The head of the Mu family

Chapter 171 The Gardener

Huai Sheng looked at the boys, who seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to react.

With a helpless smile, he gave them another instruction:

"After 7 p.m., you are no longer allowed to do your homework, understand?"

Make sure to light plenty of lanterns; you can't ruin your eyes just to read a few more words!

You've all signed indentured servitude contracts; you need to be physically fit to work for me during the day.

"Understood, Master."

Su, Xi, and Xu said in unison, and then everyone laughed heartily.

Yuan Su and Rong An were deeply shocked today:

Although I haven't been with the head of the family for long, I always feel that I've been given a new lease on life.

It seems that after arriving, I never thought about reuniting with my family again.

Huai Sheng helped the noblewoman arrange Jing Tang's wedding. The Marquis and Li Rongchuan and his wife returned for the wedding.

General Yan was already six months pregnant. After returning to attend the wedding, she stayed in the capital to prepare for childbirth.

General Yan was unwell, so the noblewoman asked her group of close friends and Huai Sheng to help entertain the guests.

"You are the army doctor?"

A pretty woman in her early twenties stared at Huai Sheng and looked him up and down.

Huaisheng: Military doctor? I haven't heard that term in a long time.

"General Yan, Madam?"

"You have good eyesight. I thought she was some stunning beauty, but she's nothing special?"

"Does the lady wish to see a beauty of unparalleled grace?"

Look to your right, at the two ladies seated at the head of the table.

He has been famous in the capital for decades, and to this day, no one has been able to surpass him.

"What do you mean?"

You... don't you understand what I mean?

"Didn't you guess I'm General Yan's wife?"

"Heh~ What does that have to do with me?"

My husband and I are not related, nor do I have any connection with your family. If we are to talk about anything, the only connection is that I met General Yan back then.

However, my humble appearance did not meet General Yan's approval, and General Yan frankly stated this back then.

We haven't had any contact since then, and I'm now married. Please, madam, have some self-respect!

When General Yan saw that her younger brother and sister-in-law were with Huai Sheng, he quickly came over and took the opportunity to send them away, so that Huai Sheng could continue to help entertain the guests.

In the afternoon, the guests were all in the back garden, with male and female guests seated separately to listen to the opera.

Huai Sheng met Liao Gongzi's appreciative gaze. When Liao Gongzi looked over, Liao Gongzi politely cupped his hands in greeting, and Huai Sheng politely nodded in return.

A pregnant woman with a round face, who looked lively and cute, walked over and smiled at Huaisheng.

"You are, Miss Huaisheng, right?"

I'm the bride's sister-in-law, and I often hear my husband and sister-in-law mention you at home.

I've heard you're a very skilled doctor and a wonderful person. Seeing your actions at the banquet today truly made me want to get closer to you.

"So it's Mrs. Liao~"

Young Master Liao and Miss Liao are used to calling me "Miss Huaisheng". My husband's surname is Cui, and they are also acquaintances.

Young Master Liao, along with Jingtang, discussed their studies with my husband.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Cui."

I was a bit rash~

"It's alright. Being called by that old title from you, Madam, makes me feel younger!"

The two smiled at each other. Mrs. Liao asked many questions about precautions during pregnancy, and Huaisheng answered them carefully. Mrs. Liao took notes carefully and asked again if she didn't understand something.

Many of the wealthy women who had been treated by Huaisheng also came over to listen and took the opportunity to ask about any discomfort they had experienced.

Huai Sheng only had some free time when the banquet started. Madam Cai and Madam Liu quickly came to comfort her, bringing her food and drinks.

Sitting between the two ladies, Huai Sheng grinned lewdly.

Even I, this wild boar, am eating fine bran today!

Huai Sheng enjoyed the same treatment as Qi Luan, with two stunning beauties showing him great care and concern. What kind of life is this!

Huai Sheng, standing beside the two ladies, was so captivated by their beauty that he lost all sense of reason and laughed until his eyes were almost closed.

