94 "Will I know what is involved in the trial before I consent to it?"
"Any person joining our family whether as a slave, plebeian or patrician must sign a contract and will be put to a trial to show their loyalty and love of the family. Each family member also must endure a trial at the age of eighteen to better understand the humble beginnings of our family and why we embrace the traditional life that surrounds us here," Joseph lectured. "Those who seek us out and our children expect to endure the trial, women like you who come here with one of our sons do not understand this expectation."
Changying had a million questions but she stayed silent looking between Wang and his father in curiosity touched with fear.
"You have the choice now that Wang has made his intention known and once I have given my blessing to agree to stay here in this place and endure the trial or to leave not only this place but the family and Wang. No one would stop you or blame you for such a decision. It is yours to make of your own free-will and no one would force you to change that decision." The lecturing tone returned. "If you love Wang as much as he claims to love you I would hope that you would choose to endure the trial and be a better woman for it."
"Will I know what is involved in the trial before I consent to it?" Changying asked into the silence as he took another long pause.
"You would be asked to sign a contract and become a slave to the family for a determined period, usually three or six months," Joseph answered seriously. "You would serve the family without hesitation in a variety of assignations including but not limited to that of a kept woman, a maid, a cook."
Her mind reeled at the thought of being a kept woman and having sex with anyone other than Wang, but she also considered the man she loved who looked at her expectantly. She went over her options at this point. The time frame might be an issue she didn't like having to leave Chunhua for so long when it was only the two of them. She also hated to leave the work that remained undone at the auction house not to mention the family history she had begun. Her mind worked quickly, and she looked into Josephs cool blue eyes as he studied her reaction.
"May I ask questions?" She asked tentatively.
"You may," he tilted his head curiously. This had not been the reaction he had expected after the girl Dante had brought here had run away like a scared rabbit.
"I know the family is very important to you and is at the core of your world here," she paused and swallowed loudly. "My family is beyond small. It's just my mother and me. I would hate to leave her alone for such a long amount of time. Could I perhaps spend some time here each month serving the way you wish in any capacity you wish and a small amount of time in the city serving by working on the family history and the family artefacts as I have been?"
Joseph said nothing but rather just stared at her unbelievingly. He had never considered this would become a negotiation but he liked that she had a commitment to her mother and their relationship.
"I would obey all of the rules set out in the contract. I love Wang and I would without hesitation endure anything if he asked me to but I was just wondering if seeing my mother for a few days each month would possibly be an option," Changying smiled at Wang as she proclaimed her love and commitment to him.
"So you would agree to the trial even if there was no option to see your mother though we would possibly allow you contact through Skype or phone," Joseph pressed her then adding the digital contact with her mother as an option without seeming like he was negotiating with the girl.
"When would the contract begin? Would I be able to return home and explain to her that I have to be here on the farm for work or research or something?" she tried to think of how she would explain such a lengthy absence to Chunhua.
Wang looked at his father and saw the tell-tale creases forming around his eyes that told of his rising impatience. He was sure no other girl had dared to ask questions of him or try to negotiate a contract, and he worried that Changying was pushing his father too far.
"It seems that enduring anything for Wang comes with some hesitation and stipulations," Joseph said slowly his voice dropping to a low rumble. "Despite that, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. If I send Wang away for," he looked at his watch, "two hours while we discuss these hesitations would you consent to serve me as a slave in that time? You would need to speak to me with only truth in your words and heart, and you would be required to obey every command I gave. If you can do this, I will give my blessing and give you from the twenty-seventh to the thirty-first to return home and see your mother before returning to the farm for no less than three and as much as six months."
"I consent," she said after a quick look at Wang's worried expression.
"Wang, leave us," He commanded in a loud hard voice. When Wang hesitated momentarily, he raised it further, "Do you wish to marry this girl or not?"
"Of course, I do," Wang responded without thinking.
"Then leave us, go and help Carlo with the festival preparations," he said darkly a frown forming on his face. "She has consented. It is no longer up to you. Close the doors when you go."
