High-class maid

“Silly child, you can only make a name for yourself in the capital. Don’t worry, Grandma will take care of the house and land for you and won’t let your uncle’s family take them away!” said Granny Bai.

"Grandma, I don't want you to beg others for my sake..." Xiao Nuo's eyes reddened as she sobbed.

“Silly child, Grandma is getting older every day. Houses and land are minor matters. The worst thing would be if your uncle were to marry you off to someone else. Listen to Grandma, work hard in the household, and Grandma will find you a good family in the future. When you return home in glory, your uncle will naturally not dare to take your things.”

"It seems you've already made up your mind," Xiao Nuo said.

"Good child, keep this money. The capital is not like Nanjing; you must have money on hand." With that, Granny Bai stuffed a heavy purse into her hand.

"Grandma, I can't accept this. This is the money you've saved up for most of your life. How can your granddaughter accept it?" Xiao Nuo weighed the money in her hand and instinctively tried to refuse.

“Only if you accept it will Grandma feel at ease letting you go. Don’t worry, out of filial piety, your uncle’s family won’t dare to do anything to me.”

Xiao Nuo could say nothing more and burst into tears, hugging Granny Bai: "Grandma is right. It seems that I have nothing to resist except getting married."

"I trust the old lady's judgment. You just need to do your job well."

"If Grandma has any difficulties, go to the alley entrance and ask the scholar to write a letter to me for you. Don't worry about the money," Xiao Nuo instructed.

"Don't worry, Grandma can take good care of herself," Granny Bai said with a smile, wiping away her tears.

Xiao Nuo snapped out of her thoughts, composed herself, and then pretended to be nonchalant as she went to gather firewood.

"It's ready! You two should try it." Chen Shan's wife served each of them a bowl, watching their reactions expectantly.

"Mmm, Mother, it's delicious, but it's not sweet enough," Shan Tao said, squinting her eyes as she savored the taste.

“I think it’s just right. If it’s too sweet, I’m afraid the old lady will get tired of it after a few sips,” Shen Xing’er said.

Chen Shan's wife nodded and said, "Xing'er is right. The old lady is getting old, and if she drinks something too sweet, she might get tired of it. You just like sweets."

Shan Tao scratched her head and said with a smile, "Then Mother, please make me an even sweeter one next time."

“You keep eating! If you keep eating, you’ll really get as fat as a little pig. Look how much fatter you are than Xing’er,” Chen Shan’s wife said.

Shan Tao pouted: "Well, I don't eat that much. Besides, isn't it good to be a little chubby? It makes you look so prosperous."

"Alright, alright, I'll go get the teacups. You two take them to the old lady." Chen Shan's wife rolled her eyes at Shan Tao and ignored her.

The two women carefully carried the teacups to the old lady's door. Danxue took them and gestured for them to wait there. Shen Xing'er watched as Danxue opened the curtain and went inside, muttering to herself.

"I don't know how the maids in those novels managed to win the old lady's favor. We little maids can't even see the old lady's face."

"Xing'er, what is a novel?" Shan Tao asked.

"It's a storybook."

"What storybooks tell stories about us little maids? They all tell stories about scholars, young ladies, and down-on-their-luck young men. Nobody bothers to make them up," Shan Tao said.

"Yes, it seems we still need to be down-to-earth in our work."

Just as the two sisters were whispering to each other, Danxue came out and said, "Grandma really likes this milk tea. Go and see if the kitchen has any left."

Shan Tao agreed and headed to the small kitchen. Dan Xue then instructed Shen Xing'er, "You should come with me. If there's any leftover milk tea, take it to the masters so they can have a taste."

"How was it? Did the old lady like it?" Chen Shan's wife asked expectantly when she saw the two of them return so quickly.

"Mother, the old lady likes it very much. Sister Danxue even told me to see if there are any extras, because the old lady wants more!" Shantao said.

“Yes, Sister Danxue also asked me to send some to all the masters,” Shen Xing’er said.

"That's good, that's good. Yes, we do have some, but the old lady can't eat too many sweets. Why don't you send these to the masters first, and I'll make a less sweet one for the old lady?"

Chen Shan's family member pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Auntie, is the green ink still being delivered there?" Shen Xing'er asked Chen Shan's family, unsure of what to do.

"If there are any left after sending gifts to all the masters, send one to her. Although her methods of rising to power were not honorable, she is still one of the young master's servants. We should not show favoritism to her."

Chen Shan's family member thought for a moment and then spoke. Shen Xing'er nodded; listening to one's elders is always the right thing to do.

As luck would have it, after Shen Xing'er had delivered all the milk tea to her masters, she still had an extra cup left. With no other option, she could only take the cup to Lv Mo's residence.

Although she is now the young master's first woman, without the madam's permission, she is not even considered a concubine, nor even a personal maid. However, at least she has her own room.

Carrying her teacup, Shen Xing'er wandered around and finally found Green Ink's room in a corner. She knocked on the door, and an excited voice came from inside: "Coming, coming!"

When Lümo saw that it was Shen Xing'er knocking on the door, a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it, put on a smile again, and said...

"Xing'er, you've arrived. Did the old lady have any instructions? What is this you're carrying? Please come in and sit down." Green Ink's enthusiasm made Shen Xing'er a little uncomfortable. She smiled slightly and said...

“Miss Green Ink, this is milk tea made in the old lady’s small kitchen. The old lady liked it and specially asked me to send a portion to the masters in the mansion.”

Upon hearing the word "master," Lümo's smile became even more genuine. She smiled shyly, pulled Shen Xing'er into the house, and said...

“Xing’er has become distant from me now, she doesn’t even call me ‘sister’ anymore. Put your things on the table and sit down quickly.”

"This servant wouldn't dare. There's a difference in rank. Miss Lümo, please drink it while it's hot." Shen Xing'er took a step back, still standing respectfully.

Seeing that she was unmoved by reason and unable to win her over, Green Ink had no choice but to suppress his smile and say...

"In that case, you may leave. You can keep this purse for yourself." With that, he took a purse from his waist and handed it to Shen Xing'er.

Shen Xing'er wanted to refuse, but then she remembered that the other party was now practically her mistress, so she accepted it generously and curtsied, saying, "Miss Lümo, please enjoy it slowly. This servant will take her leave now."

Shen Xing'er's polite words did not please Lümo; instead, they made her even angrier. After Shen Xing'er left, Lümo sat angrily on the bed and said...

"Hmph, you all look down on me. So what if I'm just a former servant who worked with you and has now become your master? You're asking for it!"