Qi Zhenzhen looked at the people with a half-smile and sat down in a chair.
"Brother Shanzhi, why don't you introduce her? Who is this girl? I remember you don't have any sisters, Brother Shanzhi." Qi Zhenzhen smiled, as if asking casually.
"This is Lian'er. Her parents are gone, and her relatives are not good to her. I happened to meet her and felt pity, so I brought her back," Li Shan replied with a sheepish grin, rubbing his hands.
"That's right, people in this life must be kind. But this matter is a bit inappropriate. Lian'er, a delicate young lady, just followed you back like this. Won't her reputation be damaged? It's fine for Brother Shanzhi to do good deeds, but you can't disregard the girl's reputation. If you bring her back, will she still be able to find a husband?"
Li Shan was a bit embarrassed, not knowing how to answer Qi Zhenzhen's question.
Bai Xuelian feigned composure, took two steps forward, and gracefully curtsied to Qi Zhenzhen.
"Miss Qi, is it? I've heard of you. Brother Shanzhi said that the family's current situation is thanks to you," Bai Xuelian said softly. "I must thank you too. If it weren't for Brother Shanzhi's business, I wouldn't have been saved. I have no other relatives, so I thought, I can't repay this life-saving grace with anything else, so I'll work like an ox and horse for Brother Shanzhi and Sister to repay their kindness. Sister is not feeling well, so I'll stay at home and be able to serve her. Brother Shanzhi can have a hot meal when he comes home."
These words were spoken with genuine emotion, as if everything had been planned.
Qi Zhenzhen pursed her lips and smiled, "Miss Lian'er is so grateful and willing to repay kindness, which is truly admirable. However, Miss's status is awkward, and it's really not appropriate to stay in this household. Think about it, Brother Shanzhi and his wife are deeply in love, and everyone in the village knows that. If someone suddenly appears, people will think Brother Shanzhi is learning from Chen Shimei. Won't this affect Brother Shanzhi's reputation?"
The little white flower bit her lip and looked at Li Shan with tearful helplessness.
A surge of righteous indignation rose in Li Shan's heart. "Zhenzhen, I am upright and honest, and I am not afraid of gossip."
"Brother Shanzhi, what you said is wrong. You are not afraid of gossip, but what about Sister-in-law and Huzhi? What will they think?" Qi Zhenzhen shook her head, looking as if they were doing something wrong.
Hearing Huzhi's name, Li Shan hesitated.
"I have an idea that will allow Miss Lian'er to stay legitimately," Qi Zhenzhen said, gently tapping the table.
"What idea?"
"What idea?"
They both asked in unison.
Their eagerness was so undisguised.
"If Miss Lian'er sells herself into servitude, no one can say anything. Now that Sister-in-law is pregnant and can't do anything, if outsiders see Brother Shanzhi buying a maid, they will definitely praise him," Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile.
Bai Xuelian's expression changed, and Li Shan was also stunned.
If she became a slave, she would be considered property, and no one could say anything about how the master treated her.
Bai Xuelian had intended to enjoy a life of luxury at the Li family's home, not to suffer here.
"Doesn't this make it reasonable? Miss Lian'er can repay them in any way she wants," Qi Zhenzhen said. "Or is Miss Lian'er just saying that casually, or perhaps, does she have other plans?"
Bai Xuelian bit her lip. She did have other plans, but she hadn't hooked Li Shan yet. If Qi Zhenzhen sent her away as suggested, how could she pursue him? Although the Li family's business was not large, they earned quite a lot of money. If she could establish herself in the Li family, she wouldn't have to worry about a good life in the future.
"Miss Qi is right. I have no relatives anyway, so selling myself into servitude is nothing. As long as I can repay Brother Shanzhi's kindness and take care of Sister, I will do anything," the little white flower said, constantly looking at Li Shan, as if she were being wronged but enduring it for him.
Tsk, this acting was much better than those little actresses in her previous life who only knew how to glare and pout. She could definitely win an Oscar.
Li Shan was indeed moved. He held Bai Xuelian's hand. "Lian'er, don't worry. Nominally, you are a servant, but neither I nor your sister-in-law will mistreat you. This is your home now, so rest assured and stay."
"I'll see this through to the end. I'll help Miss Lian'er write a deed of sale, then invite the village head to be a witness, and then register it with the government tomorrow," Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile.
Bai Xuelian was furious in her heart but had to thank Qi Zhenzhen on the surface. Her hands under her sleeves were almost crushed by her nails.
"Brother Shanzhi, you've been back for a while. You haven't gone in to see Sister-in-law yet."
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go see her now. Zhenzhen, please sit down."
After Li Shan went into the house, Huzhi came out, and Qi Zhenzhen sent him to invite Magistrate Song.
Only Qi Zhenzhen and Bai Xuelian were left in the room.
"Miss Lian'er, you've achieved your goal of staying. Aren't you very happy?"
"I have to thank Miss Qi for her help," Bai Xuelian said with a look of 'gratitude.'
"My relationship with Sister-in-law is like that of sisters. If she has any unhappiness, I naturally have to help solve it. It's a pity for Miss Lian'er, who will now be of low status."
"This low status is not permanent. How does Miss Qi know that I will always be of low status?"
"Then let's wait and see. If you want to enter the main house and have a good life, you'll have to see if you have the ability," Qi Zhenzhen said indifferently.
Magistrate Song arrived soon. He smiled and nodded at Qi Zhenzhen. When he saw Bai Xuelian, he looked surprised. "Zhenzhen, who is this? Is she a sister of Shanzhi's wife?"
"Sister-in-law doesn't have such a sister. This is someone Brother Shanzhi saved heroically. To repay Brother Shanzhi, she wants to stay at home to serve. It's not proper or right, so I helped by suggesting she sell herself into servitude so she can stay. Miss Lian'er is determined to repay, so she agreed. I wrote the deed of sale, but it needs a witness. You are highly respected, so I came to you?" Qi Zhenzhen explained the matter clearly in a few words.
Magistrate Song slapped the table and said sternly, "Nonsense, nonsense. How can Shanzhi be such a reckless person? Our village families live honest lives. Who else is so extravagant and gets a maid? When life was poor, they only earned a little money and now they are putting on airs like rich city dwellers? Aren't they afraid of being laughed at?"
Qi Zhenzhen looked troubled and pouted. "Grandpa Magistrate, you still don't know Brother Shanzhi. He's simple and honest. He brought the person back, and she's a pure young lady who has lived in the Li family for several days for no reason. If she leaves like this, how can her reputation be preserved? Besides, Miss Lian'er is unwilling to leave."
Magistrate Song sized up Song Xuelian a few times. "Where is Li Shan? Call him out. I want to ask him."