"Yes, Papa," Wang gave Changying a long look and walked away. She heard rather than saw the heavy wooden doors at the top of the staircase close essentially locking her in the room with this man.
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"Count to twenty-five loudly and slowly," he commanded staring at Changying. His hand on a small console beside his chair she hadn't noticed before.
Changying had a million questions but she stayed silent looking between Wang and his father in curiosity touched with fear.
"You have the choice now that Wang has made his intention known and once I have given my blessing to agree to stay here in this place and endure the trial or to leave not only this place but the family and Wang. No one would stop you or blame you for such a decision. It is yours to make of your own free-will and no one would force you to change that decision." The lecturing tone returned. "If you love Wang as much as he claims to love you I would hope that you would choose to endure the trial and be a better woman for it."
"Will I know what is involved in the trial before I consent to it?" Changying asked into the silence as he took another long pause.
"You would be asked to sign a contract and become a slave to the family for a determined period, usually three or six months," Joseph answered seriously. "You would serve the family without hesitation in a variety of assignations including but not limited to that of a kept woman, a maid, a cook."
Her mind reeled at the thought of being a kept woman and having sex with anyone other than Wang, but she also considered the man she loved who looked at her expectantly. She went over her options at this point. The time frame might be an issue she didn't like having to leave Chunhua for so long when it was only the two of them. She also hated to leave the work that remained undone at the auction house not to mention the family history she had begun. Her mind worked quickly, and she looked into Josephs cool blue eyes as he studied her reaction.
"May I ask questions?" She asked tentatively.
"You may," he tilted his head curiously. This had not been the reaction he had expected after the girl Dante had brought here had run away like a scared rabbit.
"I know the family is very important to you and is at the core of your world here," she paused and swallowed loudly. "My family is beyond small. It's just my mother and me. I would hate to leave her alone for such a long amount of time. Could I perhaps spend some time here each month serving the way you wish in any capacity you wish and a small amount of time in the city serving by working on the family history and the family artefacts as I have been?"
Joseph said nothing but rather just stared at her unbelievingly. He had never considered this would become a negotiation but he liked that she had a commitment to her mother and their relationship.
"I would obey all of the rules set out in the contract. I love Wang and I would without hesitation endure anything if he asked me to but I was just wondering if seeing my mother for a few days each month would possibly be an option," Changying smiled at Wang as she proclaimed her love and commitment to him.
"So you would agree to the trial even if there was no option to see your mother though we would possibly allow you contact through Skype or phone," Joseph pressed her then adding the digital contact with her mother as an option without seeming like he was negotiating with the girl.
"When would the contract begin? Would I be able to return home and explain to her that I have to be here on the farm for work or research or something?" she tried to think of how she would explain such a lengthy absence to Chunhua.
Wang looked at his father and saw the tell-tale creases forming around his eyes that told of his rising impatience. He was sure no other girl had dared to ask questions of him or try to negotiate a contract, and he worried that Changying was pushing his father too far.
"It seems that enduring anything for Wang comes with some hesitation and stipulations," Joseph said slowly his voice dropping to a low rumble. "Despite that, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. If I send Wang away for," he looked at his watch, "two hours while we discuss these hesitations would you consent to serve me as a slave in that time? You would need to speak to me with only truth in your words and heart, and you would be required to obey every command I gave. If you can do this, I will give my blessing and give you from the twenty-seventh to the thirty-first to return home and see your mother before returning to the farm for no less than three and as much as six months."
"I consent," she said after a quick look at Wang's worried expression.
"Wang, leave us," He commanded in a loud hard voice. When Wang hesitated momentarily, he raised it further, "Do you wish to marry this girl or not?"
"Of course, I do," Wang responded without thinking.
"Then leave us, go and help Carlo with the festival preparations," he said darkly a frown forming on his face. "She has consented. It is no longer up to you. Close the doors when you go."
"Yes, Papa," Wang gave Changying a long look and walked away. She heard rather than saw the heavy wooden doors at the top of the staircase close essentially locking her in the room with this man.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
"Count to twenty-five loudly and slowly," he commanded staring at Changying. His hand on a small console beside his chair she hadn't noticed before.
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