"Mother, do you think Shen Mingzhuang is short-sighted?"

Shen Mingshu frowned, somewhat puzzled.

"She's really short-sighted. Why doesn't she keep all those nice things the Wen family gave her? Instead, she's like a spendthrift."

Hearing her daughter's words, Madam Lin covered her mouth and laughed. The sweet and sour taste of the candied fruit on her lips made her feel great. "Silly daughter, she was just playing the long game! Only you, the fool, fell for her hook!"

As she spoke, Madam Lin handed over a piece of dried fruit and chuckled, "Think about it, did the things she gave you offend you? You got angry and took those things to her yard, thinking you were showing her that we didn't lack those shabby things, but she saw our good stuff and wouldn't let go. Now, all the things you painstakingly gave her have ended up with someone else!"

As she listened, Shen Mingshu suddenly realized that... it seemed to be true.

"Mother, do you think I've fallen for Shen Mingshu's trick?" Only now did Shen Mingshu realize the pain in her heart. She had saved all her good things for her dowry, even though it was only a small part. But the thought of Shen Mingzhuang getting them for free made her heart ache!

Shen Mingzhuang breathed a sigh of relief upon returning to Cuixuan Residence. Pretending to be stupid is actually a skill that requires finesse.

Seeing her like this, Manhuan couldn't help but laugh, "The way you looked in that courtyard just now, Miss, gave me quite a fright. I thought you had suddenly become..."

As Man Huan was speaking, she seemed to realize that what she said was not a kind remark, and quickly stopped herself.

"Has he become a greedy little man?"

Shen Mingzhuang smiled and finished her sentence for her.

Manhuan chuckled twice, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Miss, don't you think the Third Madam is acting a bit strangely today?" Manhuan asked as she made the bed.

At this moment, only the two of them, mistress and servant, were in the room. Ruyi, Xue Rong, and the others had gone to the other room to prepare things for fumigating the clothes.

"Even you noticed, but we still have to cooperate with them. Don't worry, your young lady isn't stupid."

Upon hearing this, Man Huan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She could tell that Lin Shi's intentions in sending the clothes were clearly malicious. If the young lady hadn't realized she'd fallen into the Third Madam's trap, then she would be finished.

Among the maids, Shen Mingzhuang found Manhuan to be the most attentive and the one she liked the most. In addition, the book also said that she was a loyal servant. If there was anything to be done, this girl could be of great use.

"Manhuan, your parents are still on the estate, right? Is the monthly allowance they send back enough to live on?"

Hearing her young mistress ask her this, Manhuan was taken aback before replying, "Miss, it's enough. My mother also helps others with clothing and bedding making on the estate from time to time, so she can earn an income."

Manhuan's mother lived on the Shen family's estate. She used to be a maid in the manor, but was later released to marry someone.

Unfortunately, her mother had a hard life. Not long after marrying an honest farmer in the village, her husband died, leaving behind Manhuan, her posthumous daughter.

Shen Mingzhuang thought that if he had to entrust some things to Man Huan, he couldn't let others have any leverage over her. Man Huan was a widow, and if others used her widowhood as leverage, everything he did would be exposed as well.

The next day, Shen Mingzhuang took Man Huan and Xue Rong out under the pretext of asking for a peace charm for the old lady.