Feng Shaoying's eyes gleamed when he heard this. He quickly raised his glass to clink with Xue Yuanchu's and said with a hearty smile, "Brother Yuanchu, I'm relieved when you say that. Your business is my business, and I will do my best to handle it."
The two chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere became more harmonious as they drank.
Xiaochan stood quietly by the side, pouring wine for the two of them from time to time. There was a faint light in her eyes, as if she was thinking about something.
Feng Shaoying put down his wine glass and suddenly remembered something. He frowned slightly and said, "Brother Yuanchu, there's something I'm still worried about. The children in the orphanage are innocent lives after all. Wouldn't it be a bit too cruel for us to do this?"
Xue Yuanchu was stunned when he heard this, then waved his hand and said, "Why would you have such an idea? Those children are from humble backgrounds, and they are lucky to have enough food to eat. We are just replacing chaff with new rice, which doesn't make much difference to them."
Feng Shaoying sighed and shook his head, saying, "That being said, I still feel a little uneasy. I hope this won't lead to any trouble."
Xue Yuanchu saw this and quickly comforted him, "Don't worry, as long as you and my people act cautiously, it will definitely not be leaked."
The two chatted for a few more hours until it was getting dark, and then Xue Yuanchu got up to say goodbye.
Back in the house, Xiaochan helped Feng Shaoying change his outer clothes and asked softly, "Sir, why do you look so worried? Is there something wrong?"
Feng Shaoying smiled upon hearing this and said, "I hope I'm overthinking it... As long as you serve me well, everything I have will be yours in the future."
As he spoke, he reached out and pinched Xiaochan's cheek, a glimmer of desire flashing in his eyes.
Xiaochan smiled coquettishly and snuggled into his arms, and the two of them immediately became intimate with each other.
…
In the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion, Xue Shanqiu, who lived in Fanghua Garden, saw his sister-in-law assigning several night watchmen to guard the courtyard strictly, and only then did he learn that his mother had left the city and gone to the farm.
Zhou Jin's daughter Xiaohe stayed and became Xue Shanqiu's maid, which also injected some vitality into Fanghua Garden.
Since it was a sudden decision to stay in the Marquis' Mansion, Xiao He had no other clothes to change into except for that worn-out set of clothes.
Xue Shanqiu felt pity for Xiao He and instructed her personal maid, Xiao Zhou, "I have some old dresses I don't wear anymore. Give them to Xiao He. When new clothes are made for the maids next season, I'll use my salary to make her a few more new ones."
Xiao Zhou heard the order and did it immediately. This maid was kind-hearted and lively.
Seeing that Xiao He's shoes were dirty and old, she took out two new pairs of satin shoes from her closet, handed them to Xiao He, and said with a smile: "My name is Xiao Zhou, and your name is Xiao He. It sounds like a maid serving beside a girl."
From the moment she stepped into Fanghua Garden, Xiaohe lowered her head and was too reserved to speak.
At this moment, seeing Xue Shanqiu and Xiaozhou treating him so warmly and kindly, tears of gratitude welled up in his eyes, and he whispered softly, "Thank you, Miss, Sister Xiaozhou. I will definitely do my best to repay your kindness in the future."
Xiao Zhou noticed her nervousness and soothed her softly, "Don't be afraid. Our girls are the kindest people. Here, you'll feel like you're at home. We'll treat you like a younger sister, too."
Just as he finished speaking, another maid came in and reported: "Miss, Sister Xiaozhou, the bathing room has prepared the bath water."
Xiao Zhou stepped forward, took Xiao He's arm affectionately, and said, "Miss, I will accompany her to take a bath and change clothes first, and then tell her about the rules of our Fang Hua Garden."
Xue Shanqiu nodded slightly and said gently, "Go ahead, come back and talk to me later."
Xiaozhou led Xiaohe to the bathing room. Along the way, she kept introducing the situation of Fanghuayuan to Xiaohe, trying to make her relax.
"The east wing of Fanghua Garden is occupied by the fourth young lady. She is cultivating in Baiyun Temple with her hair uncut, so it's empty now. There are only two maids cleaning the house."
Although Xiaohe was still a little reserved, she was infected by Xiaozhou's enthusiasm and gradually began to respond to her words.
After taking a bath, Xiaohe changed into the dress given to her by Xue Shanqiu, and put on the new shoes given to her by Xiaozhou. She looked refreshed and pretty.
She stood in front of the mirror, looking at her outfit, her eyes flashing with disbelief.
Xiao Zhou smiled and praised: "Xiao He, you look so good in this dress. It's like you've become a completely different person."
Xiao He lowered her head shyly and whispered, "Thank you, Sister Xiao Zhou. I have never worn such beautiful clothes."
Returning to Fanghua Garden, Xue Shanqiu saw the changes in Xiaohe and could not help but admire him: "It is true that clothes make the man. He looks even more handsome in this outfit."
Upon hearing this, Xiao He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying with tears of gratitude, "Thank you for your kindness, young lady. I will definitely learn the rules well and live up to your expectations."
Xue Shanqiu smiled slightly and waved his hand to indicate that she didn't need to be so polite.
As the night deepened, Fanghua Garden was filled with a warm atmosphere. Xue Shanqiu was sitting quietly at the table, listening to Xiaohe telling him about the details of farm life.
Xiao He's eyes sparkled with nostalgia for the past. She parted her red lips, her voice soft as a spring breeze, "As soon as spring arrived, the girls on our farm would carry their baskets and go out to the fields together to look for fresh wild vegetables. Back then, the fields were lush green and full of life."
Xue Shanqiu listened with great interest. She asked curiously, "Besides picking wild vegetables, what else do you do?"
Xiao He smiled and continued, "We also go to the river to catch small fish and shrimps. Those small fish and shrimps are very clever, and it takes a lot of effort to catch them. Also, we can weave grasshoppers with wheat straw. The grasshoppers we weave are vivid and lifelike, which is really fun."
Hearing what she said, Xiaozhou got up and found some colorful ropes from the house and asked Xiaohe to weave one.
Sure enough, Xiaohe started weaving skillfully, and soon, a lifelike grasshopper appeared in her hands.
Xue Shanqiu took the grasshopper in surprise and exclaimed, "Xiao He, you have such a skillful hand!"
Xiao He smiled shyly: "Miss, you are too kind. This is just a little skill of us farm girls."
The master and servant were chatting happily when the night watchwoman's voice suddenly came from the doorway: "Young lady, the old lady is not at home tonight, and the young lady is guarding the Xiangyun Hall. It's getting late, young lady, you'd better go to bed early."
Upon hearing this, Xue Shanqiu looked out the window at the deep night and realized that it was indeed getting late.
She sighed softly and said to Xiao He, "Okay, Xiao He, let's stop here for tonight. You should also go to bed early and we can talk again tomorrow morning."
Xiao He nodded obediently: "Yes, young lady. I will go to rest now. Please go to bed early too."
After saying that, she and several other maids retreated and closed the door gently.
Xue Shanqiu looked at the grasshopper in his hand and couldn't help feeling deeply moved.
Although she was born in a marquis's mansion and had lived a life of luxury since childhood, at this moment she was deeply attracted by the farm life described by Xiaohe.
She longed for that simple, honest and fun lifestyle.
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