Bad Girl, Good Fortune (1)
Jiang Wanrou is truly blessed.
——
I have never met anyone like Jiang Wanrou.
So...indifferent?
Never mind, I don't know what to say.
I am a servant in the Jiang family, and I have been responsible for taking care of her since she was born.
She was different from other young ladies.
I remember when she was four years old, she took a liking to a rabbit and would personally feed it grass every day, and she would also tell the rabbit stories, each one different.
Some stories were told to her by others, while others were made up by her. In any case, she would bring new stories every day.
But one day the rabbit suddenly died. Jiang Wanrou witnessed its death—a stray cat broke into the yard, and Jiang Wanrou went to feed the rabbit, just as the cat bit through the rabbit's throat.
The weather was beautiful that day, with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. Jiang Wanrou was full of energy and went to the garden early in the morning to pick some grass to feed the rabbits.
I was standing right behind her, watching as the rabbit struggled to run, only to be pinned down by the cat. It continued to struggle desperately under the cat's claws, and when its throat was bitten open, blood splattered, staining a patch of white fur near the cat's mouth. Then, the rabbit, seemingly drawing strength from nowhere, suddenly kicked its legs, managing to leap out of the cat's mouth, a few drops of blood falling onto the nearby grass. Before it could even take a few steps forward, before it could even stand up, the cat licked its lips and gracefully and gently pinned it down. The rabbit's movements grew weaker and weaker until finally, it stopped moving altogether.
I looked at Jiang Wanrou with concern, thinking she would cry, after all, she was a pampered little lady of only four years old. But Jiang Wanrou just stood there, holding the grass she had just picked to feed the rabbits, which was still a little bit wet with dew. She stood quietly, her face expressionless, watching her beloved pets being eaten bit by bit, until only a skeleton with mutilated flesh and fur and a short bloodstain on the green grass remained.
I suspected she was terrified, so I tentatively called out, "Miss?"
She looked up, gave me a cold glance, and casually tossed the grass she was holding to me. The dew splashed onto my face as she did so, making me instinctively close my eyes. Jiang Wanrou turned to leave after throwing it, but stopped after a few steps, turned back, and said to me…
"I want that cat. Catch it and give it to me."
"Wait until it's almost finished eating before you catch it."
After saying that, she turned and left without looking back, leaving me with this mess. Her footsteps faded into the distance, and all I could hear was the tearing sound of the cat ripping apart the rabbit's flesh and bones, and the chewing sounds as it ate.
I looked at the cat, which looked nimble and agile, and felt a surge of annoyance.
Tsk, so many requirements.
It's really annoying, but there's nothing I can do. Everyone under her runs themselves ragged for her with just a word.
After the cat was brought back, Jiang Wanrou specially ordered someone to build a large cage, complete with feeding, playing, and excretion facilities. It was placed in the yard where she originally kept rabbits, and even next to the original rabbit hutch—she forbade her servants to take it in, so naturally no one dared to touch it.
That's how she started keeping that cat.
“Miss, you can’t tame a stray cat,” I told her.
She ignored me completely, not even giving me a second glance, and continued to play with the cat through the cage.
Fortunately, the cat ignored her, hiding in the corner furthest from Jiang Wanrou. No matter what she tried to lure it, it just stayed there, its body low to the ground, its back arched, and its ears pressed tightly back. When teased too much, its entire upright tail would bristle, its mouth would open wide, its teeth bared, and it would make a "ha—" sound.
She didn't mind and continued to come and play with the cat every day, just like she used to come and feed the rabbits every day.
Three or four months later, the cat probably realized it couldn't get out and gradually gave in. It would occasionally play with her, eat well, and visibly became rounder and rounder.
One day, Jiang Wanrou came to tease the cat again. She looked at the cat for a while and then suddenly asked someone to let it out.
The cat seemed incredulous that the cage could be opened again. It hesitated for a long time before daring to run out of the cage. It tentatively circled the yard a few times, and seeing that everyone around it was just watching it from a distance and not coming closer, it suddenly leaped up and jumped towards the top of the wall, imagining that it would climb over the wall and leave, just like it had come.
