Jin Shanyao scolded him, "A real man shouldn't kneel down so easily."
Although she didn't understand why human emotions could be so overwhelming, and why they wanted to get married after knowing each other for only a few months, she still respected Fan Er's choice.
She picked up the pre-prepared indenture, stood up, and said, "Let's go, I'll go with you to the government office to register our household registration."
Fan Er didn't react for a moment and subconsciously followed behind Jin Shanyao.
The government office hadn't opened yet, but Jin Shanyao didn't care. She pushed Wu Zhuangzi inside to announce their arrival.
Fan Er stood behind Jin Shanyao, timidly saying, "Master, this isn't appropriate... Lord Zhu is, after all, an official of the imperial court. Why don't we wait outside?"
"It's alright... Zhu Huaizhang wouldn't have cared if it were half an hour earlier," Jin Shanyao said. Not long after, Zhu Huaizhang walked in wearing an old official robe.
" Shopkeeper Jin, what brings you here so early in the morning?"
Jin Shanyao handed over Fan Er's indenture, laughing, "Change his household registration, from a lowly status to a good one..."
Zhu Huaizhang accepted the indenture, ordered the clerk to bring the household register, and after verifying that everything was correct, processed the indenture on the spot, wrote the official document, and stamped it with the official seal of the government office.
He handed Fan Er's official document to Jin Shanyao; his efficiency was astounding.
After checking that everything was correct, Jin Shanyao handed the fan to Fan Er and teased Zhu Huaizhang, "I paid you so much tax last year, don't you know how to get yourself a new set of clothes?"
Zhu Huaizhang stretched out his arms and looked around. "My official robes aren't damaged, what's the point of changing them?"
Jin Shanyao sighed, shaking her head helplessly. "Be stingy, who can be stingier than you..."
Leaving the government office, Fan Er chuckled foolishly, clutching the redemption certificate, and followed Jin Shanyao back to the Anzhi Hall. As soon as they entered, he pulled out a money pouch. "Master, this is my redemption money. Is it enough? If not, I'll add more."
According to the Anzhi Hall's rules, the price for buying a servant is the same as the price for redeeming them. Fan Er was an honest man and felt that redeeming himself early would be unfair to his master, so he added ten taels of silver to the original amount.
"I didn't know what to give as a wedding gift, so consider this money my gift money."
Fan Er was completely stunned, clutching the money bag blankly. He thought his master would raise the price and berate him for being ungrateful, not wanting to help him change his household registration without charging him.
Fan Er's throat tightened, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence, "Master... you don't blame me?"
"What are you saying? You're just redeeming yourself, not leaving Anzhi Hall. Crescent Moon Mountain will still need you to manage it from now on. But you absolutely mustn't tell anyone that I didn't ask for your redemption money."
Fan Er's nose stung with tears. "Master, rest assured... I will do my utmost to serve you and will never allow Crescent Moon Mountain to suffer the slightest loss."
Jin Shanyao at his pathetic state, her features scrunched up. "You're getting married soon... Don't cry all the time, people will laugh at you."
Fan Er couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Sigh... I'll listen to my master..." He wiped away his tears haphazardly, then looked at Jin Shanyao again, "Master, can you still help me propose marriage?"
"Of course..."
After Fan Er left, Meng Anzhi came in carrying the food. "Auntie, you just let Fan Er go like that?"
Jin Shanyao tidied the table, made some space, took the tray and set it out. "Once someone has decided to leave, there's no point in forcing them to stay. It's better to give them a quick death."
"Besides, Fan Er has always been diligent in his work at the estate. Last year, when he was collecting medicinal herbs at Crescent Moon Mountain, his arms were sunburned and peeling. He has saved the estate more than fifty-three taels of silver. This payment for his indenture should be waived."
Seeing that Meng Anzhi didn't speak, she suddenly laughed, "What's wrong? Don't want to release them?"
