High-class maid

Mr. Ren originally planned to move his family back to their old house in the capital after returning from this voyage to live out his days with his elderly mother, but things didn't go as planned.

Not long after he left, his elderly mother passed away. Looking at the empty house, Master Ren felt that no matter how much money he earned, it was useless. Therefore, heartbroken, he left his property in Youzhou to his son and returned to the capital with his wives and concubines.

"The son wishes to care for his parents, but they are no longer there. I never imagined that Master Ren was such a filial son," Shen Xing'er remarked with emotion.

“Yes! Old Ren seems carefree most of the time, but perhaps not being able to bring his mother back to the capital is his lifelong regret,” Shen Kun chimed in.

For some reason, he thought of his maternal grandfather, who was now his only relative in the world besides his wife and daughter. Would he think of him?

"Father, what are you thinking about?" Shen Xing'er saw that Shen Kun was in a daze and did not respond to her calls several times.

"Oh, nothing! I was just thinking about the inner quarters of this Master Ren. His wives and concubines are harmonious. Although he is a merchant and sometimes he is concerned about profit, it is rare that he can give up the luxury of Youzhou and deal with ordinary people every day."

"Yes, Mrs. Ren is so down-to-earth. When she opened the door for us that day, I thought she was the housekeeper!"

Wang also thought of Master Ren's wife, the woman who opened the door for them that day. She was dressed plainly and tended to flowers and plants at home. No one would have guessed that the couple was extremely wealthy.

"In short, there aren't any particularly strange neighbors in our alley. Everyone is quite easy to get along with, except for the scholar's family," Shen Xing'er concluded after getting to know her neighbors better during her stay at home these past few days.

"The scholar's family is arrogant and self-important. They have repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. They look down on all of us. Those who are servants stay in their positions, and those who are in business stay in theirs. Only Doctor Liang can talk to them."

When Wang mentioned the scholar's family, she didn't know what to say.

"Speaking of the Liang family... why does she always come to our house?" Shen Kun asked.

He had seen Han come several times, and each time she never came empty-handed. She would bring a few steamed buns she had made or a bunch of vegetables she had grown herself. She wasn't exactly attentive, but she was very caring towards them.

"Maybe she's bored at home. Sister Han has worked hard all her life, and now that her son is successful, she has nothing to do all day." Wang didn't think too deeply about it.

The Han family was really good at dealing with people. They would only stay at his house for a short while each time, and they never mentioned her son. They would just come over occasionally to make their presence known.

Shen Kun nodded. As long as his family could get along well with the neighbors, unlike the scholar's family who were gossiped about behind their backs, that was fine. He would leave the rest to his wife, since women were born gossip experts.

The family of three chatted around the table for a while before going back to their rooms to rest.

In the afternoon, Shen Xing'er was drawing flower patterns inside the house when a knocking sound came from the door.

"Xing'er, Xing'er, are you home?" Shan Tao's voice came from the alley.

Shen Xing'er's pen trembled, and a flower pattern she had drawn was ruined. However, she was not angry. She clapped her hands and hurriedly got up to open the door for Shan Tao.

"Shan Tao! It really is you! I thought I was hallucinating!" Shen Xing'er shouted excitedly when she saw that it was indeed Shan Tao standing outside the door.

"What does 'hallucination' mean? Xing'er, I missed you so much!" Shan Tao stepped forward and hugged Shen Xing'er. Xing'er always said words she had never heard before, but she was used to it.

"Come on, let's go back to my room. What are you carrying?" Shen Xing'er turned around, closed the door, and pulled Shan Tao's hand to go back to her room.

"Oh, these are vegetable dumplings my mother made herself. She knew I was coming to see you, so she packed them especially for you." After saying this, Shan Tao turned around and put the things in the kitchen first.

She saw that Xing'er was so happy that she had forgotten that she still had the things her mother had asked her to give her.

"By the way, where are your parents? Why are you home alone?" Shan Tao asked.

“My dad and mom are taking a nap,” Shen Xing’er said.

"Oh." Shan Tao lowered her voice and followed Shen Xing'er back to her room.

"I've been counting down the days, you're about to leave the manor. I was thinking about you yesterday, and here you are today!" Shen Xing'er said as she got up to get some pastries for Shan Tao from the cupboard.

Shan Tao didn't stand on ceremony and took the food, eating heartily as she said, "Don't say anymore. This vacation was squeezed out of my time. You don't know, not long after you left the manor, the old lady actually dismissed all the second-class maids in her courtyard."

"Huh? Why should they be punished? But they all made mistakes?" Shen Xing'er was very surprised.

"No, the old lady just said she's too old to be served by so many people. Two of them are betrothed, and the other went to work in a shop in the city," Shan Tao said.

"And now you?"

"I've become a second-class maid, but it's not as easy as when I was a third-class maid," Shan Tao said dejectedly.

"Alright, everyone else is eager to show their face in front of their master, but you're complaining about being tired!" Shen Xing'er comforted her.

"After becoming a second-class maid, I can't slack off in the room from time to time anymore, but my monthly allowance has increased." Shan Tao thought of her bulging little treasury and her eyes narrowed with laughter.

"Oh right, let's go to Sister Gao's place to sell embroidery later. You can sleep at my place tonight." Shen Xing'er was very excited to see her good friend and made arrangements for the next part of the trip.

“Selling embroidery is fine, but I can’t sleep with you this time. Let’s do it next time we leave the manor,” Shan Tao said apologetically to Shen Xing’er.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter at home?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"It's nothing serious, it's just that my brother is going to discuss his marriage with my parents tonight, and I'm worried about not being there for him," Shan Tao said.

Shen Xing'er nodded, indicating her understanding.

Chen Shan's family is easily influenced, and Shan Gen is devoted to his wife. What if Shan Gen quarrels with his parents if Shan Tao is not around?

"In that case, how about next time? Next time you come, I'll make you tomato noodles with gravy." Shen Xing'er said with a smile. She didn't want to see Shan Tao sad, so she changed the subject with her favorite food.

"Is it delicious? How is it different from what we usually eat?" Sure enough, Shan Tao's interest was successfully diverted by Shen Xing'er, and she asked with a happy expression.

The two sisters chatted privately for a while, then Yamamoto suddenly slapped her forehead and said...

"Look at me! I was so focused on talking about food that I almost forgot about the important matter!"

"What is it?" Shen Xing'er wasn't nervous. Since the girl hadn't mentioned it at first, it wasn't anything urgent.

"The eldest young master is getting married soon. The wedding date is set for the eighth day of the second month. My mother asked me to tell you that although you have been restored to your status as free people, the bond between master and servant still exists. Don't forget to prepare a wedding gift."

"Mountain Peach said."