Chapter 462: Don’t Disappoint Mrs. Xie
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“You are back late,” Zhao Chuchu said. “Did you go to meet the Third Prince?”
“Hmm,” Xie Heng replied. He did not hide it from Zhao Chuchu. He said, “The people around him stuck their noses out. He should keep them in line.”
“Aren’t you afraid of him suspecting you if you just go looking for him out of the blue?”
“I will not back down on matters regarding you. Let him suspect me if he wants to.”
Xie Heng was not concerned.
If the Third Prince became estranged from Xie Heng over this, it meant Xie Heng had to see him even more.
However, based on Xie Heng’s understanding of the Third Prince, the latter would not resort to that.
The more Xie Heng stood up for Zhao Chuchu, the more the Third Prince would trust him.
A man with weaknesses was not a difficult man to deal with.
“Are you hungry?” Zhao Chuchu knew that the matter that day was related to the Third Prince. However, she did not believe that he ordered her assassination, so she quickly switched topics.
“I am not hungry. It is getting late. I will bathe first. I have something to tell you later,” Xie Heng said. He knew that Zhao Chuchu was busy recently. They had very little time to talk to each other. Their only time to interact was at night before they fell asleep.
However, after an entire day, his body smelled, and he felt very uncomfortable.
“Hmm, go and bathe,” Zhao Chuchu said as she nodded.
After around 15 minutes, Xie Heng came out from his bath.
Zhao Chuchu looked up in surprise and asked, “You finished so quickly?”
Prior to this, Xie Heng would bathe for more than half an hour. Was there a war going on now that he needed to shower so quickly?
“The sooner I finish sharing, the sooner you can rest,” Xie Heng explained as he came to the bed and sat down. “Xia Chengxuan and Kang Xiuwan are having a hard time right now. After the downfall of the Xia clan, the Kang clan did not spare them.”
Zhao Chuchu replied, “But Kang Xiuwan is a daughter of the Kang clan, no? Has Kang Liang lost all of his humanity? Does he treat even his own daughter poorly?”
“The Kang clan is not satisfied that they did not manage to reap any benefits from the Xia clan. They can only vent their frustrations on the mother and daughter. I knew you and Kang Xiuwan had quite a good relationship, so I thought I’d bring it up. You can decide whether or not you want to help them.” “In truth, in the beginning, I really did not like Xia Chengxuan. However, until the very end, she did not expose me to the Xia clan. Although I was not affected, I remember this debt of gratitude. Where are they now? I will check on them later.”
“They are in Liu Village in the eastern suburbs. The Kang clan has a villa there.”
“Alright.”
There was no harm in her helping them.
At least, Kang Xiuwan was worthy of her help.
When Xie Heng saw that Zhao Chuchu had made her decision, he did not continue discussing this topic.
“By the way, Da Lang, have your classmates learned the set of moves that I taught you?”
“They have learned it. The principal has also stipulated that everyone should practice one set every morning and evening. This is to prevent them from only focusing on studying and forgetting to take care of their physical fitness.”
“That’s good.”
“These are for you.”
Xie Heng got up and brought over a few slave contracts.
“I found the people you asked me to find. They will be sent over to the Ruyu Center tomorrow. They are all girls who are unwelcome in their own families and were sold to get money for their brothers’ dowries. They can take hardships and are hardworking and obedient.”
Zhao Chuchu glanced at the names on the slave contracts. They were basically the same as Jixiang before this. They were all labeled as X girl or Y maiden. They were not even given proper names.
That was how this era was. The poorer the family, the lower the standing the women in the family had.
In the eyes of many parents, girls were money-losing goods.
If they could be exchanged for some benefits for the family, their parents would not hesitate to sell them off.
Nothing was more important than the two balls between the legs of their sons. What they desired was the passing down of their lineage.
Zhao Chuchu could not change this deep-rooted idea in the society of this era. She could only start influencing those around her gradually.
