The Daily Life of a Female Esper in Ancient Times C.119: Freelancer

Xu Xinyue heard Li Xia call her "mother" and tears streamed down her face. She couldn't bear to leave Li Xia. "I won't go, I won't go. I'll stay with you forever."

"Mother, we agreed that you would return to the Xu family, and you can come visit me often. If you find it inconvenient to return to the Li family, wait two years until I get married, and you can visit me at my in-laws' home just the same," Li Xia persuaded Xu Xinyue.

"You're still so young, yet already thinking about marriage," said Xu Xinyue, wiping her tears.

"No matter how young I am, you'll always be my mother. As a daughter, it's only right that I take care of my own mother," Li Xia said, pushing the purse of money towards Xu Xinyue.

Xu Xinyue didn't accept it, wanting to leave some money for Li Xia to keep.

"Mother, don't fault me for worrying too much. Although you and my two uncles from the Xu family are blood siblings, you've been separated for so many years. I don't know what kind of person my aunt is or how my Xu cousins will treat you. If they welcome you warmly at the Xu family, then that's fine. But if not, you can use this money to buy your own house and live separately," Li Xia had considered many possibilities for her birth mother's wellbeing. She didn't want her to leave either, but staying in the Li family, she would forever be a concubine and wouldn't be happy.

Hearing Li Xia's words, Xu Xinyue couldn't help but feel that her daughter had grown up and thought more deeply than she had. Xu Xinyue had only been thinking about reuniting with her family. She hadn't considered whether she would be welcomed or not.

Her elder brother and younger brother hoped she would return, but her sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces might not feel the same way. Thinking of this, Xu Xinyue no longer refused and accepted the purse of money.

Li Xia called Qiu Chan in. Qiu Chan carried in a chest and set it down in front of them. Xu Xinyue looked at Li Xia, puzzled.

"This is a treasure chest I've prepared for you, mother. The bottom layer contains the jewelry I've prepared for you to wear when you return to the Xu Mansion," Li Xia pointed to the bottom layer, filled with jewelry. Even the gaps were filled with exquisite pearls, packed tightly.

"This layer is jewelry for my aunt and female cousins, as the styles in the border regions differ from those in the Capital City. And this layer is for my uncles and male cousins," Li Xia opened the treasure chest and explained the contents of each layer.

"I don't need all this," said Xu Xinyue, feeling as though she and Li Xia had switched roles. Li Xia had considered everything for her, while she hadn't done anything in return.

"Mother, I feel that the happiest thing in my life is being your daughter." Li Xia's words caused Xu Xinyue's tears, which she had barely stopped, to flow again.

"Mother, rest assured, I obtained all of this through legitimate means," Li Xia knew what Xu Xinyue was concerned about. She then opened a small box containing a jade carving depicting the two of them basking in the afternoon sun.

Seeing the clear likeness of Li Xia in the jade carving, Xu Xinyue didn't say anything further and accepted these gifts, knowing it would make Li Xia happy.

The Xu family had already purchased a house. Xu Xincheng and Xu Xinyong had obtained official positions in the Capital City. The two of them, along with their families, came to the Li residence during Li Hui's rest period to escort Xu Xinyue back.

The harsh conditions of the border regions had taken a toll on them during their years of exile. They looked a decade older than their actual ages. Xu Xincheng's hair and beard had grayed significantly, a far cry from the vigorous scholar Xu Xinyue remembered. Xu Xinyue couldn't hold back her tears.

The three siblings embraced and wept bitterly. Li Xia bowed to Madam Jiang standing nearby. "Aunt, I am Li Xia. You can call me Xia Xia."

Madam Jiang's ancestors had also been exiled to the border regions for crimes, and her family were military households. Initially, her family didn't want her to marry Xu Xinyong, but she insisted on marrying him no matter what.

Madam Jiang had seven siblings, and her brothers served in the military. With the Jiang family as her in-laws, no one dared bully the two Xu brothers. The brothers struggled to maintain their household in the border regions. Madam Jiang gave birth to their eldest son Xu Yizheng, second son Xu Yirong, and youngest daughter Xu Yiyou after marrying into the Xu family.

Madam Jiang thought she would spend her entire life in the border regions like her ancestors. She was surprised to receive news from the Beining Marquis Manor that her sister-in-law was still alive. As the son of the Marquis, their family's circumstances had improved. Her sister-in-law had also sent them money and goods, improving their living conditions.

What Madam Jiang hadn't expected was that the Xu family's case would be overturned, and they would regain their freedom. Her brother-in-law Xu Xincheng's status as a distinguished scholar was restored: a status that didn't require kneeling before noblemen. Those around envied Madam Jiang for being able to regain her freedom and leave the border regions.

Later, Xu Xincheng and Xu Xinyong followed the Prince on military campaigns and became officials. Madam Jiang never imagined they would end up in the Capital City, witnessing such splendor unlike the border regions. Her heart raced, unsure how to navigate many of the customs.

Upon arriving at the Li residence, Madam Jiang was also concerned that her sister-in-law might look down on them. But Li Xia's warm demeanor put her at ease. Madam Jiang hurriedly brushed up on proper etiquette, knowing she should present a gift on their first meeting. She took off a bracelet and gave it to Li Xia. Li Xia politely declined at first before accepting it and invited them inside to talk.

When Mrs. Lu saw the Xu family, knowing her presence might make them uncomfortable, she didn't linger. Li Hui accompanied them for the afternoon meal. Qiu Chan had already loaded Xu Xinyue's chests onto the carriage. Originally thinking a concubine wouldn't have much, they ended up with six large chests, more than their one carriage could hold. Li Hui arranged another carriage to send them to the Xu Mansion.

The Xu Mansion was one that Xu Xinyue had selected in advance. It was a large compound with three courtyards. The Xu family hired two servants to work there. They still did most of the work themselves.

Of Xu Xinyue's original four maids, three followed her, while one had married and didn't come. Xu Xincheng and Xu Xinyong arranged for Xu Xinyue to have a large courtyard to herself. Xu Xinyue and her maids moved into it.

Xu Xincheng and Xu Xinyong worked from early morning until late at night. Xu Yizheng followed his father to work. Xu Yirong was a good student and attended the academy. Madam Jiang took care of Xu Yiyou and led the servants in cleaning the house. It was so large that it took many days to clean everything, leaving her exhausted.

Xu Xinyue originally didn't want to get involved, but seeing Madam Jiang's efforts, she had to step in and advise her to hire more servants. She told her to only clean the occupied areas regularly and maintain the unoccupied areas periodically, not every day.

Xu Xinyue guided Madam Jiang and Xu Yiyou in managing the Xu Mansion. She taught Madam Jiang how to manage the servants and navigate social relationships in the Capital City. She also suggested that Madam Jiang could invest her money in land, fields, manors, and shops, and rent them out for income rather than managing businesses herself.

Money in hand is dead; it needs to be put to work, allowing money to breed more money. Otherwise, once these funds are spent, with only the meager salaries of Xu Xincheng and Xu Xinyong to rely on, how would they afford the weddings of their three children in the future?

Madam Jiang was very grateful to Xu Xinyue. Following her advice, she used the money in hand to purchase a shop, gave it a simple renovation, and opened an early morning eatery. It could earn one or two dozen silver taels per month.

Being able to earn silver herself, Madam Jiang no longer had to sit idly. Her spirit changed greatly. She was willing to spend money on better food for the family, no longer eating the tasteless fare as before.