“But she is worried about having a girl who is not a slave by your side. If you want Su Wan to continue to stay in the mansion, you should first make her a slave. After Qiao Yueru gets married, you can take her as your concubine. In this way, you can fulfill the wish of the girl from the Qiao family and also make you happy.” Mother Duan also wanted her son to get what he wanted, so she came up with this compromise.
Duan Jingtian shook his head: “But we can’t let her be enslaved. She is a good girl, how can she be inferior to others just because I enslave her?”
Mother Duan said unhappily, “If she doesn’t become a slave, we can’t keep her in our house. For you, it doesn’t matter if she becomes a slave. With your family background and appearance, let alone Qingyun County, even in the entire Qingzhou Prefecture, if ordinary girls knew that they could become your concubines by becoming a slave, they would line up to get this position.”
“That Su Wan is just an ordinary cook. She must be very lucky to be liked by you. Just wait and see. If she knew she could be your concubine, she would be eager to become a slave!”
Duan Jingtian was anxious: “Mother, you can’t do this.”
Mother Duan: “Why can’t we do this? Do you still want that cook to be your first wife?”
Duan Jingtian knew that Su Wan could not become his main wife, but he still said, “But we can’t let her become a slave.”
Mother Duan waved her hand and said, “Son, you are still too young. If she knew she could marry you, she would be so happy that she would become a slave. Don’t say anything more. Go back to study. If you want to keep her by your side before you marry her, she must become a slave. Otherwise, how could the Qiao family let Qiao Yueru marry in smoothly?”
Duan Jingtian insisted: ” But Mother, you can’t let her become a slave.”
Mother Duan’s tone became more serious: “Then you don’t get to keep her in the Duan Mansion and cook for you anymore.”
Duan Jingtian was speechless. He knew his mother’s style of doing things. If he didn’t do this, his mother would really kick Su Wan out.
Duan Jingtian knew that it was impossible for Su Wan to marry him as his main wife in her current status. Not to mention Su Wan, even a girl like Yang Yunyan who came from a scholarly family was not qualified to be his main wife.
Duan Jingtian had no choice but to retreat. Su Wan had been wronged in this matter. In the future, he would definitely compensate her double. When everything went smoothly, he would naturally try his best to help Su Wan regain her good status. At that time, he would give her all the best things as compensation.
The next day, after Su Wan finished making lunch for Duan Jingtian, she was called by Mrs Duan.
Before, Su Wan only went between Duan Jingtian’s yard and the kitchen, and rarely went to other places, so she was still a little unfamiliar with other places in the Duan family.
Su Wan was led to the front hall of Duan’s courtyard by Mama Li, who was beside Mrs Duan.
Mrs Duan was wearing a gold-threaded origami brocade dress and a head full of gold ornaments. She looked wealthy and noble, like the wife of the richest man in Qingyun County.
Su Wan bowed slightly to Mrs Duan, performing the usual courtesy of meeting someone, but not the courtesy of a servant to his master.
Mrs Duan was holding a cup of the best Biluochun tea in her hand. She didn’t look at Su Wan, nor did she speak. She just used the tea lid to remove the tea leaves from the tea.
After a long while, Mrs Duan raised her eyes, looked Su Wan up and down, and said slowly: “She is good-looking.”
Su Wan didn’t say anything, with a hint of displeasure on her face.
Mrs Duan’s attitude was too condescending, as if she was looking at a kitten or puppy.
This made Su Wan very unhappy.
Su Wan didn’t say anything. Mrs Duan put down the teacup and said slowly, “Don’t be so restless. I have a great gift for you.”
A great gift? It must be a reward of silver. Maybe Duan Jingtian’s mother knew that she cooked well for Duan Jingtian. After Duan Jingtian ate the food she cooked, his body became healthier and his mind became more alert, so she called her over to give her a reward.
Yes, Duan Jingtian is the only child of the Duan family, and the Duan family is wealthy and powerful. If Duan Jingtian can have a good thing happen to him, the Duan family will naturally not hesitate to reward het.