Someone tried to grab it, but Jiang Wanrou just shook her head, stood there with the cat toy in hand, and watched silently.
The cat, of course, failed. It only jumped halfway up before landing back on the ground. Seemingly puzzled, it raised its front paws and scratched at the wall a few times, leaving some deep and some shallow claw marks on the dark wall. It meowed several times, then tried to pounce up several more times, unsurprisingly failing each time. Only then did the cat turn around, quietly looking at Jiang Wanrou. It slowly strolled over, rubbed against her legs, and meowed ingratiatingly before finally lying down demurely at her feet.
Jiang Wanrou still held the cat toy in her hand. She smiled and slowly dangled it over the cat's head. The cat stretched out its paw and casually scratched at her calves a couple of times, then kept brushing her calves with the tip of its tail, meowing very sweetly.
After that, every time Jiang Wanrou came, she would play with the cat outside. When she wasn't there, the cat would lie in its cage waiting for her, occasionally eat something, walk around patrolling its territory, play with the toys Jiang Wanrou had bought for it, and climb around the cat tree, looking very proud.
However, most of the time it prefers to find a place to curl up and sleep, lazily basking in the sun.
Jiang Wanrou would often come over to play with the cat and watch it play, and she would laugh very happily.
Later, Jiang Wanrou built it an even bigger cage.
The rabbit hutch was still there.
I raised it for another three years, and I don't know how old it was, but it looked older and older. Its eyes were gradually closing up, and I guessed it was about to die.
Sure enough, one day when Jiang Wanrou came to tease the cat again, she saw that the cat was lying in its bed and wouldn't move no matter what she did.
The servants nearby quickly opened the cage, took the cat out, and hurriedly checked it over—
Unsurprisingly, the cat died.
The master was also there that day. Jiang Wanrou nestled in his arms, crying pitifully. The master patted her back to soothe her and comforted her with heartache.
"How about Daddy buys you another kitten? An even prettier one."
Jiang Wanrou just cried and said that her kitten had died.
She really loves to cry, especially when the madam and master are around; she often cries and can't stop.
It's very noisy.
The old man tried everything to cheer her up, and finally she sobbed, "I want a little bunny," with tears still clinging to her cheeks.
I really don't understand her.
But probably no one understands her, and no one cares about this. Everyone just takes care of her rabbits now, just like they used to take care of her cats.
Jiang Wanrou still comes every day, bringing fresh grass that someone specially picked, but she no longer tells stories.
I've thought about why, but I don't have the answer.
Perhaps she has no new stories to tell.
Who knows?
It's nothing serious.
However, after only two days, she switched to coming at night and stopped feeding the rabbit hay, simply standing aside watching it play for a while. This was because the master had assigned her new lessons, taking up the only free time she had during the day.
Although Jiang Wanrou was a pampered young lady, she was truly hardworking. She started her studies at the age of three, and as she grew older, her workload increased. By the age of six, her schedule was almost full from morning to night, with only a few minutes of free time in the morning and afternoon, except for meals.
Even among so many children in the collateral branches, many of whom were several years older than her, she couldn't find one who was more hardworking than her.
What she learned was also different from the other young ladies.
Well... it wasn't different from the beginning.
Until the age of four, he was still learning things like playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, poetry, and needlework. Later, he gradually became like the other boys in the Jiang family, and even had to learn more and earlier.
I've been with her during her studies for so long, and I've never seen her complain about being tired or bitter, nor have she ever missed a single class. Even the strictest teachers would find it hard to find fault with her.
No wonder the master doted on her so much; after all, she was such a well-behaved and lovable child.
The master had no son, and after so many years he had consulted countless famous doctors and tried countless folk remedies, but nothing had come of it. He figured that since he couldn't have a son, he would have to rely on her in the future. Therefore, he was exceptionally strict with her studies, showing no leniency whatsoever. However, knowing that he was being too harsh on such a young child, the master felt somewhat guilty, so he was quite indulgent towards her in other matters.
Since Jiang Wanrou liked flying kites, the master searched for several skilled craftsmen, provided them with good food and drink, and made kites just for her.
But she was also exceptionally fickle, and the kites made for her had almost filled the entire room. However, even those she disliked, she would never allow anyone else to touch.
