Chapter 48: Cleverly Redeeming the Body Contract

  It is said that Zhang's family invited him to see a doctor, and the doctor came to the door with his medicine box.

  As soon as he entered the door, he saw that the little servants on the road had a somewhat strange expression, so he kept an eye on them.

  Someone led the doctor to the embroidered building where the young lady lived.

  "It's right here, Doctor, just go in yourself." The little servant said, and with a puff of smoke, he vanished.

  The doctor's heart was filled with three more parts of doubt.

  Pushing open the door and entering, the embroidered building has two floors. There is no one downstairs, it seems that the young lady is still on the second floor and hasn't come down yet.

  The doctor did not make a sound, perked up his ears to listen to the movement upstairs, and vaguely heard a few words, one of which was slightly louder, the two words "leprosy" clearly poured into his ears.

  "Is it the doctor who has arrived downstairs?" a young maid's voice came over.

  "It's me, I invite you, miss, to come downstairs for a consultation." The doctor said in a trembling voice.

  "It's here."

  After a burst of footsteps, a pretty maid supported Miss Zhang down the stairs.

  The doctor's eyes widened as he gazed at the large red blotch on his face, a shocking sight.

  "Doctor, are you taking her pulse now?" Meng He asked, supporting Miss Zhang.

  "Ah - ask first, ask first."

  The doctor didn't dare to extend his hand to feel the pulse, and instead asked about the time of onset, symptoms and other things.

  Seeing the red blisters bulging on Miss Zhang's exposed wrist, the doctor's heart skipped a beat and he wished he could just walk away.

  "Hey - are you a doctor or not? You've asked that question three times already!"

  Meng He was furious and stretched out his hand as if he wanted to push him away.

  "Ah! Your hand—" The doctor exclaimed in a startled voice.

  On Meng He's outstretched arm, some small red spots suddenly appeared.

  "What's going on? It was just fine a moment ago!" Meng He exclaimed.

  "I'll go take another look at the medical book, goodbye!"

  The doctor grabbed his medical box and ran out of the embroidered building without looking back.

  Outside the embroidered building, there were not a few servants who stuck their heads out to take a peek.

  "Look! The doctor is coming out."

  The doctor ran with a flushed face, and sweat dripped down drop by drop.

  "Doctor, what's wrong with our young lady?" The steward of the Zhang household asked, forcing himself to go and ask.

  "Leper--it's definitely leprosy. The maid has already been infected." The doctor said with certainty.

  "Ah! Xiaohua has been infected with leprosy!" With a loud noise, the crowd dispersed, and no one dared to stay here anymore.

  The doctor didn't even charge for the consultation fee, and he was eager to leave this place as soon as possible and go home to take a medicinal bath.

  Although Zhang Yuan ordered a gag order, the news that Miss Zhang had leprosy still spread quickly throughout Jinghai County.

  Many people outside of Zhang's family are gloating over his misfortune, but the ones who are most enthusiastically spreading the news are actually his own relatives.

  Zhang's family had no sons, and after the division of the family property in recent years, their household was thriving. The main house couldn't help but feel envious when they saw this, and it was inevitable that some ideas would arise in their hearts. If Zhang were to marry his daughter into the White family, wouldn't this vast fortune be like throwing meat to a tiger's mouth? In the future, not even a single hair could be pulled out.

  So as soon as something happened to Zhang's daughter, her family openly and secretly spread the news everywhere, and they couldn't wait to personally deliver this message to the White House.

  This concerns the marriage of Young Master Bai, how could the Bai Manor not know about this kind of news? If that's the case, then the Bai Manor wouldn't be considered a top-notch aristocratic family in Feng Ming Manor.

  Bai Fu didn't come personally to ask questions, instead he sent a mole from Jinghai County to visit Zhang Fu and verify the news.

  A few days later, a letter from the White Mansion arrived at Zhang's house, with very polite language, roughly saying that after consulting with a fortune teller, the eight characters of their second young master and Miss Zhang were not compatible, if they got married, there might be some obstacles, so the marriage had to be called off, regrettable, hoping Miss Zhang would find another good match.

  Zhang Yuan was depressed and also knew that this situation made it impossible for them to form an alliance with the Bai family. Not to mention the Bai family, now even in Qinghai County, it's probably hard to find someone willing to marry Miss Zhang.

  These days, Miss Zhang's condition has not worsened, but there is no sign of improvement either. After Meng He was infected, he still took good care of Miss Zhang with all his heart, while the other servants kept a safe distance from her. Several more doctors were invited, but they either made excuses to stay away or stood far off and glanced at her briefly before prescribing some ineffective medicinal soups.

  Zhang Yuan's hair turned white with worry.

  At this time, the housekeeper came to report that Meng He's elder brother, Meng Chao, had come to visit.

  "A poor and weak scholar like you, what are you doing here? Just send him away." said Zhang Yuanwai impatiently.

  "Master, this Meng Xiūcái says he wants to come and redeem his sister's body contract. I didn't dare take charge of it myself, so I reported it to you."

  "Why don't you go find Third Madam about the servant girl's matter?"

  The legitimate wife of Zhang, also the birth mother of Miss Zhang, passed away when she was 12 years old. Zhang had many concubines, and at that time, he promised to make whoever gave birth to a son his new legitimate wife. As a result, until now, the position of legitimate wife remains vacant. Not to mention a son, there is only one daughter, Miss Zhang.

  The inner house has no mistress, and some daily affairs are handled by the third wife who is more clever.

  "This... I've asked Third Madame about it, and she says let Master make a decision."

