1 JIN(Catty) = 600 gram(1.32277 pound)
...
In February, the wheat planted in the fields began to green again. By March, spring had returned to the land, and lush green wheat shoots stretched across vast swathes of farmland. The slender little sprouts swayed gently in the still-chilly spring breeze, waiting for the farmers to irrigate them with the crucial "greening water."
Sardinson County's irrigation system had been fully repaired the previous year. Carefully dug canals now crisscrossed the plains, and whenever water was needed, one only had to walk a few steps to fetch it. No more tiring trips back and forth between the river and the fields—saving both time and energy. At this point, no one even remembered how hard it had been to dig those canals. All anyone could think was how wise they had been to take the Countess's advice and build them.
Inside the estate, most of the serfs were busy irrigating the wheat fields. Once that was done, they would begin spring plowing. The serfs selected to grow the new crops, however, had not sown winter wheat in their plots and therefore didn't need to tend to greening wheat. So they got a head start preparing their fields for sowing and seedling cultivation.
George, the steward in charge of supervising the serfs, had been assigned this task. Their lady was now visibly pregnant and no longer fit to be out in the fields guiding the planting herself, so George had taken over. Having already learned the planting methods beforehand, he was responsible for making sure all the corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes were properly sown. If any serious problem arose, he would have to run to the castle for Wei Wei's help. So far, thankfully, nothing of that sort had happened.
George wasn't so much worried about planting difficulties as he was about the growing number of onlookers who often came to watch the fields. He eyed them warily, always afraid they might sneak in and steal seeds when no one was looking.
After all, sweet potatoes were huge. And here, the seeds were the food. If someone dug one up, that was a whole meal. What if someone with ill intentions tried to steal one?
George even wanted to ask the Countess to station soldiers to guard the fields.
In the end, he didn't go that far—it felt like overkill. Instead, he planned to organize shifts so that a few serfs and he would take turns standing night watch.
In reality, the onlookers—whether serfs or freemen—had no such malicious intent. Sure, some had thought about it, but this was the Count's land. Who dared steal from it? Even a single seed, if caught, could land someone in jail.
Back when people went hungry, some might have risked stealing food from the fields out of desperation. But now, for the past two years, everyone has been eating well. No one needed to risk stealing anymore—even if the crops were high-yield and exotic.
And besides, the Countess had generously distributed seeds to many already. Everyone could see that it was only a matter of time before others would be allowed to plant them too. There was no need to risk anything.
Most people were still just observing. They had grown wheat for generations—whether it be wheat, rye, barley, or oats, those were their staple crops. It wasn't realistic to expect them to immediately embrace new, unfamiliar grains. No matter how high-yield the new crops looked, whether they could fill the belly, whether they tasted good, and how difficult they were to grow—those were still unknowns.
So even if they didn't say it aloud, deep down, everyone wanted to watch and learn how these new crops were planted, and whether the final harvest really would be as abundant as rumored. That was why nearby serfs and freemen kept showing up to watch—because they were studying.
Besides, they were experienced farmers. To them, the new crops didn't look complicated to grow. At least, the early steps seemed pretty simple. If they had to do it themselves, they felt confident they could manage.
Once they gained some confidence, they naturally became curious about sprouting rates and growth. So even after the seeds and tubers were planted, they continued coming by to check in—keeping George on edge, feeling like he had to stay on guard 24/7.
Eventually, he had a thatched hut built near the fields and assigned someone to keep night watch until the crops were harvested. Thanks to that, no thefts ever occurred.
With George handling the field planting, Wei Wei had no choice but to give up overseeing the spring sowing this year. At eight months pregnant, her belly was large and round. Though she hadn't experienced any severe pregnancy symptoms, backaches and swollen legs were unavoidable. Every day, she needed someone to massage her legs to reduce the swelling.
At first, Felix had done it personally. But with the spring season arriving, he had to take over all the estate's affairs—including tasks that Wei Wei used to manage. The increased workload left him little spare time. Now, he only had time for a quick massage each day before handing the job off to Wei Wei's maidservants.
As her mobility decreased, Wei Wei felt increasingly that she didn't have enough hands around her.
Of her six maidservants, Qin had begun taking over some responsibilities of the housekeeper. The previous housekeeper, Madam Nancy, preferred to stay with Caroline, and once Qin was properly trained, she eagerly passed on her duties. Qin had already stepped down from her accounting role and was now focused on managing the other maids—naturally reducing the time she could spend by Wei Wei's side.
Kama, chosen to be a personal maid, mainly helped with medicinal herbs. During the winter, she had been sent to observe the estate's pregnant serfs giving birth, learning from midwives and absorbing a lot of medical knowledge from Wei Wei. The idea was that Kama would be able to assist in Wei Wei's delivery should complications arise. Kama had taken this training seriously and even started aiming for a future in medicine—perhaps as a female apothecary or doctor. So, she rarely did traditional maid duties.
