Chapter 39: Begging Tearfully to Sell Herself into Servitude...

The arrival of Zhang Kun made Li Yuanjing feel a little embarrassed...

However.

When it came to his concubine, Li Yuanjing had no need to hide anything. He pressed a fierce kiss onto Yuniang’s tender red lips, patted her slender waist, and laughed, “Girl, today we’re doing nothing at all. We must rest well. Go, tidy up the bed properly.”

“Yes, brother…” Yuniang’s cheeks turned as red as apples, and she hurried off obediently to straighten the bedding.

…

“Master, I’ve found out everything…” Zhang Kun had obviously exerted himself these past few days; his eyes were bloodshot, his face haggard, and his clothes were stained with mud, as if he’d taken more than one fall.

He carefully recounted to Li Yuanjing the news he’d gathered.

That bearded Second Master’s name was Feng Er, nicknamed ‘One Blade’. He was indeed a brigand from the Boshan Gang, quite skilled and with considerable seniority.

Even more daunting was…

Feng Er’s elder brother, Feng Da, known as ‘Golden Beam’, ranked third among the Boshan Gang’s ‘Ten Brothers’, holding the third seat as the Third Boss. He commanded dozens of fierce desperados and had many fine horses—a formidable force!

Seeing Li Yuanjing’s expression change, Zhang Kun quickly comforted him, explaining, “Master, you needn’t worry too much. Though Feng Er and Feng Da are brothers, they don’t get along at all.”

“Feng Er came down from Wolf’s Den Mountain this time because he committed a grave offense—he slept with one of the Fifth Boss’s concubines…”

“Apparently, Feng Da had to put in great effort to smooth things over, even threatening to break Feng Er’s legs…”

“Break his own brother’s legs?” Li Yuanjing shook his head, laughing.

How could that be?

On this vast and fertile land, the principle of ‘filial piety governs all’ prevails—brotherly affection and familial hierarchy are sacred. No matter how furious Feng Da might be at Feng Er’s recklessness, he’d be more likely to protect his brother than harm him.

The fact that Feng Er had committed such a scandalous offense—one that should have earned him ‘three blades, six holes’—yet emerged unscathed from Wolf’s Den Mountain spoke volumes.

“Master, you needn’t worry.”

“Even if Feng Da uncovers what’s going on, this part of Iron Ox Town is under Cold Mountain Ma’s domain. Even Feng Da wouldn’t dare to act recklessly here.”

Zhang Kun had clearly thought things through, and hurriedly reassured Li Yuanjing again.

Li Yuanjing nodded slowly, “Brother Zhang, you’re right, but we must still remain vigilant.”

“Master, Brother Zhang, you’re both here.”

While they were speaking, Zhao Zengjin hurried over to greet them.

Li Yuanjing smiled, patting Zhang Kun’s shoulder, “Brother Zhang, we’ll discuss this later. Go home and rest. I didn’t sleep last night either—let’s all get some proper rest today.”

Seeing Li Yuanjing had regained his composure, Zhang Kun felt a bit relieved, exchanged greetings with Zhao Zengjin, and went home to sleep.

Li Yuanjing chatted briefly with Zhao Zengjin before taking him to the room to look at the new spinning machine.

Li Yuanjing trusted Zhao Zengjin’s character deeply.

Moreover,

This work was simply too exhausting…

Li Yuanjing could not afford to waste all his energy here. Zhao Zengjin, with his background as a carpenter, was clearly the perfect substitute.

“Master, is this really the new spinning machine?”

As the saying goes, ‘the layman watches the spectacle, the expert sees the essence.’

Zhao Zengjin examined the new spinning machine for barely a moment before his whole body trembled with excitement, “Master, your skills are like those of the immortals. Only an immortal could create such ingenious mechanisms…”

“Thud!”

