brother Jing.

"According to the custom in the palace, after the indenture is redeemed, a long-term labor contract of at least five years must be signed.

At the end of the year, they were sent to a village outside Beijing to work in the name of praying for blessings.

In fact, it doesn’t matter whether you work or not, as long as you live near the farm and out of the owner’s sight.

However, as for the girl Chuxia, it’s okay. She will leave the house and get married sooner or later.

Xiaoman is now staying with the Fourth Young Master and is very useful.

The future is bright.

If I leave the house and become an ordinary citizen, I would probably feel a little unhappy.

Brother, in my opinion, you should ask the two children's opinions first, and then make a decision.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be a case of good intentions leading to bad consequences?"

Lieutenant General Jing Yuan frowned in confusion. Is that so?

Is there really anyone who is willing to be a slave?

Seeing that Brother Jing didn't say anything, Jiang Ershan thought that the other party agreed with his words, and hurriedly ordered the green-clothed maid standing by to quietly call Jing Chuxia and Jing Xiaoman over.

It's not yet daybreak and there's still some time before the shift starts, so it's just the right time for me to come over.

Lieutenant General Jing Yuan tactfully handed Jiang Ershan one tael of silver.

How can you ask someone to run errands at this point without giving them some kickbacks?

Jiang Ershan handed them all to the little maid.

Later, the little maid will hand over the tribute.

It is not convenient to show the internal survival skills in front of others.

Lieutenant General Jing Yuan sat in the car, chatting with Jiang Ershan in a casual manner.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the little maid brought Jing Chuxia and Jing Xiaoman over.

"Dad! Why did you come here at this time?"

Jing Chuxia trotted forward, sweating all over his forehead.

So, Lieutenant General Jing Yuan repeated what he had just said.

Sure enough, the result was the same as Jiang Ershan said.

Jing Chuxia happily agreed, but Jing Xiaoman was unwilling to redeem her indenture and leave the Duke of Ying's Mansion at this time.

After all, staying with the Fourth Young Master not only allows one to learn literacy and martial arts, but also broadens one's horizons.

Maybe he could even become the young master's personal guard, earn military merits on the battlefield, and get a job.

Even if you are just a small soldier guarding the city gate, you will have much more prospects than farming at home.

Lieutenant General Jing Yuan shrugged and admitted defeat. What else could he do?

You can't just take your adopted son home by force, against his will, right?

As for the story about the Duke of Ying being confiscated and exiled the following year?

He is not stupid, but he would never do something like giving himself up for dead!

It's just spending 150 taels of silver to redeem someone. It's not a big deal. With an extra 50 taels of silver as capital, maybe he can make more on this trip to the Northeast!

Knowing what the two meant, Lieutenant General Jing Yuan quickly waved his hand and sent them back.

"Brother, wait a moment, I have already told someone to go and look after Butler Yan.

I guess Steward Yan won’t be able to see you until after dinner time.”

Sure enough, Jiang Ershan guessed it right again.

After eating two steamed buns from Jiang Ershan, he waited until nine o'clock before a servant came to lead him into the mansion.

"Butler Yan An."

"I heard that you want to redeem Jing Chuxia's indenture?"

"Correct."

As Lieutenant General Jing Yuan said this, he hurriedly and respectfully handed over a silver note with a face value of 50 taels of silver and a silver ingot of one tael of silver.

Butler Yan's expression remained unchanged. He picked up the tea on the table and took a sip.

Someone immediately reported back at the door.

"Butler Yan, Miss Chuxia is here."

"Enter!"

"Your servant Chuxia greets Steward Yan."

Boom!

Butler Yan tapped the teacup lightly on the table.

A little maid came in carrying a tray.

“My lady is kind-hearted and has agreed to this matter.

This is your indenture, take a close look at it!"

Lin Chuxia did as she was told, "This is my indenture, thank you, Steward Yan."

Then another maid came in with a tray.

"This is a five-year long-term employment contract for a manor in the suburbs of Beijing. No doubt, after signing it, you can go to work in the Madam's courtyard!"

After Butler Yan finished speaking, he stood up and left the reception room!

"Butler Yan, take care!"

Then, Jing Chuxia put her fingerprints on the long-term employment contract.

He took out a fire starter and burned the indenture contract in the brazier in front of everyone.

Then, Jing Chuxia happily pulled her father's arm and hurriedly left the living room.

I walked quickly all the way to the backyard door.

Seeing that his adopted daughter was about to leave with him, Lieutenant General Jing Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Xia Xia, aren't you going back to work?"

"Hehe, there were so many people in the mansion just now that I didn't dare to say anything. Madam was kind and gave me a day off."

"That's great. Come on, Dad will take you to have breakfast. Then we'll go to the Qilixiang store to buy some goods.

Dad is hoping to earn more dowry for you this time!"

"It's too early to get a dowry, what's more important is to buy more land."

"Okay, I'll listen to my daughter..."

When he was a little further away from the back door of the Duke of England's mansion, he approached the obedient girl mysteriously and whispered:

"We collected 150 taels of rent for our small courtyard. Dad has money now."

Then, as if he had thought of something, he added meaningfully:

"Wait a minute, Dad will buy you a five-ounce silver bracelet to wear!"