Chapter 160 Tactics Win Hearts

Lin Yuesha looked closely and confirmed that it was indeed bamboo. It must be that Granny Xiao's eyesight was failing, which was why she had mistaken it for bamboo.

Lin Yuesha was inexplicably confident that she had made such progress on her first attempt at embroidery.

Embroidery is different from simple sewing. At first, Lin Yuesha was still clumsy and got pricked by the needle a few times, but she became more obedient. In the whole afternoon, she embroidered several finished products.

"Sister Red Peach, look what I'm embroidering!"

Lin Yuesha pushed her masterpiece in front of Hongtao. With practice makes perfect, she estimated that with more practice, she would be able to finish a purse.

Although it won't be ready before the New Year, it would still be a nice gift for someone with pockmarked faces as a Lantern Festival present.

"Bamboo, it's bamboo!"

Hongtao almost shouted out the conditions, and just ran into Granny Xiao. Granny Xiao was afraid that Lin Yuesha would be upset, so she specially instructed the maids in the courtyard that if they were asked, they must keep the same story.

“I knew it. Granny Xiao even said that I was embroidering wild grass.”

When someone recognized her, Lin Yuesha felt delighted and her confidence grew even stronger.

Hongtao twitched her lips, unable to bear the sight. Anyway, the purse wasn't made for her, so what she embroidered didn't matter.

After dinner, Hongtao sat under the lamp eating melon seeds, while Lin Yuesha was practicing her embroidery.

This time, Hongliu didn't force her; she herself became interested in embroidery and wanted to show off her skills.

Look at his pockmarked face and his plain clothes; no woman would ever give him a purse. Poor thing.

After finishing embroidering a clump of bamboo, Lin Yuesha looked up and found that Hongtao was staring blankly in one direction, putting melon seed shells into her mouth, clearly lost in thought.

"Sister Red Peach!"

Lin Yuesha shouted, startling Hongtao so much that she almost fell off her chair.

"Little brat, why are you trying to scare me?"

Hongtao retorted angrily, threw away the melon seed shells in her hand, and blushed.

Something's not right, something's very wrong.

The two had just been frightened yesterday, and Lin Yuesha hadn't recovered yet. She noticed that Hongtao had been acting strangely when she came back from working.

"Sister Red Peach, you've been spacing out for half an hour."

Lin Yuesha put away her needlework and asked, "Is something on your mind?"

It didn't seem to be related to He Xing and Xuan Yao, because there was no fear in Hong Tao's eyes, but rather a little shyness.

"Moonlight Sister, do you think a person's appearance is important?"

Red Peach asked the question with a flushed face.

"Is it important?"

The question came out of nowhere, and Lin Yuesha didn't know how to answer it. But no matter the era, people judge others by their appearance first; the "looks-matter" mentality is everywhere.

For example, a person with pockmarked face is a good person, but he has never married, probably because he is ugly.

“I used to think that way too.”

Red Peach took a sip of tea and said earnestly, "But I don't think that way anymore, especially for men, physical appearance really isn't important."

Take He Xing for example. He looks like a pretty boy, charming and scholarly, but who would have thought that he's a scumbag at heart!

Don't judge a book by its cover; someone who may be unattractive might actually be a virtuous and upright person.

The image of the pockmarked face flashed through Lin Yuesha's mind, and she nodded in agreement; that was true.

"But Sister Red Peach, why did you suddenly have such a feeling?"

Lin Yuesha was puzzled. The two hadn't seen each other for a day, and Hongtao's thoughts were very different. What puzzled her was that Hongtao wasn't wearing any hairpins, but rather a red peach blossom.

The red peach blossom looks very familiar.

"Do you still remember the bearded man who gave me the silk flowers?"

Red Peach covered her face with her hands and asked shyly.

Of course I know. That big beard was a fake beard, and not only that, he was also a friend of the pockmarked man.

Lin Yuesha guessed that the bearded man had played a significant role in taking away the girl who had been abused by the Prince of Zhenbei from his residence without anyone noticing.

"Remember."

Lin Yuesha nodded, looking on with a gossipy expression as she waited for what would happen next.

"Today I went to work in the main kitchen, and he came to deliver things, but the horse suddenly got startled and ran straight towards me."

The scene was extremely dangerous. Hongtao could even feel the hot breath coming out of the horse's mouth. If she had been a breath later, she would have fallen under the horse's hooves.

A startled horse kicking a person will either kill them or leave them crippled.

At the critical moment, the bearded man gripped the reins tightly, mounted the horse, and changed the direction of the frightened horse, thus rescuing her.

"It was only then that I realized how short-sighted I had been."

Red Peach shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

The bearded man didn't say anything, but instead comforted her, afraid that she would be frightened.

That day, Hongtao returned to the courtyard, her mind elsewhere, and she kept thinking about this matter.

She used to be vain and always wanted to climb the social ladder. She looked down on the lowly grooms in the mansion. But after her experiences, she realized her foolishness.

A woman's whole life is ultimately about finding a good husband for herself.

In the Prince's mansion, there are many petty stewards who flatter the powerful and snobbish the weak; none of them are as kind as Big Beard. Not only is he a good person, but he also has courage and ability.

Lin Yuesha clicked her tongue. Hongtao used to dislike Big Beard so much, but now she likes him so much.

As expected, deep affection is hard to retain, but clever tactics win people's hearts, and the hero rescuing the damsel in distress is definitely the most effective.

"Sister Yue Sha, will you come with me to the main kitchen?"

Hongtao felt embarrassed to go alone, so she wanted to talk to the bearded man and thank him for saving her life.

"Now?"

Lin Yuesha looked at the sky; it was already very late.

"Yes, I have something I want to say to him. I'm afraid if I keep it to myself, I won't be able to sleep tonight."

Last night, Hongtao was frightened and didn't sleep well. Today, she was frightened again, but her mood is different.

If she doesn't make a move on such a good person, other maids will take a liking to her and make their move first, leaving nothing for Hongtao.

"Let's go then."

Lin Yuesha agreed and, together with Hongtao, carried lanterns to the main kitchen.

Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve. Although the mansion is the temporary residence of the Prince of Zhenbei, it is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, and the red lights illuminated the white snow, creating a warm hue.

"The Lunar New Year is coming again."

Lin Yuesha exhaled white breath. She missed home. By now, the pockmarked man must have already sent the money to his parents.

She gave the money for no other reason than to reassure her mother, Chen, that she was doing well here, eating and drinking well.

"Yes, another year has passed."

Hongtao has already reached marriageable age, and according to the rules, she should be betrothed after the New Year. If that person is Big Beard, she would be willing now.

As they talked, the two walked hand in hand into the large kitchen.

The kitchen was packed with people.

Granny Yu was directing the cook to simmer a rich broth. The ingredients for tomorrow's meal all needed to be prepared in advance, and the more fragrant and flavorful the broth, the better.

"Lin girl, what brings you here?"

When Granny Yu saw Lin Yuesha, she waved her hand, scooped a large, tender bone from the broth, and ladled out a bowl of soup. She smiled and asked, "Did you not do your needlework well and get punished by Hongliu?"