Among the four remaining maids, Lisa helped manage the kitchen, while Monica and Mary—who also served as secretaries—were responsible for raising rabbits. All of them were quite busy. Only Penny remained by Wei Wei's side throughout the entire day.
Naturally, the job of massaging Wei Wei's legs fell to Penny.
"Do you feel like you're overworked?" Wei Wei asked suddenly one day, leaning back obediently on the bed as Penny massaged her legs.
Penny looked up, not quite catching the question. "What did you say, Madam?" She didn't stop her hands while asking.
"I mean, everyone else has a lot on their plate, and you're the only one with me all day. Do you ever feel tired from caring for me like this?"
Wei Wei glanced down at her belly. During her pregnancy, aside from her stomach and chest, the rest of her body hadn't changed at all—still slim and petite. As a result, her stomach looked disproportionately large, like she had strapped a giant watermelon to her body—one that looked about ready to burst. Even she found it a little alarming to look at sometimes.
Of course, there was only one baby inside, and not an oversized one either. As a trained doctor, Wei Wei had taken careful care of her health throughout pregnancy. She wasn't going to let herself end up with a baby too big to deliver. The belly only seemed huge because she hadn't gained much weight elsewhere. So while it looked dramatic, it was actually within healthy norms.
Wei Wei had already calculated her due date. Barring surprises, the baby should arrive in late April or early May—ideal weather for postpartum recovery.
With March already here, she had to start considering staffing for the period before and after childbirth.
"I'm very happy to be the one taking care of you," Penny said quickly and earnestly, her loyalty unmistakable.
"But still, it's too much for just one person, isn't it?" Wei Wei observed the dark circles under Penny's eyes. Wei Wei always needed someone nearby, even at night. Felix might be with her in the evenings, but someone had to stand watch outside the door. Penny, being the most available, often did the night shifts and still stayed with her during the day—never resting. She might not feel it herself, but her recent fatigue was evident.
Penny couldn't deny it. Sometimes, she did feel like she couldn't handle everything alone. The other maids occasionally returned to help, but if something happened—like if Wei Wei needed help with a physical issue—Penny had to do it all herself. Guiding a heavily pregnant woman to the bathroom alone was nerve-racking.
The prolonged tension had taken a toll on her energy. Even though night duty wasn't physically exhausting—just sleeping in the hallway in case of an emergency—it wore on her over time. Felix could handle most issues during the night. The night watch was more of a precaution.
Thinking of those moments when she was solely responsible for Wei Wei's safety, Penny couldn't help but suggest, "Madam, maybe you should assign a few more personal maids to yourself?"
"Normally, a noble lady has a fixed number of personal maids," Penny continued, "and six is already quite a lot. Many ladies don't even have that many. But you're different, Madam. All your current personal maids already have other duties and are becoming more focused on them. If we're talking about someone whose main role is to stay by your side and care for you full-time—well, that's just me."
Then Penny added, "And once the young master is born, he'll need attendants too. That's something you should start thinking about as well."
That was true. European noblewomen, like the rich wives of China's upper class, didn't usually raise their children. Wet nurses were hired for feeding and care, while the mother might only visit occasionally. As a result, the bond between mother and child often wasn't as close as the one the child had with their nurse.
Wei Wei didn't agree with that at all. She believed she should raise her child herself. Even if she couldn't be with the baby at every moment, there should at least be consistent daily interaction to build a healthy, close relationship.
So while she would still hire a nanny, she planned to breastfeed personally—unless her milk supply wasn't enough. In that case, and only then, would she consider a wet nurse.
Wei Wei was already thinking about the future, but she didn't forget to consider Penny's suggestion. However, she didn't plan to recruit new maids. Instead, she asked, "How are those little maid apprentices doing with their training?"
Previously, some young serf girls had been selected to serve in the castle. Wei Wei herself had chosen six of them. Her intent was not just to train them as future personal maids, but also for protection. Alongside their lessons in etiquette, they also trained regularly with the knight order—Felix seemed to be grooming them as covert bodyguards.
Wei Wei wasn't entirely sure what their training entailed, but she remembered that their knightly sessions only lasted half a day. Now that she was short on help, bringing them in temporarily to assist Penny wouldn't interfere too much with their training. After all, her other maids often came back to care for her once they finished their duties. The actual shortage only occurred during short windows of time.
Penny wasn't too sure about the apprentices' current status. Technically, the senior maids were responsible for mentoring them, but given their dual roles and heavy workloads, most of their etiquette training had been left to Butler Barton.
"I'll ask Butler Barton when the others return," Penny said.
Not long after, Monica—who had just switched shifts with Mary—returned from checking on the rabbits, followed shortly by Lisa, who had been in the kitchen preparing Wei Wei's soup. They entered the bedroom one after the other, ready to take over.
With her leg massage finished, Penny went off to find Barton, leaving Lisa and Monica to care for Wei Wei.
After being helped onto the sofa, Wei Wei sipped the chicken soup Lisa had simmered all morning while chatting with Monica about the rabbits.
