Chapter 30: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 30: Wang Man’er
"Are you talking to me?"
Dahua looked around in confusion, then realized the girl was staring at her with eyes full of pleading and hope.
Selling herself to bury a father was usually done for young masters, right?
Upon hearing Dahua's question, the girl immediately knelt, her forehead hitting the ground with a loud thud: "Please, miss, buy me!"
Dahua remained silent for a moment, carefully observing her. She noticed that the girl's gaze was bright, and her brow showed an unusual determination and stubbornness for someone her age.
The surrounding crowd began to laugh and whisper, pointing and teasing.
Yan Wentao became anxious, quickly pulling Dahua behind him, and hurriedly said to the girl still kneeling, "Stop kneeling, it's cold, don't hurt yourself. Our family doesn't need a servant; find someone else!"
After saying this, he hurriedly pulled Dahua out of the crowd.
At that moment, the Yan family's carriage arrived.
"Isn't it cold outside? Why haven't you gotten in the carriage yet?" The voice of Madam Yan came from within.
Hearing this, Yan Wentao swiftly lifted Dahua and placed her in the carriage.
Before the carriage door closed, Dahua turned back and glanced at the girl still refusing to lift her head. Their eyes met.
"Ah."
Dahua sat in the carriage, silent for a moment, then looked toward Madam Li. "Mother, I don't have a maid yet. Why don't we buy that girl?"
She knew that Madam Li had been looking for a maid for her, since Ping Tong, her main maid, had many responsibilities and couldn't always stay by her side.
Madam Li didn't immediately object.
A maid was a minor matter, and the Yan family could afford one.
However, she hesitated when thinking about having this maid serve her daughter.
She glanced at Old Madam Yan, and after considering it, she said, "Are you sure? Our family only provides one servant for each young master or young miss. Once you choose her, you can't change your mind later."
Dahua nodded.
She had noticed earlier that the girl had calloused hands, clearly used to hard work.
Her maid didn’t need to be overly smart, just obedient and capable.
Seeing that Old Madam Yan remained silent, Madam Li considered the situation for a moment. She then opened the carriage window and told the coachman a few words.
The coachman nodded and immediately went over to the girl with some silver.
Madam Yan said, "Let's go. He’ll handle it."
Dahua was still uneasy and peeked out of the carriage to see the girl following the servant.
Once she saw the girl leaving with the servant, she sighed and let the curtain fall.
"You!" Old Madam Yan tapped Dahua’s forehead. "When will you stop meddling in other people's affairs?"
Dahua wrapped her arm around her grandmother's and smiled. "I wasn’t trying to meddle, but she spoke to me, and even kowtowed. I couldn’t just ignore it." In truth, the girl's determined, yet reluctant gaze had moved her, making her want to help.
That evening, after dinner, Dahua returned to her room. Ping Tong entered with a new maid in tow.
"Your servant greets the young miss."
Dahua looked at the maid kneeling before her, and after a moment's thought, she recognized her. "Has your father been buried?"
Wang Man’er nodded. "Yes, thank you, miss, for saving me."
Dahua said, "Alright, get up now."
Wang Man’er slowly stood, her head lowered, but her movements showed no sign of fear.
Dahua carefully examined her. She was well-kept, and her posture was straight, giving her a certain presence.
"How old are you? What's your name? Where are you from? Why did you sell yourself to bury your father? Do you have any other family members?"
Wang Man’er replied, "I’m thirteen this year."
Dahua’s eyes widened. "Only thirteen?" The girl was taller than Ping Tong, and Dahua had assumed she was at least fifteen or sixteen.
Wang Man’er said, "I take after my father; I’m quite tall."
Dahua nodded. "Go on."
Wang Man’er continued, "My name is Wang Man’er. I no longer have any family. My father was a bodyguard, and my mother passed away shortly after I was born. I’ve been traveling with my father, escorting goods. We’ve never had a permanent home."
Dahua asked, "Since your father was a bodyguard, he should have had good skills. Why would he..."
Even in times of hardship, a capable person should still be able to find food, right?
Wang Man’er’s expression turned sorrowful. "We encountered a riot by refugees on the road, and our goods were stolen. The merchant demanded my father pay for the losses, but we couldn't afford it. So, the merchant sent people to beat my father."
Dahua asked, "Did your father die from the beating?"
Wang Man’er nodded, then shook her head. "He was beaten badly, and with no money for treatment, plus hunger, he fell ill and passed away."
Dahua and Ping Tong both looked at her with sympathy.
When Wang Man’er’s emotions calmed down, Dahua curiously asked, "There were so many people at the scene today. Why did you ask me to buy you? I’m not dressed luxuriously, how did you choose me?"
Wang Man’er looked at Dahua. "The others were eyeing me and the other two girls like we were goods, but only you, miss, truly looked at us with pity."
Over the years, traveling with her father had taught her how to read people.
Among all the people there, she saw only compassion and sympathy in Dahua’s eyes.
That sympathy was what made her step forward and offer herself.
Ping Tong smiled. "You have a good eye. Our young miss is indeed a kind person. You’ll have to serve her well."
Wang Man’er looked seriously at Dahua. "My father taught me to keep my word. Since you helped me bury my father, my life is now yours."
Dahua froze for a moment. "It’s not as serious as you think. Just do the things I ask you to do well."
Ping Tong gave Dahua a glance and smiled. "Miss, how about you give her a new name?"
Dahua replied, "Doesn’t she already have a name?"
Ping Tong explained, "She’s now sold to the Yan family. Her old name doesn’t count anymore. The new name is for a fresh start."
Dahua shook her head. "She can keep her name. If she already has one, let her keep it."
Hearing this, Wang Man’er looked at Dahua gratefully.
Her name had been given to her by her parents, representing their love, and she didn’t want to change it.
Dahua asked Wang Man’er a few more questions, then instructed Ping Tong to take her to rest.
Before leaving, Ping Tong looked at Dahua. "Miss, you should rest early. Madam instructed that tomorrow, you’ll go with the second young miss to teacher Qin’s lessons."
Dahua waved her hand. "I know, I know!"
(End of Chapter)
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