Seeing the little guy's heartbroken expression, Jin Shanyao reached out and cupped his face in her hands.
He comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, if you know you were wrong, we'll correct it."
Meng Anci emphatically. To get someone to work wholeheartedly for you, signing a contract and paying them are all external exchanges. The best approach is to win their heart!
Making him submit to you from the bottom of his heart and follow you is more reliable than any rope.
He deserves to die; he had to let his aunt say so much before he finally understood.
After much agonizing reflection, Meng Anci, "Auntie, don't worry... I will make him devoted to our family for the rest of his life."
Jin Shanyao was taken aback. "No, after all I've said... all you've remembered is the phrase 'to do the work'?"
Meng Anzhi, who was listening nearby, agreed. When her brother suggested signing the contract, she knew things weren't simple. Sure enough, her aunt's method was more ingenious.
Lin Mo went back into the house and repeated Meng Anci's words to Old Madam Lin Old Madam Lin then hugged her grandson and sobbed.
They lamented the injustice of fate, and the misfortune of their grandson, but for now, this was the only way to survive.
Lin Mo hadn't slept all night, waiting for Meng Anci's contract. Only when he saw Meng Anci bring in food at dawn did he finally ask, "Master, is the contract finished?"
Even though Lin Mo was intelligent, he was still an eight-year-old child. He couldn't keep things to himself. He was both reluctant to sign the contract and afraid that he wouldn't be able to sign it. His little body was stiff and straight, and his eyes were fixed on Meng Anci.
Meng Anci and said, "I tested you yesterday. Seeing that you were willing to risk yourself for your grandmother and sister, I knew you were a person of great loyalty and righteousness. How could I really let you sign the contract?"
However, my estate does need workers. If you don't mind, you can go there to help out. It's just that you're too young to do heavy work, so you can only do tasks like drying herbs and odd jobs. The pay will be less."
Before Meng Anci finish speaking, Lin Mo knelt down with a thud. "Thank you for taking me in, sir. I don't care about the money. As long as I have a place to stay, a hot meal, and my grandmother and sister aren't left to sleep on the streets, that's enough."
Old Madam Lin pulled Lin Yue and was about to kneel down and kowtow to Meng Anci, but Meng Anci stopped her.
I lost my grandparents when I was young, so I don't know what it feels like to be loved by elders.
Seeing the deep affection between you, grandmother and grandchildren, I couldn't help but feel envious, which is why I thought of taking you in. If you continue like this, I dare not employ you."
Lin Mo helped his grandmother up and quickly assured her, "Don't worry, boss, we will definitely work hard."
Last night, Grandmother said that Shopkeeper Jin and Doctor Meng were both kind people and wouldn't sign that troublesome contract. It turned out to be a test.
Lin Mo breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, he had passed the test.
Meng Anci didn't linger, instructing, "If you need more food, go to the kitchen. My sister will take you to the estate later. I have to go to the academy, so I won't stay any longer."
Lin Mo, deeply grateful, saw the person out of the house. Meng Anci turned around and saw Jin Shanyao standing under the ginkgo tree. His smile instantly froze on his face, feeling the awkwardness of running into an acquaintance while acting.
"Um... Auntie, I'm leaving now," Meng Anci, grabbing Black Grand Marshal and hurrying out the door. It was too embarrassing.
At dawn, the Lin family grandfather and grandson rode in an oxcart to the Second Estate, with Meng Anzhi following behind on horseback. Lin Yue always secretly glanced at Meng Anzhi, feeling extremely envious.
My brother told me that this girl is the same age as him, but she can see doctors and ride horses. That's amazing!
Meng Anzhi arranged for the three of them to stay at the manor, and had Fan Er show them around to familiarize themselves with the surroundings.
She then followed her aunt and gathered the people of the village together, dividing them into three groups to collect herbs, clean them, and dry them.
"It's harvest season for medicinal herbs on Hat Mountain. I've divided everyone into three groups, and you will lead the hired laborers, supervising and urging them to work."
The servants exchanged bewildered glances. They had always been manipulated and had never managed anyone before, so they were uncertain of their abilities. "Young master," one of them asked, "Can we handle this?"
Meng Anzhi laughed and said, "Why not? I taught you all by hand, so just hold them to the same standards you usually use for working."
From today until the autumn harvest is over, I will be with everyone. You will report your progress to me every night. Those who do a good job will be given a holiday and a bonus after the harvest.
With their young master in charge, everyone instantly beamed with joy, seemingly bursting with inexhaustible energy. "Young master, don't worry, I can definitely manage them."
