USWHC -Chapter 254 Open Selection for a Maid (Part 4)

“No, I’m only thirteen. My mother said I can wait another two years—better to find a good one first,” Huaihua replied honestly.

Girls like Huaihua were the kind of truly unspoiled village girls—simple and kind. Even if they had little education, their hearts were good.

“Have some water! Don’t just sit there!” Zhu Jie said warmly as she stuffed a cup into Huaihua’s hands. At the same time, she leaned closer and closer, almost pressing her face right up to Huaihua’s.

“Sister Huaihua, let me speak frankly. My household really is short of help. Look at this big house—I’m the only one managing it. Even if your Brother Ji Yi wants to help, he can’t possibly handle everything alone. And the most important thing is, neither Ji Yi nor I know how to cook. The two of us can’t even get a hot meal to eat. Don’t you think that’s pitiful?” Zhu Jie deliberately let out a long sigh as she spoke.

Seeing the sorrow on her face, Huaihua couldn’t help but nod along. “Not even getting a meal to eat… that really is pitiful.”

“Actually, when I say I’m looking for a maid, it’s not like those city households. I’m just looking for someone to lend a hand, someone to keep me company. We’d share the work. I wouldn’t treat her like a servant—I’d treat her like my own little sister. Don’t you think your sister here is a good person?” Zhu Jie softened her voice as much as possible.

“You look like a good person at first glance!” Huaihua nodded vigorously.

But Zhu Jie sighed again. “All I want is to find a good person. But you’ve seen it yourself—look at the kind of people who came today! Aunties, sisters-in-law, and even a nun came to apply. Tell me, isn’t that just ridiculous?”

“Yeah! What were they thinking?” Huaihua said with a serious expression.

“Isn’t it because they all think your sister here is such a good person? They want to come to my house and enjoy life with me!” Zhu Jie said temptingly, with a hint of pride. “But they really do have good eyesight. If they came to my house, life really would be comfortable—definitely better than staying in their own homes!”

Hearing that, Huaihua widened her eyes in confusion. Being someone’s maid could be better than staying at home?

Seeing her curiosity, Zhu Jie immediately spoke even more gently, patiently persuading her.

“Think about it! Our household is simple—just two people. Your Brother Ji Yi is easygoing, and as for me, I’m not picky at all. If you work with us, it’s freedom! It’s easy! Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. Just looking at you and Brother Ji Yi, I can tell you’re both good people,” Huaihua agreed, nodding enthusiastically again.

“Besides, our life is getting better now. Your Brother Ji Yi is also considered a scholar. In the future he’ll surely rise high and succeed. If you follow him, there’ll definitely be meat to eat. Don’t you think so?” Zhu Jie tempted her again.

Huaihua was quite cooperative and nodded. “Mm, Brother Ji Yi will definitely have a promising future. Sister will enjoy a good life with him.”

“Not just me!” Zhu Jie said very seriously. “Huaihua, you’ll enjoy a good life too!”

“Me?” Huaihua looked at her in shock, her face turning red. “Sister, don’t joke with me. There’s nothing between Brother Ji Yi and me.”

“Of course! Sister believes you!” Zhu Jie quickly responded, sounding extremely sincere. “Not only do I believe you, but I trust you too.” As she spoke, she gently took Huaihua’s hand and patted it softly. “Our Huaihua is a good girl.”

Hearing that, Huaihua suddenly felt warmth in her heart. The way she looked at Zhu Jie also became warmer. Truly, Brother Ji Yi had found himself a good wife!

But just then, Zhu Jie let out a heavy sigh.

“Huaihua… could you do Sister a favor?”

“What favor?” Huaihua asked earnestly, looking as though she truly wanted to help.

“Come help out at Sister’s house! I won’t treat you like a maid—just keep Sister company. I’ll still give you two taels of silver each month. If you want to stay here, stay here; if you want to go home, you can go home. How about it?” Zhu Jie smiled like a wolfish granny tempting Little Red Riding Hood.

Huaihua froze immediately. “Ah? You want me to be a maid? But… but everyone…”

Seeing the hesitation on her face, Zhu Jie said confidently, “Everyone? They’re just jealous of you! Who doesn’t want to come now? Didn’t you see the line earlier? There were tons of people. Now that you’ve beaten them to it, how could they not resent it? They’re just sour grapes—saying the grapes are sour because they can’t eat them.”