High-class maid

That day, after handing over her chores for the next day, Shen Xing'er packed her small bundle and went home.

As she waited for her mother at the gate of the mansion as usual, she always felt that someone was watching her. Just as Shen Xing'er was wondering about this, she heard a rough voice.

"What are you looking at? Do you still think you're a maid in this manor? Come and help me move these things!"

It turned out that the speaker was Master Wang, who was in charge of driving the carriages to deliver goods in the manor.

Shen Xing'er looked in the direction of the voice and saw a dirty woman who trembled reflexively upon hearing Master Wang's voice. She then hurriedly went to move things without daring to linger.

"Isn't this Chunyun? How did she become like this?" Shen Xing'er was shocked.

"I heard that she married Master Wang. At first, Master Wang treated her well, but who knew that she would seduce his son? So now Master Wang takes her everywhere he goes and beats and scolds her all the time."

The old woman guarding the gate said while cracking sunflower seeds.

"I see." Shen Xing'er didn't know what to say, but felt a deep sense of regret. She wondered if Chunyun would regret her choice in the quiet of the night.

"Xing'er, let's go. Mother has some things to take care of. I'm late." Wang Shi rushed over.

The mother and daughter walked out of the mansion side by side, brushing past Chunyun. The bright young girl and the lifeless woman, like an old, withered tree, passed each other by, heading down different paths in life.

After arriving home, Wang began preparing lunch. Shen Xing'er continued to assist, and the sounds of the mother and daughter talking filled the courtyard with life.

When Shen Kun got home, this was the scene he saw. He smiled, as if all the hard work outside was worth it.

"Xing'er, the manor is very busy during the Mid-Autumn Festival and we can't take a holiday. How about we celebrate her birthday tomorrow? The twelfth of August is also an auspicious day," Shen Kun said as he walked into the kitchen.

"Okay, as long as you can celebrate my birthday with me, a few days earlier or a few days later is fine," Shen Xing'er said happily.

"Silly child, birthdays are always celebrated early, never postponed. Postponing is considered unlucky." Madam Wang smiled and rolled her eyes at her.

"There's such a custom? I didn't know that, daughter," Shen Xing'er said, sticking out her tongue shyly.

By this time, Wang had also prepared lunch: stir-fried green beans with pork, then noodles were added and simmered until cooked. A pot of fragrant braised noodles was ready.

"Take two bowls to Wen Yang's house. Last time we went to his house, I saw that the stove was covered in dust. Perhaps the two men don't know how to cook and just buy food."

As she spoke, Wang ladled out two large bowls of noodles.

Shen Xing'er nodded, thinking that Brother Song had also had a hard time, and went to his house with her lunchbox.

"Is anyone there? Is anyone there?" Shen Xing'er didn't dare to call Song Wenyang's name, and only knocked on the door to ask if anyone was there.

"Coming, coming." It was the same old man who answered last time. He opened the door shakily and visibly relaxed when he saw Shen Xing'er.

"Grandpa, my mom made braised noodles and asked me to bring you and Brother Song a bowl." Shen Xing'er's voice was noticeably softer when she mentioned Song Wenyang.

"Thank you for coming all this way in the middle of the day, young lady. Please come in and have a seat." With that, the old man was about to open the door.

"No need, my parents are still waiting for me at home for dinner." Shen Xing'er politely declined his offer and handed the lunchbox to the old man.

Hearing the commotion inside, Song Wenyang came out. He saw that the girl was wearing a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and the agate bracelet on her wrist made her skin look even whiter.

"Miss Xing'er is here, please come in quickly," Song Wenyang said.

"No need, Brother Song, my parents are still waiting for me at home for dinner." Shen Xing'er repeated what she had just said, then waved to them and turned to go back.

She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, others would discover that Song Wenyang was there.

The old man carried the lunchbox into the house and habitually reached for a silver needle to test for poison. Song Wenyang stopped him and said...

"No need, I trust her. Even if it's poisoned, I'll accept it."

After saying that, he picked up his chopsticks and started eating heartily.

