Chapter 44: Abandon

Words : 1619 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: AbandonMore than twenty maids cried together. The scene— Su Jin recalled the morning after her wedding when the maids and old women wept at Xie Jingchen’s bedside. The crying made her scalp tingle and her head feel heavy. She assigned Xingxing the heavy task of calming down the maids. Xingxing, "..." Xingxing tried threats and persuasion, but not only did the maids not stop, they cried even harder. Xingxing, at her wit’s end, said savagely, "If you keep crying, I’ll have the Miss sell you all!" This was something Su Jin often used to threaten her with. It was always effective. This time it worked as well. The maids gradually quieted down. There was a faint glimmer of hope in their eyes. Did this mean they would give up on buying them? The human trafficker had been in this business for over ten years, but this was the first time she experienced buying maids like this. Could she say that the contracts for these maids were still tightly held in her hands? Seeing them stop crying, Xingxing let out a sigh of relief and said, "Finally managed to calm them down." "Pay up then." Xingxing looked at the human trafficker, "My Miss is buying so many maids, and they’re all so timid, others might not even want them, you should give us a discount." The human trafficker, "..." Why are these maids timid? Wasn’t it because they were scared by your Qingyun Mountain bandits?! Not buying the bold ones, haggling over the timid ones. The human trafficker was exhausted. Even bandits haggle these days? Isn’t it supposed to be just taking whatever they want? The human trafficker steadied herself and said, "These maids are all carefully selected, with delicate appearance and nimble hands, a few even literate; normally they sell for twenty taels each, but since the Eldest Young Madam is buying so many, it’s fifteen taels each, which is a no-profit price, you can ask your mansion’s steward if you don’t believe it." Thinking of the hard work and not earning even a tael, possibly having to subsidize it, the human trafficker’s heart bled. But being unlucky enough to be targeted by the bandit young madam, she barely escaped yesterday and was still complacent, only to find— Escaped at noon, but not in the evening. Yet this business couldn’t be neglected, unless she never came to Duke Zhen Mansion again. Consider it breaking money to ward off disaster. Xingxing looked the maids over, seemingly calculating if they were worth fifteen taels, then paid, collecting the deeds. The maids’ faces turned ashen. They began to sob softly again. Su Jin glanced over, "If you cry again, you won’t be having dinner tonight." Tears welled in the maids’ eyes but were forcefully swallowed back. Xingxing stacked the pile of deeds neatly and walked toward Su Jin. "Take them back to Agarwood Pavilion," Su Jin said. Xingxing walked toward the maids. The maids, terrified, stepped back. Xie Jinyu saw this and said, "Sister-in-law, according to the mansion’s rules, newly bought maids must be properly trained before they can be employed in the various courtyards." Su Jin replied indifferently, "Consider these my dowry maids." "That’s the rule," Xie Jinyu stated. Rule? Su Jin laughed, "Doesn’t the Missy know that within half a month, even if I break a family rule, I escape punishment?" Xie Jinyu’s face stiffened. She stamped her foot in anger. As she watched Su Jin walk away, Xie Jinxiu advised Xie Jinyu not to be angry. Xie Jinyu sneered, "It’s just half a month, it’ll pass quickly, let’s see how she’ll win against the odds then!" Xie Jinxiu looked at Xie Jinyu, hesitant to speak. "What are you looking at me for?!" "There’s nothing dirty on my face!" "Just say what you want!" Xie Jinyu wore an annoyed expression. Xie Jinxiu sighed. "Sister-in-law is no ordinary person, our influence may not be strong enough." "..." Su Jin walked forward a bit, and soon saw the steward approaching. He came up and said, "The Eldest Young Master wants to advance twenty thousand taels from the public fund, the Commandery Princess disagreed." "I knew it." As expected, Su Jin didn’t show any disappointment. But Princess Nanzhang not only refused to let them advance money, she also called her for a scolding, which Su Jin had a bit of an issue with. It wasn’t just Princess Nanzhang, Second Madam, and Third Madam were there too. They all criticized her together at Qihao Hall. Upon entering, before she could even salute, Princess Nanzhang spoke coldly, "Are you the one encouraging the Eldest Young Master to advance twenty thousand taels from the public fund?" "I wouldn’t default on the debt," Su Jin said. The Third Madam smirked sarcastically. "Repaying by running a charcoal business?" "Opening