CH 127

The family was having dinner in the kitchen when they heard their door being gently pushed open. Mo Yan, afraid that it was Mu Zheng, walked outside to have a look.

She had just left the kitchen when she saw a girl about her age or a little older enter their courtyard. She remembered seeing this girl, but couldn’t remember who it was.

The girl smiled slightly and said, “Mo Yan, I heard that your workshop is recruiting workers. I want to come and ask if I can join.”

Ms. Liang came out of the kitchen and said, “Xiaoyue! You came here by yourself? It’s so dark, does your father know about this?”

It was only then Mo Yan remembered that this was governing official Wu’s eldest daughter, Xiaoyue. They had only met once, so she didn’t remember her clearly.

“Sister Xiaoyue, come in! Have you eaten yet? Let’s eat together!”

“I’ve eaten. My father didn’t allow me to come, but I wanted to. If you have enough people already, don’t worry, I won’t go.”

They’re both daughters of governing officials, but Xiaoyue is completely different from Liu Ruyan. Xiaoyue didn’t have Liu Ruyan’s confidence. On the contrary, she was even more cowardly than Mo Yan.

After entering the kitchen, Xiaoyue sat by the side quietly, and Ms. Liang said, “Xiaoyue is a capable child. Her mother passed away early, and her father is busy in the village all day long. She has to take care of the house by herself, and even teaches her younger sister very well!”

Mo Yan looked at the girl carefully. She seemed polite, but her expression was too rigid, she didn’t have any liveliness, instead seeming very stable.

“Sister Xiaoyue, how are you at sewing?”

She replied sternly: seriously, “I made all of the cotton clothes and shoes at home, and I also repair and maintain the bedding.”

“Are you literate?”

“I know a few words, my father taught them to me.”

“Okay, then go to town with me tomorrow, and I’ll take you to the workshop.”

“Then you’re willing to hire me?”

“Yes, but newly recruited workers have a one-month trial period. If they don’t do well, they might be fired.”

“Of course, you can’t pay someone for doing nothing. Thank you for giving me a chance.”

After Xiaoyue left, Mo Yan asked Ms. Liang, “Mother, Xiaoyue is the daughter of the governing official. She should be the most confident in our village, why does she seem so timid?”

“Uncle Wu isn’t a high-ranking official, and only manages Chenzhong Village. This child is unassuming, as she was taught well by him. Every villager’s ancestors have lived here for generations, and everyone knows everyone. What’s there to be arrogant about?”

“I think Xiaoyue is really decent, she’s a well-behaved person.”

“She’s a good child, hardworking and sensible. If someone marries her in the future, he’ll be blessed.” After saying that, Ms. Liang looked at Mu Feng.

Early the next morning, the whole family had to go to the market after breakfast. Ms. Liang and Mo Feng wanted to get familiar with the situation of the shop quickly, so Mo Ling stayed in the storefront to help them out for the time being.

They had agreed to take Xiaoyue with her, but she hadn’t come, so Mo Yan went to their house to look for her.

When Mo Yan arrived at the governing official’s house, she saw Xiaoyue cooking in the kitchen “Sister Xiaoyue, haven’t you eaten yet?”

She raised her head, and Mo Yan saw that her eyes were red.

“Miss Xiaoyue, what’s happened?”

“My father won’t let me go, I’m sorry for troubling you for nothing.”

“Why doesn’t he let you go?”

“He said that it’s immoral for a girl to show her face in public, and it’ll make it difficult for her to find a good husband and family in the future.”

“You’re still quite a ways off from being married. Besides, working in a workshop lets you earn money with your own skills and strength, so why is it immoral?”

At this time, Wu Pingshun entered the kitchen. His expression was not as kind as usual, “A girl cares most about her reputation. If her reputation is bad, she won’t be able to marry into a good family, and her life will be completely ruined.”

It was like he was talking about her: corrupted morals, bad reputation…

“Uncle Pingshun, whether a girl marries well depends not only on her reputation, but also on her insight. If you can’t recognize the merits of people, then you won’t be able to marry a good man. If you stay at home all day, where will you get insight?”

“I can’t let people say that I taught her poorly.”

“You taught her to be submissive, which is fine if her future husband is kind-hearted. If she meets someone like my father, will you let her suffer blindly?”

“How could my daughter marry such a person?”

“Uncle Pingshun, my mother’s reputation before marrying was also very good! She kept order of our family and honoured my grandma. Was it her fault for marrying my father?”

He was at a loss for words, so he waved his hands and said, “That’s different!”

Mo Yan softened her tone and said, “Uncle Pingshun, let Sister Xiaoyue go! There are mostly female workers in the workshop, so it won’t ruin her reputation. Besides, I’m still here, I won’t Miss Xiaoyue won’t suffer.”

Xiaoyue wiped her tears and said, “It’s 800 dollars a month! With this money, our family’s life will be much better.”

Mo Yan smiled lightly and said, “Sister Xiaoyue should also save money for her dowry!”

“Then, can you promise that nothing will happen to her?”

“Several people from our village work in the workshop! Even Dagan, my neighbour, is going. Everyone goes to and fro in a group, there’s safety in numbers.”

“Then she has to eat before she leaves!”

As soon as he agreed, Xiaoyue jumped up happily, “No need, it’s not good to be late for work on the first day, I’ll be fine if I skip a meal.”

After finishing speaking, she stood up, straightened her clothes, and followed Mo Yan. Along the way, they chatted enthusiastically, and Xiaoyue was no longer so restrained.

In the workshop, a group of women are sewing raincoats, and Chi Jie was teaching Dagan to put tung oil on the sewn raincoats. She introduced Xiaoyue to Chi Jie, whispered a few words into Chi Jie’s ear, before going to Lu Junming.

Lu Junming’s horse was in the stables, so he wasn’t out, nor was he in the workshop.

Mo Yan pushed open the door of his office, and only Ze Wu was inside cleaning.

“Zewu, where’s Lu Junming?”

“He probably hasn’t woken up yet! I didn’t see him early in the morning.”

It’s already this late, and the workshop is so busy, but he’s fast asleep! Mo Yan knocked on his room’s door, but no one answered. When she pushed the door open, there was no one inside.

Just as she was wondering where he had gone, she heard him say in the yard, “It’s not proper for a girl to enter a man’s bedroom by herself!”

Mu Yan blushed at what he said, but couldn’t admit defeat. She smiled and said, “What’s ‘proper’, have you seen it?”

Lu Junming looked around, frowned and said, “I don’t seem to have seen it before, how do you write it?”

“Stop messing around, I have business with you.” After finishing speaking, the two entered the office together.

Post-translation notes: That took a little longer than it should’ve, sorry. But I’m on spring break now, so chapters should be more consistent and hopefully more frequent.