High-class maid

When Shen Xing'er returned home, she saw Wang Shi anxiously holding an umbrella and waiting for her at the door.

"Xing'er, why are you running so fast? You didn't even take an umbrella. What if you get wet? Oh, when did you get an umbrella?" Wang asked in surprise.

Shen Xing'er didn't have time to answer her, and said as she went into the house.

"Luckily, we met an older brother who was worried that someone would take our clothes. He put them under the bench for us and ordered a bowl of mutton soup, but we didn't drink it. He probably ordered it because he was afraid the restaurant would close down."

Shen Xing'er said as she changed out of her wet clothes.

“There are still many good people in the world. You can ask him what his name is and where he lives. When you have time, have your father prepare a thank-you gift and go to his house to express his gratitude.” Wang asked while drying Shen Xing’er’s hair.

"Yes, he said his name is Song Wenyang. When Father is done with his work, you can ask him to inquire about him," Shen Xing'er replied.

After drying Shen Xing'er's hair, Wang hurriedly went to the kitchen to cook her a bowl of ginger soup. The mother and daughter sat in the kitchen, talking and drinking the ginger soup.

Just then, I suddenly heard crying from next door, and every now and then I heard cries of "Heavens, why? It's not fair!" It sounded a bit eerie in the rainy night.

"Xing'er, don't be afraid. It's just the old lady next door crying. We neighbors are used to it," Wang said comfortingly.

"What's wrong with the old lady next door?" Shen Xing'er asked curiously.

"The old lady is fine. It's her son. He passed the imperial examination at the age of 15 and became a scholar. He's the youngest and only person on our street to do so."

This old woman was also a pitiful person. Her family initially disagreed with sending her son to school, saying it was a waste of money and there was no guarantee he would pass the imperial examinations. But she insisted that only through education would he have a chance, and she was willing to divorce her husband to ensure her son could attend school.

"Her foolish husband, in order to save money, actually agreed to a divorce, even saying that his brother's children could support him in his old age."

And so, the old woman, with the money she had saved from doing odd jobs, rented a courtyard here. Her son, true to his character, passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. This finally gave the old woman a moment of pride,” Wang said.

"Isn't this a good thing? Then why is this old lady crying again? She sounds so pitiful," Shen Xing'er asked, puzzled.

"They really had a triumphant moment a couple of years ago. I heard that the scholar's father and grandmother even came to visit them with gifts, but the old lady chased them away. But this year, this old lady fell while doing odd jobs and has been bedridden ever since."

"Without any income, the mother and daughter could only survive on the charity of their neighbors. The old woman was a strong-willed person and couldn't bear the blow, so she became somewhat mentally unstable," Wang said with a sigh.

That's really pitiful, because Shen Xing'er is cannon fodder in the book. After being kicked out of the mansion, there's no further news about her, so she doesn't know the fate of the mother and son next door.

After drinking the ginger soup and closing the doors and windows, the mother and daughter went to bed. They were tired from shopping all day and then got caught in the rain in the evening, which made them even more tired than when they were working at the Minister's Mansion. So the mother and daughter slept soundly through the night.

The next day, Wang said she would make tiger-skin eggs for Shen Xing'er.

Because the family of three only comes back to stay for a few days a month, they have to buy all the vegetables they need on the spot. So Shen Xing'er volunteered to go out and buy eggs.

When Shen Xing'er returned home with the eggs, she saw the old lady next door sitting on a stool, sunbathing at the door. The old lady was a bit thin and looked malnourished. Her son was sitting next to her studying.

Seeing this, Shen Xing'er felt compassion and took out a few eggs for the older boy next door. Knowing that scholars valued their reputation, she said...

"Big brother, my mother told me you write very well. My family just moved here and hasn't had time to tidy up. Could you please write a few pieces of calligraphy when you have some free time? It would look festive if I could put them on the wall. I can't afford to pay you, but how about I exchange a few eggs for a few pieces of your calligraphy?"

After speaking, Shen Xing'er felt a little uneasy, because scholars are the most principled, and she was afraid that her good intentions would be misunderstood as a joke.

To everyone's surprise, the other person smiled gently, generously accepted the eggs, and said, "I know your kindness, sister. I'll write a few pieces of calligraphy that match your taste and send them to you later."

“Okay, anytime is fine,” Shen Xing’er said, waving to him before going inside.

After returning home, Shen Xing'er helped Wang Shi gather firewood while telling her what had happened at the door. She thought Wang Shi would scold her for meddling, but to her surprise, Wang Shi praised her in agreement and said...

“We’re all neighbors, so we should help each other out when we can. When the old lady wasn’t mentally unstable, she often brought me homemade pancakes and vegetables she grew herself. Although we can’t help her much, we shouldn’t kick her when she’s down. After all, things can change in the future, and nobody knows what the future holds.”

And what her mother, Lady Wang, said came true: this boy with a mentally unstable mother, who couldn't even be considered a man, would, ten years later, become a powerful prime minister. Of course, that's a story for another time.

“Yes, Mother, I understand. I thought scholars were all pedantic, but I saw this older brother accept the eggs so readily without any discomfort,” Shen Xing’er said.

“Yes, there are pedantic people and there are insightful people. After his mother became immobile, he would set up a stall at the street corner and write letters for others to make a living. Some people who pass the imperial examination are arrogant and aloof, but he is not that kind of person.” As Wang spoke, she scooped the eggs out of the pot.

After the mother and daughter finished breakfast, the scholar from next door brought over his calligraphy, and Wang and Shen Xing'er tidied up the house.

On the third day, the mother and daughter went out again. Wang was going to bring clothes for another nanny serving the First Madam, while Shen Xing'er was going to bring osmanthus cakes from Qianshansu to Shantao.

Shen Xing'er went to queue up early this morning, afraid that she wouldn't be able to buy osmanthus cake and that Shan Tao would be angry. When she arrived at the entrance of Qianshan Su, there was already a long queue.

When Shen Xing'er finally bought the osmanthus cake, she seemed to catch a glimpse of the boy who had been waiting for her in the rain that day.

She hurriedly picked up the osmanthus cake and chased after them, but there were too many people on the street, and they were separated, missing each other once again.

In the afternoon, Shen Xing'er and Madam Wang tidied up and prepared to go to the manor.

Wang gave all the vegetables she hadn't finished eating over the past two days to her neighbor.

These days, meat isn't expensive; it's vegetables that are. The scholar next door generously and gratefully accepted the food, saying he would keep an eye on their house and would go to the Minister's residence to look for them if anyone came looking for them or if he heard any noise.

As the saying goes, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative; it is essential to maintain good relations with your neighbors.

Happy days are always short-lived. The mother and daughter, carrying their small bundles, embarked on their journey back to the Minister's residence.