High-class maid

“How could the old lady let her go? Although Chunyun was bewitched, she is truly wicked. As the culprit, we will find her no matter where she goes,” Chen Shan’s wife said.

"Yes, the old lady said that Xiyun will be punished this afternoon, and all the maids and servants in the mansion are to watch. I heard it's fifty strokes of the cane," said Granny Zhou.

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), the group locked the doors and windows of the small kitchen and tea room, then went together to the front yard, where all the maids and servants were already standing properly.

Just as the hour of Shenshi (3-5 PM) arrived, the executioner came over with a stick.

Xiyun lay sprawled on the long bench, her lips bloodless, her eyes fixed on Shen Xing'er with hatred, as if trying to memorize her appearance.

Before she could even take a few more glances at Shen Xing'er, the nanny started the execution with a stick.

Slowly, red bloodstains appeared on Xiyun's pants, and the smell of blood grew stronger.

Xiyun went from screaming at the beginning to convulsing later. Some of the more timid maids had already started vomiting, covering their mouths with their handkerchiefs.

49…50… Just as the stick in the old woman's hand reached the 50th strike, a quick-witted servant stepped forward and checked Xiyun's breath: "Reporting to Sister Danxue, she's not breathing."

Danxue seemed completely unsurprised by the result, and said...

"Well, notify her family to come and take her away. The old lady was kind and specially left her with a complete body. Everyone, behave yourselves. Arguments and quarrels are inevitable, but never have the heart to harm others, otherwise Xiyun's fate will be your fate. Everyone, disperse." After saying that, he left without looking back.

After Danxue left, the remaining maids and servants also left. Some of the more timid ones were so frightened that their legs went weak and they were helped away by their companions.

The servant left to clean up the mess called out, "Where are Xiyun's parents? Aren't they also working in the manor? Why haven't they come to pick her up?" Silence answered the servant.

Helpless, the servant called out again, but still no one answered. Having no other option, the servant finally wrapped Xiyun in a straw mat and threw her into a mass grave.

Shen Xing'er hadn't spoken a word since watching Xi Yun's execution, and she hadn't eaten dinner. Although Xi Yun deserved her fate, she felt she had done something significant for the original owner and avenged her.

But she was still unhappy. After all, this person used to be inseparable from Shen Xing'er. This was the first time Shen Xing'er had seen someone die in front of her in her two lifetimes.

As night fell, Shen Xing'er drifted off to sleep, and fragmented memories of the original owner flooded into her mind.

"Xing'er, I went to the small kitchen and bought a bowl of ginger soup. Drink it quickly, and your cold will be better."

"Xing'er, I'll eat quickly. I'll go sweep the yard first. You can eat slowly."

"Xing'er, my mother has come to ask me for money again, and my father said he won't let me leave the manor anymore, saying that after I leave at 25, where will I find such a respectable job? Xing'er, I'm so sad."

"Xing'er, Xing'er, Xing'er!"

Shen Xing'er sat up abruptly in bed, startled to find her back and head covered in sweat. It was just a dream; perhaps the original owner of this body was also sad.

At this moment, Shan Tao came over and asked Shen Xing'er, "Xing'er, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare? Why don't we sleep together? I'm a little scared too."

"Okay, come on."

"Xing'er, will you be sad?" Shan Tao asked.

"I might, after all, we used to be inseparable friends. Yamamoto, would you frame me?"

For the first time, Shen Xing'er showed vulnerability to Shan Tao, grabbing Shan Tao's hand and asking.

Shantao grasped her hand in return and said, "Of course not, don't think so much. You are my best friend for life, and we will be best sisters for life."

The next day, no one in the mansion was in high spirits. Perhaps they were frightened or disgusted by the previous day. The already quiet courtyard was even quieter today.

"Xing'er, everyone's talking about Xiyun's parents behind her back. They're too afraid to even go and collect their daughter's body after she died, for fear of being associated with Xiyun."

"While Xiyun was alive, they kept asking her for money. How could parents be like that?" Shantao sighed.

“It’s not surprising that her parents are like this at all. In their eyes, their daughter was a money-losing burden. Now that their money-losing burden is dead, and even executed, they can’t be more willing to stay away from her,” Shen Xing’er said as she poured water.

"With parents like that, it's no wonder Xiyun can do bad things. She's truly their child. No matter how much they try to distance themselves, blood ties don't lie. Let's not talk about her anymore, lest we feel unhappy."

After finishing her sentence, Shan Tao went to help in the small kitchen.

That day, Granny Zhou returned from her vacation and brought them two strings of candied hawthorns. The little glutton Shan Tao took the candied hawthorns and went to the tea room to eat them, while Shen Xing'er helped out in the small kitchen.

"Xing'er, I visited my old friend outside the manor this time, and she taught me how to make an afternoon tea, peanut pudding. Now let's see if we can make it successfully. You and Shantao can try it first later," said Granny Zhou.

In fact, Granny Zhou was unwilling to leave the mansion during her vacation, because when she returned home, she would only think of her husband. Being alone at home was not as pleasant as being in the lively small kitchen.

However, the old lady had no appetite these past few days. Zhou Mama was worried that the old lady would get tired of these afternoon teas, so she specially went out of the mansion to exchange recipes with her old friends.

Granny Zhou was making peanut pudding for afternoon tea this time. She first soaked the glutinous rice and peanuts in water, while Shen Xing'er went to the courtyard to pick some pomegranate blossoms.

The pomegranate flower, also known as Danruo, has red petals scattered on white peanut brittle, creating a beautiful red and white contrast. The pomegranate also symbolizes many children and good fortune, which is sure to please the old lady.

After Shen Xing'er finished picking the pomegranate flowers, the glutinous rice and peanuts were almost soaked. Shen Xing'er was going to peel the peanut skins off, and even the thin skins on the peanuts had to be peeled off, so that it would taste smoother.

After peeling all the peanuts, Granny Zhou ground the glutinous rice and peanuts into powder, added a few rock sugar pieces and the dew collected in the morning, and steamed them together.

After cooking, sprinkle with pomegranate blossoms, and a delicious bowl of peanut pudding is ready. Let it cool naturally before enjoying.

Shan Tao and Shen Xing'er were already impatient, because the peanut milk smelled so wonderful that they didn't care about the heat and took a bite. Meanwhile, Granny Zhou watched them nervously and asked...

"How is it? Is it delicious? Did you succeed?"

Shan Tao, an experienced eater, replied, "Auntie, I don't know what counts as successful, I only know it's delicious! It's fragrant, sweet, and incredibly delicate. I've never tasted such delicious pastries before."

"I knew it, Lao Zhou! You're guaranteed to succeed every time you make a move. Let me have a taste too!" Chen Shan's family member also eagerly took a bite.

Shen Xing'er and Granny Zhou exchanged a smile, as if they knew who Shan Tao's love for food came from.

This bowl of peanut pudding received unanimous praise from everyone in the small kitchen. Granny Zhou could now confidently offer it to the old lady.