After some maneuvering, Wang Yan successfully became her father's helper, washing vegetables and butchering meat every day.

Once she entered the manor, she became someone's servant. However, since she worked under her father and didn't have to deal with her master in the kitchen, her situation was alright.

However, she was unaware that this leisurely time would soon be shattered.

When I got home that day, I could hear them yelling and arguing in their yard from a distance.

She and her father exchanged a glance and quickened their pace to go home.

This afternoon, Aunt Wang shelled some beans, preparing to cook a pot of bean porridge, waiting for the father and daughter to come home from work.

Just as I started cooking the porridge, I saw Xiang'er's mother carrying out a stack of quilts to air them out.

Nowadays, people don't wash their quilts often; they just air them out when the weather is nice.

It's been raining a lot lately, and the rain just stopped yesterday. Xiang'er's mother was the first to come out and occupy the yard.

Because of Xiang'er's matter, no one in the courtyard dared to argue with her, and she spent the whole day by herself.

Today, Aunt Cui and Aunt Wei were drying clothes together this morning, and this afternoon it was her turn.

It's getting late, time to bring it back.

Before she could even leave, Xiang'er's mother came out and threw their quilt on the ground. They wanted to take up tomorrow's spot.

You can take it all if you want, but why are you smashing my things?

The two started fighting, but not long after, Aunt Zhang, the inpatient manager from the back street, came and separated them.

They were both given equal punishments and sent back home. They thought things had calmed down.

However, not long after, Granny Wang moved a stool, took a basket of green beans, and sat in the yard, peeling them while cursing.

"If you have the ability to frame others, don't be afraid of retribution. You think you can get ahead by selling your face and your ass. Ha, I think you should watch out, your whole family will be going to the hell of having their tongues pulled out sooner or later!"

"Wang family, who are you referring to indirectly?"

Liu Xiang'er's mother pushed open the window, stood by the window with a furrowed brow, and questioned Wang Da Niang.

Aunt Wang wasn't intimidated at all.

“I’ll scold anyone who feels guilty. It’s really strange. I’ve seen people pick up food and drink, but I’ve never seen anyone eagerly seek out being scolded.”

"you……"

Liu Ye'er's mother was so choked that her face turned pale; she couldn't catch her breath. She grabbed a rolling pin, ready to fight.

People in the courtyard quickly came over to persuade them, as this was the second time this had happened today.

As soon as we arrived in the yard, I pulled my mother over to stand still.

Someone rushed up behind her and bumped into her hard.

Wang Yan paused just as she was about to look for the fire poker. Could this be Liu Xiang'er, the one who framed her sister?

I haven't seen him since I came back, so I'm not familiar with him at all.

A pretty woman, a year or two older than the older sister, entered the courtyard.

When Xiang'er's mother saw her daughter return, she felt emboldened and wanted to scream. But Xiang'er stopped her with a look.

Liu Xiang'er glared at the Wang family again, then dragged her mother into the house.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Xiang'er stomped her feet as she entered the room and angrily questioned her mother.

"Pah, you little vixen."

Outside, Aunt Wang spat fiercely on the ground, then led her daughter and Fatty Wang back into the house arrogantly.

Fatty Wang and his daughter exchanged a glance and gave each other a sheepish smile.

Wang Yan quickly held up two bright orange tangerines in her hand, "Mom, look what these are?"

……………………………………

"What are you doing? Can't you give me a break? What if this gets to my aunt's ears? She might use this as a pretext to sell my daughter!"

Xiang'er's mother lightly slapped herself, smiling apologetically. This girl has made something of herself; she'll have to rely on her for food and clothing from now on.

“I was just angry. The other day, Yezi from the left came back, and I heard that Ying girl had caused you trouble. Mother is heartbroken.”

Xiang'er felt extremely aggrieved when Wang Ying was mentioned.

That girl is sharp-tongued. Although she managed to outmaneuver her last time, she still caused her a lot of trouble afterward.

However, since Wang Xing was serving the young master, she didn't dare to go too far.

With this feeling of unease stuck in her throat, Xiang'er poured herself a cup of tea and drank it down to calm herself.

"My dear daughter, what did you bring back this time?"

“Look, this silver bracelet and two gold lilacs were a gift from the young master. He also took out an apricot-yellow silk jacket and a lotus-root-colored satin skirt.”

After thinking for a moment, he took out a small silver ingot weighing five taels.

"Give the skirt and clothes to your younger sister. You take the money and buy her new ones."

Xiang'er's mother was so dazzled by these things that she couldn't stop smiling as she picked them up. She nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"What would you like to eat? Mom will make it for you. When your dad finishes his shift, I'll have him go and get two pounds of meat."

"No need, I'm leaving now. Use the money I save to buy my father two jugs of wine."

After saying that, she smiled with her lips pursed.

"Third Master is still waiting for me to go back and serve him."

Hearing this, Xiang'er's mother stopped trying to stop her.

He gave her arm a suggestive push, "If we could give the young master a son or daughter, our whole family would finally be able to make it."

Oh dear, Liu Xiang'er stomped her foot shyly.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more, but you'd better keep that in mind."

………………………………

Before long, Xiang'er will be returning to the inner courtyard.

On the way back, I happened to run into Wang Yan, who had placed the peeled orange peels on the windowsill; she liked the smell.

Some oranges were also placed outside the window, so even during the day, sitting on the windowsill outside, you can smell a faint, refreshing orange fragrance.

The two looked at each other, then simultaneously looked away.

With a snap, Wang Yan slammed the window shut without any politeness, and even made a face at the window.

"You..." Xiang'er was so angry she almost fell backward.

Thinking of the ridicule and sarcasm she had suffered from her older brother and sister during this time, a wicked idea popped into her head.

A maidservant in a concubine's quarters would also be accompanied by a young maidservant.

This girl is just a lowly maid in the main kitchen right now, so it's perfect to transfer her here to serve her.

He went back and begged Third Master, and Gu Ting nodded in agreement without much concern.

Fangli was serving tea inside when she heard this, so she excused herself to get a fresh cup of tea and left.

Upon arriving at the tea-brewing room, I instructed the maidservant tending the stove to quickly inform Ying'er.

After hearing this, Wang Ying gave the maid who brought the message two pine nut candies and told her to hurry back.

Then he threw down the broom, grabbed a food container from the kitchen, and rushed out to chase after Manjing.

"Please forgive me, Mother-in-law. I was supposed to go get the food with Sister Manjing today, so I'm a little late."

The gatekeeper patted the few coins in her hand and said, "Go on, go on."

After saying that, he closed his eyes, pretending that he hadn't heard or seen anything.

Wang Ying was relieved and ran towards the main kitchen.

"What? This little girl has such a vicious heart."

Aunt Wang said angrily.

"Liu Xiang'er has such a vicious heart. She's openly trying to humiliate you and make an enemy of you!"

"I'm horrified," Manjing said.

How could this be so stupid and vicious! No wonder the Third Young Master took a liking to her. They really are birds of a feather.

Manjing kept these words to herself and naturally didn't say them aloud.

Wang Ying was distracted; after explaining the whole story, she lost interest in speaking.

He sneaked back into the courtyard and went straight to his room without even having dinner.

Manjing kept her unauthorized discharge from the hospital a closely guarded secret, not revealing a single word.