High-class maid

"Alright then." Shen Xing'er didn't invite Shan Tao again. She hadn't seen her father for many days, and it would seem a bit inconsiderate of her to invite Shan Tao again.

“However, we can go sell embroidery together the day after tomorrow,” Shan Tao said, changing the subject.

When Shan Tao returned this time, she embroidered two handkerchiefs and two purses. The patterns and colors on them were the result of Shen Xing'er's slight modifications and adjustments to the style from Jinling. Because she didn't know if they could be sold, Shan Tao didn't embroider many.

“Okay! I’m bored at home too. Where shall we meet the day after tomorrow?” Shen Xing’er asked.

"How about I come to your house? I have nothing to do there, we can stroll around all day at our leisure," Shan Tao replied.

The two sisters quickly finalized their plans for the day after tomorrow. The thought of returning to her home, which she hadn't been to for months, filled Shen Xing'er with even more enthusiasm.

In her small courtyard, Qianying had no maids and could not go out. After finishing her embroidery, she wanted to learn to read like a lady from a wealthy family, but she found that she was illiterate. She sat in the courtyard waiting for nightfall and looking at the moon. For some reason, two lines of clear tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Mother, why are you here?" Shen Xing'er, who was getting dressed, said when she saw Wang Shi enter the room.

"Isn't there Zhou Mama's bedding? I was afraid you wouldn't be able to carry it all, so I came to get it for you. This is it, isn't it?" Wang asked, pointing to the rolled-up bedding.

“Yes, if you help me carry them, then we won’t need to trouble Shan Tao.” Shen Xing’er finished dressing, took Wang Shi’s luggage, and Wang Shi took Zhou Mama’s bedding. The two of them walked out of the mansion together.

"Mother, why don't we hire a carriage? It's too tiring to carry all this stuff," Shen Xing'er said breathlessly from behind, carrying their two bundles.

Once you exit the alley leading to the Minister's residence, you'll find donkey carts, horse-drawn carriages, and rickshaws on the street. Rather than walking slowly and laboriously like this, it's better to spend some money to save time and effort.

“No need, your father is waiting for us at the alley entrance,” Wang said.

"Great! Great! I can finally see my dad!"

"Silly girl, do you miss your father? Or do you miss our carriage?" Shen Kun's voice came from above. He took the luggage from Shen Xing'er's hands, and Shen Xing'er felt much lighter.

"Hehehe, of course I missed you, Dad! It's been so long, you've gotten even more handsome," Shen Xing'er said flatteringly.

"You silly girl, where did you learn those quirky words? Come on, get in the car, I bought you some meat buns, eat them while they're hot," Shen Kun said.

"Dad, it's been so long since I've seen you. Our horse seems to have gotten a bit fatter!" Shen Xing'er stroked their little horse, and the horse seemed to sense it, nuzzling Shen Xing'er with its head.

"That's right. Our neighbor has been feeding the horses for us for the past two months. I didn't expect him to be so lenient. The horses are definitely much more energetic now! Are you ready? Let's go."

As Shen Kun spoke, he glanced back at the mother and daughter, then drove the carriage on its way.

"Husband, where are our neighbors? I didn't know any of our neighbors were horse feeders. I'll have to prepare some gifts to thank them," Wang asked.

"The Wu family next door moved away, and a young couple moved in. The woman took laundry jobs, and the man pulled rickshaws on the street. Both of them came from wealthy families, so the man knew a bit about feeding horses."

"That's good. People from high-class families know their manners. You should thank them properly later." Madam Wang nodded, understanding the situation.

The family of three arrived at their doorstep shortly after finishing their conversation, where Zhang Yuzhu was already waiting.

When Zhang Yuzhu saw Shen Xing'er, her joy was beyond words. She lifted the curtain and moved a stool, clearly feeling bored after being alone at home for many days.

"Yuzhu, you don't need to be so busy. Sit down and rest." Wang Shi said somewhat awkwardly as she looked at Zhang Yuzhu, who was pouring her hot water.

Zhang Yuzhu shook her head, then smiled and handed Shen Kun a glass of water.

"You wouldn't believe it, I was stunned when I got home. Yuzhu had tidied up our house so neatly and cleanly, saving us a lot of trouble," Shen Kun praised.

“Yes, normally, I would have to clean up when I get home, and I wouldn’t be finished until noon. Yuzhu, thank you so much,” Wang said.

The couple did not treat Zhang Yuzhu as a servant. They simply put themselves in her shoes and hoped that if their own daughter were alone in someone else's home, she would be treated better.

Zhang Yuzhu smiled and shook her head without saying a word.

"After lunch, I'll go to the street, bring Granny Zhou's bedding to the escort agency, and then ask around to see if anyone has lost a daughter, so I can help Yuzhu find her family," Shen Kun said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuzhu felt both anticipation and fear. She recalled the night many years ago when she was kidnapped, and a bandit with a hateful face said to her...

"Remember, it wasn't me who kidnapped you, but your mother. She disliked you because you were an obstacle to her future, and she didn't want you anymore!"

"Yuzhu? Are you too happy?" Shen Xing'er saw Zhang Yuzhu in a daze and waved her finger in front of her.

Zhang Yuzhu shook her head and said, "I'm scared."

"What are you afraid of? Don't be afraid. Maybe your parents or your grandmother are also anxiously looking for you?" Shen Xing'er comforted her.

“Father, grandmother…” Zhang Yuzhu murmured in her heart. Yes, how could she have been so foolish back then? Her mother didn’t want her anymore, but she still had her father, or at the very least, her grandmother. How could she have listened to that villain?

"Alright, alright, the little girl can't handle so much all at once. Xing'er, do you have anything to bring for Granny Zhou? If so, pack it up and give it to your father later," Wang asked.

“Yes, I saw a bottle of pills on Granny Zhou’s table. The bottle was dispensed by a pharmacy in the east of the city. I asked the family physician yesterday, and he said it was for treating dizziness. I’ll get some for Granny Zhou today, and then I’ll have Father take it away later.”

Shen Xing'er noticed that Granny Zhou occasionally felt dizzy, just like her teacher in her previous life. However, her teacher was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Therefore, Shen Xing'er deduced that Granny Zhou also had high blood pressure, although such a condition didn't exist in ancient times.

“Go now if you want. I’ll head to the escort agency right after noon. I inquired about it when I came today, and there happens to be an escort agency that’s setting off this afternoon,” Shen Kun said.

“Alright, let Yuzhu come with me then. We’ll have something to eat on the street for lunch and see if Yuzhu can remember anything in the capital.”

After Shen Xing'er finished speaking, she went inside to get a cloak, and also got one for Zhang Yuzhu. The weather wasn't good today, so it was better to wear more clothes.

Zhang Yuzhu was also quite happy. She hadn't gone out while in Jinling, and even after returning to the capital, she didn't dare to go out alone. Now she finally had the chance to go out and see the streets, and her face was full of anticipation.