The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]

For modern people living in the 21st century with little to no slavery, slavery is definitely a no! Xu Feng should have been against buying slaves, but the idea didn't make him sick while living in ancient Donghua. The thing that bothered him most was the timing for buying servants and judging people's characters.

He wouldn't treat other people like they were below him.

Instead of worrying about his spending habits like the silent giant, Erlang, Xu Feng was thinking about other places to spend his and Lady Xuan's money.

Especially Lady Xuan's money.

Maybe he did have a spending problem?

"As a young mistress, there are many things to spend on," Xu Feng grinned mischievously.

*Thunk-thunk

As the Ox cart rattled, Xu Feng's bottom left the cushions and was airborne for a few seconds. Buying a carriage with good padded seating was also on Xu Feng's list of things to purchase in the future… the far future.

It was a no-brainer taking everything into account. From all the renovations made in the three courtyards to their trip to Yilin town, he really was a big spender.

Of the parts of Yilin town that they visited during this trip, there was no market for buying servants or slaves. He would need to talk to Erlang about it on their next trip. If there wasn't a market for slaves, he might need to visit a bigger city.

Although he was building trust with Si, San, and Erlang, they had only known each other for a few weeks. On top of that, the three servants of his home that he got along with were all young and spent most, if not all their lives in the Nanshan estate.

Recruiting servants of varying ages and skills was needed to maintain a successful estate. The estate was too large for the four of them to run on their own and build a successful business to support Xu Feng's new spending habit.

Xu Feng didn't trust or even like the other servants in the Nanshan estate. He would rather spend time finding more suitable people than take the insult from the current servants the Xuan's recruited.

Erlang made a small groan in response to his sassy young mistress.

"Young mistresses are supposed to spend money like water," Si stated proudly like it was a widely known fact.

San reached over from her perch in the cart to nudge the talkative Si, "Hush!"

Erlang's back moved suspiciously, up and down. Although it could have been the movement of the carriage, Xu Feng wasn't sure.

The Ox cart creaked and groaned in response to the uneven terrain beneath its sturdy wheels. The hour and change journey passed bumpily. As they progressed, the estate's lush surroundings gradually unfolded around them, revealing a picture of vibrant flora unique to the area.

Returning home to the tempting aroma of food, Xu Feng's stomach silently protested. He even considered maybe his ideas to get new servants was a bit too much. The scent of meat wafting in the air almost made his sore hips feel better.

Xu Feng ate a large meat bun only an hour ago, but food was his weakness.

The guards on duty were eating meat openly this time, so maybe there would be meat set aside for their group of four.

"Smells good," San said.

"Not as good as the wontons or meat bun," Si added.

"Meat is always good," With Erlang's conclusion, all three children nodded and Si gulped loudly as Xu Feng laughed.

The trip wasn't the most comfortable, but the companionship wasn't so bad.

As they approached the threshold of the Blooming Courtyard, Xu Feng made a decision. He would leave the task of unloading the cargo from their trip to Si and San and Erlang would deal with the cart and Ox. Xu Feng would track down Steward Wu if he was around, or one of the kitchen aunties if he wasn't.

Depending on how his conversation with Steward Wu went, a choice would be made about the fate of the servants of the estate.

Upon reaching the familiar courtyard, the group's coordinated efforts came into play. None of the three people Xu Feng wanted to chat with came to greet the "young mistress" of the Nanshan estate.

Normally this would be fine, as he liked his peace and quiet, but it didn't rub Xu Feng the right way today since he had been out all morning.

Xu Feng sighed as he resigned himself to the fate of a participant in backyard politics in an ancient world. He truly felt like the protagonist in an ABO novel, but he didn't want to be a catty "young mistress" in the future, so he would need to get rid of the drama lovers. That way, he can be a carefree estate owner!

In the quiet break, while the three young servants worked to unload their purchases from the morning, a random worry crossed Xu Feng's mind and made its way to his lips.

"I feel like I forgot to buy something important…"

Almost simultaneously, the three servants looked toward their spendthrift of a young mistress with astonishment and A LOT of judgment.

.

.

.

As Xu Feng leisurely entered the main dining area close to the main gate of the estate, the thick meat scent increased.

Sitting at the head of the table was Steward Wu, with the kitchen auntie, Lan, and the other odd job auntie, Lifen, at either side of him.

At the sight of Xu Feng, the two women straightened their backs but didn't rise or greet Xu Feng. Instead, they looked to Steward Wu, who slowly looked Xu Feng up and down.

"The young mistress has returned?" he questioned with a harmless-looking smile on his face.

If one didn't know they were in ancient Donghua, which was filled with "respect" and class distinctions this would seem normal. But this wasn't the modern era.

While Xu Feng was a modern man, he was now also the future young mistress of a large family. And he had promised to uphold the Xuan family's name for the entire time he held the title.