To save Xing'er, I sold myself.
The broker held the contract of indenture and read aloud: "Lin Juan, aged twelve, voluntarily sells herself into servitude at the residence of Vice Minister Cao, receiving a sum of ten taels of silver. She must serve the master and mistress, be responsible for all manner of menial duties, or attend upon them closely, entirely at their disposal. Should she violate any of the above, she shall be punished without excuse."
When he finished, he smiled a false smile and said, "Thanks to the young lady's good looks and cleverness, the Cao family is willing to pay ten taels of silver. The price for you alone could buy two other girls. Come now, press your thumbprint, and then we can file it with the magistrate."
Truly, even a hero can be brought low by a single copper coin. For a mere ten taels of silver, my freedom was bought and severed.
I held that bundle of silver in my mind. Was I really going to become someone else's servant?
But without these ten taels, Xing'er would lose his life. Left alone, how could I possibly travel a thousand li to find our relatives?
I couldn't worry about that anymore. Xing'er and I—we had to survive.
The man in charge of procuring me for the Cao family was called Hong Da.
On the way to the Cao residence, he lectured me the entire journey on the rules—how to bow, how to reply, how to conduct myself—fearing I might do something improper.
"Don't worry, Master Hong. I have memorized every word you said, exactly as you said it."
In truth, how could I not know what a slave or maid needed to do, and how to do it? Back home, my courtyard alone had employed five servant girls. Only now the roles were reversed—it was my turn to serve others.
Hong Da laughed upon hearing this. "The young lady truly knows how to talk. It wasn't a waste for Master Hong to buy you this outfit. Let me give you the inside story: the Second Young Master's study is short of people this time. The Mistress personally instructed that a good girl be bought. You're literate and clever. As long as you pass the Mistress's inspection, you'll be assigned to a good post in the future."
When I heard this, my mood immediately grew lighter.
Although I had prepared myself to suffer hardship, being made a menial maid was still difficult to accept.
Only after entering the Cao residence did I witness the grandeur of a wealthy household.
Door after door, courtyard after courtyard, building after building—I followed Hong Da with my head lowered, having no chance to look at my surroundings.
Just as I was walking in a daze, I suddenly heard a voice say, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Startled, I looked up. A charming young woman was standing not far off, arm-in-arm with a noblewoman, followed by two young servant girls.
The charming young woman also looked toward me. After our eyes met for a moment, I finally remembered my current status and hurriedly lowered my head.
Hong Da hastened a few steps forward and said with an ingratiating smile, "Greetings, Concubine You, Third Miss. This servant has just returned from purchasing outside."
"What did you purchase?" the woman asked.
"Lotus lanterns, fabrics, and the like."
"Which courtyard is this maid from? How come I've never seen her?"
Hong Da hesitated. "Replying to the Third Miss, she was newly bought. The Second Young Master's study lacks a person. This servant was just taking her for the Mistress to inspect."
"Mother, look—they're always judging who to serve based on their status! When I wanted a serving maid, they found me nothing but stupid, clumsy ones. But when someone else wants someone, how is it they can find the good ones?"
The Cao family's Third Miss shook her mother's arm coquettishly.
A wave of delicate fragrance approached, and two pairs of pointed embroidered shoes appeared before my eyes.
"Raise your head," the noblewoman said.
I raised my head but kept my eyes lowered, letting them look.
I thought to myself: one was a concubine in the residence, the other a daughter born of a concubine—second-class masters, so to speak. No wonder the servants were so snobbish.
Following the principle of keeping my head down to protect myself, I said meekly, "This servant pays respects to Concubine You and the Third Miss."
"Oh? How did you know who we are?" the Third Miss said.
I said, "Just now when Master Hong greeted the two masters, this servant heard."
"Mm, rather clever," Concubine You smiled. "Are you literate?"
I suddenly had a bad premonition. "I recognize a few characters."
"That is sufficient to serve Yingshan. Hong Da, let this girl serve Yingshan."
I inwardly cried out that this was bad, only hoping Hong Da would bring up the Mistress to suppress them.
I hadn't expected that as soon as Hong Da said she was originally for the Second Young Master, the Third Miss would shout, "Hasn't she been given yet? There are plenty of girls outside. Can't you just pick another one? Who told you to pick a stupid one for me? Consider this making up for your past mistake!"
In a muddled daze, I became the maidservant of the Cao family's Third Miss, Cao Yingshan.
Her mother was Vice Minister Cao's Fourth Concubine. In my observation, this Fourth Concubine was quite favored and held considerable status in the residence. No wonder they dared to snatch people from Lady Cao, and no wonder Cao Yingshan was so willful, capricious, and bad-tempered.
I guessed that Cao Yingshan wanted me purely on a whim, solely to spite Lady Cao.
She was so arrogant—how could she truly think a mere maid like me was clever?
Because of this, in her quarters, I was nothing more than a rough labor maid. They didn't use me for close personal service at all.
I had never done labor before. How could I compare to now, busy from morning till night? At night I was so exhausted I'd fall asleep the moment I hit the pillow. I had no time to think about the grievances I suffered.
That night, waking to relieve myself, I looked at the bright moon in the purple-blue night sky. It was as if I were in my own family's courtyard, and I was still that idle, leisurely eldest daughter, always thinking something interesting might happen.
Autumn had arrived. A cool wind blew, and I shivered, hurriedly wrapping my outer garment tighter as I returned to the room.
