The maid's road to success

"Sister Wen Niang, the ancestor has woken up."

An Wenniang's thinking mind immediately came to her senses. She put down the basket in her hand and slowly walked into Fushou Hall.

"The old man drinks tea."

An Wenniang was sold to the Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion by a pawnbroker at the age of six. She was lucky enough to enter the most prestigious Fushou Hall in the mansion, and started out as a cleaning girl.

During the day, she secretly learned the behaviors of the older maids, secretly memorized the habits and preferences of her masters, and secretly practiced embroidery at night.

In the past six years, she has never had a quarrel with anyone, and no one has bullied or excluded her.

An Wenniang always took it easy and didn't care about it, nor did she allow them to push their buttons.

Just at the beginning of this year, two of the old lady's eldest maids got married, and she became a second-class maid serving the old lady.

According to the rules, the old lady served the most people this time.

Two first-class maids, four second-class maids, six third-class maids, and eight cleaning maids and eight old women.

Now in Fushou Hall, Wen Niang is the youngest second-class maid.

Two big maids

Yulan and Yumei have both followed the old lady for more than ten years and are the ones she trusts the most.

There were four second-class maids, An Wenniang, Chunxiu, Chuncao, and Bihe.

The other six third-class maids are Qiuhe, Qiumai, Qiuye, Qiuyang, Qiuguo and Qiushui.

The Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion is a century-old family with strict system, and the servants they employ are basically all born in the family.

The older ones were married off, and the younger ones were sent to the mansion.

An Wenniang and Bihe were lucky. That year, there were about ten older maids in Huaiyuan Marquis's Mansion who were of age and were to be sent out to get married, and there was a shortage of younger ones.

Only then did they carry out a shopping spree and bought more than twenty maids. Only An Wenniang and Bihe were lucky enough to be able to serve in Fushou Hall.

The old lady was kind and asked them their original names. An Wen Niang said she was Wen Niang.

The old lady thought the name was nice, so she kept it as a souvenir. Bihe's original name was Bizhu, but in order to avoid the names of the masters in the mansion, she changed her name to Bihe.

Bihe was originally two years older than Anwenniang and had a clever tongue. She was originally qualified to be a second-class maid in the courtyard, but the old ancestor liked her temper, so she made her a third-class maid first and privately allocated her a hundred dollars a month, the same as the second-class maid's monthly salary.

Bihe and Wen Niang were both bought into the mansion, so naturally they huddled together for warmth.

In order to please several senior maids and gain more respect in front of the ancestor, Wen Niang helped Bihe do a lot of work.

At the end of last year, the two eldest maids serving the old lady got married, and Yulan and Yumei, who were the most experienced second-class maids, were promoted to eldest maids.

There was a shortage of second-class maids, so the ancestor decided on Bihe, and the other person was originally going to be chosen from the third class.

Bihe recommended Wen Niang, saying that she was good at sewing. The person who was best at sewing in the courtyard had married off, and now there were only a few who could make clothes for the ancestors.

Yulan looked carefully at Wen Niang's craftsmanship and found it quite good. She still needed to learn more and practice more in embroidery, but what was really good was that she did the work carefully, with fine and even stitches. Even for the handkerchiefs used in the courtyard, she would rub them carefully until they were soft and ready to use before sending them to her.

Besides, Wen Niang is well-known in the courtyard for her honesty and integrity, and she doesn't flatter, so Yulan likes her very much.

But this was not something she could decide alone, so she discussed it with Yumei.

"Wen Niang is a good one. Among the second-class ones, Chunxiu and Chuncao are a bit jumpy, and Bi Hexin is too flexible. She really needs a quiet and responsible person to fill in."

After everything was discussed, Yulan told the ancestor about Wen Niang's name, and the ancestor nodded after seeing Wen Niang's craftsmanship.

Now Wen Niang is responsible for needlework in the old lady's courtyard, Bihe is responsible for tea, Chunxiu is responsible for washing, and Chuncao is responsible for meals and rest.

