Chapter 2 The Next Day
Early the next morning, he got up and tidied his bedding, waiting for Lin Jing to come out of her room to thank her again.
When he saw her face clearly, Ji Chenghe felt his heart skip a beat, a feeling he had never experienced before.
Lin Jing had large eyes, an oval face, fair and tender skin, and hair as black as ink.
Seeing him, Lin Jing also nodded at him and smiled politely.
Just as Ji Chenghe was about to speak to her, a voice called out from the other end of the corridor, "Jing'er!"
Ji Chenghe turned his head and saw a refined-looking young man walking briskly towards Lin Jing.
"Brother De!" Lin Jing's face bloomed with the youthful spirit unique to girls, the look of a woman in love.
Ji Chenghe lowered his head and looked at his toes peeking out of his shoes. Ashamed, he immediately turned away. Only after Lin Jing and her Brother De had walked far away did he sheepishly turn back, staring straight at Lin Jing's retreating figure, feeling a sense of inexplicable loss.
The imperial examination lasted for nine days, requiring participants to bring their own food and bedding. Ji Chenghe could only buy a large bag of coarse flour steamed buns to eat with cold water.
Unexpectedly, on the day he entered the examination compound, he woke up to find a large parcel by his bedside. Inside were dried meat and pastries, all more nutritious than his coarse grain buns.
There was a note in the parcel. Ji Chenghe excitedly opened it and read, "Wishing Young Master Ji success and a bright future, Lin Jing."
He still kept that note.
After the exam, he saw Lin Jing again. Lin Jing nodded and smiled politely at him before leaving with her Brother De and an elder.
Zhao Dazhuang called for everyone to be seated for dinner, and Ji Chenghe finally came back to his senses.
He looked again at Lin Jing, who was seated at a table across from him. She was thin, dark, and gaunt, looking much more worn out.
Why had she become like this?
If nothing had gone wrong, wouldn't she have been married with children by now? Why had she been bought back by the young mistress?
Ji Chenghe ate his dinner distractedly, his gaze involuntarily drawn to Lin Jing.
Despite being very hungry, Lin Jing maintained her elegance while eating, setting her apart from the people around her who were eating heartily.
After dinner, Lin Jing voluntarily helped to clear the bowls and chopsticks. It was evident that she was not accustomed to such work, as she appeared clumsy and even broke a bowl.
She looked somewhat frightened and apologized flusteredly.
Bai Sheng immediately went to check if she had cut her hand and told her to sit down and rest, saying that she didn't need to do this and would have other tasks tomorrow.
Seeing Guihua Jie, Mi Jie, Mian Jie, and Haohao Jie tidying up efficiently, Lin Jing decided not to participate.
She felt a pang of annoyance, feeling like a useless person.
Whether intentionally or inadvertently, her gaze flickered towards Ji Chenghe. Frowning, she turned and left the main hall.
Ji Chenghe also walked out of the main hall. He stood under the bamboo pavilion, hesitating whether to reveal himself to Lin Jing.
If he did, would Lin Jing be embarrassed? After all, her current situation was not good. If he didn't, would he seem ungrateful and indifferent?
Ji Chenghe was feeling vexed when he turned around and found Lin Jing standing behind him.
"Young Master Ji, oh, no, I should call you Master Ji now," Bai Jing said with a hearty laugh.
Ji Chenghe's eyes widened. "Lin Jing, you... you recognize me?"
Bai Jing smiled and nodded. "The moment I saw you, I recognized you. Master Ji, my name is Bai Jing now. I've taken the surname of my mistress."
Ji Chenghe looked a little embarrassed, nodding with a flushed face. "En, Bai Jing, that's a nice name. I didn't acknowledge you immediately just now because..."
"Because you were afraid I'd be embarrassed?" Bai Jing laughed generously.
"A little... yes," Ji Chenghe chuckled foolishly.
Bai Jing said, "Actually, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. I didn't steal or rob. I was just bought back by my mistress as a house servant. I earn my own living with my own hands, and I don't feel ashamed."
Ji Chenghe looked at her somewhat weathered face and hesitated before asking softly, "Shouldn't you be married with children by now? How did you... end up here?"
Bai Jing gave a faint smile. "My husband took a concubine, and I couldn't tolerate it, so I asked him to divorce me.
When I returned to my parents' home, my father and brother wouldn't keep me and kicked me out. Later, my money was stolen on the road, and I wandered for two months. Desperate with hunger, I sold myself to an agency."
Ji Chenghe's heart ached upon hearing this. Lin Jing, no, Bai Jing, must have suffered so much. She had been a young lady who had servants attending to her.
However, as Ji Chenghe felt sympathy, he also began to admire Bai Jing even more.
A woman who knew what she wanted, what she liked, and what she disliked, and had the courage and spirit to defend her likes and dislikes – so resolute and unyielding, she truly put men to shame.
"Bai Jing, I'll go find Sister Sheng and help you redeem your contract, then give you some money. You can live wherever you like!" Ji Chenghe said, about to turn away.
"No, Master Ji!" Bai Jing immediately reached out and grabbed Ji Chenghe's sleeve. Realizing the separation between men and women, she startled and let go abruptly. "Master Ji, I beg you, please don't do this. From the moment I left that person, I decided that from now on, I would rely on no one but myself! I want to live by myself and get my son back through my own efforts."
Ji Chenghe was slightly taken aback. "You... you have a son?"
"Yes, his name is Dong Dong, and he's one year and two months old," Bai Jing said, her face beaming with a happy smile.
"Weren't you and your son separated from then on?" Ji Chenghe's heart grew heavier. Bai Jing had to be separated from her young son, and she must be feeling terrible.
Hearing the word "separated," Bai Jing's nose twitched. "Separated... is only temporary. I will definitely get Dong Dong back through my own efforts."
"Do you need my help?" Ji Chenghe genuinely wanted to help her. Seeing her suffer so much, his heart ached more than anyone's.
"Master Ji, thank you for your kindness. I appreciate it, but I still want to rely on myself," Bai Jing said calmly, her eyes shining with determination. "I like the mistress, and I want to stay. I heard the mistress wants me to help her manage the workshop, and she offers ten taels of silver a month, with good bonuses if I perform well.
I have food and lodging here. Once I have enough strength, I will bring Dong Dong to my side. I am capable of supporting him.
So, Master Ji, if you really help me redeem my contract, I wouldn't be able to face myself."
Ji Chenghe nodded with mixed emotions. "Alright, then I'll listen to you. If you need any help in the future, you must tell me. Don't hesitate to ask."
Bai Jing smiled. "Don't worry, I will."
In the main hall, everyone looked at the two figures, one tall and one short, a man and a woman, in the bamboo pavilion under the moonlight, all astonished.
Tian Guihua's eyes twinkled with gossip, and she whispered to everyone, "Sister Jing and Master Ji, perhaps they knew each other before?"
Zhao Dazhuang immediately nodded. "It looks like it. The way they talk is like old acquaintances."
Grandma Zhong exclaimed, "Mistress, you have excellent luck today with your purchases! You've unexpectedly bought back two old acquaintances!"
"Indeed," Bai Sheng smiled. If there were lotteries in the Great Xia Dynasty, she would want to buy one; she would definitely win the grand prize.