Su Wan temporarily forgave Mrs Duan’s arrogance.
The silver pieces that Duan Jingtian gave to her were the size of a walnut, so the great gift that Mrs Duan mentioned must be extraordinary.
Su Wan came to the Duan family for two reasons: first, to get rid of the Wang family, and second, to earn money. With money, Shen Lin could get out of the quagmire earlier and live a good life a few years earlier.
In the book, Shen Lin, the male villain, treats Su Wan like a pearl in his palm. No matter what Su Wan wants, Shen Lin will try every means to satisfy her. Moreover, because Su Wan was wronged by Wang Luosheng and Yang Yunyan, Wang Luosheng suffered a big setback in his career.
So, when Su Wan heard the words “a great gift”, her expression softened. Since they wanted to give her money, she could be arrogant, because they were rich.
Mrs Duan took in the changes in Su Wan’s expression, smiled meaningfully, and said, “In a year or two, you can become a concubine in Jingtian’s room.”
Su Wan was stunned. So this was the huge reward that Duan had mentioned. What kind of reward was this? It was simply an insult.
Su Wan was a little confused and said, “Madam, is this the “great gift” you mentioned?”
In Mrs Duan’s eyes, Su Wan’s daze was because she was too happy and was stunned.
Mrs Duan continued, “But don’t be too happy. If you want to be Jingtian’s concubine, you have to become a slave first.”
Slavery, Duan Jingtian’s mother’s dropped bombs one after another.
“No.” Su Wan refused directly.
Duan Jingtian’s mother’s face was filled with anger again: “No? Just becoming a slave can get you the chance to be Jingtian’s concubine. This is something that ordinary girls wouldn’t even dare to dream of. How dare you say no?”
“You are not still dreaming of becoming Jingtian’s main wife are you? Let me tell you, for a family like ours, even if you want to be a main wife or concubine, you must at least come from a scholarly family.”
Mama Li beside Mrs Duan said with disdain: “For someone like you, being a concubine is a great blessing. You are not even qualified to be Jingtian’s maid. You can be Jingtian’s concubine just by becoming a slave. You are secretly happy but you still say no.”
Su Wan was shocked by the pride of the master and servant. In the eyes of Mrs. Duan and Mama Li, all the girls in the world would be eager to beg to be Duan Jingtian’s concubine.
Duan Jingtian is indeed good-looking and a nice person, but Duan Jingtian’s mother’s attitude is obvious: There are not many people in this world who are worthy of my son, and being my son’s concubine is already a great blessing.
Su Wan wanted to kill the pride and arrogance of these two people: “What I said is no, is because I will not be Duan Jingtian’s concubine, let alone a concubine, I don’t even want to be his wife.”
“I don’t even want to be a wife, so why would I become a slave just to be a concubine.”
Mrs Duan was very shocked. In Qingyun County, in Qingzhou Prefecture, there had never been a girl of this age who dared to be so presumptuous in front of Mrs Duan.
The girls who were of marriageable age with Duan Jingtian were trying to curry favor with Mrs Duan in the hope of leaving a good impression on him.
Mrs Duan seldom treated these girls well. She never expected that today, when she took the initiative to recommend this cook to be Duan Jingtian’s concubine, she would be rejected outright.
Su Wan’s refusal hurt Mrs Duan’s pride, and even more so, the pride and satisfaction of having an outstanding son.
Mama Li said, “Miss Su, don’t be so superficial. Forget about the legal wife. The Duan family is so big. Even if you are a concubine, your monthly salary will be several generations higher than that of the legal wife of an ordinary wealthy family. It’s just a slave for my young master. You have to understand it clearly.”
Su Wan: “Then I’ll say it again, I don’t like Mr. Duan, I won’t marry him, and I won’t become a slave for him.”
Duan Jingtian has done Su Wan a favor and is a good man, but the relationship between Su Wan and him is more of an employment relationship. Duan Jingtian’s kindness should be repaid, but it is not necessary to repay him with one’s body or slavery. If Su Wan knew the price would be so high, she would not come to Duan’s house to cook even if there was a huge benefit.
