Tianliangyuan

Chapter 344 Restoring Your Freedom

Xie Xiaolin added a small box of jewelry, 500 strings of cash, and a large estate of 2,000 mu in Jizhou to the dowry list.

In addition, after being reminded by Xu Zhaozhao, Xie Xiaolin selected ten strong and capable servants for him, who would also marry into the family later.

However, Xie Xiaolin simply waved his hand and ordered all the managers to be summoned. Xu Zhaozhao then gave them a lecture, and selected a few honest and reliable ones from among them to serve as Xie Chan's concubines.

Xu Zhaozhao never expected that her father-in-law would actually hand over all these businesses to her to manage, just because she was preparing a dowry for her sister-in-law.

Xu Zhaozhao wanted to decline, but Xie Xiaolin's words silenced her.

"I rarely come back to recuperate, didn't you tell me to take a good rest? If you don't take over these businesses, how can I calm down and recuperate?"

Well, I've gotten myself into a mess.

Xu Zhaozhao had no choice but to take over.

So far, Xie Chan's dowry has reached 2,500 strings of cash, two decent farms, and a total of four shops.

In fact, a concubine's daughter already possesses quite a few properties upon marriage.

Xu Zhaozhao and Xie Zheng discussed it again, and as the elder brother and sister-in-law, they added another 500 strings of cash, making a total of 3,000 strings of cash for the dowry. As for the property, the public funds and the father-in-law had already given them a lot, so the couple discussed it and decided to find another way.

Zheng Tuo is a military man, and cannot be called a general yet, but it's only a matter of time.

Therefore, Xie Zheng and Xie Zhaozhao's dowry included several fine knives, lances, and other weapons. Xie Zheng even selected two top-quality horses to accompany Xie Chan's dowry.

Marcos of the Daxing Dynasty were very expensive.

An ordinary family might not be able to afford even a low-grade horse, even if they gave up everything they had.

Moreover, Xie Zheng gifted two top-quality horses.

It must be said that Xie Zheng and Xu Zhaozhao's dowry was exactly what Zheng Tuo wanted.

In fact, Xie Zheng was also using this to tell everyone that Xie Chan was his own sister and no one could bully her!

With the wedding arrangements settled, the remaining details need to be prepared gradually.

Now that Xu Zhaozhao has some free time, she's thinking about Dingxiang and Xu Zhuzi's marriage.

"Now that spring is here and flowers are in bloom, it's a good time for you to get married. It's neither too hot nor too cold, and it will be more comfortable for you to wear your wedding dresses."

Dingxiang blushed deeply and stood aside without saying a word.

When people below them get married, there aren't as many rules or customs.

The wealthier the family, the more they emphasized the six rites.

For ordinary people, all they need to do is send out the betrothal gifts, and they can bring their bride home the next day.

Dingxiang and Xu Zhuzi were quite compatible, so Xu Zhaozhao simply invited Xu Zhuzi's parents over.

Dingxiang is an orphan who lost both her parents at a young age. Now that she has a man to rely on, she is naturally happy.

Xu Zhuzi's parents were originally Xu Zhaozhao's maids who came with her. However, the couple now live on a manor outside the village. They help manage a small manor and are considered manor heads. They have power and don't need to show their faces to their master every day. This can be considered a respectable gesture from Xu Zhaozhao to Xu Zhuzi.

As for Dingxiang's dowry, since she herself had no parents, Xu Zhaozhao naturally helped her prepare it.

The Great Xing Dynasty had many strict rules regarding status, so Xu Zhaozhao couldn't give Dingxiang anything too valuable, but she could grant her freedom.

“Miss, I won’t leave! Even if I get married, I will still be your maid. You don’t need that nonsense about freedom.”

For some abused servants, this might be a source of hope.

For some ambitious servants, this might be a way to climb the social ladder.

But in Dingxiang's view, freedom is the most useless thing.

She has lived for more than ten years and has seen all kinds of people.

Some people, though registered as farmers, live far less well than she does.

Dingxiang, by her master's side, was able to eat and dress well, and even save up a considerable amount of private money.

But if she were just an ordinary farm girl, and if she were lucky enough to grow up safely, she could be betrothed to a similar family.

But if she was unlucky, she might be sold into a wealthy family as a concubine or maid because of her good looks, or she might even die young.

Therefore, in Dingxiang's view, only by following her master could she live a good life.

"Alright, what nonsense are you talking about! Get up. If you still want to work for me in the future, you can just sign a new contract. There's no need to humiliate yourself."

A work contract is naturally different from a contract of servitude.

Despite having a work contract, Dingxiang was still a free person, not a slave.

“You’ve been by my side for so many years. To be honest, I’m not happy about you getting married. But you had to get married sooner or later. It’s not just you, but also Shaoyao, Zisu, and others. When you reach a certain age, you have to do what you should do. Zhuzi is a good person. His parents are honest and kind. If you marry him, you won’t suffer any grievances in the future.”

Dingxiang cried so hard that tears and snot streamed down her face, and she was no longer the beautiful girl she used to be.

"Peony, take her downstairs to freshen up first. If Zhuzi comes and sees this, he'll think I'm bullying her."

"Yes, master."

Sure enough, when Xu Zhuzi arrived and saw that his beloved's eyes were red and swollen, he knew that she was reluctant to leave her master.

"You two are well-matched in age and deeply in love. Xu Zhuzi, I now formally ask you, are you willing to marry Dingxiang?"

"I'm willing."

"Hmm, do your parents know about this?"

"knew."

"Alright, have your parents come over later, they can come in person to propose marriage, remember to prepare things."

Xu Zhaozhao's reminder was quite obvious, and Xu Zhuzi immediately kowtowed to his master.

"Let me ask you first, what are your plans if you two were to get married?"

Xu Zhuzi's mind was clear now, and he thought about it carefully: "Reporting to Master, I am your servant, and naturally I will obey your orders in everything."

Xu Zhuzi now lives in Baiweixuan. He is mainly responsible for Baiguoyuan's external cooperation and also supervises the subordinate managers.

Xu Zhuzi's parents have been arranged to live on the estate below, so they no longer need to serve in the manor. They are much more at ease, and since they are now the heads of the estate, they are naturally more proud than before.

Xu Zhuzi felt that it didn't matter where he stayed, so he stayed at Baiweixuan. If he had something to report to the Duke's Mansion, he would leave quickly.

“You’re doing my bidding, after all, and who in the capital doesn’t know you, Steward Xu? It’s not right for you to not even have a decent house.”