High-class maid

When Ban Jian brought the account book, Zhang Shi couldn't sit still any longer. She had only been in charge of the household for a few days and hadn't even embezzled much money before it was taken back. How could she not be heartbroken?

But while she was heartbroken, she still flattered him, saying, "I thought Madam would rest first since she just returned to the manor, but who knew Madam would be so diligent. If I had known, I would have brought the account books with me, so that Miss Banjian wouldn't have to make another trip."

She was met with silence. After a quarter of an hour, the second madam waved her hand and said, "This is none of your business. You may leave."

Zhang returned to her room, and in a fit of anger, smashed a tea set that the second master had just given her. Looking at her bright red hands, she said resentfully...

"Wang Ruolan, you old woman, what do you have to compete with me? Just wait until my little master is born, you'll be sorry!"

Meanwhile, the small kitchen was thriving.

Ever since Granny Zhou's peanut pudding became a hit in the mansion, people from all the courtyards have been sending people to learn how to make it. It's not a secret recipe, it's just a bit time-consuming to make.

Since everyone in each courtyard received gifts from their masters, Granny Zhou didn't hold back and generously taught everyone.

After seeing off the cook from the First Madam's small kitchen, Granny Zhou rubbed her lower back and said, "Oh dear, my old back! You see, the master's favor is a sweet burden."

Shan Tao said, "Everyone who was supposed to come to learn these past few days has already come. There shouldn't be anyone coming to learn tomorrow. I asked Sister Danxue to schedule my vacation for tomorrow. Xing'er, can you manage on your own?"

Shen Xing'er said helplessly, "It's okay, it's just boiling water! I don't need to make tea."

Chen Shan's wife continued, "Go home in peace. Zhou Mama and I are still here. We can't let the fire in the tea room go out."

Shan Tao stuck out her tongue and said, "Yes, yes, I was overthinking it. I was worrying for nothing."

Chen Shan's wife tapped Shan Tao's forehead, smiled, and went back to her work.

The next day, as soon as it was light, Shan Tao happily went home. Having gotten used to her noisy presence, Shen Xing'er was still a little unaccustomed to being on duty alone.

In the afternoon, Shen Xing'er went to the door to get papayas for Granny Zhou. She asked the servant in charge of purchasing for some papayas to make papaya porridge for the old lady.

Shen Xing'er took the papaya from the servant and turned to go back. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at a woman with a sallow complexion. She felt that the woman looked familiar. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was Chunyun, whom she had not seen for many days.

Chunyun was wearing someone else's hand-me-down clothes, which were dusty and hung loosely on her body. She only had a wooden hairpin in her hair. Her attire was even worse than that of a young maid who had just entered the mansion.

I don't know what Chunyun was doing outside the old lady's courtyard; she probably came in with her husband.

Shen Xing'er recalled Chunyun in the past, how spirited she was, looking down on ordinary silver hairpins and always wearing custom-made clothes when she left the mansion. Now, however, she was wearing a wooden hairpin and other people's old clothes.

Back in the tea room, Shen Xing'er sighed and told Granny Zhou and Chen Shan's wife about Chunyun's current situation.

Granny Zhou was silent for a moment, then said, "Everyone has their own destiny. This is her own choice. Even if she regrets it, she can't go back."

Chen Shan's wife said, "A perfectly good young woman married an old man who is older than her father. I heard that the coachman, Mr. Wang, not only has unusual hobbies, but also loves to drink and gamble."

After hearing this, Granny Zhou didn't respond. She was probably also quite saddened. Everyone tacitly refrained from mentioning it again.

That evening, Shen Xing'er returned to her room, and her mother, Wang Shi, came into her room with a purse in her hand.

Shen Xing'er asked in confusion, "Mother, why are you taking a purse?"

"Didn't Granny Zhou get her monthly allowance reduced by the old lady a while ago? Although this allowance is not as good as the rewards from the masters, it still made Granny Zhou lose face. It was all because of you."

"So you gave the silver to Granny Zhou? I've been so busy lately that I forgot. Take the silver back; I have my own money." Shen Xing'er quickly declined.

“What can your meager monthly allowance do? You’re such a spendthrift. I’ll give you the money. I’ve not only taken out Granny Zhou’s allowance, but I’ve also added an extra five taels of silver,” Madam Wang said considerately.

Shen Xing'er thought to herself, "Even if I give it to my mother, she won't accept it, so I might as well just take it. I can't come up with that much silver right now anyway. I should give the silver to Granny Zhou as soon as possible."

So she stopped refusing, put the purse away, and asked, "Mother, I'm on leave next month. Can Father take the same day off as me? I haven't seen Father in so long."

Wang replied indulgently, "Yes, after he finished his last errand, the master said he would give him a ten-day vacation. He said he would take a vacation when you take yours, and then the three of us can go on a trip."

Shen Xing'er couldn't help but look forward to next month.

The next day, when no one was in the small kitchen, Shen Xing'er took out her purse and handed it to Granny Zhou.

Granny Zhou looked at Shen Xing'er with surprise and asked, "Why are you giving me this purse? I have several purses already."

“Auntie, last time you were fined a month’s allowance by the old lady because of me. This time, Xing’er will make it up to you. You were implicated because of me, so I hope you won’t hold it against me.” Shen Xing’er sincerely handed over the purse again.

"I don't want to. Your monthly allowance is small, and I don't know how long you've been saving it up. Even if you don't plead for me, the old lady won't punish me severely," said Granny Zhou, tidying up the kitchen without stopping.

"It's the old lady's business if she doesn't punish you severely. Consider it a lesson I learned."

“Alright, I’ll accept this money. But remember, I don’t blame you, so you don’t need to feel too guilty,” said Granny Zhou as she took the purse.

That evening, Madam Wang came to Shen Xing'er's room again. "Xing'er, did you give the purse to Granny Zhou? What did she say? Was she impatient?"

Shen Xing'er comforted her, "Mother, Granny Zhou isn't that stingy. She declined a few times but eventually accepted the purse."

"That's good, that's good. I was worried she wouldn't accept it. Now that she has, I'm relieved," Wang said, patting her chest.

"Mother, Zhou Mama said today that even if I don't plead with the old lady, she won't punish her severely. Is there a reason for this?" Shen Xing'er asked in confusion.

"Yes, but those are all old stories. Granny Zhou's husband died saving the master, so she can be considered the master's savior. That's why the old lady and the master have always treated her differently."

"I see. Granny Zhou is a woman with a tragic fate. I heard Shan Tao say last time that Granny Zhou has no children and her husband has passed away. No wonder she doesn't want to go home." Shen Xing'er sighed.