The first watch, seeking pink.

*****.........****

The matter of buying people in the family had crossed Lian Manman’s mind, but she hadn’t brought it up for the same reasons as not hiring a shopkeeper or accountant.

If the name is not proper, words will not be smooth. They came from an ordinary tenant farming family, and while they have wealth, calling servants is not impossible, but it will invite gossip. Now that Wu Lang has passed the examination as a Scholar, others will only find it natural for their family to make such arrangements, making it easier to manage.

Of course, Lian Manman also considered the possibility of Wu Lang failing the examination. If that were the case, they would still proceed as planned, relying solely on the intimidation of the Imperially Bestowed Archway.

Now, Lian Manman’s family has both the Imperially Bestowed Archway and Wu Lang’s Scholar title, complementing each other and adding glory.

After discussing for a while, the family unanimously agreed to Lian Manman’s proposal. Before Lian Shouxin could go to the town, Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing, father and son, came on their own. They guessed that after Wu Lang passed the Scholar exam, there would be many new arrangements in Lian Manman’s family, and being busy that day they didn’t have the chance to say, so they took the initiative to visit today.

Wu Lang and Lian Shouxin shared the idea of hiring and buying people with the father and son. Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing naturally agreed without hesitation.

Before the August festival, there was a rainstorm which delayed the expected autumn harvest. The fields were too muddy for people to enter, and it had to wait a few days for the fields to dry before harvesting.

However, this rain did not greatly affect what Lian Manman’s family was planning to do. Wu Lang and Lian Shouxin got up late in the night and loaded a cart with fish, shrimp, crabs, lotus roots, lotus seeds, chicken head rice, and water caltrops, among other local products, and sent them to Prefecture City. From Thirty Mile Camp to Prefecture City, the official roads were passable even after the rain.

The father and son returned from Prefecture City with a family of four.

Han Zhong, Han Zhong’s wife, son Han Xiaofu, and daughter Han Xiaoxi.

Wu Lang arrived at the Shen Family and while chatting with Shen Jiu, mentioned in passing about buying people to serve at home. Shen Jiu was very enthusiastic and quietly instructed Steward Zhong to find suitable people for Lian Manman’s family. Steward Zhong ended up finding this family of four.

Han Zhong and his wife were both in their thirties, Han Xiaofu was fifteen, and Han Xiaoxi was thirteen. This family had previously worked for a household in Prefecture City. The head of that household recently got an official position and was going to assume it, leaving some servants idle, initially intending to give them away or sell them. They had some interactions with the Shen Family and were a very rule-abiding family. Steward Zhong picked this family of four, saying they were trustworthy, honest, and capable.

"So this family of four was sent to us by Fatty?" Lian Manman asked Wu Lang.

"I bought them with Silver," Wu Lang took a few servitude contracts from his sleeve and handed them to Lian Manman.

Lian Manman looked through the servitude contracts and confirmed that they matched what Wu Lang said; the total value of these four people’s contracts was fifteen taels. Han Zhong was previously a steward; Han Zhong’s wife could cook, and both Han Xiaofu and Han Xiaoxi could work.

Very appropriate, and the price was inexpensive.

Lian Manman had also asked Wu Yugui and Wu Jiaxing and learned about the current market prices for servants. With work experience, properly taught rules, and all being in their prime, such servants can’t be bought at this price. It was probably that family giving a favor by half-selling, half-gifting.

"Brother, didn’t Fatty offer to select people from his household to give us when he heard we were buying people to serve?" Lian Manman suddenly asked Wu Lang.

"No." Wu Lang shook his head, "Xiao Jiu knows such matters well."

Lian Manman secretly nodded. Indeed, Fatty handled this matter thoughtfully. If he got excited and wanted to give the best people to her family, he would naturally pick from his household. But if the Shen Family sent people, there would be many considerations in using them.

Now having spent Silver on the contracts, with people from other ordinary official families, it was reassuring to use them and made it possible to work seamlessly.

Having looked over the contracts, Lian Manman invited the family of four to come in.

The four came in and knelt. Lian Manman asked them a few questions and noticed their neat and tidy appearance, honest faces, and straightforward manners, truly looking like well-trained servants of a rich household.

After the family discussed for a while, they arranged the duties for each person. Han Zhong was temporarily the steward, Han Zhong’s wife was assigned to the kitchen, Han Xiaofu was to do odd jobs in the front yard, mainly serving Wu Lang and Xiao Qi, and Han Xiaoxi to do odd jobs in the back yard, mainly serving Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman.