Chunlan, fuming, carried a pot of rice tea to Zhiju's room and slammed the teacup on the table with a bang.

Zhiju frowned. "What's wrong?"

After hearing what Wang Yan said, Zhiju's face turned ugly. If Qingqian heard this, she didn't know how she would be scolded.

It's been more than half a year since I was scolded last time, and I've only slowly taken over some things again.

As evening approached, Zhiju, still feeling unwell, personally carried a teapot over and asked Chunyan to make her some rice tea.

It was almost time to end the shift, and the rice tea that had been stir-fried earlier in the jar had been used up by noon.

Wang Yan knew that she had come to cause trouble on purpose, but since she was off duty, she could only swallow her anger and took out red dates, rice, and old tea to stir-fry.

Unexpectedly, after the stir-fry was prepared and brewed, Zhiju poured herself a cup in the tea room, took a small sip, and said, "This flavor isn't strong enough. Stir-fry it again!"

She was deliberately looking for trouble, and Wang Yan was a reckless person! She picked up the teapot and smashed it on the ground.

"This is what the fried rice tea in the tea room tastes like, take it or leave it!"

"you……"

Wang Yan stared at her coldly with a fierce look. She had indeed done it on purpose. How long had it been since Chunlan and the others had quieted down?

These days, things have gotten out of hand again, with people resorting to underhanded tricks.

Even Chuncui, who was demoted to the laundry room after being beaten last time, has recently been eager to return to her original post.

Last time, Chun Chao helped me get my clothes. Luckily, she was meticulous and carefully checked them before taking them out.

Upon lifting the curtain, it was discovered that a small section of the brocade fabric on the hem of the lady's gold-threaded cloud-patterned gown had been scratched in a place that was barely noticeable.

If Wang Yan or any of the other maids were to go and get it, they would inevitably be scolded and thrown out upon their return.

Wang Yan was supposed to go get the clothes that day, but Zhiju stopped her at the last minute, and Chun Chao took her place instead.

Even though Chun Chao was meticulous and noticed something was wrong before even leaving the house, she still got a scolding from her sister Qing Qian.

There's no way you can guard against thieves for a thousand days if you're a thief for a thousand days. So, I decided to take advantage of this rice tea making session to cause a huge commotion.

Anyway, if a third-class maid makes a mistake, at most she'll be punished for a few days, or worse, kicked out.

If Ke Zhiju were to speak ill of others again, even if she didn't face any serious punishment, it would still make her sisters dislike her in their hearts.

If Zhiju isn't given special privileges, what will happen to Chun Cui and the others? They've already been kicked out, and it's rare to see them still causing trouble like this.

Zhiju wasn't stupid; she immediately realized something was wrong. Wang Yan was determined to confront her head-on. If Wang Yan could handle it, she couldn't afford to be foolish.

"Good sister, you've misunderstood me. My mouth has been bitter and tasteless for the past two days, that's why I feel like this."

It's my fault, it's my fault. Calm down, don't be angry.

After quickly calming Wang Yan down, Zhiju took a pot of water and went back home by herself.

Upon entering the house, he saw Zhixue had returned and greeted her with a beaming smile.

Zhixue was puzzled. The two of them didn't get along and rarely spoke when they met. But today, it was like the sun had risen in the west.

……………………

After Gu Ting got engaged, Liu Xiang'er did not receive any malicious messages from Aunt Yang for a long time.

Not only that, he also specifically instructed her husband to be honest and serve her well after the proper wife entered the family.

Regardless, at least she was spared from death, which brought her a lot of peace of mind.

The Marquis also managed to secure Gu Ting's position; he became a clerk in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a position of the seventh rank.

Gu Ting was not very satisfied, but thinking that he could follow the path of Xu Shaoqing's brother-in-law in the future, he endured it for a while and accepted the position.

Now that they are engaged, the two are officially together. However, apart from major holidays when Gu Ting will send Xu Shaoqing some gifts through someone, they rarely have any contact in private.

The servants in Moyuan Courtyard were also re-employed and some were added. This time, Liu Xiang'er successfully managed to get her younger sister into the household.

When Liu Dong was transferred to the outer courtyard, she was just a sweeping girl, and she's still sweeping the floor now.

Mo Yuan Academy has transferred two more third-class maids and two more second-class maids this time.

Second-class maids shared a room with two others, while third-class maids shared a room with four others. In Xingzi and Hongye's room, Liu Dong and Panxia also lived. Both of them were ten years old.

Originally, the third class in the manor was four people per room, but there were few people in Mo Yuan Courtyard, so Xingzi and her friend had always lived in a two-person room.

When the two of them first moved in, Xingzi and her friends initially felt cramped and uncomfortable, but after living there for a while, they found it quite nice.

After their shifts, the group would sit together in their room to eat and chat.

It is worth mentioning that Pan Xia is the daughter of Aunt Cui in Wang Ying's courtyard.

Because of this relationship, Wang Yan was summoned to Mo Yuan Courtyard several times.

"Sister Yan, I'm on vacation this month and can't go back. Could you please take this bundle back with me?"

That day, when Wang Yan came to deliver spicy strips to Manjing, Panxia stopped her and asked for her help.

A grayish-brown bundle, which Pan Xia must have brought from home, contained a purse and three feet of hemp cloth.

Their courtyard was divided into three equal parts, with a fixed monthly allowance of 200 coins.

But were there any other rewards in her purse? Wang Yan took her to Sister Manjing to register and have her bear witness.

Pan Xia laughed and said, "There's no need for that. Of course I trust you."

Wang Yan disagreed; she insisted on making a record of it before taking it back.

When they arrived home, Aunt Cui took Panxia's bundle and saw that it contained not only her monthly allowance but also about ten gold and silver melon seeds.

The three feet of hemp cloth inside was enough to make a summer shirt, and he was immediately overjoyed.

"Panxia should stay in the courtyard and not come back. She's about to marry the Third Young Mistress. She needs to make a good impression."

After chatting with Aunt Wang for a while, he happily carried his bundle back home.

………………

It rained for several days in a row at the manor, which changed the usual muggy heat.

A slight chill wafted over, and Wang Yan moved a small tea stove and placed it under the eaves.

Fuling and Chunye come over whenever they have free time; in this kind of weather, drinking milk and fried rice tea is just right.

The fried rice has already been prepared. It involves stir-frying red dates, rice, and a handful of aged tea in a pan until slightly browned, then adding some sugar and storing it.

Now Wang Yan took a gourd-shaped pot, evenly spread a layer of the previous rice tea with half water on the bottom, boiled it until it was just about to boil, and then poured in some milk.

Red date and milk fried rice tea, each person holds a cup, drinking it while sitting on the porch watching the rain.

Zhiju passed by and saw these people looking so relaxed. She was so angry that her nose almost crooked. She wanted to cause trouble, but she didn't dare.

Not long after, Zhixue came to the tea room to change the tea, and couldn't help but smile when she saw them.

"You lot are living a carefree life. Come to Granny Hua's room for dinner later. Today we have steamed goose with bamboo shoots."

Granny Hua quite liked to have the little maid eat in her room so they could eat together and have a lively time.

Wang Yan nodded, and when it was time to eat, she took a pot of red date milk tea and went there.

Today, Zhixue is serving us here; she arranged the seating early on.

Let them sit with Chunlu. After Granny Hua finishes eating, the leftover food can be divided up.

The steamed goose was delicious! The little girls each took a piece and finished off half a goose in one go.