But I had still caught a chill. Lying down, I felt my nose stuff up and my head ache.
The next day I woke later than usual. My head was spinning and muddled. I tidied myself up haphazardly and ran toward the kitchen.
I was only a little late, but the people from each courtyard coming to fetch hot water had already grown numerous.
I had finally reached my turn when a maid in emerald-green clothing lifted the curtain and entered. While chatting with the kitchen matron, she picked up the freshly boiled kettle.
Though my head was heavy and muddled, I was still quick of eye and deft of hand, snatching it back. "This kettle is mine. I've been waiting a long time."
"Which room are you from? Wait for the next kettle. The Eldest Miss is going to attend the Vice Governor's Lady's birthday banquet. It cannot be delayed."
That emerald-clad maid snatched the kettle back again.
Lady Cao was very blessed. She had given birth to the Eldest Miss and Second Young Master in succession. As both the eldest children and the direct legitimate line, they were naturally not to be trifled with.
However, first, I had already come late. If I yielded to her, those behind me would see that I, a newcomer, was easy to bully, and they would also jump ahead of me. When I got back, I would inevitably be scolded.
Second, I was unwell and in a foul mood. I snatched the kettle back with a sweep of my hand. "Everyone must observe first come, first served! I won't wait for the next kettle—you wait!"
That young maid had probably never suffered such a setback before. Furious, her eyes stared round as she darted forward to block my path.
And all the grievances and hardships I had suffered along the way surged forth while I was ill. My long-suppressed temper flared up, and I glared back at her.
Just as I was wondering what else she would do, my hair was grabbed violently from behind.
The pain made me suck in a cold breath. I only heard the kitchen matron say in my ear, "You worthless wretch, you son of a bitch, who do you think you are? I told you to wait a moment, and you get stubborn!"
Cursing me was nothing. Even a hit or a yank was fine—being a servant meant taking beatings and scoldings. But this matron dared to curse my mother.
I slammed the kettle onto the ground with force, turned around, and delivered a crisp smack—a slap across her face.
Hot water splashed in all directions. Several young maids nearby shrieked and hopped away. That matron was an old hand in the Cao residence. She froze for a moment, then her face purpled with rage as she tried to slap me.
How could I let her bully me? Filled with grief and indignation, I grappled with her.
That emerald-clad maid tried to intervene on her behalf, but I reached out and scratched her face. She cried out loudly and shrank to one side.
Thanks to the days when I was a wandering beggar, my physical strength had become much greater. Even while ill, I felt an inexhaustible power.
Or perhaps it was because I had been too aggrieved.
Those young maids had started by trying to mediate and watching the excitement, but they quickly grew frightened, shouting: "Go call the steward! Stop fighting! Stop fighting!"
When I walked back with disheveled hair and my face bearing wounds, the maid who had originally gone to the kitchen to hurry me to fetch hot water told Cao Yingshan exactly what had happened.
When Cao Yingshan heard this, she exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "You were truly so reckless? You beat Cao Wenqing's people? Wonderful! Well struck! Serves them right for being so arrogant all the time! Don't be afraid. They're in the wrong in this matter. Even if it's reported to my father, there's nothing to fear!"
I had thought I would return to beatings and scoldings. I never expected Cao Yingshan would praise me.
After she finished speaking, she told me to go back and rest properly.
I returned to my room, cleaned the grime from my face in the bronze mirror, and changed my clothes. Just as I was feeling sore all over and wanted to collapse into bed, Cao Yingshan burst through the door in high spirits. She looked me over, circling around, and said, "Once tidied up, it can't be seen at all. Come, go out with me."
Sitting in the carriage, Cao Yingshan said to her personal maid, "What do you think Cao Wenqing's reaction will be when she sees her?"
She turned to me again. "You will stand beside me today. Do you hear?"
I responded with a low "Mm," a bellyful of fire with nowhere to vent.
Cao Yingshan was in high spirits and didn't quibble with me. "Right, what's your name?"
"Lin Juan."
"What Juan? It sounds awful. Let me think what I should call you—what would be good?"
She lifted a corner of the curtain, looked outside, and murmured to herself, "There are quite a lot of people on the street today." Then, as if struck by an idea, she said happily, "You'll be called 'Duo'er'!"
At the Vice Governor's Lady's birthday banquet, lanterns hung and colored banners fluttered; pearls and jewels shone with brilliance. Noblewomen and young ladies from across the city gathered.
Cao Yingshan led me around for a few turns. Seeing that the Eldest Miss, Cao Wenqing, was chatting and laughing, not casting me an extra glance, she lost interest. She also found my sullen face a damper on her mood, so she told me to wait in the carriage.
I walked out from the lively grand event. While passing through a secluded garden, I suddenly felt the heavens spin and earth rotate. Darkness swam before my eyes, and I fainted.
Something cold struck my face violently. I shuddered and woke. Opening my eyes, I saw a concerned gaze, bright as a brilliant star, set upon a face like beautiful jade.
Only then did I realize I was half-reclining on a bluestone. Crouching beside me was a handsome man wearing a moon-white long robe, about twenty years old. Seeing that I was awake, he said gently, "Young lady, you had a high fever and just fainted. I used a handkerchief soaked in wine and placed it on your face to rouse you. Which family are you from? I'll go call someone to fetch you."