What. The. Hell?
While this might be the truth, Cheng Xiao Xiao still felt unjust. The words came only from An Hung niang, but judging from the looks of the other da niang and aunties, they all had the same idea!
It was after a long while before Cheng Xiao Xiao finally calmed down and said to them, "Fellow da niang and aunties. Maybe we should be upfront about how things will be handled. As each family might have different thoughts, I will treat each case differently. Why don't we do this? Why don't you all go home and discuss with your family members how long will your kids be staying at the Cheng's. Once we have that settled, we will provide each of you different benefits!
"For example, we can divide them into long-term and short-term. Long-term and short-term naturally will not have the same benefit, and they will learn different things at the Cheng's. I will bring these items up in front of the patriarch in a couple of days so get it all cleared out. What do you think?"
"Well...."
The few village women exchanged their looks. They knew full well that what Cheng Xiao Xiao said was the truth. Except for An Hung niang, who straight up said, "Why in the next couple of days? Why can't we get it all settled right now? You want me to feed her for two more days? Seriously!"
"An da niang, if you don't like this arrangement, feel free to go talk to the patriarch!"
After saying that, Cheng Xiao Xiao ignored her and went back into the field to pick her vegetables.
"You!!" An Hung niang was so angry that her face was beet red and said to the ones next to her, "Shi di niang, look at that attitude of hers! That's no way to treat one's elders! This is outrageous!"
"Alright, alright, An Hung niang, why don't you stop shouting for the time being and follow Xiao Xiao's arrangement. Let's go home first today!"
"Hmph! I should never have came. Now I am even more pissed that I was before!"
The village women took their daughters and left.
After dinner she brought this up to her parents briefly before entering into the dimension.
After entering the dimension, Cheng Xiao Xiao did not resume the position and start cultivating right away. Since she was already a martial apprentice, she could spare a few moments.
"Young mistress, you are in a foul mood eh?"
Smiling, little Yuteng flew down from the crystal fruit tree and sat on her shoulder.
Cheng Xiao Xiao glanced at her quickly and said, "You saw everything that happened today! How can I be in a good mood!"
"Hehe, it's your fault for being too nice. Someone like An Hung niang, you should just kick her out straight away. Why did you bother to engage with her?"
"Kick her out?! She will shout till your ears fall off!" Cheng Xiao Xiao shook her head, "What we need to do now is figure out what to do with these 'diners' under the false pretense as 'maids'!"
"Young mistress. That's your business, I am not sure what to do with them. If you ask me, it's simple. Everybody will come here everyday and help out with household chores and be fed till they turn 14. Once they turn 14, they can go home if they so choose. We will take in the loyal ones who want to stay. And that will be that!"
"Yeah, but then we will definitely be the morons!"
"Yeah, but so what? It's not like we can't afford to feed them. Besides, it will give you a good opportunity to learn about them. It's better than taking them all in at once then finding out that only a handful of them are reliable. Wouldn't that be worse?"
"Okay, I guess you made a good point there!"
"Hehe, young mistress. You really should cultivate. It take you three months to go from the preparatory stage to become a martial apprentice. Even though that's like a genius in the eyes of a commoner. But it's laughable to just be a martial apprentice at your age!"