Chapter 160 - 159: Sending Someone Off
After dinner, Chen Afu, Mrs. Song, Mrs. Huang, and Aunt Mu washed the children’s faces and sent them to bed. Chu Hanyan, Yang Qian, and Luo Mei slept in Chen Afu’s bed, Dabao, Yang Chao, and Luo Mingcheng slept in Alu’s bed, Dahu and Daya slept on the bed in Chen Ming’s room upstairs.
In the late afternoon, while the children were sleeping, Madam Luo brought a few people to Lu Garden.
She said these were the servants Master Chu had selected for Chen Afu from the senator’s mansion and handed over the indenture contracts to Chen Afu.
Looking at these six people, old, middle-aged and young, Chen Afu had a headache. She wondered why her household needed so many servants and lamented that Mr. Chu really didn’t understand the hardship of ordinary people.
Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang, watching all these "freeloaders" arrive, felt a pinch in their hearts. They worried about the dwindling coins in their daughter’s savings. How would they now feed all these people? Despite their misgivings, they dare not offend, considering the visitors were from the senator’s mansion.
Madam Luo seemed to perceive the Chens’ dilemma and pulled Chen Afu aside, whispering, "The two stout men, one is Xue Dagui and the other Chu Xiaoniu, both have some martial skills and have worked as errand boys in the mansion. They aren’t merely guardians. Master told me they were temporarily on loan to your family, and we will still provide their monthly pay. Once you no longer need them, or find suitable replacements, they can return. The other four are a family. We have given you both their contracts and them. The older man is Mr. Zeng, who, despite being fifty, is a skilled carpenter. He also managed a village when he was young. Zeng Shuang is Mr. Zeng’s son, twenty-eight years old. Prior to this, he worked in the Foreign Affairs Room as a junior steward. He often runs errands, is good at housekeeping, and has connections with a number of officials. Zeng Shuang’s wife’s maiden name is Jiang, and she was in charge of sewing at the mansion. The young girl, Zeng Xiaoqing, is eleven, perfect to serve as your personal maid."
After hearing Madam Luo’s words, Chen Afu was truly grateful for Chu Lingxuan’s thoughtful consideration for her family. The two bodyguards, who could do more than stand guard and were temporarily assigned, could be sent back once her family was out of danger.
The people of the Zeng family seemed too good to be true. Each met her needs perfectly, and she was certain she would need their skills in the future.