Chương 36: 36. Snitches by her side

She ate her porridge quickly and sent Rouxi to eat as well. When she came back she had a weird expression on her face. Shu Ya was getting ready for the bath but stilled. "Speak."

"About Luoli, she asked can she have some food as well?" Ruoxi was unable to luck at her.

"What a strange question. She is not punished or something. Of course, she has to eat. Where is the problem?" Shu Ya felt that there must be another problem.

"The cook... he..." But Shu Ya was already outside when she started talking.

Outside were the two guards sitting with bowls of watered porridge and it looked disgusting. She grabbed the bowl and shook in anger. "He dares? Mingli!"

Mingli rushed out of one of the rooms and saw her completely furious. She threw the bowl to the floor and it shattered in thousand pieces with stew splattering around. "Where is the cook?"

Mingli turned his eyes and coldly looked at the man in the room. He calmly stood up and wished his oily face with a hand. "Who is asking?"

"I am." Shu Ya stood in front of him and pointed at the floor. "What is that?"

He looked at her and shrugged. "Food for servants."

She looked in the room and the table was filled with all kinds of meats and proper foods. Then her eyes turned to Mingli. "Did you plan to treat my people like pigs?"

Mingli suddenly went on his knees and bowed to the floor. "Miss, I didn't know..."

"It's not you didn't know. You didn't care to check. He is fired. Your punishment will be no food for one day. You will bring him to the next rest place now. I do not wish to see him even one more minute on this land.'' She was completely furious.

Mingli stood up and sighed. " He sighed death contract. "

Shy Ya suddenly smiled. "Then today he will be sold. As easy as it is. For the cook, find an older woman. Him, I don't want to have even minute longer here." She pointed at the food inside. "The food will be shared with everyone. Rouxi, bring Luoli as well and eat properly. The two of you as well. Mingyu, you help your brother." She rubbed her temples and went back inside while she heard curses from outside.

After a while slight knock could be heard on the door. "Miss, can I come in?"

''Enter." Shu Ya was already tired. When she saw Ruoxi again look at her awkwardly she sighed. "What now?"

Ruoxi pointed at her back. "Uhm... Luoli asked if she could stay as well..."

Shu Ya motioned to enter. "Bring her in."

Luoli slowly entered with the lower head and then went on her knees. "Miss let me stay here as well."

Shu Ya sighed. "Aren't you worried that I'll sell you in a fit of rage like that man?"

Luoli shook her head. "I am not. Actually I got tired of being always cold and hungry at an old mistress and was worried that the same thing could happen here as well. Sorry."

Shu Ya nodded. "I understand, but if you stay, you need to sign a death contract as well. Only that way can I be sure. Can you do that?"

Luoli nodded. "There is no problem with that. I am willing."

Shu Ya quickly wrote the contract and gave her to sign. "Louli, Ruoxi in future be honest with me. No matter what it is. I hope you will never lie to me. I utterly despise liars. Later on, I'll find you good families to marry. "

The two girls shook their heads. "Miss, in the world where men change their minds ten times a day we would prefer to be single all our lives then become a servant for the whole husband's family."

Shu Ya sighed. "For now you say that later you might change your mind."

When Mingli and Mingyu came back they stood in front of her with a depressed expression. Shu Ya rubbed her temples. ''I know that you had so much on your mind and that you care about me. But that person. I can bet my own life if it was not sent by one of my Bai family members. I had to get rid of him as soon as possible. In the future, we will have more servants as I have great plans. About the cook, don't worry about it. We are just six people this winter. We have enough food. By the way. That boy, bring him.''

Mingyu brought a shivering boy that stared at her with big eyes. She was just a little girl but quite a scary one. ''What is your name?''

''Tairong, miss. Am I getting kicked out and sold as well?'' He was completely pale.

Shu Ya shook her head. ''Do your job well. I am not a bad mistress but when someone is crossing me over, lying to me or even try to harm me in some way, I turn into a demon. Just warning in advance. Come closer.''

He had just a thin set of clothes on him and straw shoes and not even socks. She rose her eyebrows and Mingli stepped back and rose his hands. ''I gave him two new sets but I couldn't convince him to wear it.''

''Tairong. Why don't you wear proper clothes? Do you plan to get sick and stop working? Your job is for now not that hard. Is it worth you getting sick and having a fever for days?'' She blankly looked at him while he shivered again.

He shook his head. ''It's not that miss. I feared that the clothes would get dirty and wet while I work so I wanted to save them when we have guests so you don't feel ashamed of me...'' His voice became tinier and tinier.

Shu Ya rolled her eyes. ''I am not that poor not to be able to give you proper clothes. They are there to protect you. Tomorrow I will send Mingyu to the city to bring shoemaker for all of us. About food. We can cook together. It's going to be faster. In summer we can have a seasonal workforce to help us out and in winter for us six is enough. From tomorrow on, I want to see you wear proper clothes. Days are getting colder. No need to save something. If you safe on the wrong corner you might pay more than its worth. Do as I say. Did you all eat?''

The two big guys saw her eyes getting sleepy and red but she still tried to keep on being awake. they sighed. ''Miss, we have something to ask you but tomorrow.''

Shu Ya rubbed her eyes sleepily and looked at Mingli. ''You come with me to the main room. Rest of you please go rest. Ruoxi and Luoli please make the water warm again. I really can't go sleeping all dusty from the road.''