Yulan has two maids. Yulan is in charge of the staff deployment in Fushoutang, while Yumei is in charge of the items in Fushoutang.

"It's you today? Did you go to Chunxiu's house?"

Wen Niang helped the old ancestor get up, dress, rinse his mouth and drink tea.

The old ancestor looked at Wen Niang's petite figure, busy but not flustered, and was very satisfied.

"Sister Chunxiu is taking a day off today because it's her mother's birthday."

The old ancestor thought about it and realized that Chunxiu was a born child in a family and her parents were both elders in the family.

"Did you give her some fruit or food?"

Wen Niang was dressing her up behind the old ancestor. Although she was not good at dressing up, she had to know a little bit about everything after being promoted to a second-class maid.

"Sister Yulan has already given it to her. She was allowed to take home some of the tangerines that the Marquis sent her the other day, and she was also given a box of eight-treasure snacks."

The old ancestor nodded and put on her makeup. Bihe had already prepared tea and brought it up to serve the old lady some honey tea.

"This orange honey you and Wen Niang made is really good. Drinking a cup after waking up will make your body feel relaxed."

When the other maids were around, Wen Niang spoke very little, and Bihe handed the old ancestor a plate of freshly peeled chestnuts.

"You are so kind, old ancestor. The fact that we can make orange honey is because the Marquis and his wife are filial to you. Otherwise, where would we find these good things? We are just offering them to the Buddha."

The old ancestor picked up a chestnut. There was no such thing in the mansion.

"The Fourth Young Master specially sent it today. He said it was very sweet. I want you to try it."

When the old ancestor heard that it was the filial piety of his grandchildren, even though the taste was ordinary, he felt sweet in his heart when he tasted it.

While Bihe chatted with the old ancestor, Wen Niang sat on the front porch and continued to do her needlework.

The old lady never wore clothes from the embroidery room. Her underwear was made by the maids in the courtyard, and most of her outer clothes were made by the master craftsmen in Linglong Pavilion on Zhuque Street.

The craft is complicated, and it takes three or four craftsmen half a month to make one piece of clothing.

"Is the old man up?"

When Yulan came back, she saw Wen Niang sitting in the pavilion embroidering, and Bihe was inside chatting with the old ancestor.

"Well, I've been up for a quarter of an hour."

Yulan knew that this girl had to help with the washing and dressing, and then let Bihe go in to talk to the old lady, and she was angry at her for not fighting back.

This girl is too honest. She never comes near her masters and just does her own work quietly. She is very stupid.

If she and Yumei hadn't liked her more and more and often gave her more rewards in private, she would have suffered countless losses.

Chunxiu went home ten days ago, saying that her back injury was acting up, and her ancestors gave her a lot of medicinal herbs.

Today he said he wanted to go home again because it was his mother's birthday.

It's nothing more than laziness. The old ancestor is very kind to the servants and doesn't take it to heart, which always makes Yulan angry.

There is a rule in the orphanage that one can have two days of rest a month. Bi Hewen's mother was bought here and had nowhere to go, so she stayed in her own room when she had rest.

Chuncao and Chunxiu, relying on their gratification with the old ancestor, wished they could take away all the days of the two of them. When they went back, the old ancestor would often give them some food to take away.

"You just work quietly. You want to save money to buy your own little house. If you keep going like this, when you get old and leave the government, you won't even be able to afford a thatched cottage."

When Wen Niang saw that Sister Yulan was angry again, she looked at her with a gentle smile.

"No, my sisters take care of me and always give me subsidies."

Seeing that she still looked so dead, Yulan became even angrier. She tapped her forehead twice with her green fingers and went into the main room.

At night, Bihe and Wen Niang were on duty in the outer room together. The old lady didn't like the maids to stand guard in front of her, so she arranged them to do so in the outer room.

