Chapter 10: Are we saving money to pay for my sister's medicine?

Less than an hour later, Song Qinghan appeared to have fainted again.

While they were making a fuss about calling a doctor, Si Niannian looked at the generous gift that Qian's mother had brought and fell into an endless silence.

Three large wooden chests contained clothes for all four seasons.

There was also a box piled high with jewelry.

Portions are quite generous.

Unfortunately, everything was old.

Do they really think she's a garbage collector?

Madam Qian smiled warmly: "Young lady, these were all specially prepared for you by Madam."

Si Niannian pretended not to know about the Duke's mansion sending gifts, feigning surprise: "So many, are they all for me?"

“Yes,” Madam Qian said with a smile, “Even the second daughter wouldn’t get this much at once. Only the eldest daughter has such good fortune.”

Si Niannian blinked, flattered: "I don't need this much, how about I take some and share it with my sister?"

Mrs. Qian lowered her head to hide her disdain and said with a smile, "The eldest daughter can keep it herself."

These were things that Song Qinghan didn't want in the first place, and only Si Niannian, that country bumpkin, would treat them as treasures.

Madam Qian winked at the two maids she had brought: "These are Qiuyue and Qiushuang. From now on, they will serve the eldest young lady."

Qiuyue and Qiushuang reluctantly bowed to Si Niannian: "Greetings, Miss."

Si Niannian played with a hairpin without making a sound.

Then, Madam Qian pointed to Madam Lai, who looked very nervous, and said, "Since you are favored by the eldest daughter, I will promote you to be the head housekeeper of Jiuyou Hall and stay by her side to serve her."

Anyway, Si Niannian doesn't know whether she's good or bad, having a rough old woman is already pretty good.

Lai's mother nodded awkwardly and said okay, then jogged to deliver the money to her mother at the door.

Autumn Moon and Autumn Frost stood there motionless, their faces drooping.

Si Niannian pretended not to notice their subtle exchange, met Qiu Yue's glaring eyes, and held up the gilded hairpin in her hand: "You want it?"

Qiu Yue's face stiffened: "This was a gift from Madam to the eldest young lady, how could this servant dare..."

"Here you go."

Si Niannian tossed the hairpin to Qiuyue with a flick of her wrist, ignoring Qiuyue's surprise, and turned to leave: "I'm not used to having people following me. You guys go do what you need to do."

Seeing this, Qiu Shuang, who was standing empty-handed, said sarcastically, "Sister Qiu Yue is quite lucky, getting a reward from the young lady as soon as she arrives."

This hairpin is worth more than half a year's salary, so why did only Qiuyue receive the reward?

Qiu Yue quickly put the hairpin away, and snorted, "Different people have different fates. What are you barking about?"

If you're so capable, go ask for a reward yourself!

Qiu Shuang was so angry that she turned and left.

Qiu Yue was too lazy to pay attention to Si Niannian who came into the room, and disappeared somewhere with her newly acquired hairpin.

When Lai's mother returned from seeing the people off, she saw that there were only a few large boxes left in the courtyard. She didn't dare to ask the two maids to help her, so she gritted her teeth and carried the things into the house herself.

Seeing that Si Niannian was not in high spirits, Lai's mother pretended to be cheerful and said, "Miss, don't look down on the style of this dress. The material and the embroidery are both top-notch."

"I'll wash it carefully and dry it over charcoal, then I guarantee you'll look beautiful in it!"

Song Qinghan has always been favored.

New clothes and good materials are available all year round.

Even those things she disdained weren't actually that old.

Si Niannian nodded with a quiet laugh: "It's pretty good."

After all, if it weren't for the favors of the Duke's mansion, she wouldn't even have the right to pick up these scraps.

With a forced smile, Madam Lai comforted Si Niannian for a few moments, then, before she could even get ready, she said hastily, "It's getting late, young lady, would you like to change your clothes before going to the main courtyard?"

Si Niannian had just sat down when she asked curiously, "What are we going to the main courtyard for?"

"Let's go have dinner."

Mother Lai patiently explained, "The adults value family harmony the most, so the masters eat in the dining hall in the main courtyard every day at a set time, and they cannot be absent without a reason!"

