CHAPTER 44: FAMILY MATTERS

"What do you mean?" Xue Cong’s mother asked, and she glanced behind Xue Cong’s shoulder.

A handsome young man, dressed like a young master was standing not far away with an old man.

She could see that the old man was holding onto a sword.

"What have you done?" Xue Cong’s mother shook Xue Cong’s shoulder and before Xue Cong could respond, she came over to Lin Xuan Qi.

Without any warning, Xue Cong’s mother knelt in front of him.

This caught everyone by surprise.

"Please, young lord, if my daughter had made you angry, let me apologize for her."

She wanted to kowtow at Lin Xuan Qi, but she was stopped by him.

Lin Xuan Qi’s hands held onto her and helped her to her feet. "Please, I think you’ve mistaken. Xue Cong didn’t do anything wrong. We are here for something else."

"What... You are not here..." Xue Cong’s mother glanced at Lin Xuan Qi and back at Xue Cong.

Xue Cong quickly came over to her mother and held onto her mother.

"Yes, mother. I didn’t do anything wrong."

"Then..." Xue Cong’s mother was perturbed and couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

"We are here to see if you are willing to help at the mansion. As employed help, of course." Lin Xuan Qi said.

Xue Cong’s mother’s eyes lit up and she said hurriedly, "Please come in."

They followed her into the hut.

Inside the hut, it was as what Lin Xuan Qi had expected.

There was nothing much except a bed, a table, a few chairs and other essential items.

A man and a young boy were also in the hut.

Lin Xuan Qi presumed they were Xue Cong’s father and her younger brother.

"Sister!" Ah Di, her younger brother, came up to his sister excitedly.

He didn’t think that he would be able to see his sister in his life again.

Yet, there she was, standing right in front of him.

"Have you been taking care of the fields like I have told you to?"

Xue Cong asked, and Ah Di nodded his head.

"I have to... There’s no one else now." He lowered his head and said softly.

Xue Cong’s vision blurred but she was glad that they could be together again.

She patted Ah Di on his head like she always used to do.

Cough.

Her father’s cough made her stop and she glanced over at him.

Xue Cong’s father was looking better than when she last saw him.

A sense of bitterness lingered in her heart.

It was due to his sickness that she had to be sold into slavery.

Her father saw her gaze and lowered his head.

Knowing that he had done her wrong.

A few moments of silence ensued.

"You must be Xue Cong’s father?" Lin Xuan Qi broke the silence.

Xue Cong’s father nodded, and he stood up from the bed.

He tried to bow at Lin Xuan Qi, but he was still weak and wobbled a bit.

Xue Cong instinctively ran up and held him.

She helped him sit back on the bed and took a step back.

Not knowing what to say to him.

Lin Xuan Qi walked over to the bed and said, "I’m here to see if you, Xue Cong’s mother and her younger brother would like to join and work in my mansion."

"Work?" Her father’s eyes opened wide and he couldn’t help it but gave out a cough from the great news.

Even though he had recovered, there wasn’t much work that he could get after the lull.

It was a godsend if they could be employed by Lin Xuan Qi.

"I would need someone to do carpentry, someone who can sew well and a page.

"It would be fifty copper coins per month for each of you.

"Food and lodging would be provided, and if you don’t feel comfortable, you can come stay here at home if you want."

Xue Cong’s father glanced over at Xue Cong’s mother, not believing his good luck.

Now he was able to earn some money and also get to see his daughter.

Even though he had told himself that he should think of it as Xue Cong was gone from his life forever, he still wanted to know how she was.

Both Xue Cong’s father and mother quickly nodded their heads and said in unison, "We are more than willing to work for you, Master..."

"Great. I’m Lin Xuan Qi. You can just call me Master Lin if you like."

"Thanks so much, Master Lin. You can call me Old Shao, and my wife, Mei Jiao."

Lin Xuan Qi nodded, glanced over to Xue Cong and said, "Me and Master Lee will look around outside.

"Have a good chat with your family and ask them to get ready.

"We will move when I get back."

Xue Cong nodded, and Lin Xuan Qi got out of the hut.

He figured that Xue Cong would want to have some time with her family.

After all, he wasn’t used to such a tricky family situation.

"Xue Cong..." Old Shao glanced at Xue Cong, and he said what was in his mind all this time, "...I’m sorry."

Xue Cong lowered her head, bit her lips and couldn’t help it but let her tears well up in her eyes.

Things were fine for her now, but it could have been a disastrous turn for her if not for Lin Xuan Qi.

She could have been sold to one of those young masters who treated their servant girls like a dog.

Sometimes the young master’s dogs would have better treatment from these young masters.

Any mistakes and she might be punished and whipped to death.

It was within a master’s right to do so in Da Qian if your slave made a mistake.

Her life could have been like dirt.

Fortunately, it was not so and here she was.

A chance to be reunited with her younger brother.

As for her parents, she didn’t know if she would be able to forgive them, but she was still glad that they were still alive and well.

"It’s all right if you don’t forgive us..." Mei Jiao lowered her head and said.

Xue Cong didn’t answer and proceeded to brief them on matters in the mansion instead.