High-class maid

Zhang Shi wouldn't let Shen Xing'er leave, and Shen Xing'er didn't dare to leave either, only standing aside waiting for her instructions.

“Hmm, not bad. The small kitchen in the old lady’s courtyard is always good. It’s kind of you to make this trip. Meiyan, go and get the pair of gold and ruby ​​earrings from my dressing table. They’re brightly colored and just right for you young ladies.”

While taking small bites of peanut milk, Zhang gave instructions.

"Thank you, Miss, but these earrings are too precious, and I'm too young to properly wear them. I'm afraid I'll disappoint you," Shen Xing'er said.

Zhang smiled gently and said

"Don't panic. Although you can't bring it at home, you can bring it at home during your vacation. You're at the age where flowers bloom, so you should dress up beautifully. Alright, go back now, and don't let it interfere with your work."

After saying that, he stopped looking at Shen Xing'er and went back to rest on the recliner.

Seeing her lie down, the maidservant quickly and skillfully picked up a fan and gently fanned her.

Shen Xing'er said yes and left. As she left, she heard Zhang instructing a maid to send peanut milk to the Second Master in the study. Clearly, the Second Madam was at her parents' home, and she was acting like the mistress of the house.

Shen Xing'er thought to herself: Although Madam Zhang is only a concubine, her actions are comparable to those of the First Madam. It seems that the rumors circulating in the mansion that she is favored are true.

Back in the small kitchen, it was time to prepare the old lady's dinner. Shen Xing'er busied herself with boiling water and helping Granny Zhou chop vegetables.

During this time, the masters of the mansion sent gifts one after another, but because they were all busy, Granny Zhou put them all into her pocket.

After everyone finished their work in the evening, they ate dinner and squeezed into Granny Zhou's room. The candlelight flickered, and four people sat around the small table.

Granny Zhou poured the rewards she had received from her pocket onto the table, and Shen Xing'er quickly took out the rewards she had received that day as well.

"Wow, this is the first time I've ever seen so much jewelry! It's dazzling! Granny Zhou, you're amazing!" Shan Tao exclaimed in surprise, looking at the jewelry on the table.

The old lady bestowed upon them a pair of butterfly-shaped pearl earrings, a plum blossom glass hairpin, and a silver bracelet. These pieces of jewelry were all leftovers from the head maids, yet they were still exquisitely beautiful.

The master keeps such valuable things to reward others; no wonder so many people are desperate to become his master.

Granny Zhou opened the purse given to her by the First Madam; inside were five silver coins, and the young master's thumb ring was also of good quality.

In the afternoon, the young lady also had a gift delivered: a double-layered pearl bracelet.

The second branch of the family received a few taels of silver from the second master and the second young master, and a jade pendant from the second young lady. However, the gold-inlaid ruby ​​earrings given by Madam Zhang were far more valuable.

"No wonder everyone wants to work in the old lady's courtyard. When the old lady is happy, she rewards us, and the other younger generation can only follow suit. The reward we receive at one time is more than half a year's monthly allowance."

Even Shen Xing'er couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes, but he has only received two rewards since the beginning of spring. Here, here, put this silver bracelet on your wrist." As she spoke, Granny Zhou put the silver bracelet on Chen Shan's wrist.

Then he gave the double butterfly and pearl earrings to Shan Tao, and stuffed the gold and ruby ​​earrings into Shen Xing'er's hand, saying...

"Please don't refuse. Our small kitchen and tea room are combined. Without your help, how could I make peanut pudding with peace of mind? This is something we all got together."

Chen Shan's wife readily agreed, "I won't refuse or be modest with you. The rewards from our masters are truly generous. I'll save them for my son's future wife."

"Mountain Peach, keep yours safe; you can use it as part of your dowry someday."

Shan Tao blushed with embarrassment and lowered her head, saying coquettishly, "Mother, what nonsense are you talking about? Your daughter will not get married."

"Hahaha," only the laughter of a few people remained in the room.

The old lady's side.

“Jiuchuan, I didn’t want to get involved in what’s going on in the second son’s room, and he didn’t want me to either. But look at how long the second son’s wife has been staying at her parents’ house, and he hasn’t even gone to call her.”

"He's been spending all his time loitering in Zhang's house! What kind of talk is this! Isn't this just making our Minister's Mansion a laughingstock?" the old lady said.

Master Xiao Jiuchuan said, "This second son is indeed too outrageous, and his in-laws dare not speak out against him."

"I initially betrothed my daughter to the second son because of his social standing, but the second son can't be too dismissive of her. I've come today to discuss this matter with you."

The old lady frowned and replied, "That's exactly what I was thinking. No matter how irritable the second son's wife is, she's still the legal wife. If you summon the second son now and have him call his wife tomorrow, wouldn't that be forcing me to take charge?"

Having received the instructions, the second master hurriedly came over from the courtyard.

"Mother, elder brother, why did you call your son here so late at night? Is there something you need?" Second Master Xiao Jiushan asked, bowing his head.

“Jiushan, your wife has been staying at her parents’ house for quite some time now. It’s time to call her over. Even if it’s just for Yizhou’s sake, we can’t let her stay at her parents’ house for too long,” the old lady said.

“Mother, this Wang is very jealous. I have only taken a few concubines, and she can’t stand me. If it weren’t for Yizhou, I would have divorced her long ago!” Xiao Jiushan said angrily.

"Hmph, you have the nerve to say that? Originally, this was a matter within your own household, and I didn't want to say too much about it. But in just six months, you've taken two concubines, bringing the total number of concubines in your household to six."

"This time, she even took her personal maid's daughter as a concubine and slapped her. Who's being ridiculous here!" Before the old lady could speak, the eldest master, Xiao Jiuchuan, said angrily.

Then he added, "You now despise Wang for being vulgar and having a bad temper, but didn't you know that when you married her? Didn't you know that when you were using her money? Go with your sister-in-law tomorrow and bring her back!"

"It's all because the monthly allowance from the public treasury isn't enough to live on. My eldest brother is the same; he has money but doesn't help me, making me end up a man who relies on his wife," the second master muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?" The old lady suddenly perked up and asked incredulously.

"It's nothing, your son wouldn't dare to have any objections," Xiao Jiushan said, pursing his lips.

"Alright, you can go now. I don't want to see you." The old lady waved her hand, dismissing the second master.

"Eldest son, look at him, no matter what, he can always find an excuse. He's hopeless!" the old lady said disappointedly.

"Alright, Mother, he's not even my biological son. You've already done more than enough. Fortunately, Yizhou is a sensible child. His father is too outrageous. If we don't take care of him, how will Yizhou find a wife in the future? For the sake of that child, we can't just ignore him."

The old man comforted him.

"Wow, even bad bamboo produces good shoots."