  Zhang Yuan was extremely annoyed in his heart and said, "What ransom! Tell that poor guy, if he can take out 200 taels of silver, then he can take his sister back."

  Meng He sold himself into slavery in the Zhang household to pay off a debt, but he only owed thirty taels of silver. Now, Official Zhang is demanding two hundred, which is utterly extortionate.

  "That Meng Chao is a scholar, he uses the law to reason things out. He says that Meng He fell ill at our estate and according to the law, if we can't cure him, then he can redeem the person back at the original price." The steward said.

  Zhang Yuan suddenly remembered that Meng He had been infected with leprosy by his own daughter, and his heart was moved. If he let him stay at home, he would have to ask a doctor for treatment and there was also the risk of infection. Thirty taels of silver were enough for Meng Chao to take him back, which wasn't bad either.

  The housekeeper looked at Zhang Yuan's expression and knew he hadn't thought of the crucial point, so he hastily spoke up to remind him.

  "The three ladies said, letting people go out is nothing, but Miss's place will have no one to serve, so it's a bit difficult."

  Zhang Yuan slapped his forehead, he had really forgotten about this matter in his hurry. Now the whole family considers the embroidered building in the backyard to be a place of dread, only Meng He and Miss Zhang have deep feelings for each other and both fell ill at the same time, so they take turns serving her without even changing their clothes, if one of them leaves, there will really be no one to take care of the daughter.

  Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and could only see Meng Chao first.

  As soon as they met, Meng Chaogui's tall and majestic figure gave Zhang a shock, he really didn't expect that Meng He had such an older brother.

  It turns out that the Meng family was originally a bailiff's office, which suddenly became clear.

  "Outside the door," Meng Chao cupped his hands in greeting, "I heard that my younger sister is ill at your residence and have come to pay a visit. Additionally, I hope to redeem my younger sister's contract so that I can take her back home to rest."

  "I won't hide it from you, Meng Xiuzai, but the illness that Xiao He got is the same as my daughter's. Why not just let her stay in our mansion and invite a doctor to treat her with medicine? Moreover, the two of them can also take care of each other. In your household, there isn't an experienced elder or even a servant to take care of the patient, how can they be properly cared for?"

  Meng Chao seemed to have some intention, but still proposed to see his sister first.

  Zhang Yuan was unable to stop it and had no choice but to let the housekeeper arrange it.

  Meng He saw his brother, but instead of rushing up to him, he took a few steps back.

  "Brother, don't come over here, be careful you get infected again."

  Meng Chao's eyes dropped tears, "Xiao He, I'm here to take you home. Father told me before he passed away that I must take good care of you, now I finally have the money to redeem your contract, no matter how sick you are, I will definitely bring you back and take good care of you, this is also the wish of the deceased elders."

  "It can't be done, Miss Zhang is also ill, I have to go and there's no one to take care of her, I don't want to leave." Meng He also cried.

  Two people stood ten or so steps apart, one speaking and the other crying. Meng Chao insisted on taking his sister home, but Xiao He refused to leave.

  After a long time, Meng Chao turned around and found Zhang Yuanwai.

  "Besides, my sister and your young lady are very close, and she is not willing to return home with me alone. However, my sister's contract must be redeemed. How about this: I redeem Xiaohua's contract, and then have her sign a new contract with your household as a servant, so that she can continue to serve the young lady?"

  The contract of a hired laborer and that of a slave are vastly different, so doing this would free Xiaohua from her status as a household slave of the Zhang family, making it impossible for them to punish or sell her, and allowing Menghua to quit at any time.

  Chapter staff looked at them two cry cry half a day, early has been impatient, one heart only think early point to settle this matter go back rest.

  Xin thought Meng Chao had made up his mind to redeem his sister, according to the law, unless he could cure Meng He's leprosy, otherwise it was unstoppable. Anyway, people were still staying in the mansion serving their daughter, so be it.

  "All right, you go and find the housekeeper to deal with this matter."

  Upon hearing this, Meng Chao and Meng He couldn't help but reveal their joy. After exchanging a meaningful glance, Meng He went to share the good news with Miss Zhang, while Meng Chao took advantage of the opportunity to find the steward and search for the original sale contract.

  After about half a time, one of the corner gates of the Zhang Mansion opened and Meng Chao walked out from inside with big strides.

  The door behind him closed with a creak.

  Meng Chao turned around and gazed intently at the courtyard wall of the Zhang residence.

  How many times in the past had I wandered outside this high wall, thinking of my loved ones and worrying about whether my younger sister inside was doing well or being bullied, with a single wall separating us into two parts.

  A man has tears but doesn't easily shed them; for his sister's sake, Meng Chao had unknowingly flowed countless hot tears in his heart.

  Unexpectedly, this time I easily solved this big knot in my heart.

  Although my sister is still in this wall, she is no longer a servant and can leave at any time, completely restoring her freedom.

  The scenery changed in an instant, and the gloomy and depressing courtyard walls I used to see suddenly became red walls and green tiles, full of vitality.

  At this time, Meng Chao's mind had only one thought, which was to find Yang Yun and have a good drink together.

  It was all thanks to Yang Yun's idea this time, and I don't know where he got the medicine from. After applying it to his skin, it was like he had leprosy, and even several doctors couldn't tell.

  Not only was Miss Zhang and Bai Mazi's marriage ruined, but they also redeemed Xiao He's body contract. Meng Chao tightly grasped the thin paper, worried that when drinking with Yang Yun later, he would accidentally cry out in a loss of composure.