It was originally Bihe's turn to be on duty today, but she was afraid of the dark, so she always took Wen Niang with her when she was on duty.

"Today, the Fourth Young Master gave me two silver grains again. As usual, we each get one."

Wen Niang smiled and nodded, and placed the pillow for Bihe.

"Niang Wen, do you really want to be a maid forever and become a nanny when you are old?"

Bihe and Wen Niang talked face to face.

"Yeah, that's more practical."

When Bihe heard Wen Niang speak like this, many of the words she wanted to persuade her were stuck in her throat and she couldn't say them.

Chunxiu and Chuncao both have high aspirations. They are not satisfied with the status of maids and have always wanted to seek the status of masters.

The two of them have the capital and are the most outstanding in the hospital.

Bihe always heard them say which maidservant was taken in by which master, and was taken into his room, where she was given fine clothes and food, and was allowed to order servants around, looking very majestic.

I was somewhat tempted, but looking at Wen Niang's appearance, I felt that it might not be a good idea, and I felt a little conflicted.

"How much money have you saved now?"

Wen Niang thought about it and pointed with her finger.

"One hundred taels, so little?"

An Wenniang was a little surprised. One hundred taels was a lot. She only earned five taels a month, down from three taels before.

Fu Shou Tang received many rewards, and several masters, mistresses, young masters and young ladies would give them rewards from time to time.

Wen Niang seldom spends money, and saves it all to buy a house and land, so that she can have something to live on.

"Chunxiu and the others took home more than a hundred taels. I told you to talk to the old ancestor more often. When the old ancestor is happy, he will always reward people, but you didn't listen."

An Wenniang shook her head. She was not good at talking and could not make the old ancestor happy. Besides, it was good this way. When she was old enough to leave home, she would probably have more than two hundred taels. By then, she could buy a small courtyard and ten acres of paddy fields, which would be enough for her to eat and drink.

"Bihe, we don't have anyone to rely on like them. We have to be careful and cautious in everything we do and not make any mistakes."

Bihe knew that she had good intentions, and she felt even more conflicted. Ever since she was sold, she had always wanted to make a name for herself, go back and show her parents how well she was living, and make them regret selling her to help her eldest brother get married.

But if I don't strive for a better future, I will be a servant all my life. How can I make them regret it?

The ancestor ordered tea at night. Bihe got up and served him tea, then slept soundly until the end of the morning.

Chunxiu has returned and brought water to help the old ancestor wash up.

Wen Niang retreated into the inner room to do needlework. After the New Year, the weather would get warmer, so she had to quickly make thin underwear, shoes and socks so that the old ancestor would have something to change into.

"Thank you for your hard work yesterday. This is the roasted lamb I brought specially for you. It has a bit of flavor. Remember to rinse your mouth after eating it."

Wen Niang was very happy. She nodded and opened the food box, which contained not only roasted lamb but also pickled plums.

Wen Niang didn't like to show her face in front of her master. She didn't care about the quality of clothes, nor did she care whether the work was done or not. There were only two things she loved: money and food.

The senior maids all knew about her two preferences and often laughed at her, but would prepare for her in private.

In fact, Wen Niang still liked Chunxiu very much. Although she rested a lot and had a strong temper, she was not a bad person. When she received a lot of rewards, she would share them with Wen Niang, and when she went out to rest, she would bring her some delicious food back.

"Fool, hurry up and finish your meal, or it will get cold."

Chunxiu rubbed ointment on her body and went to the main house to serve. Chuncao brought back food from the big kitchen and was serving the ancestor.

"Haru-soo brought it back?"

Wen Niang remembered that Bihe was still making tea in the tea room, so she took some food with her to the tea room.

"Well, eat something first. I'm afraid the food will be cold when it arrives later."

Bihe picked up the bowl and chopsticks and ate the roasted lamb in the bowl with Wen Niang. Wen Niang also brought some cakes, which they toasted on the stove and ate.

"Good, we caught two stealing mice early in the morning."