Previously, a relative from a relatively well-off family came to the capital with his wife and son, and stayed at the Jiang residence, making them guests from afar. His son, who should be Jiang Wanrou's cousin, saw that the kites were exquisite and, taking advantage of being a guest, took one without asking.
When Jiang Wanrou found out, she beat him up, snatched the kite back, and had someone bring scissors. In front of the little boy, she cut his favorite kite into tiny pieces.
I don't know where she learned that from, but after she finished cutting the kite, she patted the little boy's face with the scissors and said in a sinister tone, "If you dare to come again, I can't guarantee that the scissors will only cut the kite."
I remember that's how she threatened people back then.
After she finished speaking, she twirled the scissors with one finger and walked away arrogantly, completely ignoring her cousin who was sitting on the ground, almost paralyzed with fear.
But as soon as she turned the corner, she started grumbling that she was tired and wanted someone to carry her.
I really don't want to talk to her.
I carried her on my back, feeling only annoyed and resentful.
In fact, Jiang Wanrou didn't really like the kite. She only flew it two or three times after getting it, and got tired of it in less than half a month. The servants put it away in a special room for her, where it has been gathering dust for almost two years.
However, Jiang Wanrou didn't care about any of that; she wouldn't let anyone touch her things.
Her cousin naturally cried uncontrollably, and it took him a long time to finally get up. He ran back home, sobbing all the way, to complain. His mother took him and stormed up to the master, pointing to the handprint on her son's face, determined to get an explanation.
At that time, Jiang Wanrou was nestled in the old man's arms reading a book, earnestly answering his questions. When she saw the mother and son rushing in, she didn't even look up, turned around, hugged the old man's neck, and muttered, "So noisy."
The old man just smiled, picked her up and put her aside, tidied her messy hair, and coaxed her gently, "It is a bit noisy, Rou'er, why don't you go play over there first? Later, Daddy will take you to fly kites, okay? Go and call your mother."
She gestured with her eyes for me to take her away.
Jiang Wanrou obediently agreed and excitedly pulled me outside. From the moment the mother and son stormed in, furious, until she left, Jiang Wanrou hadn't even given them a glance.
The lady was furious. When she saw Jiang Wanrou running out, she reached out to stop her. I instinctively reached out to block her, but before I could speak, I heard the master say, "It's best for us adults to stay out of the children's business."
I couldn't hear what she said after that. Jiang Wanrou walked very fast, seemingly uninterested.
A short while later, the master came to the madam's room. He didn't say anything, as if nothing had happened. He simply picked up the mother and daughter, put them in a carriage, and took them to the manor in the suburbs to fly kites. The manor was specially built for Jiang Wanrou as a gift for her fifth birthday, and it was now intended to be used to raise ponies for her.
Jiang Wanrou's archery skills are also outstanding among her peers.
They had already sent people ahead to wait, making preparations for both possibilities. When Jiang Wanrou arrived, she could fly kites or ride horses whenever she wanted.
The master truly doted on her, personally choosing her name. He had been thinking about it before she was born, but he had originally thought she would be a boy, so the preparations weren't quite right. After she was born, the master held her carefully, very excited, and soon decided on her name—Jiang Wanrou.
Although I feel that the name doesn't quite match her personality.
When she was almost three years old and it was time for her to begin her formal education, her grandfather carefully selected many teachers for her. However, still feeling uneasy, he personally began her education, teaching her to read and write every day, and paying extra attention to her studies. Her grandfather wasn't particularly skilled in riding and archery, so he found her a specialized teacher in those areas. However, unless he was truly unavailable, he never missed a single one of Jiang Wanrou's riding and archery lessons. Furthermore, in recent days, to find Jiang Wanrou a suitable steed, her grandfather personally inspected the horses, determined to choose the best for her, sparing no effort or expense.
Now, the master is accompanying her to fly kites on the meadow, while the lady stands by with an umbrella, watching from afar with a smile on her face.
Jiang Wanrou's playful voice drifted over from afar, "I want it higher, Dad, raise it higher..."
I stood outside preparing tea and snacks, watching the happy family of three, and couldn't help but sigh that Jiang Wanrou was truly blessed.
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