The old man was taken aback, as if he had thought of something extraordinary. He smiled secretly and started eating as well.

"Uncle He, I plan to go to Jinling after the Mid-Autumn Festival." After much deliberation, Song Wenyang decided to tell Uncle He the news.

He Bo paused while eating, then pretended to be nonchalant and continued eating.

“Uncle He, I know you don’t want me to leave, but I have to go back. If my father finds out I’m not at the academy, I won’t be able to come to the capital again.”

"Young master, I know, but it hurts to see you having to plan for yourself at such a young age, while this old servant can't help you much. It makes me feel bad."

“You don’t need to help me. As long as you’re healthy, that’s enough,” Song Wenyang comforted him.

"I will definitely be alright. I will definitely see the murderer who killed Miss brought to justice," He Bo said angrily.

It turns out that He Bo was a former servant of Song Wenyang's mother. Song Wenyang's mother did not die of illness at all, but was framed. All of his mother's former servants died, but He Bo survived. To avoid being hunted down, he lived in this small courtyard in anonymity.

Mentioning his mother also made Song Wenyang feel uncomfortable.

“Uncle He, your health has never been good, and I’m worried about you. I think the Shen family is a good family, so I’ll ask them to come and visit you more often on my behalf.”

"No need, don't trouble him, I can manage on my own." He Bo didn't want to cause Song Wenyang any trouble, so he quickly refused.

"No, if I hadn't come back last time and you had been lying unconscious on the ground, how could I feel at ease leaving you? It's settled then."

He Bo saw that he couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he didn't refuse.

The next day, the family of three were talking in the courtyard.

"Mother, how do I look in my clothes today?" Shen Xing'er asked, twirling around in front of her mother in a new outfit.

"It looks good. Today is your birthday, so you should wear red." Madam Wang stepped forward, straightened her clothes, and praised her.

"Where shall we eat today? How about Zui Xiang Lou?" Shen Kun asked.

"Dad, the food there is too expensive. I heard that a single banquet costs several taels of silver," Shen Xing'er said with concern.

“It’s my daughter’s birthday, so let’s eat well. Let’s treat it as if we’re celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival and your birthday together,” Shen Kun said.

"Alright, let's go there. Quick, eat all these eggs and bite off the bad luck for my daughter!" In the end, Madam Wang made the final decision to go to Zuixianglou for dinner.

The conversation between the three of them was clearly heard by Song Wenyang outside the door.

"So today is her birthday. Should I give her a gift?" Song Wenyang didn't know why he had this thought.

After thinking it over, he felt it was inappropriate to come empty-handed, so he turned around and went home.

"Young Master, why are you back again? Is there no one at Miss Shen's house?" Uncle He asked when he saw Song Wenyang return looking dejected.

“There are people here, but it’s Miss Shen’s birthday. What should I give her?” Song Wenyang asked.

When Uncle He heard that his young master had finally figured it out, he happily paced around the room again and again, stroking his chin as he pondered.

"Everyone says girls love beauty and wearing pretty clothes, so why not give her some fabric?" Uncle He suggested.

"This... sending fabric? That doesn't seem right," Song Wenyang said with some doubt.

"Well, something delicious will do, how about giving her a whole pork slice? Half a slice is too little," Uncle He suggested again.

"No, no, sending pork is too rude, and besides, they don't have time to cook it. Let me think about it, let me think about it again," Song Wenyang refused again.

After thinking it over, Song Wenyang felt that things made by hand were more meaningful. He didn't think at all why he should waste time making a gift for someone he had only met a few times; he just wanted to see that person smile.

Meanwhile, the family of three had already packed up and were ready to leave.

"Father, it's so cool today. Shall we take the carriage again?" Shen Xing'er asked as the autumn air brought a slight chill to the air.

"No, let's walk to Chang'an Street. We can see what you want to eat, and Dad will buy it for you," Shen Kun said, affectionately patting her.

"Okay!" After saying that, Shen Xing'er linked arms with one of them, and the family of three went out.