Today's Lady Yao Guo's mansion has two or three hundred subordinates. Most of them were added intermittently after Yao Heier became Mrs. Yao Guo. Some are single and sold to Yaofu; There are also a few families who defected to Yaofu; Some sold the death deed and were slaves in Yaofu for life; Some just signed a contract with Yao Mansion to work for Yao Mansion for a few years, and after earning a certain amount of silver, they can leave on their own.

These servants were responsible for different affairs in the Yao Mansion. Some are responsible for the newly purchased fields of the Yao family, some are responsible for the flowers and trees in the back garden, some are responsible for purchasing, some are responsible for sprinkling and sweeping the yard and repairing the house, and some are responsible for running back and forth between Yaofu and Yaojia Village, so as to pass the affairs of the iron ore mine to Yao Heier in time.

In the southeast and southwest of Yaofu, there are two rows of slaves' houses, and according to their status, these slaves live in courtyards of different sizes. Between the slave's house and the master's compound, there was a long wall, with a small door at each end, so that the servants could enter the house.

Early in the morning, as soon as the sky was bright, there was a faint mournful cry from the servant's house in Yaofu.

The Yao family's current housekeeper is Guan Jing, and the family of five lives in the largest courtyard in the house. Last night, Guan Jing reported the accounts at home to Yao Hei'er one by one, plus a bookkeeper, and the three of them reconciled the accounts in the middle of the night, and when they returned home, they were sleepy again, and they fell asleep in a hazy way for nearly four watches.

Guan Jing, who was sleeping soundly, was woken up by crying, and his heart was very unhappy, and he said to his wife irritably, "You go and see, whose house is in the morning, what kind of mourning howl?" ”

Guan Jing's wife's surname is Cao, and she has always been afraid of her husband, but when she saw that her husband's face was not good, she didn't dare to refute it, so she changed her clothes and went out, looking for her crying.

It turned out that the crying family was in charge of the flowers and plants in Yaofu. A young couple, with a three-year-old child, couldn't live because of the hardships at home, and joined Yao Mansion last year.

When Cao Shi walked in the door, he shouted in the courtyard, "Sister-in-law Tan, what's wrong with this early morning?" If it alarms the master, it's not fun. ”

The crying in the room stopped, and a woman wearing a blue cloth shirt and skirt, with her hair scattered, walked out, saw Cao's family, and said, "Sister-in-law, I think it's disturbing your house." Just because my child had a fever and a rash two days ago, I didn't take it seriously, and grabbed two doses of medicine for him to take on the street, but it didn't work. When I woke up early this morning, I saw that the rash on the child's body was getting worse and worse. Therefore, I was anxious and began to cry. ”

Cao couldn't help but take a few steps back, and said busily, "Since that's the case, why are you crying?" Why don't you hurry up and get a doctor? ”

Sister-in-law Tan showed a trace of shame on her face, and Cao Shi understood in her heart, and hurriedly said, "I think there is no spare money at home?" Don't worry, I still have a few pieces of silver here, you go and ask the doctor first. As he spoke, he took out a small piece of silver from his purse, hesitated, and placed it on the stone table in the courtyard.

Where can Sister-in-law Tan still take care of these details? Hurriedly bowed and worshipped, "Thank you, sister-in-law!" If this child is well, Ming'er will let him kowtow to his sister-in-law! ”

Cao Shi waved his hand and said, "That's it, that's it!" But you have to be careful. If the money is not enough, I will bring you a little more. With that, he hurriedly turned around and left.

Back at home, Guan Jingzheng waved his fan irritably and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

Cao Shi hurriedly said the matter, and Guan Jing jumped up from the bed with a spirit, "This matter is careless!" We live in this small place, hundreds of people, who has no children? If you pass it on to other children, it's troublesome! Where did this child get sick? ”

Cao Shi resignedly: "How do I know this?" I didn't dare to stay at his house longer. After only asking a few words, I hurried back. ”

Guan Jing turned back and forth on the ground a few times, frowned and said, "This thing is not good!" I've got to talk to Madame about it! Quick, bring my clothes! ”

At this time, Yao Hei'er had just gotten up. Yesterday in the East Palace for half a day of wine, back home and calculated the midnight account, although a little dizzy, but thinking about the Empress Dowager's words, to Yao Jiu and King Ding to marry in the New Year, but to prepare a dowry for the youngest daughter - said not to prepare a dowry for the daughter, that is to make the Empress Dowager laugh, so I was ready to get up and go to the market, but also to go to the shop where I usually do embroidery. A good embroidered dress, doesn't it take half a year's work?

Jiu'er, this girl is the most particular about these, if she can't satisfy her, I'm afraid that she will have a headache.

Yao Hei'er, Zhong Cuiling and Yao Jiu were gossiping while eating. Yao Hei'er's doting gaze floated on Yao Jiu's body from time to time, and there were fewer and fewer people in this family. Now there are only these three people eating, and in another half a year, only himself and Cuiling will be left.

The girl outside suddenly walked in and said, "Madam, the housekeeper Guan is asking to see her outside, saying that there is something important." ”

"Oh?" Yao Hei'er's eyebrows raised? We only reconciled the accounts together last night, and he didn't have anything to say, so there was something important going on? Yao Hei'er said, "Let him wait, I'll go after dinner." ”

Zhong Cuiling picked up a roll pastry, handed it to Yao Hei'er, and said with a smile, "The more people in the family, the busier my sister is." You can't even eat a meal quietly. ”

"But, mother!" Yao Jiu frowned dissatisfiedly and said, "Mother, you said that you took me to the street today, this nasty bad old man, came to interrupt again." He turned to the girl and said, "You go and tell Old Man Guan and let him come back to Madame in the evening, so that we have something important!" ”

"You kid!" Yao Hei'er gently patted her daughter's head, "Although Steward Guan is a subordinate, you have to respect it." I think he really has something, and when I finish talking to him, my mother will take you to the street. Wouldn't it be better if you dressed up in the house? ”

While speaking, Yao Hei'er ate all the japonica porridge in the bowl, put down the crispy rolls that Zhong Cuiling handed him, and said, "As soon as I heard that something was happening, I couldn't calm down in my heart." I'll come when I go. He got up and went out into the hall.

Guan Jing was pacing back and forth in the hall when he saw Yao Hei'er coming and hurriedly bowed and saluted.

Yao Hei'er smiled and said, "Brother Guan, I was busy in the middle of the night last night, and I didn't sleep much today, so early in the morning, what's the matter?" ”

"Madame!" Guan Jing lowered his voice and said, "Madam, the family in our house that manages flowers and plants, now my son seems to have smallpox!" ”

Yao Hei'er was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Really? ”

Guan Jing said: "It's not far from ten." My family gave them a few pieces of silver, and ordered them to go to a doctor. If the boy had smallpox, he would be in trouble. Madame should also know how contagious this disease is! ”

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