Chapter 373: The Person Who Voluntarily Surrendered
Zhang Liliang was shocked when he heard it, and asked, "Are these medicinal materials very expensive? So exaggerated as to ruin a family completely?"
"Yes, don’t listen to those so-called famous doctors, we ordinary people can’t afford them." The man sighed and said again.
Zhang Liliang rushed to say, "No, we can’t say that. The woman is my daughter’s god sister. She has been paying for our medicines for treating Rongrong and her mother, and she even has ordered to purchase two more items from the medicinal formulas."
The man couldn’t help but widen his eyes, "Then you have met a benefactor. These random two items of medicine alone cost almost a hundred silver. Don’t underestimate these medicinal materials, they may not necessarily be cheaper than ginseng, and there are still two items that have not passed through my hands despite the many years."
Zhang Liliang was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped. Just any two of the medicinal materials would cost a hundred silver, so how much silver had Ruozhu spent for his family?
He dazedly bid his friend farewell and didn’t dare to mention it to Rongrong and her mother when he returned home, fearing they would be too scared to continue their treatment.
But having spent so much silver on Bai Ruozhu, can he repay it in his lifetime?
He glanced into the room, what if he had to wrong Diao Zhen and Rongrong? He shook his head swiftly in his heart, no, he couldn’t wrong his wife and daughter.
With that thought, he finally made up his mind.
On Bai Ruozhu’s side, after checking the conditions of Aunt Zhang and Rongrong, they seemed to be recovering well and seemed mentally stable, so she felt much more at ease. But the hair of Rongrong’s mother was all burnt, and it was intolerable in cold weather. When the wound on her face is a bit healed in a few days, she could give her a hat she had crocheted herself.
Thinking of Rongrong’s mother’s original thick black hair, Bai Ruozhu felt sad again.
After helping the two change their medicine and washing her hands, Bai Ruozhu excused herself planning to go home. Zhang Liliang followed her out and said to her, "Ruozhu, I hope I could take a bit of your time. I have something to discuss with you."
"Okay." Bai Ruozhu nodded and followed him to the other end of the yard. Seeing that the place was out of sight of Rongrong’s mother, she guessed that Zhang Liliang had something to hide from his wife and daughter.
"Ruozhu, I asked a friend to inquire about those medicines. He said they are expensive and hard to find." Zhang Liliang spoke with a look of shame, his hands unconsciously rubbing together.
Bai Ruozhu thought he was embarrassed because he couldn’t find the medicinal materials, and she laughed and said, "Don’t worry, the man I asked found two more herbs. The rest will slowly come together, so don’t be too anxious."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Liliang’s body wavered and his face turned even more ashamed, truly owing Bai Ruozhu more.
Thinking of this, he suddenly knelt down on the ground. Bai Ruozhu was startled. Because she was still holding Dengdeng in her arms, she couldn’t help Zhang Liliang get up and said anxiously, "Uncle Zhang, what are you doing? If you don’t get up, I will have to ask Aunt Zhang to persuade you."
Zhang Liliang didn’t move, but lowered his head and said, "Ruozhu, I went to inquire. These medicines are very expensive to prepare. Even if I were to bankrupt myself, I could not afford them. You said you paid for these medicines for them, and I remember your kind intent, but we cannot take advantage of you for nothing."
Bai Ruozhu began to regret it. She should not have told Zhang Liliang the names of the medicinal materials. She said helplessly: "I was also advising Aunt Zhang that day. If these medicines are prepared, I will keep a box to sell off, and the cost will be recovered, so don’t worry too much."
Zhang Liliang shook his head while kneeling, and said, "Things should be separated. I, Zhang Liliang, don’t have many skills, but I am a man who distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. I don’t have much to return to you, but this one person can follow you and become your servant."
Bai Ruozhu was startled. At this time, people generally would not easily say that they want to serve others, because it involves selling themselves, and their wife and children will also be included in the servant register.
She hurriedly held Dengdeng with one hand and tried to pull Zhang Liliang up with the other hand, saying: "Uncle Zhang, what nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up and don’t scare my boy Dengdeng."
A shame flashed in Zhang Liliang’s eyes, and he said, "Let me finish speaking, otherwise I will feel very uncomfortable."
Bai Ruozhu could not pull him up any more, but she turned her body sideways and did not dare to face him kneeling.
"I, Zhang Liliang, have traveled north and south. Although I am not very knowledgeable, I have learned how to judge people. I can see that you, Ruozhu, are capable, no worse than a man, and much stronger than me. And your heart is kind as well as responsible. Being your servant, I will not worry for the rest of my life, maybe I am the one taking advantage of it." Zhang Liliang managed to squeeze a smile.
"Even then, don’t talk about becoming a servant. You and my father are brothers. If my father hears this, he will definitely beat me." Bai Ruozhu said with a wry smile.
"Uncle Zhang is not being polite with you, I really want to serve you and do some business with you. I have been tossing around for so many years and got nothing. Half a year ago, someone gave me a fortune telling, saying that this year I would meet a benefactor, aren’t you the benefactor of my family? From now on, if you have anything that needs errands, just order me to do it. It is better than you having to work hard, and it also provides a good way out for me." Zhang Liliang continued.
Bai Ruozhu remained silent for a long time. Indeed, she needed a confidante, someone to help her with things, but finding the right person was the hardest. Modern TV shows say this, right? What is most lacking in the 21st century? What is most lacking is talent! In fact, this sentence applies everywhere, no matter when, what is most lacking is always talent.
She could buy some servants, but it would take time to train them from scratch, and it would still be up in the air whether they were really committed, unlike her understanding of Zhang Liliang, she knew his character and roughly knew his abilities.
"Uncle Zhang, I have considered your proposal. I do indeed welcome you to do business with me, but I do not want you to be my servant. I can only accept you as a house steward or a concubine, neither of which falls within the category of servants, nor will there be an Indenture Contract. We are in an employment relationship, I hire you to be my house steward, and there will be a 10% bonus for the business I arrange for you." Bai Ruozhu thought about it and her expression became serious.
Zhang Liliang looked at Bai Ruozhu in surprise and said, "Forget about the bonus, my intention is to repay your kindness, and not to take more advantage. However, the Indenture Contract must be signed where it should be signed. The rule is so, otherwise who will guarantee your interests?"
Bai Ruozhu gave a faint smile and said, "If I can trust you, I don’t need that paper contract. If I can’t trust you, even with the Indenture Contract, I still can’t trust you. Moreover, the relationship between people cannot be measured by only interests. A single verbal promise is enough as long as the character can be trusted."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Liliang’s eyes turned red. He suddenly bowed down to Bai Ruozhu and gave three deep kowtows, his voice choking as he said, "Thank you, Ruozhu, for trusting me so much. I, Zhang Liliang, will never do anything ungrateful."