Chapter 14
Granny Yu was somewhat surprised when Ning Shiyu asked about Fu'er, since he had been keeping Yun You by his side these past few days.
I thought he had forgotten about Fu'er.
"Did the nanny assign her another task? Why haven't I seen her?"
Granny Yu was still somewhat hesitant, but when Ning Shiyu mentioned Fu'er casually and asked twice, she had no choice but to tell him what happened after Fu'er served the dishes that night.
"Fu'er must be afraid of being punished by her master, that's why she doesn't dare to return to the manor."
Ning Shiyu sat behind his desk, his gaze fixed on the doorway, remaining silent.
I have no idea what he's thinking.
Granny Yu added, "Xiang'er visited her home a few days ago."
"My eyes are swollen from crying, and I'm always scared."
Ning Shiyu's hand holding the teacup stopped in mid-air, and the teacup wobbled slightly, spilling tea onto the books on the table.
He didn't even notice the tea scalding his fingertips, his gaze heavy.
After a moment, he spoke up: "It's just a sheep, it's fine if it falls."
"I never thought of punishing her."
"Granny, you should go and find her yourself tomorrow."
Then, Ning Shiyu handed the food box on the desk to Granny Yu.
"Take this cherry blossom with her too."
Granny Yu looked bewildered. She hadn't expected her master to send her personally to fetch Fu'er back to the mansion.
As the nanny who had served Ning Shiyu since childhood, he respected and trusted her very much.
He hardly cared about anything in the household, leaving everything to Granny Yu.
She also had a maidservant by her side to take care of her, and she could just give orders if needed.
They didn't let her do any work.
Even things that Ning Shiyu values are like this.
In order to bring back Fu'er, that stubborn mule, they made her go herself, which was unprecedented.
How can I avoid surprising her?
I also bought some pastries for Fu'er that we can't eat in winter.
Unless you make a special reservation in advance at Zhengmingzhai.
If he cares about Fu'er, why doesn't he remember any of their past affection?
That's how much he doted on Yunyou.
Granny Yu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that her young master was very cunning.
She understood it less and less.
Just before leaving, Granny Yu remembered the real reason she had come to find Ning Shiyu.
"Master, will Miss Yunyou be given the same allowance as a concubine when she stays in the manor?"
Ning Shiyu continued turning the pages of his book, his expression indifferent as he said, "You can handle this matter."
*
Fu'er, who had been staying at home and unwilling to come to the Ning Mansion, was only depressed for two days before she encouraged herself and came up with a new idea.
Thinking that since she couldn't get Ning Shiyu's house, she could buy a small courtyard herself.
It's enough for her and her sister to live in.
Even if she couldn't outlive her parents and actually got married.
If things don't go well, this is her fallback plan.
When Le Ge grows up, he won't have to worry about having nowhere to stay.
The thought of giving up the Ning residence still left me with a sense of reluctance.
For no other reason than that she had stayed at the Ning residence for many years and couldn't let go of those feelings.
She learned to read, do accounting, and make incense at the Ning residence.
She knew that besides Lingyang and her hometown, there were many other places she had never been.
Once you know the differences between people, you can distinguish them by their clothing and hairstyles.
Following Ning Shiyu, I ate a lot of delicious food and saw many strange and unusual things.
On the wooden frame of the canopy bed where she slept, she had carved many of Ning Shiyu's past little secrets with a silver hairpin when she was angry with him.
Later, after I calmed down, I tried to wipe it off, but I couldn't.
Feeling afraid, I didn't dare to lift the bed curtains.
If he finds out, I'm doomed.
In addition, she planted flowers in every courtyard of the Ning residence, just waiting to use them for making incense.
Fu'er couldn't count on her fingers all the wonderful memories she had at the Ning residence.
The Ning residence wasn't her home, but she treated it as her own.
This is also why she has always insisted on wanting a peaceful residence.
The thought of having to completely sever ties still made Fu'er a little sad.
My eyes welled up with tears.
But when she thought about reality, Fu'er slapped her head hard.
I will stop thinking about Ning Residence.