If she had sufficient influence one day, she would try her hardest to improve the standing of women in society.
This would be a long road full of hardships. It would not be an easy path to trod.
The next day, shortly after Zhao Chuchu arrived at the Ruyu Center, the girls were sent over.
When the girls saw Zhao Chuchu, they were very nervous. They did not know where to place their hands and feet. They merely stood there with their heads lowered, their bodies slightly shivering.
“Since you have come to the Ruyu Center, you do not need to fear me. As long as you do your jobs and do not cause trouble, I am an easy person to be around,” Zhao Chuchu told the girls. “However, there is one thing that you need to know. The people I hate the most are those who commit petty theft and cannot control their mouths.”
“I won’t do so,” they all answered anxiously.
Zhao Chuchu nodded and said, “Hmm, I believe that you are all good girls. Hence, I am willing to let you stay at the Ruyu Center.” “Mrs. Xie, don’t worry. I can do everything. You only need to feed me.”
“I can do chores like fetching water and chopping wood.”
“I can cook and clean.”
“I… I can plow the fields and plant crops.”
The girls quickly listed out what skills they had. They feared Zhao Chuchu would not want them if they answered too slowly.
If they weren’t sold to old men to be concubines, they would be sold to brothels to be prostitutes. Of course, they would rather work hard in the Ruyu Center than choose the former. At least there, they would still have their dignity.
“You do not need to do all of that. Naturally, other people will do these things. Remember this. I bought all of you to work for the Ruyu Center, not to handle chores,” Zhao Chuchu said with a straight face. “As for what you need to do, Jixiang will tell you.”
“Yes, Mrs. Xie.”
“By the way, your names need to be changed,” Zhao Chuchu said. She then pointed at them and said, “Your names will be Chuntao, Xiahe, Qiuju, and Donglan moving forward.”
“Thank you for giving us names, Mrs. Xie.”
The four young maidens subconsciously kneeled.
Zhao Chuchu stopped them and said, “Here, you do not need to kneel. Rather than use such gestures to show your respect to me, I would prefer that you serve under Jixiang properly.”
“Yes, Mrs. Xie.”
They finally lowered their guard. They could finally live peaceful lives.
Zhao Chuchu put Chang Hong in charge of the four maidens.
Zhao Chuchu needed to guide Jixiang, so she let Chang Hong teach the maidens the rules of the Ruyu Center.
The maidens were very appreciative of this opportunity that spared them from being sold to the brothel. Therefore, they paid close attention to Chang Hong’s instructions.
Although they did not understand many things, they knew how to ask questions.
Zhao Chuchu was very satisfied with their attitudes.
Asking when they did not understand was better than pretending to understand when they didn’t.
At noon, Zhao Chuchu put Jixiang and Chang Hong in charge of the Ruyu Center while she went to visit Xia Chengxuan and Kang Xiuwan.
Jixiang was shocked. She asked, “Mrs. Xie, how can I handle the center alone? The women come to the center for you.”
“That is why you need to perform well today. Let them know that you are just as good as me. Jixiang, I believe in you,” Zhao Chuchu said encouragingly as she patted Jixiang on the shoulder. Before Jixiang had any chance of backing out, Zhao Chuchu turned and left.
Jixiang was at a loss for words.
She looked at Chang Hong and asked, “Sister Hong, what should I do? I can’t do this.”
Chang Hong encouraged her, saying, “Since Mrs. Xie said that you can do this, you can. Don’t disappoint her.”
She was aware that Zhao Chuchu’s purpose for building Jixiang up was so that the latter could one day help her manage the Ruyu Center.
With Zhao Chuchu’s capabilities, she would do greater things and not be trapped there forever.
This was Jixiang’s chance to change her fate. Chang Hong wondered whether or not Jixiang could seize this opportunity and shine.
“But they…”
“Didn’t Mrs. Xie tell you to show them that you are just as good as her?”
“I can’t…”
“You can. Don’t disappoint her..”
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