a charcoal-selling shop already cost sixty thousand taels and still needs more investment; the money from Feihu Village comes too easily, did the Eldest Young Madam spend so lavishly before marrying into the Duke Mansion?" After the Third Madam finished, the Second Madam chimed in. "The coal business is hard to handle. Even with a monopoly, you won’t earn much. I advise you to give up this idea of selling coal early." Su Jin was exasperated, "I’m not selling the kind of coal you think. Mine is... " Before Su Jin had a chance to finish, Princess Nanzhang sharply said, "No matter what kind of coal you’re selling, I don’t care how you spend the money you rob, but I won’t condone your antics!" Su Jin murmured, "Forget it if there’s no advance payment." Forget it? Can you really force Princess Nanzhang to nod with a knife? The Third Madam found it amusing. In the end— Su Jin changed her tone and asked, "So, does the public fund want to invest?" Third Madam, "..." She’s never seen someone so obstinate. Like a moth drawn to the flame. After failing with the public fund, she had her sights set on them. "Second Aunt, Third Aunt, would you like to invest?" Su Jin asked sincerely. "..." Finally, Su Jin was kicked out of Qihao Hall. Inside the room. The few Madams were panting with anger. "It’s one thing to target us, but she’s even after the Old Madam!" "I’ve never seen someone so bold!" "I think she’s determined to gather twenty thousand taels. Since Chenchen has been robbed by her, and we have no other approach, she’ll likely go out and rob again." "What kind of jinx have we brought back to Duke Zhen Country Mansion?" Yet, this person was someone Princess Nanzhang had asked the Emperor to wed her. Though there’s no official decree of marriage, the Emperor favors that lady bandit. Since she doesn’t want to leave, Duke Zhen Country Mansion can’t get rid of her. Princess Nanzhang lightly sipped her tea, her expression inscrutable. Sёarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xie Jinyu and the others entered, reporting to Princess Nanzhang and the Old Madam how Su Jin selected maids in the front yard. Princess Nanzhang’s brow furrowed tightly. Mrs. Zhao entered next, her expression as dour as can be. She had specially instructed the maids brought in from the manor, and none were chosen by the Eldest Young Madam. The only consolation was that neither the Second Madam nor the Third Madam could place anyone by the Eldest Young Madam’s side. Who could have guessed the Eldest Young Madam doesn’t play by the usual rules? She didn’t choose the good ones, only the bad. Anyone who’s spent time in the Duke Mansion could, of course, answer those basic questions. In order to be chosen by the Eldest Young Madam, those maids were extra enthusiastic. In the end— All were rejected. Back at Agarwood Pavilion. Su Jin poured herself some tea, drinking half of it in one gulp. Xie Jingchen elegantly drank his tea, smiling lightly, "Couldn’t persuade them?" "Robbing twenty thousand taels is easier than persuading them," Su Jin said. "So you’ve given up?" "The word ’give up’ isn’t in my dictionary!" "..." "Does your Qingyun Mountain dictionary have missing pages?" "..." Su Jin almost spat out her tea. Seeing Su Jin’s expression looking as though she wanted to hit him. Xie Jingchen felt quite satisfied. He couldn’t be the only one wanting to spit blood every day; things should balance out for everyone. But— This round hasn’t turned on him yet. "On the way back, Xingxing and I discussed it and agreed your good brothers might still yield some profit, so this important task is yours. Don’t let outsiders benefit," Su Jin said. "You’re not joking?" Xie Jingchen frowned. "I’ve never been more serious." "..." Half an hour later. Two sheets of paper were delivered to Chu Shun, Prince NanAn, Heir of Marquis Beining, and Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion. One was the shop’s equity document, the four of them together holding half. The other was a loan note. A loan of seventeen thousand five hundred taels, repaid as twenty thousand. For the duration of one year. They could choose one from the two papers. Looking at the two papers, Prince NanAn couldn’t help but laugh dryly. "This is leaving us without even noodles to eat, just forcing us to survive on thin air." "Which one do we pick?" asked the Heir of Marquis Beining. "Whichever one, we’ll have to go back and rob our fathers. Before, maids took action, now it’s our turn," said the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion. "Listening to this is making me excited," Chu Shun said. "..." "Let’s go, let’s go. Eat and drink our fill, then go home and rob." "..."

Chapter 44: Abandon

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