Days as a Wet Nurse in the Jiang Mansion

Chapter 1

Ye Yunniang married Li Yong at the age of 17.Three days after the wedding, Li Yong was conscripted and left home.

One month later, Yunniang was pregnant.

Eight months later, she successfully gave birth to Li Jun, whose nickname was Pan'er. The name was given with the hope that Li Yong, who had gone to war, would come home soon.

However, the family's beautiful expectations were dashed. A fellow villager brought back Li Yong's blood - stained clothes and a last letter.

Li Yong died on the battlefield, and his body was nowhere to be found.

They buried Li Yong with his blood - stained clothes in the coffin. His father fell ill and passed away a month later.

The Li family held another funeral.

With the loss of the family's mainstay, the widow and the orphan were easily targeted by others.

Cai Damei, Ye Yunniang's mother - in - law, was a decisive woman. After the 21 - day mourning period, she sold the family's land and house. Carrying the money, she took her daughter - in - law and grandson to Jiangcheng to seek a living with her younger sister.

They traveled by boat for about ten days and then by ox - cart for five days before reaching Jiangcheng.

After having their household registration and travel permits checked and paying the entrance fee to the city, the three women asked for directions all the way and finally arrived at the Zhou's shop.

Cai Xiaomei was standing in front of the shop, playing with her grandson with a rattle.

"Xiaomei."

Cai Xiaomei stopped shaking the rattle and looked up.

"Elder sister!"

The two sisters hugged each other and wept bitterly.

Persuaded by the family members, they stopped crying.

As they caught up, Cai Xiaomei learned about all the misfortunes that had befallen her elder sister's family.

Cai Xiaomei arranged for Cai Damei and her daughter - in - law and grandson to stay.

Cai Xiaomei's husband's family was named Zhou. They owned a clothing shop in Jiangcheng, and her in - laws had passed away.

Cai Xiaomei and her husband had a son and a daughter, both of whom were married. They had two grandsons and a granddaughter.

The Zhou family lived behind the shop. There were three main rooms and one and a half rooms on each side of the east and west wing - rooms. They squeezed out one room for Cai Damei and the other two to live in.

At night, after feeding Pan'er, Ye Yunniang walked to Cai Damei, who was lying down, and whispered, "Mother, when you said we would settle in Jiangcheng, I noticed that my cousin - in - law didn't look happy. Maybe we should rent a house and move out first."

"Do you know why I had to sell the land and house and come to Jiangcheng?" Instead of answering, Cai Damei asked Ye Yunniang.

Ye Yunniang shook her head. Her husband had died, and then her father - in - law had passed away.

Ye Yunniang had to take care of the child and observe mourning with Cai Damei. Every day passed in a daze.

Ye Yunniang was surprised by Cai Damei's decision. But being a gentle and obedient woman, she didn't think too much. She packed up her luggage, held the child, and followed her mother - in - law all the way to Jiangcheng.

No matter what Cai Damei decided, Ye Yunniang knew one thing clearly: her mother - in - law would never harm her and Pan'er.

"It was your father - in - law who told me to do this." The night before Li's father passed away, he had a detailed discussion with Cai Damei.

After his death, the only male in the family was the nursing Pan'er. Everything would depend on Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang.

Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang had never worked in the fields since they married into the Li family.

It would be difficult for the two women to raise Pan'er by relying on the land.

Moreover, Ye Yunniang had a greedy father and step - mother. And there were also those uncles and cousins in the Li family who wanted to take over the family property.

Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang couldn't protect the land, the house, or even Pan'er.

Li's father told Cai Damei to sell the land and house as soon as possible after his funeral and bring Pan'er to Jiangcheng.

Cai Xiaomei was brought up by Cai Damei. The dowry for her marriage was prepared by Cai Damei and Li's father.o go.

Zhang Cai'er's sister - in - law didn't have enough milk and couldn't go.

When Zhang Cai'er went home to visit her sister - in - law who had just given birth, she heard the news and told her mother about Ye Yunniang.

"The Jiang Mansion is a generous family. For those wet - nurses who fail the recruitment, they will be given 500 cash as compensation. Those who are hired will get two and a half taels of silver per month, and they will be provided with two sets of clothes throughout the four seasons. When the young master stops breastfeeding and the wet - nurse leaves, there will be additional reward money."

"The rules in a wealthy family are complicated. I'm worried about Yunniang." Cai Damei's tone wavered a little.

"You've watched Yunniang grow up. You know her character well. She's the most honest and reliable.

Sending Yunniang to the Jiang Mansion doesn't mean asking her to be a maid and fight for favor. As long as she takes good care of the child, the scraps from the Jiang family will be enough for your family to live on for a lifetime."