High-class maid

"You're dressed too lightly. Let's go to the clothing store and buy you a cotton-padded coat." Shen Xing'er looked at Zhang Yuzhu's thin clothes. In early October, everyone was wearing light coats, but she was only wearing a single layer of clothing.

Zhang Yuzhu hurriedly shook her head and waved her hand, saying that Miss Shen had already spent eight hundred coins, and she could not spend Miss Shen's money anymore.

"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who's too eager to help others. I'll keep track of the money I spent on your clothes, and you can pay me back when you start earning money," Shen Xing'er said.

Zhang Yuzhu glanced at Shen Xing'er cautiously, and finally nodded.

"Let's take this one." After looking around, Shen Xing'er picked out a peach-colored floral-patterned jacket for Zhang Yuzhu.

"Roll up the sleeves once, and you can still wear them in the spring. You're still growing, so we can't buy clothes that fit too well," Shen Xing'er explained as she buttoned the shirt.

The young masters and ladies of Shen Xing'er's family have always worn clothes that fit them well, while ordinary families like theirs buy clothes that are a bit too big to save a lot of money.

Zhang Yuzhu nodded, indicating her understanding. Shen Xing'er buying her clothes was already a huge help; how could she ask for more?

"Let's go find my mother." Shen Xing'er saw that she was dressed and helped her adjust her neck before going to find Wang Shi.

"Xing'er, now you have time to tell me, right?" Shan Tao asked on the way.

So Shen Xing'er told Shan Tao what had happened at the restaurant that day.

"I see. You did a good deed on a whim, and this girl still remembers it. But now, it's become a sweet burden," Yamamomo chuckled.

Zhang Yuzhu looked up at Shan Tao, then at Shen Xing'er, and quickly lowered her head, trying to minimize her presence.

Shen Xing'er noticed her nervousness and said, "It's all fate. You don't need to be too sad. At least you're away from those human traffickers."

Zhang Yuzhu nodded and smiled at Shen Xing'er.

"Mother, your daughter needs to speak with you." Shen Xing'er and her group found Wang Shi and Chen Shan's family at the temple, where the two women were making offerings to the temple's statues.

"Where did you go? And who is this young lady?" Wang asked, looking at the little girl behind Shen Xing'er.

Zhang Yuzhu twisted her hands together, lowered her head, bit her lip, and listened anxiously to the conversation between the mother and daughter.

"Mother, there are too many people here. Let's find another place to talk," Shen Xing'er said.

Seeing her daughter so serious, Wang didn't ask any more questions. She nodded and said goodbye to Chen Shan's family, then left with her daughter, Shen Xing'er.

Chen Shan's wife wanted to follow, but Shan Tao grabbed her arm. Shan Tao shook her head at her mother and said, "This is someone else's family matter. Mother, let's go for a walk over there."

Chen Shan's family, being sensible, didn't ask any further questions and went shopping with their daughter without mentioning it.

The three of them arrived at a teahouse, which was unusually quiet because everyone was strolling around the temple fair.

"Xing'er, tell me, what's going on? Why do you insist on talking in a place that costs money?" After the group sat down, Madam Wang asked.

“Mother, this is the girl who played the pipa at the restaurant that day. Because I pulled her away from Duan Laohu, she escaped with her life. But I saw her again at the human traffickers on the street. I suppose she was injured in the explosion and left with scars. The restaurant kicked her out.”

Shen Xing'er said quickly, "I'm so thirsty!" She hurriedly picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea. The refreshing and sweet taste instantly soothed the fatigue of the morning.

"I see. She's a pitiful child. Where are your family?" Looking at the young woman who was about the same age as her daughter, Madam Wang felt a pang of pity and asked.

Zhang Yuzhu bit her lip and shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes again.

“Mother, she’s also from the capital. This young lady is too frightened to speak. That’s all I know,” Shen Xing’er said.

"So, you bought her from that human trafficker? How much did you spend? Did you get a contract of indenture?"

"I got it, here you go." Shen Xing'er took out the indenture from her purse and handed it to Wang Shi. Wang Shi was knowledgeable and experienced, so she should be able to see more information.

“Zhang Yuzhu, what a lovely name. She must have been pampered at home. But how did she end up in Jinling, a hundred miles away?” Wang murmured.

“Mother, the solution now is not to think about how Miss Zhang came here, but because she refuses to leave, I am also a little worried…” Shen Xing’er’s voice lowered as she spoke.

She knew that her family had only come to Jinling with their master on business, and that she was powerless to help them and would only cause trouble for her parents. But she felt sorry for the girl, perhaps because the girl's stubborn eyes touched her.

Looking at her daughter, and recalling the fortune teller's words, Wang sighed and thought, "Everything is predestined! Now that the child is grown up, I should respect her wishes."

“Young lady, do you not want to leave? Do you want to come back to the capital with us to find your family?” Madam Wang asked Zhang Yuzhu gently.

Zhang Yuzhu waved her hand and shook her head, then pretended to wash clothes and pointed to the well in the yard.

"Girl, please don't threaten me with suicide. I'm just asking you, please don't do anything rash and jump into the well to die." Wang thought she was being threatened and hurriedly tried to dissuade her.

Zhang Yuzhu waved her hand again, looking at Shen Xing'er for help.

“Mother, Miss Zhang means that she can wash clothes, fetch water, and do some housework, and doesn’t necessarily need to find family members, right, Miss Zhang?”

Zhang Yuzhu nodded. After explaining for a while, she was already covered in sweat. Seeing that Shen Xing'er finally understood her, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“I see. I misunderstood you, young lady. Since you are from the capital and my daughter is also interested in this matter, then leave it to me,” said Madam Wang.

"Mother, do you have a way to get her to come back to the capital with us?" Shen Xing'er asked in surprise.

“I will report this matter to the First Madam truthfully. I believe the First Madam will not mind having someone accompany you. However… you will probably have to stay at an inn for the next few days,” Madam Wang said to Zhang Yuzhu.

Zhang Yuzhu nodded vigorously, saying she was fine with living anywhere as long as she could stay with her benefactor.

“Miss Zhang, I will find you an inn. Don’t go out for the next few days. I will let you know before we return to the capital,” Shen Xing’er said.

“Miss, please don’t take it too seriously. Our household has strict rules. It’s already a great honor for my mother to let you travel back to the capital by boat. It would be absolutely impossible for you to stay in the mansion,” Shen Xing’er explained.

Zhang Yuzhu waved her hand, thinking to herself, "You're kidding! I'll stay wherever my benefactor tells me to. Why would I be picky about where I live!"

"Let's go, we'll find an inn for Miss Zhang," said Madam Wang after paying for the tea.

"Mother, you're so kind. What about Father?" Shen Xing'er stepped forward and hugged Wang Shi, flattering her.