Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2345: Chapter 2344: Greed Without Bounds

”You don’t have to hide it from me, I’m a doctor. I can tell what kind of injury this is at a glance. If you refuse to talk, I’ll gather everyone on the boat and ask each one individually to find out what happened to you!”

Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to scare a little girl, but she also didn’t want her to keep enduring such bullying.

”I, I...” Teng Ya suddenly burst into tears, ”I’m afraid he will have my parents thrown overboard to feed the fish.”

”Nonsense, this is not a place where one person can call all the shots. We are the ones leading this time. Tell me properly, and I promise no one will bully you or your parents again,” Bai Ruozhu comforted her.

Teng Ya bit her lip, ”It’s useless. When you can’t see or when it gets stormy, people just fall off the boat, they are...”

She didn’t dare to continue, hurriedly covering her mouth.

Bai Ruozhu thought for a moment, realizing she couldn’t ensure the safety of Teng Ya’s family from such a distance.

She stood up and said, ”I’ll speak to the manager, and you and your parents can be transferred to work for me from now on.”

”Really?” Teng Ya’s eyes lit up with delight. She liked being up there, not in the cramped and damp space below, and she especially disliked the person who snatched her earrings.

”Rest assured, I’ll arrange it,” Bai Ruozhu said.

She turned to find the manager, directly showing her token, and said, ”We didn’t bring many servants on this trip, and it’s inconvenient without people around to attend to us. I see that the family of the little girl called Teng Ya is quite nimble, so let’s have them transferred to serve me.”

The manager looked troubled, ”Well, I have to report this to the chief manager.”

He referred to someone from the Shipping Department, who would always nod and bow when he saw Jiang Yichun.

Bai Ruozhu purposely put on a stern face, ”Are you saying that as a fourth-rank official of the Imperial Court, I can’t request a few people from you?”

”Replying to Lord Bai, we originally had people assigned, but Lord Jiang said he doesn’t like having attendants, and also, Teng Ya’s family is descended from major criminals and not fit for serving distinguished people,” the manager said.

Bai Ruozhu raised an eyebrow, ”What major crime?”

The manager hesitated, before finally saying, ”Teng Liu’s father assisted Prince Xin in his rebellion back then. Although he wasn’t a key figure, it would still have been a matter of execution for the whole family, if not for the Forgiveness Edict from the Former Emperor. Had he not been merciful, Teng Liu would not have survived. He was later assigned to hard labor on the boat and had a child with a convicted woman.”

”What crime did Teng Ya’s mother commit?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”That woman’s father was a scholar during the Former Emperor’s time but was accused of speaking out of turn and got caught in the literary prison,” the manager whispered, ”Lord Bai, it’s not that I don’t give you face, but how can we place such a family by your side?”

Bai Ruozhu opened her mouth, trying to argue that Teng Ya’s parents hadn’t done anything wrong themselves, merely implicated by their family. Moreover, any talk of rebellion or literary prison likely involved trickery.

She thought of how Teng Ya’s mother spoke courteously, which made it clear she was a scholar’s daughter.

”It’s alright, they’ve caught my eye. Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility. Just willing to release them is enough,” Bai Ruozhu said.

This left the manager unable to refuse, ”Alright, I’ll report it to the chief manager later. They’ll change clothes and find you afterward.”

Bai Ruozhu thought of Teng Ya’s cramped room, saying, ”Arrange a place for them to live near my room. I’m used to having someone on night duty. If they stay below, how can they serve me at night?”

”Okay, I’ll note that down,” the manager hastily replied.

Bai Ruozhu returned to Teng Ya’s room and said, ”I’ve arranged it with the manager. Come up with me for now, and later your parents can come and serve me too.”

”Did the manager agree?” Teng Ya almost jumped in surprise but quickly shook her head, ”Madam, thank you, but I can’t leave yet. I’ll wait until my parents return and we can meet you together.”

Such a filial child, Bai Ruozhu didn’t force further and first went back to the deck.

After lunch, Teng Ya’s family was brought before Bai Ruozhu, personally escorted by the chief manager, who sternly said to them, ”Serve Lord Bai well. If you don’t do a good job, even if Lord Bai doesn’t punish you, I won’t let you go!”

Bai Ruozhu resisted the urge to scold the chief manager and only after he left did she let the Teng family sit down, saying, ”There aren’t too many rules here, but I just require loyalty. I don’t want matters from here to reach others’ ears.”

Teng Liu hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to Bai Ruozhu, ”We remember your words, Lord, and will never be traitors.”

As he knelt, Bai Ruozhu felt a little awkward, and it was Jiang Yichun who helped him up.

Bai Ruozhu took out the ointment to apply to Teng Ya’s ear, which made Yizi’s eyes redden, ”How did it get so badly injured?”

Teng Ya’s eyes also reddened and her voice choked as she said, ”The earrings that Madam gave me are gone.”

Bai Ruozhu patted her head, ”Silly child, it doesn’t matter if the earring is gone, as long as you’re okay. Once your ear is healed, I’ll give you an even prettier pair.”

”I don’t want it!” Teng Ya said urgently, ”I can’t let Madam spend money again.”

Bai Ruozhu smiled, ”You are my servants now; I won’t let you suffer grievances. Don’t think too much about the rest. Now, honestly tell me what happened with your ear.”

Teng Ya quickly glanced at her mother, and seeing her nod, she angrily said, ”It’s that Zheng Xin. He saw me wearing earrings and asked where they came from. I said they were a reward from Madam, and he said people like us, descendants of criminals, don’t deserve jewelry, and told me to take them off.”

Teng Ya tearfully continued, ”I said they were rewarded by Madam and couldn’t be given away. To my surprise, he directly tore my earlobe. When my father heard me crying, he rushed over, and Zheng Xin even kicked him hard, leaving a large bruise on his chest.”

”How greedy has Zheng Xin become, stealing even little girls’ earrings? Has he no shame?” Fo Lanying angrily cursed.

Bai Ruozhu, with a solemn expression, added, ”This isn’t all; Teng Ya, continue about the matter of throwing people off the boat?”

Teng Liu’s face changed slightly, bespeaking panic, ”Lord Bai, please don’t get involved in this. He’s the most familiar with the route, and no one dares to offend him. Besides, his uncle is a high officer in the Shipping Department. If not handled properly, you might get...”

Teng Liu paused, but Bai Ruozhu immediately picked up on the issue. Something must have happened before, surely related to Zheng Xin.

”Since you know he’s dangerous, you should tell us the truth. Otherwise, how can we defend ourselves if we’re ambushed along the way?” Bai Ruozhu said.

Jiang Yichun nodded, ”You can rest assured that whatever is said in this room won’t escape to the outside.”