"First, let me say, I am aware that over the past week or so. Many of you have gone to our residence hospital to see Hòu Dao with minor cuts, bruises, wounds, and injuries." Liu Tián Qǔ said.
"Now let me ask, by raising a hand, how many of you are satisfied with how Hòu Dao treated you?" As hands began to go up, Liu Tián Qǔ said, "I am aware that there were some of you in which Hòu Dao was incapable of treat the root of your illness. Therefore she was only able to give you a temporary treatment to alleviate the symptoms of your illness. However, that is not what I am inquiring about." Liu Tián Qǔ said with a shake of her head.
"What I am inquiring about is, are you satisfied with how Hòu Dao treated you as a patient? Even though she may not have been able to heal each and every one of you. Do you feel that she tried her best? That she did all that she could to help you?" Much more hands went up, making Liu Tián Qǔ feel satisfied with Hòu Dao.
During the past week, Liu Tián Qǔ often stopped by the residence hospital to see how Hòu Dao was coming along. Hòu Dao would often give Liu Tián Qǔ reports on her daily activities. Liu Tián Qǔ listened attentively to every report Hòu Dao made. The reports prompted Liu Tián Qǔ to provide Hòu Dao with more gold to buy the more expensive herbs to make better medicines and also to find more good teas.
"Good," Liu Tián Qǔ said. She felt happy with Hòu Dao.
"Since so many of you are comfortable, familiar, and happy with Hòu Dao. I decided to have Hòu Dao and her assistant Li Qiáng trained to be Doctors." Liu Tián Qǔ glanced over to where Li Qiáng stood. Li Qiáng's face was full of shock, excitement, and complete joy.
Everyone gathered in the meeting hall were noticeable shocked and full of disbelief. Even Doctor Ru was shocked after hearing the mutterings of the nearby slaves and servants gathered in the meeting hall. It was only then he learned his new students that he agreed to train to become doctors were, in fact, slaves. Since when were slaves allowed to become doctors?! Was this even allowed?!
The doctor then shrugged it off. That was unimportant to him. The most thing was first to secure a Mythical Beast Medicinal Pill.
However, not everyone else was able to shrug this matter off so easy. Especially the slaves who were gathered. This was unheard of. Many started inwardly questioning if this was even allowed. Many of the slaves were carefully trying to think of any laws of the Tolling Lands that may prohibit this.
Liu Tián Qǔ was unaware of the earthquake she just unleashed in the hearts of the slaves gathered in the Meeting Hall.
"We have a temporary doctor who just arrived. His name is Doctor Ru. Doctor Ru is a House Doctor of Wang Royal Manor." Doctor Ru bowed in greetings as many of the slaves and servants looked over in his direction.
"Doctor Ru agreed to stay with us for a while to watch over our house guests who will be arriving shortly. He also agreed to tutor and train Hòu Dao and Li Qiáng to become Doctors. Four the next four days, unless you are seriously hurt, wounded, or ill. I ask that you give Doctor Ru, Hòu Dao, and Li Qiáng four days to settle in." Liu Tián Qu requested of everyone.
Upon seeing the reputable Doctor, the thought that was in the mind of just about every person gathered in the Meeting Hall was, 'Great heavens, this is really going to happen! Young Master Liu will allow slaves to be trained as doctors! I must find out if this is allowed!'
Even the worried and troubled Jiang Mín Yuè. The wife of Commander Jiang couldn't help but gawk at the Young Master in shock. Jiang Mín Yuè was Han Mín Yuè of the Han Family. She had grown up in what was once a strong, powerful Family in the Tolling Lands. However, the things she was learning and see in the short amount of time she lived in Liu Residence made her question everything she knew and was taught.
Jiang Mín Yuè was once tutored by one of the most famous scholars in the Tolling Lands. If she wasn't ill and worried about her husband. As well as their child, her husband was bringing home that they thought was dead, and many other things. Jiang Mín Yuè, who was also a scholar in her own right, would have already run to go find her old teacher to discuss the many things she was learning in Liu Residence and the changes they could bring to the Tolling Lands.
Had Liu Tián Qǔ known the thoughts of Jiang Mín Yuè she would have disregarded them anyway. The history of her previous life was full of the useless thoughts of scholars of ancient times. There were many scholars that contributed more than just words to their country in ancient times, and Liu Tián Qǔ greatly respected them.
However, Liu Tián Qǔ had no respect for the scholars that spent to whole day mindlessly quoting ancient text and walked around in skill robes pontificating on the plight of the poor and the country but contributed nothing but their words. Many of these fence-sitting so-called scholars and wise men did more harm than good. They did not help the poor. They hinder their country more than they supported it. They only knew how to mindlessly quote the words and ideas of the wise men from ancient text. Yet, they considered themselves wise. So far, Liu Tián Qǔ was not impressed with the so-called scholars she seen in the Tolling Lands.
Give Liu Tián Qǔ a real scholar or Wiseman, and she would bend over backward to just speak with him. There many times in her past life where Liu Tián Qǔ spent days reading of things of bygone eras and seeking the knowledge and wisdom of Wisemen and women of the past so to actually speak with one would be a dream come true. However, the so-called scholars and Wisemen she seen so far in the market and the scholars she dealt with when hiring people to teach the servants of her Residence left a bad taste in her mouth.
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So yes had Liu Tián Qǔ known the thoughts of Jiang Mín Yuè she would have disregarded and just continued on with her meeting.
"Doctor Ru will need time to test the knowledge of his new students to see how much they know so he will know where to begin their training. After four days, everyone is free to go seek medical assistance in the residence hospital if you need it." Liu Tián Qǔ began to observe the faces of the gathered servants carefully.