Suddenly remembering something, Zhao Zengjin knelt on the ground, desperately kowtowing to Li Yuanjing, “Master, please accept me as your servant. Let me help you craft this weaving machine…”

Hearing Zhao Zengjin’s fervent kowtows echoing through the room, nearly swelling his forehead, Li Yuanjing finally came to his senses and quickly helped him up, “Old Zhao, you’re already my hired hand. Why insist on selling yourself to my household? Besides, I always intended to entrust this task to you.”

But Zhao Zengjin was no fool; he shook his head eagerly, “Master, it’s not the same.”

“Though I am your hired hand, we are not truly family. Such a marvel, touching every aspect, surely shouldn’t be entrusted to an outsider like me.”

“Master, I beg you—accept me as your servant. My wife and daughter ask for nothing…”

Seeing Zhao Zengjin kneel again, Li Yuanjing finally understood his logic.

In this era,

Commoners selling themselves to scholars or noble houses as servants was not a shame, but rather a mark of honor—something to bring glory to their family.

Just think: even in later, more developed times, many people would dream of selling themselves to gain favor, yet have no such opportunity.

Li Yuanjing had been visited by both Murong Kai and Zhao Bingchun—people of great distinction. That alone must have stirred Zhao Zengjin’s heart profoundly.

He was not only shrewd, but also calculating.

He wanted to bind himself to Li Yuanjing’s ship ahead of time.

Especially since Zhao Zengjin was originally of artisan status; being a servant would hardly be worse.

“Master, my wife and daughter haven’t had a single good day in all these years…”

Seeing Li Yuanjing still undecided, Zhao Zengjin raised the stakes by bringing up his wife and child.

Faced with Zhao Zengjin’s resolve, Li Yuanjing had no choice but to go along and agree.

“Ah? Master—no, Lord, I’ll fetch my wife and daughter right away so we can sign the contract!”

Zhao Zengjin was as excited as if he’d won the lottery, rushing home to call his wife and daughter.

Li Yuanjing could only shake his head and chuckle.

Indeed.

Reason is reason, logic is logic.

But when you’re truly in the midst of things, nothing is so simple.

Even the most brilliant mathematician might fail to construct a formula for the terrifying complexity of human nature.

…

Soon,

Zhao Zengjin brought his wife and daughter to sign the contract.

Upon seeing Li Yuanjing, Zhao Zengjin’s wife was even more excited than her husband, kowtowing fervently.

Clearly,

She fully supported Zhao Zengjin’s decision.

After all,

If this bond was established, her precious daughter might one day become Li Yuanjing’s concubine.

Even if not, should Li Yuanjing become a great household, her daughter’s marriage would be beyond the reach of ordinary folk.

Seeing both husband and wife so determined, what could Li Yuanjing do?

He wrote the contract, and had the couple and their daughter, Ginkgo, sign and mark it.

Once the deed was truly signed, Zhao Zengjin and his wife felt as though pardoned, and hurriedly bowed to Li Yuanjing with great respect.

Still,

Though Zhao Zengjin’s family sold themselves to Li Yuanjing for not a single coin, Li Yuanjing nonetheless gave them three taels of silver.

This left the couple in awed confusion.

In their twenty-odd years, they had never seen so much silver.

Zhao Zengjin wanted to refuse, but Li Yuanjing stopped him.

He told them: if they didn’t take the silver, he wouldn’t let Zhao Zengjin craft the new weaving machine.

Zhao Zengjin, helpless, could only accept.

With the help of Zhao Zengjin and his wife, Li Yuanjing—and Yuniang as well—were greatly liberated.

At once,

Li Yuanjing had Zhao Zengjin and his wife work in the courtyard to build the new weaving machine, while he went back to sleep with Yuniang.

By evening,

When Li Yuanjing was awakened by the quiet laughter of women outside and went to investigate, he was stunned.

Zhao Zengjin had already finished crafting a brand-new weaving machine, and his wife was spinning thread upon it while chatting with Yuniang.

Moreover,

The weaving machine Zhao Zengjin had built was clearly sturdier, more solid, and far more attractive than Li Yuanjing’s prototype.

It seemed that several small flaws had been corrected by Zhao Zengjin as well.