Mrs Duan’s face completely darkened: “Bitch, who do you think you are? Asking you to be Jingtian’s concubine is already a compliment to you, but you actually refuse to do it.”
“I think you are just dreaming of becoming Jingtian’s main wife. You look at yourself in the mirror. If you don’t marry Jingtian, you will just marry a peasant and spend your whole life digging in the dirt for food without any knowledge.”
“Since you don’t want to be a slave or be Jingtian’s concubine in the future, then you should leave the Duan family now. Otherwise, it’s useless to stay in our Duan family. The master is not the master and the servant is not the servant, which disrupts our Duan family rules.”
Su Wan said calmly: “I’ll go and get the wages right away.”
Originally, Su Wan was planning to give some face to Duan family for Duan Jingtian’s sake, but from Duan family’s words, it could be heard that Duan family did not regard Su Wan as a human being at all. Respect between people should be mutual, so Su Wan did not give Duan family any face.
Duan Jingtian was reading in the study, thinking about what his mother had said to him yesterday. He felt that it would be unfair to Su Wan if he allowed her to become a slave, but if he didn’t do that, according to his mother’s tough way of doing things, she would definitely drive Su Wan away. In his heart, he hoped that Su Wan could always stay with him.
During the days that Su Wan was around, Duan Jingtian felt that everything he did went much more smoothly, his mind was clearer, and his academic performance improved. He was no longer confused and wasted his time like before.
He will let Su Wan bear with it for now, and when Qiao Yueru gets married, he will compensate Su Wan double.
But what Duan Jingtian got was the news that Su Wan was going to settle her wages and leave the Duan family.
Duan Jingtian chased to the guest room where Su Wan was staying, and Su Wan was packing her few belongings.
“Sister Su Wan.” Duan Jingtian called Su Wan anxiously outside the door.
Su Wan opened the door and walked out.
Duan Jingtian looked into Su Wan’s eyes and asked, “Did my mother say something to you that made you unhappy?”
Su Wan didn’t answer.
Duan Jingtian said again: “Sister Su Wan, I have no choice. I hope you can stay. Don’t worry, in one or two years, I will free you from slavery. I will not let you be just a maid. I will make you a concubine. I will give you houses, farms, shops, silks, satins, jewelry, whatever you want.”
Su Wan found it a little funny. When had she ever said or shown that she liked Duan Jingtian? Duan Jingtian didn’t even ask her how she felt and just wanted her to be his concubine.
Su Wan raised her eyes: “In Mr. Duan’s eyes, am I not worthy of being his wife?”
Duan Jingtian was stunned. He knew from a young age that he needed to marry a girl of equal status as his legal wife. But as for concubines, he could marry whoever he wanted.
Duan Jingtian originally had no idea of marrying any concubine, but after meeting Su Wan, Duan Jingtian thought that he would only marry Su Wan as a concubine and treat her well.
Su Wan’s words stumped Duan Jingtian. Indeed, in Duan Jingtian’s subconscious mind, Su Wan, who came from a humble family, could not be his legal wife.
Seeing Duan Jingtian stunned, Su Wan smiled. In fact, she understood Duan Jingtian.
In such a feudal society, with strict class hierarchy, Duan Jingtian was not yet advanced enough to marry a cook as his wife.
Su Wan said: “Master Duan, regardless of the fact that I will not share a husband with others, you and I are just friends, so please don’t say anything about concubines anymore.”
“Su Wan is grateful for your help, young master, and will definitely repay you in the future, but not by marrying you.”
Duan Jingtian lowered his head for a long time, as if he had made up his mind, and looked at Su Wan again: “I’ll discuss it with my mother, I want you to be my legal wife.”
Su Wan smiled. Fortunately, it was an ancient society like today. If it were the 21st century, if a man said he wanted to discuss something with his mother before promising a woman, he would definitely be called a mama’s boy.
However, Su Wan could understand Duan Jingtian. In modern society, people still pay attention to the matching of family backgrounds. In ancient society, these were even more important.
