My Manor

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Stay



"You... Carlos is just anxious to take them away. Besides, isn't this the result you want?" Hearing Jiang Hai's words, the woman couldn't help but be speechless, but never use the word "reason" to measure a woman's mind. Obviously, she couldn't win Jiang Hai by discussing the previous topic at this time, so she wisely chose another topic.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore. These two girls are not leaving." Hearing the woman's words, Jiang Hai snorted coldly, then turned his head and looked at the two girls, who were as pitiful as injured kittens but still stubbornly raised their heads. Jiang Hai's original idea of sending them away unconsciously faded.

If it really doesn't work, he would just take them in... Although he felt it would be a bit inconvenient, it would be better for them to stay here than to be bullied outside. At least he wouldn't have any bad intentions toward them.

"I will contact your welfare agency, please." Hearing that Jiang Hai had made up his mind to adopt the two girls, Moses Adams shrugged, though he felt that Jiang Hai was just wasting time.

But since it was Jiang Hai's decision, as a lawyer, it was his job to help Jiang Hai clean up his mess.

After hearing what Moses Adams said, the two representatives from the welfare agency looked at each other before finally turning around and leaving.

Hearing the sound of their departure, Jiang Hai sighed. He couldn't even take care of himself, and now there were two more burdens. Looking at the two pretty little girls standing by him, Jiang Hai smiled bitterly.

"You guys, you're so cruel... Come with me to eat." Nodding at the two girls' heads, perhaps realizing that Jiang Hai wasn't going to drive them away again, the corners of their mouths curled into smiles, their large eyes turning into crescent shapes, which looked particularly cute. Jiang Hai wasn't sure if taking them in was the right decision, but the most important thing was that it had been his original intention.

After hearing what Jiang Hai said, the two girls understood. Since Jiang Hai said he wanted to keep them, they knew he wouldn't lie to them, so they went back to grab the coats Jiang Hai bought for them and put them on again.

Jiang Hai had just mentioned that he would go to Mrs. Philemon's house for dinner every day. Since they were going to live here from now on, two more people would probably be joining for meals. The two girls were also thinking about it. They knew it was their responsibility to take care of these things.

Since Jiang Hai had decided to let them stay, they knew that taking care of his meals, the house's hygiene, washing clothes, and even warming his bed would naturally become their duties. The first thing they needed to do was learn how to cook as soon as possible.

Jiang Hai had no idea what the two little girls were thinking. After they put on their coats, Moses Adams returned. He said something to Jiang Hai and then left, not joining them for dinner, but heading home first.

Tomorrow, he would help Jiang Hai handle the adoption papers. These things would naturally be handled by him as a lawyer.

As for his not staying for the meal, Jiang Hai didn't insist, but deposited a thousand dollars into his account as payment for the day. Other legal fees were calculated separately; this was simply his meal allowance.

Upon receiving the text message, Moses Adams didn't refuse. After all, he had mainly helped Jiang Hai for money.

There was no reason to refuse money from his boss. As the saying goes, "If you want the horse to run, you must feed it with grass." Jiang Hai knew this well.

After Moses Adams left, Jiang Hai took the two girls to Philemon's house. Philemon was there, still watching TV in the living room and was a little surprised to see Jiang Hai bringing the two girls with him.

"Boss, didn't you say you'd send them to the welfare home?" Philemon had asked earlier, when they were in Boston, what would happen to these girls once they were back at the manor. The eight adults could be hired as employees. These girls, coming from a poor family, would probably make good employees. However, these two girls wouldn't fit that category.

It was illegal to employ child labor in the United States, and while illegal labor could be managed relatively safely, child labor was another matter. Philemon was unsure of Jiang Hai's intentions with these two girls.

"Just now, the welfare agency came. They were too rude and beat them. Although I know things like this happen everywhere, still... well, I decided to adopt them. Anyway, my place is very big and there's no one to talk to me. They'll stay here with me. I'll need to find a school for them..." Sitting next to Philemon, Jiang Hai rubbed his temples in distress. Looking at the two pretty sisters standing beside him, he really didn't know what to say.

