High-class maid

Early the next morning, Song Wenyang dragged his exhausted body back to his small courtyard.

This small courtyard was his mother's private property when she was alive. Because the courtyard was small and the location was remote, it was not included in her dowry.

Who could have imagined that it would become Song Wenyang's "refuge" more than a decade later? If his mother were still alive, she would be heartbroken.

After Shen Xing'er stayed at home for two days, her father, Shen Kun, returned home on the third day after finishing his business.

Before the mother and daughter could catch up with him, they asked him to do something even more important: to thank Song Wenyang.

“Father, Brother Song said his surname is Jia,” Shen Xing’er said to Shen Kun.

Shen Kun suddenly realized and said, "This child has really had a tough time. He even has to use an alias to stay in the capital. I understand. I won't reveal his real name when we're out in public."

"What kind of gift should we give to our benefactor? I bought a basket of fruit and half a pork carcass, is that too little?" Wang asked Shen Kun.

"I'll also bring a box of tea and a few portions of Qianshansu pastries. After all, she's helped Xing'er several times, it wouldn't look good if I prepared too little."

"Okay, then you go buy it. I'll go deliver a message to Chen Shan's family." After saying that, the couple went out to attend to their own business.

Shan Tao's parents were still working in the household and it was inconvenient for them to come and express their gratitude, so they asked Wang to prepare the same thank-you gift.

Then, the family of three, carrying a cart full of things, went to Song Wenyang's house.

Because there was only one family surnamed Jia on Shangqiao Street, they easily found Song Wenyang's house. The family of three got off the carriage, and Wang even straightened her clothes.

"Knock knock knock" "Knock knock knock"

"Coming, coming." An aged voice came from inside, and then the door opened, revealing an old man in his fifties or sixties.

"May I ask if the head of the family is surnamed Jia?" Shen Kun asked.

The old man hesitated for a moment, as if he were afraid that someone would come to his house. "Yes, may I ask who you are?"

Seeing his guarded demeanor, Shen Kun guessed he probably didn't want anyone to know Song Wenyang was staying here, so he said...

"We've come to see your young master because he saved my daughter, and we've brought some things to express our gratitude."

Seeing that the family of three was indeed carrying something, and after looking around to make sure no one was watching, the old man said to them, "Please come in quickly, I apologize for any inconvenience."

The group entered the small courtyard, which was only half the size of their house, but it was kept very clean. There was also a crabapple tree planted in the yard, which showed that the owner was a person who loved life.

"This must be Young Master Song," Shen Kun asked, looking at the boy in front of him who was even taller than him.

"It is I, Uncle. Are you Xing'er's father?"

"Yes, when you gave my daughter the umbrella last time, I inquired about your whereabouts in many ways, and I have finally found you today."

“Ordinary people are not worth your search. Come, come inside, Auntie, please.” Song Wenyang said, gesturing to Wang Shi.

The group followed her into the house. Song Wenyang secretly glanced at Shen Xing'er. Today, Shen Xing'er was wearing clothes bestowed upon her by her masters, and she was also wearing pearl earrings, which made her even more beautiful than the flowers.

Song Wenyang felt his heart skip a beat, then looked away and gestured for the three of them to sit down.

After Shen Kun sat down, he said, "My benefactor saved my old friend's daughter that day. He should have been here today too, but he was working in the manor. However, I brought this gift of gratitude for him."

"There's no need for that. It's just a matter of fate that I've met Miss Xing'er several times. It was nothing more than a small favor. It's not worth making such a fuss."

“That won’t do. This is a life-saving grace, Xing’er. Hurry up and thank your benefactor,” said Madam Wang.

Shen Xing'er quickly stood up and bowed to Song Wenyang: "Brother Song, I am extremely grateful."

Song Wenyang felt his face burning and didn't know what to say for a moment. After a long while, he finally managed to say, "You're welcome, you're welcome."

After sitting at his house for a while, the group was about to leave when Song Wenyang urged them to stay, saying, "It's almost noon, why don't you, Uncle and Aunt, and little sister Xing'er have lunch at my house?"

"No need, no need. I still need to pack up and go back to my residence this afternoon, so I won't trouble you," Shen Kun politely declined.

"Uncle, please take all these things with you." Song Wenyang said, and was about to let them take the thank-you gifts behind the door.

“How can this be? We don’t have anything to offer as a token of our gratitude. You must accept this, child, or I won’t feel at ease,” said Madam Wang.

After some back and forth, Song Wenyang still loaded half a pork carcass and a basket of fruit onto the carriage. Shen Kun, worried that he was still loading things, quickly drove the carriage away.

After they arrived home, Wang hurriedly cut the pork into pieces, preparing to marinate it and make cured pork, otherwise her family wouldn't be able to finish so much meat in a year.

"Xing'er, take these to the neighbor's. Just say we bought too much." Wang handed a pound of pork to Shen Xing'er.

Shen Xing'er knocked on Wu Xiucai's door. When Wu Xiucai opened the door and saw that it was her, a fleeting look of surprise seemed to cross his eyes.

"Miss Xing'er, what is it?"

"Brother Wu, my family bought too much pork. We're going to the manor this afternoon, and my mother asked me to bring you some," Shen Xing'er said, waving the pork in her hand.

“This is not right, this is not right. Every time you come home you give us, mother and son, food. You’ve given us too much. I can’t accept this.”

Shen Xing'er breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was good that they had given too much. It is said that scholars have lofty ambitions, and she was worried that Wu Xiucai would think she was looking down on him.

"Please accept it, Brother Wu. A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. If you accept it, I can trouble you next time I need something."

“Very well then, I, Wu, will respectfully comply,” Wu Xiucai said, conceding.

Seeing that her mission was accomplished, Shen Xing'er bid farewell to Wu Xiucai and went home.

When she got home, she saw her mother cooking. The group sat down at a small square table in the yard to eat, enjoying the fragrant rice.

"Father, what's the outcome of the bandit assassination attempt?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"Those bandits have all been exiled by His Majesty, but their leader, Duan Laohu, has not been captured," Shen Kun said.

"This tiger is cunning and treacherous, how could he be caught so easily? But how did those bandits know where we live? That bandit even specifically asked for the young lady."

Wang lowered her voice and said.

"It's a long story. It was the master's political enemy in the court who wanted to hire someone to kill him. The master knew martial arts, so he wanted someone to kidnap the young lady."

"I see." Wang suddenly understood.

"It's a pity there's no evidence that he ordered it. Only by catching Duan Laohu will we have a chance to bring him down," Shen Kun said regretfully.

"Father, you still haven't told me how they knew where the women lived."

In fact, Shen Xing'er knew about Yin Kongmai's news. She had seen it in the book, but the book only mentioned Yin Kongmai's news and did not know his ending.

That's why you asked in such a hurry.