The rabbits had spent the winter in the castle gardens. Most had survived well, and some had already given birth, increasing the population significantly. Since the rabbit pens didn't smell great, Wei Wei—now sensitive to odors—stopped visiting personally. Even Monica and Mary only went to oversee the slaves who cared for them, avoiding getting too close or doing any hands-on work to keep from bringing the smell back to Wei Wei.
Now that the weather was warming, the rabbits were about to be moved to a nearly completed free-range area on the hills. That meant Monica and Mary had been especially busy lately. Once the transfer was complete, things would quiet down again—another reason Wei Wei wasn't eager to bring in more staff. This temporary staff shortage was just a matter of timing. Once she finished her postpartum confinement, she wouldn't need constant care. She wasn't some pampered noble lady who couldn't do anything herself.
Penny returned shortly after and reported to Wei Wei, "The butler says those little maids are learning quickly. They've mastered the fundamentals of etiquette and rules. He's not sure about their physical training, though. But if you need them, they can come help right away."
After all, nothing was more important than caring for a soon-to-deliver mistress.
"Will it interfere with their training?" Wei Wei asked.
Penny shook her head. "I don't know. But if it's Lord Felix making the call, I'm sure he'll prioritize your needs, even if it does cause a delay. Do you want me to go ask him?"
"No need. It's not urgent. I'll speak with him myself."
Sure enough, when Felix stopped by to check on her and grab a quick meal, Wei Wei brought it up.
His answer was just as Penny had expected: nothing was more important than Wei Wei's needs.
"Just suspend their training for now. As you said, this shortage is temporary. Once your maids are free again, they can go back to their lessons."
Naturally, Felix wasn't about to let his pregnant wife lack support. He immediately paused the training and had the six apprentice maids brought to Wei Wei the next day.
Wei Wei had an excellent memory and recognized all of them—after all, she had chosen them personally. The one who stood out the most was Mona, the prettiest of the bunch. With her cool demeanor, the girl had left a strong impression.
Penny remembered her too. When Mona was first purchased, she had been scrawny and dirty, with unkempt hair and a perpetually downcast look—altogether very unlikable. But after being bathed and dressed by the senior maids, her delicate, sharp-featured face was revealed, leaving everyone stunned.
After the shock wore off, Penny understood why Mona had kept herself looking so unappealing. For girls sold by their parents, beauty wasn't an advantage. If the Count hadn't bought her, she might've ended up in a brothel, where being attractive could be a curse rather than a blessing.
After months of training, the six young maids had changed dramatically. Their posture alone distinguished them from ordinary servants. Wei Wei could see a disciplined, serious aura in them—a clear mark of military-style training. They were visibly more reliable than before.
Wei Wei gave them a brief speech and handed them over to Penny. While Qin had once handled these matters, she was now transitioning into the role of housekeeper, overseeing all the maids in the castle. Since Wei Wei's health prevented her from personally managing household affairs, Qin temporarily handled those as well. That left Penny—the next most senior maid—in charge of daily matters concerning Wei Wei herself.
Thankfully, Penny had grown into a capable personal maid over the past two years, and leading the six young apprentices was well within her ability.
The girls were told they would assist Wei Wei until her delivery, after which they would return to training. None of them complained. Their training had always been aimed at protecting the Countess. Being able to serve her directly was something they welcomed—it was an opportunity others would envy.
Although young, the maids were all around thirteen or fourteen, and like most European girls, they matured early. Their tough childhoods had also made them more mature than average. A couple of them were even taller than seventeen-year-old Penny.
With their help, Penny's workload eased significantly. She no longer had to stay constantly tense and exhausted.
As the due date approached, preparations for childbirth began. Step one: readying the birthing room. The unused bedroom next door was repurposed for this, and while Kama had been trained as a capable assistant, Felix still brought in several renowned and experienced midwives. A month before the due date, they were settled into the castle and kept on high alert.
Though Wei Wei had accurately calculated her due date, there was always the chance of early or late delivery. The closer the time came, the more nervous everyone grew. When Wei Wei went for walks, the entire castle held its breath—afraid even to exhale loudly, lest they startle her and cause something to go wrong.
Amid this tense atmosphere, the day finally arrived.
On May 1st, precisely as she had predicted, Wei Wei—who had stayed in her room that day—felt the first signs of labor while pacing in front of her maids. At first, there were regular contractions, and shortly after, she felt liquid run down her inner thighs beneath her skirt. The maids checked and confirmed her water had broken.
The moment it happened, the maids all began to panic—except for Wei Wei, the one giving birth, who remained calm and immediately took charge.
"Mary, Monica, help me to the next room. Qin, go fetch the midwives. Penny, tell Felix. Lisa went to the kitchen for hot water—and had them prepare something to eat. Kama, you go brew the herbal formula I gave you. I might need it. Everyone else, get the scissors, towels—everything we need. Don't panic!"
With her clear orders, everyone snapped into action. Each person went about their task, and Kama and Monica carefully supported Wei Wei as they guided her to the delivery room next door.