All the way to the gate of the Marquis's mansion after the event, he first bid farewell to the noble ladies who had received his treatment, and then to the Prince Qi and his wife.

Together with the two ladies, he bid farewell to the noblewoman and then eagerly helped the two beauties onto the carriage.

Suddenly feeling a chill down his spine, Qi Luan, standing beside him, glared at him and then chuckled softly.

"You've been like this since you were a child, when are you going to change?"

Huai Sheng immediately became obedient, and the two ladies immediately said coquettishly:

"Husband~ How could you say such a thing about Huaisheng~"

Huaisheng: Wow~ Heavenly voice!

Huai Sheng quickly took the opportunity to say goodbye. Shan Yun helped Huai Sheng onto the carriage, and Brother Lü spurred the horse to pull the slightly tipsy head of the family back.

With the head of the household here this year, everyone feels reassured and works much easier than usual.

At the end of October, the neighbors next door came to our door to sell their garden, and Huaisheng took Shanhao and Ping'an to take a look.

I paid a deposit, went to the document processing center, and changed the locks.

Once you have a garden, you need someone to take care of it.

They then went to a nearby county town and bought four widowed women: two wives and two aunts.

These four people were Aunt Pan and Aunt Luo, whom Uncle Niu encountered when he went to inspect the charity hall outside the city. They had just finished delivering flowers and plants and were asking for a drink of water at the charity hall.

During their conversation, they learned some details and gave them extra food, asking them to also send two potted plants to the charity.

The two aunts were in similar situations; both were divorced and kicked out of their maternal homes because they had no children.

They made a living by washing clothes and tending to flowers and plants to sell to wealthy families, and the two of them lived together in a rented house.

The plight of the two women is even more heartbreaking:

For fifteen taels of silver, Lady Tong was given by her family to a wealthy household as a concubine. However, she was tormented by the mistress of the house until she was unable to have children. The mistress then found a pretext to disfigure her face and drive her away.

He almost froze to death on the street, but was rescued by two aunties. Together with them, he washed clothes, tended flowers and plants, and sold them.

Another woman, surnamed Feng, first lost her child, then her husband died. She was kicked out of her husband's house, had nowhere to go home, and was even splattered with dirty water. No one was willing to do her laundry.

He found refuge in a dilapidated temple, where he was further humiliated by thugs. As he dragged his crippled body toward the river, he was stopped by two aunts who encountered him.

The four of them encouraged each other and have persevered to this day.

When everyone was discussing how to renovate the garden after buying it, Uncle Niu immediately explained the situation when he heard that they needed to buy people to tend to the flowers and plants and do cleaning and laundry.

After Huai Sheng gave his approval, Uncle Niu and Aunt Niu went to buy the person the next day.

Neither of the two women dared to accept the ten taels of silver required to sign the indenture, and they rarely dared to leave their homes.

When they went out, people gossiped and said they were unlucky.

If they went out even once, the families would know that the two aunts lived with them, and they would not be able to get any work for a long time.

After Uncle Niu and Aunt Niu explained their purpose, the four of them could hardly believe it:

The wealthy families in the county don't want them, so why would they want them in Yedu?

Uncle Niu and Aunt Niu were dressed similarly to the average elderly couple in the county.

If it weren't for Aunt Pan and Aunt Luo knowing this kind couple, everyone would have thought they were kidnappers, and the key point is that kidnappers wouldn't want them anyway.

After the four of them arrived at the Mu residence, they pinched themselves hard, as if afraid they were dreaming.

You receive 500 coins a month, and if you take good care of the flowers and plants, you will receive an additional 100 coins a year.

That lady-like Qingyue, at the time, said to them with an air of nonchalance:

"In our Mu family, as long as you're not a shopkeeper, waiter, or craftsman, you're welcome to join us."

Just like you all, if you do well, you get a raise of 100 coins every year.