Apart from the main courtyard, only Song Qinghan's courtyard has a small kitchen.

If Si Niannian arrives late, there might not be any food left!

Si Niannian never expected that she would have to set off a moment earlier just for a bite to eat. She was urged by Lai's mother to arrive at the main gate, and her feelings were more complicated than ever before.

Lai's mother whispered a reminder: "Girl, be more gentle and never talk back to the adults and the lady of the house."

Si Niannian suppressed a laugh and hummed in agreement.

Madam Lai quickly straightened her collar and said to the maid outside the door with a smile, "Please inform the young lady that the eldest young lady has come to pay her respects to the master and madam."

But the maid said, "Please go back, young lady."

Si Niannian raised her eyebrows slightly.

Lai's mother asked with a forced smile, "Why is that?"

"The second young lady is not feeling well," the maid said sternly. "To avoid making her move, the master has ordered that dinner be served at Qinghan Courtyard tonight. The madam and the fourth young master have gone there to keep her company."

In other words, Song Qinghan only needed to hum a few times, and someone would bring the dining table over to keep her company.

Si Niannian bravely made the trip, but she didn't even get a meal. At most, it can be said that she is physically strong and can endure hardship.

Si Niannian asked playfully, "What about me? Has Madam said what I'll eat?"

"The lady did not explain, so this servant cannot say for sure."

The maidservant said with a sneer, "Why don't you go and take a look at Qinghan Courtyard, young lady?"

Si Niannian gave an ambiguous "oh".

Madam Lai quickly said, "It's my fault for not asking clearly. Please come with me, young lady."

However, when they arrived at the gate of Qinghan Courtyard, they were once again turned away.

Madam Qian blocked the doorway, blatantly lying: "You've come at the wrong time, the second young lady has already retired for the night."

As Madam Qian spoke, the maids beside her were carrying food boxes in one by one. Si Niannian could hear Song Wen's voice from a distance: "What is she doing here?"

"Get them out!"

"Han'er was pushed into the water by her today, why did she have to come here and invite such bad luck?!"

Although Madam Song did not speak, the people blocking the door made her attitude clear.

Madam Qian's expression remained unchanged, her tone both polite and firm: "Young lady, please go back."

Si Niannian is not welcome here.

Si Niannian never expected that she would be so disliked just for a bite to eat. She paused and said, "It was my oversight."

"I thought that the Imperial Censor's Office, being a third-rank official's residence, should not lack food. I didn't expect it to be similar to a country family, where they save money by cutting back on food first."

"You're even skipping my dinner, are you trying to save money to pay for your sister's medicine?"

Mrs. Qian's expression suddenly changed.

Si Niannian sighed slowly: "Please tell Madam that I am thick-skinned and can handle going hungry for a few more meals."

"I just hope that I can raise enough money for my sister's medicine soon, so as not to worry my kind parents."

Seeing that Si Niannian had angered Qian Mama to the point of turning her face black, Lai Mama quickly pulled Si Niannian away.

"Oh my daughter!" said Mrs. Lai, her heart pounding with fear. "You can't say such things!"

To say that Song Qinghan is unwell is to pierce the heart of the lady.

If we alert the lady, that would be truly terrible!

Si Niannian blinked innocently, and Mama Lai was both amused and exasperated: "This servant will take the young lady back first, and then go to the main kitchen to take a look."

With such a large family as the Song family, how could they possibly not have a bite to eat?

Si Niannian shook her head and said, "Never mind, I'll go back by myself."

"But……"

“I know the way,” Si Niannian said lazily. “Mom, hurry up and go.”

"If you arrive late, you'll just have to sleep with water still inside you."

Afraid that Si Niannian would go without food, Lai's mother rushed to the main kitchen.

Si Niannian walked leisurely straight to Taxue Hall.

Because Song Qinghan accidentally fell into the water, all the servants who were originally there were punished, and not a single person was spared.

Si Niannian walked unimpeded to Taxue Hall and looked down at the small pond with artificial rocks.

The pool was only knee-deep; not even a dog could drown there.

But Si Niannian saw a drowned person on the surface of the water...

To be precise, this thing in the pool used to be a person.