Meng Anzhi shook her head, "No... I'm afraid that if others learn it too, it will be difficult to manage them later..."
"Management requires an eye for people. Some people, you hand them a chopstick and they'll remember you for three years. Others, you can prepare a whole feast for them and they'll complain the food is cold."
As she spoke, she picked up her chopsticks and began putting food into her bowl. " Fan Er is the former type. People like him are rare, so you should treat him with sincerity."
Meng Anzhi nodded, lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, "I'll prepare a backup gift. After all, this is Anzhi Hall's first happy occasion, and we can't be careless."
"Okay, you handle it as you see fit."
As soon as Fan Er obtained his official registration, he rushed to the Du Household.
"Uncle Du... I've been freed from my lowly status."
Hongdou's father, who was chopping wood in the yard, almost chopped his leg with an axe. He straightened up and looked at Fan Er in front of the yard gate, "What did you say? You've been redeemed?"
"Hmm... Uncle, look, this is my household registration document. The stamp is still fresh."
Hongdou's father put down his axe and came over. He took the household registration document and examined it carefully. It really did have the official seal. He glanced at Fan Er and said, "It must have cost a lot of money to redeem yourself, right?"
Fan Er was about to say he hadn't spent any money when he remembered Jin Shanyao's words, and he chuckled sheepishly and scratched his head.
Hongdou's father didn't ask any more questions. He opened the courtyard gate and let him in, then called Hongdou's mother over and handed her the household registration documents, saying, "Take a look..."
Hongdou's mother suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and let her look... What could someone who couldn't read possibly understand? But since the head of the household had spoken, she might as well take a look.
She pretended to look at the household registration booklet several times, thinking that it looked the same as the one at home, so it couldn't be wrong.
Hongdou's mother returned the household registration to Fan Er, and then looked up to see her daughter peering out the window. Her face immediately darkened, and she slammed the window shut. Turning to Fan Er, she said, "Come inside with me."
Fan Er responded and secretly glanced out the window. Just then, Hongdou opened the window again, and their eyes met. His face flushed red instantly.
Inside the house, Hongdou's father sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) without saying a word, placing his tobacco winnowing basket on the kang table and starting to rub tobacco leaves. Hongdou's mother didn't pour water for Fan Er either, but instead held her own bowl and drank it sip by sip.
Fan Er sat on the bench like a prisoner, gazing longingly at the two elders.
Hongdou's mother cleared her throat. " Fan Er, you seduced my daughter when you were still of lowly status. I didn't want to speak to you politely, but I let you in because you helped Hongdou get out of her lowly status."
I ask you, where do you live, and do you have any living relatives?
Fan Er shook his head, "I'm all alone at home now."
Hongdou's mother glanced at Hongdou's father and continued, "After you are redeemed, will you have your own house?"
"I'm so happy today. I came here to share the good news as soon as I got my freedom. But I'm going to look at houses as soon as I get back. I'm determined not to let Hongdou and me suffer."
The Du Household had already found out everything about Fan Er's work at the Anzhi Hall. If it weren't for the Anzhi Hall's large size, business, and good reputation, they would have reported it to the authorities long ago.
Hongdou's mother was very satisfied with Fan Er's answer, and her expression softened considerably. " Fan Er... Hongdou is my youngest daughter, and we can't bear to see her suffer."
Now that you've been redeemed, will your employer continue to employ you?
Fan Er nodded hurriedly, "Master said that I should continue working at the Anzhi Hall, just like before, nothing has changed."
Hongdou's mother glared at her. "How can they be the same? You used to be a servant, and the young master could decide how much to pay you. Now you're a free person, so naturally you should be paid the price for free people."
Fan Er's smile froze on his face. "Auntie, my mistress has been kind to me. I'll take whatever she pays me... But don't worry, the money she gives me is enough to support my family."
"You... why are you so stubborn! No matter how good the employer is, they're still an outsider. If you don't fight for them, what will you eat and drink when you have children?"