Chapter 152: Chapter 151 Coming to the Ye Family

Jinhua had become Housekeeper Tang’s daughter-in-law, married to his right-hand man, who helped manage the Tang Family’s affairs.

She couldn’t really boast of grandeur, but within the Tang Family, she possessed significant authority. Having been Madam Tang’s head maid, no other maids or old women dared to disrespect her after she married.

She had also become Young Master Tang’s wet nurse. Jinhua, in her newlywed days, managed the young Master’s affairs meticulously, with assistance from second-class maids she had trained herself, making the management of his quarters a seamless task.

After Tang Shunyan entered the academy, he gained an Attendant Student–a boy purchased by Tang Jia from outside, who came from a poor family that sold their son out of necessity to support themselves.

Normally, boys would not be sold; it was generally the girls. However, this Attendant Student’s parents had borne five sons. Unable to raise so many, they let the eldest inherit and care for them, and their smaller sons, who were still young, were left with no choice but to sell the second son off to become a servant in a wealthy family.

The Attendant Student was well aware that he was the second son and unloved by his parents. Entering the Tang Household as an Attendant Student, he found himself living better than at home. With this in mind, he decided to do his best to serve Young Master Tang.

He could still hear his parents’ words echoing in his ears when he was about to be sold.

“My child, our family is poor, your elder brother and younger brothers all need to eat, and we own no land but rent it for farming, hardly leaving any surplus after paying taxes, and that’s in years without natural or man-made disasters. If such calamities occur, there won’t be enough for anyone at home to eat.”

“Yes, my second son, if you can serve in a wealthy family, you’ll at least have enough to eat. If you’re lucky, you might even get to study and learn to write alongside the rich family’s young Master. Who knows, our family might eventually have someone who can read.”

“We don’t expect you to become an official through exams, but knowing how to read will be useful in your life, certainly better than your brothers who may go hungry without the chance to learn.”

At first, the Attendant Student felt awful, fearful of his future and of leaving his family. He wondered whether the people of a wealthy household would treat him poorly, perhaps with beatings or scoldings.

But once he joined the Tang Household, by Young Master Tang’s side, everything happened just as his parents had said–it was a place where he could eat his fill and, over time, learn to scribble some characters and actually study how to write.

By the young Master’s side, he learned a lot and was properly instructed. He was adept at handling all of the young Master’s affairs.

The Attendant Student was looking forward to receiving his monthly salary; once he received it, he would have a day off to visit his family.

With his income, his brothers at home could eat well, and with the paper and pens he brought back, they too began to recognize a few words.

Young Master Tang Shunyan was set to travel tomorrow. The housekeeper had naturally made arrangements, having already delegated more duties to his son.

Accompanying the young Master on a visit to the Ye family was now entrusted to his recently married son, along with his daughter-in-law Jinhua who would also be traveling tomorrow.

Jinhua had arranged for her two personal maids, Chunxiang and Qiu Xia, to accompany them.

Chunxiang and Qiu Xia, around the ages of thirteen or fourteen, had been promoted from second-class maids to head maids, received higher monthly salaries, and were treated better.

They enjoyed working for the young Master, who was easygoing and without the stresses of demanding superiors.

Tang Shunyan woke up very early, just like he did for studying at the academy. On a rest day like this, he normally would have slept in.

Yet he had grown accustomed to rising and sleeping early, and he would always exercise in the morning.

Today’s focus was the visit to the Ye family. He started the day by paying respect to his grandmother as usual, accompanying his grandparents at breakfast.

Dressed in the richness of brocade, Tang Shunyan felt a slight chill in the early mornings of May or June. He sat in a horse-drawn carriage, flanked by his wet nurse and the Attendant Student.

With so many people setting off, two carriages traveled together. Accompanying them were also the Junior Housekeeper, maids, guards–a full party.

It took half an hour to travel from the home in the county to the Ye family.

Over the past year, Tang Shunyan had visited the Ye family three or four times, bringing many gifts each time and often taking many things with him when he left.

He had visited the factory at the entrance of the village, where the wood dust was quite thick, and the smell of paint was strong; despite his multiple visits to the Ye family, he only toured the factory once.

As the carriage entered the village, Tang Shunyan saw an old man guarding the factory gate. From the road, he could hear the sounds of workers laboring inside and the scraping of tools on wood.

Jinhua glanced out the window and softly said to her husband who was sitting with them, on guard, “My lord, if you have business at the factory, go ahead. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“No matter how important the business, I must accompany the young Master. Even with guards present, I don’t feel reassured; today I will stay by his side throughout the journey.”

The Junior Housekeeper looked at his wife with a determined expression. Her father had given instructions the night before; the young Master was facing an assessment and he wouldn’t be at ease if anything happened that day or if the young Master was left in someone else’s care.

Jinhua nodded in agreement. Since her husband had said so, she couldn’t refuse.

When the carriage and all its accompanying people arrived at the Ye family’s house, constructed of green bricks and large tiles–undeniably the largest and finest in Bushen Village, surpassing even the houses of other rich men–Housekeeper Tang looked on.

He had watched the Ye family prosper step by step with his father. In just over a year, they had managed not only to build the stately house but also to buy fields and lands. The transformation of the Ye family was truly miraculous.

As the Junior Housekeeper of the Tang family, his father was the old housekeeper, and their family’s circumstances were quite good. He helped with the Tang family’s affairs, but no matter how hard he worked, he would always be another’s servant; the Tang family gave them their indenture contracts when they left.

A servant always remained a servant, and a helper could never become the boss.

The Tang family’s carriage and so many horses entering Bushen Village was a sight to behold. Those who had seen these carriages and guards knew they were heading to the Ye family’s.

Some would even shamelessly greet them.

The Junior Housekeeper and the guards simply nodded in response. As the carriage entered the Ye household, its owners came out to greet them.

“Ho ho, Junior Housekeeper Tang, did you bring your sister-in-law and the young Master?”

Mrs. Lai, seeing them arrive, lit up with excitement; each time they came, they brought many gifts, and she had been eagerly anticipating their visit.

“Tang, the Junior Housekeeper is newly married. He must have brought his wife with him.” Ye Shuzhen chimed in.

Mrs. Li, holding her youngest son and accompanied by her five daughters, appeared in the courtyard.

Tang Shunyan was lifted down from the carriage by his wet nurse and scurried over, saying joyfully to her, “Wet nurse, Yan’er has come to see you again.”

“Young Master, how have you come by today?” Mrs. Li smiled, holding the child in her arms, who was waving his little hands and giggling, “Hee hee hee.”

“Ai ai,” replied Tang Shunyan cheerfully.

Jinhua smiled, saying, “Our family’s young Master couldn’t wait for a break in a few days, insisting on playing here, taking the whole day off.”

“Young Master, that’s where you’re mistaken. You should complete your assessment first, then come play here.”

Upon hearing his wet nurse’s words, Tang Shunyan shook his head with a smile and then instructed the Junior Housekeeper to bring out the gifts.