Meng Anzhi smiled and turned to look at her aunt. Seeing her aunt raise an eyebrow at her, a little bit of secret joy welled up inside her.
More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
The Lin family, grandfather and granddaughter, had adapted to life on the estate. Lin Mo and Lin Yue followed the accountant to learn bookkeeping, while Old Madam Lin sat in the sun turning over herbs. The three of them ate and slept well, and were in good spirits.
That day, Meng Anzhi went to the Second Estate to check on the drying of medicinal herbs and happened to bump into Lin Mo coming out of the warehouse.
"Are you getting used to staying at the estate?"
Lin Mo nodded. "Everything is fine, thank you for your concern, young master."
"If there's anything you don't understand, just ask Steward Wu." Meng Anzhi glanced at the ledger in his hand and added with a smile, "Let me see the ledger?"
Lin Mo quickly handed it over.
Meng Anzhi opened the book and examined it closely. Seeing that the handwriting was neat and the accounts were clearly organized, she couldn't help but praise, "Your handwriting is really good."
As she handed the account book back to him, she asked, "Have you ever taken the prefectural examination before?"
Lin Mo's lips curled slightly, and his tone unusually confident, "I passed the preliminary examination last year."
Meng Anzhi was quite surprised, "I didn't expect you to be a student who has only passed the preliminary examination. Next time, I'll have someone bring you a few books for the imperial examination."
"Young master, there's no need for you to trouble yourself." Lin Mo's expression darkened slightly. "My father has been wronged, and I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to pursue the imperial examinations again."
Meng Anzhi sighed, "Every profession can produce an expert. The imperial examination is not the only way out. If you become a Sheng Dynasty accountant in the future, it will be much easier to overturn your uncle's case."
Lin Mo felt as if he had been struck by lightning; the troubles in his heart were suddenly resolved.
He bowed deeply to Meng Anzhi, his tone firm, "Thank you for your guidance, young master. I will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Meng Anzhi smiled and said, "I believe you can do it. Go ahead and get busy."
Lin Mo took his leave, Meng Anzhi came to Jin Shanyao's side, listening to her say to Wu Yong, "Give everyone some good food these two months, make big chunks of meat, and cook extra rice. If you don't have enough money, go to the shop and ask Qing He."
"It's Master..." Wu Yong followed behind Jin Shanyao, inspecting the drying of the medicinal herbs. "Master, Fan Er is ill."
Jin Shanyao paused, "Why didn't you go to the shop to see a doctor?"
"I had a high fever at the time, but no other symptoms. I thought I could tough it out, but it's gotten worse these past two days."
"Take me there to have a look."
Wu Yong hurriedly led the way. In the front room, Fan Er lay drowsily on the kang (a heated brick bed). Hearing the door open, he thought it was his roommate and called for water in a hoarse voice.
Jin Shanyao over a bowl of water and fed it to Fan Er. Fan Er gulped it down, then looked up and realized it was his master. Startled, he quickly stood up and apologized.
He was Jin Shanyao, "Don't move."
Fan Er dared not move again, obediently lying on the kang, watching Meng Anzhi take his pulse, his eyes couldn't help but redden.
He was sold at the age of thirteen, and it has been ten years since then. This is the first time that his master has personally fed him water and taken his pulse.
He now wishes he could die in his master's place...
Meng Anzhi's gaze darkened as she made way for him, saying, "Auntie, I've never encountered this disease before."
Jin Shanyao, after examining Meng Anzhi, frowned and said, "This is a plague..." Upon hearing this, Wu Yong took several steps back in fright.
Fan Er cried out in despair, realizing he hadn't really intended to die. He had just said it casually. He looked pleadingly at Jin Shanyao, as if asking his master if there was any hope for him.
But no one in the room looked at him, and his pleading gaze ultimately went unanswered.
Wu Yong felt a sense of panic. "Master, there are four people living in this room... If this is the plague, the others in the manor may have already been infected."
"Don't panic. Boil ephedra, apricot kernels, gypsum, and licorice root into a soup and distribute it to everyone."
She took off her purse and handed it to Wu Yong, saying, "The medicine inside should be added to the soup in five separate doses, and you should also disinfect the entire estate inside and out."
Wu Yong's hands trembled and his heart raced. He knew how terrifying the plague was, and he dared not delay in relaying the instructions his master had given him.
Meng Anzhi, "Auntie, will he really get better? Will it spread?"
Fan Er looked at Jin Shanyao excitedly, eager to know the result.
"It'll be alright, don't worry," Fan Er heard her say, and his heart finally settled down. He then fainted.