Many looked so shocked and dumbfounded. Some looked happy for the two young women. Some looked sad that that opportunity didn't come to them. Some had faces of envy. Liu Tián Qǔ took special note of the very few who had faces of deep anger and dark jealousy. Of those people, Liu Tián Qǔ decided to make it her business's to find out who they were and get them out of her residence. She didn't want those kinds of people in her residence. In Liu Tián Qǔ's experience, nine times out of ten, people of that caliber proved to be deep schemers willing to do anything to obtain their goal.
"The last piece of news that I have is sometime next week or the following week. The residence will undergo a special Imperial Inspection," Liu Tián Qǔ decided not to hide this fact. Actually, she felt it would be better for the whole Imperial City to know. That way, later on, no one will hold any kind of suspicions towards her and her residence. After all, everyone knew that this residence once belonged to the Chen Family. Thinking so, she decided to voice it.
"If you didn't already know, this Garden Residence once belonged to the Chen Family. It was noted that underground tunnels and hidden barracks capable of holding thousands were found in Elder Chen's son's manor. We don't know if there is anything hidden in this Garden Residence. However, the Emperor wants this residence inspected. On that day, everyone will be given one gold and three days off." A clamor of excitement exploded in the Meeting Hall.
With a smile on her face, Liu Tián Qǔ held up a hand for silence. It took a moment for the furor of joy and excitement to die down before she could continue. "Everyone must leave the residence. That is why I will give everyone one gold. You may stay in an inn or go home and visit your family. However, for those that choose not to. I am currently thinking about buying some farmland outside of the Imperial City. That is something I will need to discuss more with Butler Zhou and Manager Kuo." Liu Tián Qǔ explained to the attentive servants gathered before her.
"If things go well with purchasing farmland. Then those of you who wish to stay or earn some extra money. You can request to be hired to work on the land during those three days. This is strictly optional. You are not obligated to do so. This is only for those who have nowhere to go. Or those who don't wish to go home and wish to save their money instead of staying in an inn. It's also an opportunity for those who wish to make extra money. I will let everyone know more once I figure everything out. Like I said, this is just a thought for now." Liu Tián Qǔ reminded everyone.
"The last thing I wish to say is, for those who are loyal, whether you are a slave or a free person. Since I hold my servants to a higher standard, there will be many opportunities for my servants to earn money. I will also give you days off where you are free to go spend your money how you choose to spend it. Or you can spend your days off resting and relaxing. However, there is one thing that I will insist on. When you are outside of the residence, be mindful of your deportment and actions. Many people will have their eyes on the servants of Liu Residence." Liu Tián Qǔ informed her servants in a blunt candid manner.
"I am sure that everyone here knows that no other slaves in the Northern Lands have the opportunities that you have. They are not being taught to read and write. Nor are they given a chance to better themselves. They are not given days off, nor are the given gold to go home and visit their families. They are not being given an opportunity to buy back their freedom. They are not being treated with dignity or respect where they live, nor are they even allowed to eat their fill at each meal." One of the first things that Liu Tián Qǔ did was have a humongous empty storage room near the kitchens set up as a dining area for the slaves. Food in the dining area was set up in a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Liu Tián Qǔ had given the order that everyone is allowed to eat their fill, but no food is to be taken outside of the dining area.
All of the servants were listening attentively and carefully to everything Liu Tián Qǔ was saying. They all understood what remained unspoken. If they do well, and Young Master Liu sees fit. Then just like Hòu Dao and her assistant Li Qiáng. Their Young Master may also give them an opportunity to better themselves. That way, when they buy their freedom, if they decide to leave Liu Residence, they can live a good life.
Just about every slave present decided to do their best. They decide to make sure they didn't bring dishonor to Liu Residence. If they disappointed Young Master Liu or made an unforgivable mistake, their loss would be too great. However, if they did well, they could not only better themselves. They could possibly raise their family's status. Liu Tián Qǔ was unaware of the importance of this meeting.
It would be many years later that this meeting would be labeled as the torched that herald great change in the Tolling Lands. It would be many of the slaves gathered in the meeting hall before Liu Tián Qǔ on this day carrying the torches heralding the great change.
However, no one knew of the time and things that had yet to come. So Liu Tián Qǔ carried on with her meeting, and the servants continued to give their most earnest heed to the things their Young Lord was saying.
"Now, when people begin to find out that the servants of Liu Residence are educated servants who are given a vast amount of opportunities. They will begin to expect more of the servants of Liu Residence. You will automatically be held to a higher standard." Liu Tián Qǔ informed her servants
"Everyone will watch you more carefully. Many will watch you with the intention of waiting for you to make an error. That is why you must be careful of your behavior and conduct on the outside. I will do my best to make sure you live a better life than normal slaves. In return, I ask that you do not disappoint me or let me down. Am I asking for too much? Is this too much for me to ask of you?" Liu Tián Qǔ asked the servants.
"No," the servants roared in firm solid voices.
"Good, that ends this meeting. Allow me to say that so far, I am happy with everyone's work. Everyone has done a good job of not letting the classes you are attending affect your work. I want to say good job, everyone." Liu Tián Qǔ praised the servents of her Residence.
"Now I ask that everyone assist me in welcoming the returning Four Martial Families. I want us to build a wall around them so that those that have the intention of taking advantage of them or disturbing their peace are unable to get to them here in our residence. However, I do not want to smother them with this wall. I want them to feel welcomed, comfortable, happy, and at peace behind this wall until they are ready to emerge. Do everyone understand what I mean?" Liu Tián Qǔ asked the servants.
It was only after Liu Tián Qǔ received an inharmonious, but solid affirmation of understanding from the gathered servants did she dismiss everyone.