High-class maid

Song Wenyang sheathed his sword and prepared to return to his house, where he bumped into Wu Xunzhi, who was about to leave.

Brother Wu, are you going to the academy?

“Indeed, I am on my way to deliver my visiting card. If I can see you today, sir, I can move out tomorrow,” Wu Xunzhi said.

“No rush. You must be busy at the academy right now. You won’t have time to find a house for your aunt. Staying a few more days won’t hurt,” Song Wenyang said.

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Song, but I don't want to trouble you any further. It's getting late, so I'll be going now," Wu Xunzhi said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

"Go on your journey, and I wish you all the best today."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wu Xunzhi went to the academy full of expectations.

Inside the maid's room of the Xiao residence.

"Xing'er, what do you think of this color scheme?" Shan Tao took out the matching thread and asked Shen Xing'er for her opinion.

"This color scheme is too common. You can change the red to blue threads, which will look simpler and cleaner." Shen Xing'er pointed out the problem after only a quick glance.

"Would it look better if we changed it to blue?" Yamamoto put them together with some skepticism, and sure enough, the otherwise ordinary color scheme became one that would catch the eye at a glance.

"Wow, Xing'er, you're really amazing! You're absolutely gorgeous. Has no one ever taught you how to be beautiful?"

"No, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Although I can draw patterns and match colors, I can't embroider. Look at you, how beautiful the flowers you embroidered are."

"You don't need to comfort me, Xing'er. I'm not that greedy. I just think you're amazing. From now on, you can only give me your tricks, okay?" Shan Tao said with a giggle.

"Oh, you little rascal, so this is what you were waiting for. Oh, it's such a waste to give you all my tricks," Shen Xing'er said, feigning regret.

"What? You actually look down on me? Fine, I'll give you 60% then." Shan Tao counted on her fingers.

Seeing Shan Tao's pained expression, Shen Xing'er couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter. Only then did Shan Tao realize that Shen Xing'er was teasing her.

"Fine, fine, you've even teased me! Humph, I'm angry, and I can't appease you!" Shan Tao turned around, hugged her arms, and said angrily.

"Good mountain peach, I was just teasing you. Why would I share my tricks with someone else? This is a powerful collaboration between us. Never mind, what do you want to eat?"

Seeing that she remained unmoved, Shen Xing'er had no choice but to use her trump card.

"I want to eat Dongpo pork," Shan Tao said, licking her lips.

"Alright, Master Chen, you can focus on your embroidery here. I'll treat you to Dongpo pork!" Shen Xing'er said, then got up and went to the kitchen.

After Granny Jiang left, the household hired another cook. This cook cherished the job and prepared delicious meals for the servants every day.

"Xing'er, you're here! Today we have cabbage, pork, and vermicelli. Shall I serve you some peaches too?"

"Thank you, Grandma. Could you please serve it for me? Do you have Dongpo pork today?" Although Shen Xing'er knew the chances were slim, she still asked.

"Dongpo pork? We don't have any today. The pork delivered today isn't suitable for making Dongpo pork."

"okay!"

"Sister, your meal is ready." A familiar voice came from behind. Shen Xing'er looked up and saw that it was Xiao Nuo, a third-class maid from Jinling.

"Isn't this Xiao Nuo? What are you doing in the kitchen? Did Sister Danxue transfer you here?" Shen Xing'er asked.

Xiao Nuo's eyes darted away, and she said somewhat awkwardly, "No, I saw that Grandma Bai was quite busy, and I had nothing to do, so I came to help."

"Oh, Xiao Nuo is really diligent. You guys go ahead with your work, I'll head back now." With that, Shen Xing'er took the food box and went back.

"Xiao Nuo, why don't you say I'm your grandma?" Grandma Bai asked after everyone had left.

"If they find out, they'll probably think it's because of my granddaughter. Anyway, it's better to avoid trouble."

"You child, you're too cautious. You're just a third-class maid, how could you have such great abilities? It's clearly my cooking that's better."

Xiao Nuo smiled and didn't say anything more. For some reason, ever since her masters returned from the capital, she dared not do anything, for fear of giving them any leverage.

"By the way, Xiao Nuo, what about what I told you a few days ago? Have you thought about it?" Grandma Bai nudged Xiao Nuo's arm and asked.

“I don’t want to go…” Xiao Nuo said.

"What? Why don't you want to go? Are you content to stay in Jinling for the rest of your life? Don't you want to see the bustling capital?"

Granny Bai questioned, her voice rising an octave.

Xiao Nuo looked around to make sure no one was watching her and her granddaughter before she spoke.

“Grandma, you’re thinking too simply. Just like you said, I’m just a third-class maid. In terms of qualifications, I haven’t been with you as long as the senior maids have been by your side. In terms of skills, I haven’t seen as much as the maids from the capital. How can I go to the capital?”

“But… I’m practically half-buried already. It would be better for you to marry into any family in the capital than to stay with me,” Granny Bai said.

"No, I'll stay by your side and not go anywhere!" Xiao Nuo couldn't understand why her grandmother had become like this.

“Your bastard uncle and aunt have been eyeing your father’s land and yard for a long time. If I die, they will probably seize it immediately. It’s better for you to go to the capital, where they will have something to be wary of.”

As Grandma Bai spoke, she thought of her deceased eldest son and daughter-in-law, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Xiao Nuo was also very sad. If her parents were still alive, she would never have come to this mansion to work as a servant. Heaven knows how she survived under Steward Zhu before her masters came to Jinling.

She wiped her eyes haphazardly with her sleeve and continued, "If they want to rob me, they'll have to see if they have the ability. I'll sell the old house and the land, and then let's see what they have to steal!"

"You child! How could you sell the house? Don't you dare say such nonsense again!" Grandma Bai said, covering her mouth. In her mind, the house and the land were their life; how could they just sell them like that?

"Don't push me, or I'll do it," Xiao Nuo said fiercely, her expression dark.

"Oh! What a tragedy!" Grandma Bai hugged Xiao Nuo in her arms, and the two of them embraced and wept.

Shen Xing'er was unaware of the tragedy that was unfolding in the kitchen. She was currently inside the house, looking at the first embroidery piece they had collaborated on with Shan Tao.

"Yes, it's truly beautiful, as expected of Master Chen's embroidery!" Shen Xing'er praised without reservation, holding a handkerchief in her hand.

"Not at all, not at all. If it weren't for Master Shen's design and color scheme, this would just be an ordinary handkerchief," Shan Tao replied with a smile.

"Alright, let's stop flattering each other. By the way, how much silver do you think this handkerchief can sell for?" Shen Xing'er said, straightening her expression.

"Hmm...it must cost at least one or two taels of silver. Didn't you say this was...this was...some kind of high-end product?"

Although Shan Tao didn't understand the meaning of high-end products, if Xing'er said they could be sold, then they could be sold.

"Yes, I observed the prices in Jinling that day. The most expensive handkerchief was only around six hundred coins. Although Jinling is not as prosperous as the capital, there is no shortage of wealthy people in any place. So our handkerchief, which costs one tael, will definitely sell!"