The next day, Lu Anning left the company early and called Aunt Li to go to Bixi Bay as promised. Aunt Wang had been waiting for a long time.
When Aunt Li saw Aunt Wang, she was visibly stunned. Although she also had to handle kitchen duties, Aunt Wang looked much younger than Aunt Li. Even her hands were more delicate. While not smooth, they were at least not cracked.
The two of them greeted each other hurriedly, and Aunt Li awkwardly tried to hide her hand.
Lu An Ning took note of her every move and did not treat her as a servant. Instead, he made tea for her and asked her to sit in the living room for a while. After a while, Aunt Wang brought some fruit.
Seeing Lu An Ning treating her like a guest, Aunt Li was so frightened that she didn't dare sit down, fearing that she would dirty the expensive sofa.
Lu An Ning smiled and pulled her to sit down: "My place is not like the Gu family. Jing Yuan and I don't usually have too many rules. When you come here, you are a guest. You don't need to be too restrained."
The hot tea was handed to her, and Aunt Li took it with trepidation. She had smelled this kind of tea for years, but she had never had the chance to taste it herself. It was her sense of propriety that allowed her to keep her long-term job in the Gu family.
"I know Aunt Li is an elder in the Gu family. I respect you very much. Have you used the hand cream I gave you? How does it feel?"
"The hand cream the lady gave me is really good. I only used a little bit, and when I woke up this morning, my hands felt much more comfortable."
"This will only be effective if you use it for a long time. It has a particularly good effect on repairing the skin."
Aunt Li was somewhat moved: "Miss, thank you! I am just a servant, how can I expect you to be so kind to me."
"We are all the same. No one is superior to anyone else. You don't have to worry about it."
Aunt Li was stunned by Lu Anning's completely different attitude, and even looked at Aunt Wang with envy. Having also been a servant for most of their lives, Aunt Wang's life was obviously much better than hers.
Fortunately, her situation in the Gu family was not the most difficult.
Aunt Li did not forget her mission. After sitting for a while, she started to talk about business in a hurry. Lu An Ning listened beside her and asked a question from time to time without seeming embarrassed.
When the time was almost right, after Aunt Li finished speaking, Lu An Ning sighed, "Aunt Li has been managing the Gu family's kitchen for many years. She is indeed experienced. No wonder this soup is so delicious. Have you been in charge of the Gu family's kitchen food all these years?"
Aunt Li nodded. "Ever since I started working at the Gu family, I've been working in the kitchen. Seeing how quick and honest I am, the master gradually promoted me to be in charge. If I count carefully, I've been doing this for nearly forty years."
"So long, what about you this year?"
"Alas! I'm fifty-eight already. This year marks the end of my fortieth year. I came to work for the Gu family when I was eighteen, just as I came of age."
"Then in the Gu family, don't you have the most experience?"
Aunt Li smiled and said, "Actually, Aunt Zhao is only a few years younger than me. Speaking of hardship, she's the one who has a miserable life. The one with the longest seniority is still Butler Zhou. When I went to the Gu family, he was already the butler, and he was only twenty years old at the time. He has the longest seniority in the Gu family and is the person that Master trusts the most."
Lu Anning seemed to be thinking: "If that's the case, then you three are the ones who know the Gu family's affairs best."
"Butler Zhou knows the most about the Gu family and Mr. Gu's affairs. I am just in charge of the kitchen and can hear some of the slightest movement."
Lu Anning pretended to be confused: "Well, did you know that a house in the Gu family caught fire that year? I heard that it was quite a big commotion at the time. My eldest brother said that I was lost a few days after the fire."
Aunt Li's eyes were clearly evasive. "This happened a while ago. I was busy with the kitchen back then and didn't ask about it, so I'm not particularly clear."
"Then do you know where that place is now?"
Aunt Li immediately became alert: "Miss, why are you asking this suddenly?"
Lu Anning smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. My eldest brother was still young at the time! I can't tell you everything. I just want to know more about our family. To be honest, I've been lost for so many years, and I've always been a little bit upset about it. I just want to know how I was lost."
When Aunt Li heard this, she quickly stopped Lu An Ning.
"Miss, you can only ask about this today. Once you leave this room, I will pretend I never heard anything. From now on, please don't ask about this matter again. This is a taboo in the Gu family. The master once ordered that no one is allowed to mention what happened back then."
"Is there such a thing? Maybe they don't want to bring up sad memories because I haven't come back yet. Now, haven't I come back?"
"This concerns the wife's safety, and it's no joke. In the past, whenever this matter was mentioned, the wife would become ill, and in serious cases, she would commit suicide. Miss, just consider it as a favor, okay? If the master knew I told you, I would lose my job."
Aunt Li was so excited that she wanted to kneel down to Lu An Ning immediately, but Lu An Ning had to give up.
"I can promise you that I won't tell anyone about this once we're out of here. But, Aunt Li, I have some doubts in my mind, so you should just consider it a favor. Just tell me where the address is. Okay? I promise I won't cause you any trouble."
Aunt Li was a little embarrassed and hesitated, but had to agree to Lu Anning's request.
"That was a property that the gentleman bought in his early years, right next to the South Ring Road. It has been completely abandoned since the fire. No one has cared about it for years, and no one in the Gu family dares to mention it."
Aunt Li left her detailed address and didn't dare to say anything else.
Before leaving, Lu An Ning promised: "Aunt Li, if you feel that life in the Gu family is difficult and you can't go on, I can help you. You can come to me at any time, and it will be helpful."
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