"Boss, sometimes you're too kind-hearted, haha, but it's good this way. Following a kind-hearted boss, our lives will be much better!" Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Philemon also laughed.

"Mrs. Turner, I'll have to trouble you to cook for two more people in the future. Do you want me to raise your salary?" At this moment, Mrs. Philemon, who had been busy in the kitchen, came over. Looking at the plump figure of this kind-hearted woman, Jiang Hai said with a smile.

"What salary increase? The money you gave me is for three meals a day, but you don't even eat two meals a day. I was going to ask you to reduce my salary, but now it's good, I have some extra work again." Mrs. Philemon laughed heartily and walked over to the refrigerator to grab food.

Upon hearing Mrs. Philemon's words, the two girls, who had been standing quietly beside her, exchanged glances. Then, they quickly walked to the refrigerator to help her pick out ingredients. At first, Mrs. Philemon had no intention of letting them work—after all, if Jiang Hai frowned upon them, they were at least his daughters in name. It wouldn't be right for the boss to help them. However, seeing the eager look in their eyes, she was momentarily stunned, then handed them the beef. She understood that the girls wanted to show they were not useless.

In truth, Mrs. Philemon had complicated feelings about the eight women. She had two parts pity, three parts confusion, and five parts caution.

In the United States—and more broadly, in Europe—people often refrain from interfering in others' lives. Whether someone's life is good or bad, it doesn't seem to concern them much, which can come across as cold-blooded. They might offer financial help if something moves them, but little else. They wouldn't, for instance, let stray cats or dogs enter their homes, nor would they take in people from the street.

While they seemed cold-hearted, it wasn't that they were unkind; they simply didn't want to risk changing their lives for small matters. Even in China, there are many people like this. As the saying goes, "When the father dies and the mother remarries, everyone looks after themselves. Where does all the kindness come from?"

This explains the two parts pity, three parts confusion, and five parts caution. They couldn't understand why Jiang Hai would bring them back.

Based on their understanding of him, it seemed unlikely he intended to keep all eight girls at his home.

The five points of caution came from hearing about the backgrounds of these women. While they hadn't done serious work in the past, their backgrounds were unfortunate. They had worked in such professions. Though it was enough for regular housewives to tolerate them without hostility, it was foreseeable that these women might now see their husbands in a new light.

However, such complicated thoughts were mostly directed at the eight women. Darlene and Marianne didn't fall into this category.

Mrs. Philemon was particularly fond of these two girls and took them into the kitchen.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Hai wanted to say something but held back. He wasn't sure how he felt about the two girls. He felt sorry for them, but when he thought about living with them in the future... He wasn't sure.

After a while, dinner, with its Bostonian flavor, began. Although Darlene and Marianne had enjoyed good meals recently, their minds were still preoccupied because they didn't want to return to the welfare home.

Jiang Hai had insisted on sending them back, which had frightened them. They hadn't eaten well during dinner.

But now, with their minds at ease, they ate freely. Jiang Hai was stunned.

It was understandable—they hadn't eaten such delicious beef, fish, and soup in a long time. If he hadn't been worried they'd get sick, Jiang Hai figured they could eat all night.

After eating, although the two girls were full, they still stood up and helped Mrs. Philemon clean up the dishes and utensils. Once everything was done, Jiang Hai took them back to his villa.

Jiang Hai's villa was large. Normally, there were only five living beings there—Jiang Hai, Xiao Huang, Xiao Bai, Ban Ya, and Jiu Jiu.

Though Jiu Jiu had been caught for a long time, it hadn't fully grown. It didn't look like the bald chicken it once was, but its range of activities was still confined to Jiang Hai's room. As for Ban Ya, Xiao Huang, and Xiao Bai, they ran around everywhere.

When Jiang Hai returned with the two girls, the three little ones came over to greet them. They had already met the two girls, and though enthusiastic, the girls were naturally afraid of dogs.

"Alright, go play by yourselves. Don't scare them. They will be part of our family in the future." Jiang Hai gently nudged the two dogs and smiled. When the dogs heard him, they exchanged glances. (To be continued.)


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