In fact, she had saved a considerable sum of money, which was the New Year's money that Ning Shiyu gave her every year.
The silver coins given as tips.
That's enough to buy a small villa in Lingyang.
But after spending that money, she was left without any savings, so she was thinking of finding another job to stabilize her situation.
Go buy a yard.
When Granny Yu arrived, Fu'er was not at home.
These past few days, Madam Wen has been very worried because Fu'er hasn't returned to the Ning residence.
"Sister Yu, can I tell you what happened?"
"Did she cause trouble at the manor?"
"Last time, Miss Xiang'er came to persuade her, but she still didn't want to go back to the manor."
Since the two still had some connection, Granny Yu told Madam Wen about what happened that day.
As a mother, Ms. Wen was very perceptive and grasped the key issue.
Ning Shiyu already had a concubine, which is why Fu'er threw a tantrum and refused to return to the Ning residence.
Wen became even more determined to marry Fu'er off this year.
The days spent looking for work outside the mansion passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was February 2nd.
Every household worships the Kitchen God, eats dragon beard noodles and dragon ear dumplings, and sprinkles ash to attract dragons, all in an effort to pray for favorable weather and a prosperous family.
Although most of the residents in Xieqiao Lane are merchants, they are also farmers and still maintain the habits of farming.
Early in the morning, Fu'er got up with her mother to make dragon beard noodles for the whole family.
In the kitchen, Madam Wen kept scolding Fu'er for her faults.
One minute they complained that she was too weak at kneading dough, and the next they said that Fu'er added too little firewood.
Seeing that her mother had been scolding Fu'er these days, Man'er felt sorry for her and asked her to take care of Le'er.
He then took over the work from her.
"Mother, please don't blame Fu'er. If she doesn't want to go back, don't force her."
Wen slammed the rolling pin in her hand and said, "Your father said the same thing. You all spoil her."
"She's already kicked out several matchmakers. If this continues, who will dare to act as a matchmaker for her?"
"She won't marry this one, she won't marry that one, I think she'll marry someone like that."
Ever since Granny Yu came to the house last time, Madam Wen has been thinking about getting Fu'er married off as soon as possible.
Fu'er was beautiful and literate, so the matchmaker recommended her to wealthy merchants in the city.
One of them was even a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations.
But she didn't even look at him and chased the matchmaker away.
Enraged, Madam Wen grabbed a large broom and started hitting Fu'er, only to be stopped by Man'er in time.
Fu'er was bound to suffer a beating.
Fu'er's search for other jobs was also unsuccessful. When she went to work as a maid in other households, either the monthly salary was too low, or the mistress of the house thought she was too beautiful.
In the past two weeks, apart from a trip to the Ouyang residence to express my gratitude to the old lady, I have only been able to do so once.
He spent the rest of his time looking for work, but nothing came of it.
She herself was extremely frustrated.
However, she was always carefree and didn't take her mother's nagging in the kitchen seriously at all.
Holding Le Ge'er in one arm, he marked the mansions in Lingyang County that he hadn't visited yet in his notebook with the other.
In general, wealthy families would hire a broker to help them find maids.
Most of them were sold to the master family as soon as they entered the mansion.
Whether they live or die is entirely up to their master.
Unlike Fu'er, who had been a maid in the Ning residence for over ten years, Ning Shiyu had never asked her for a contract of indenture.
Someone like Fu'er, who only wants to find a job and doesn't want to be sold to a master's family, can't get into a wealthy household.
Just as Mr. Wen was rambling on and on, a middle-aged woman came to the door.
When Ms. Wen saw that she didn't look like a matchmaker and that she was a stranger, she was about to ask her something.
Then Fu'er came out carrying Le Ge'er and exclaimed, "Sister Fang!"
"Fu'er, you're home."
Seeing Le Ge'er in her arms, Aunt Fang asked with displeasure, "Your child?"
"It belongs to my sister."
At this moment, the woman smiled and pulled Fu'er outside to talk, "Can you do me a favor? I'm short a maid over there, could you go and fill in?"
Fu'er knew about her business and immediately refused, saying, "I can't go."
This woman was a human broker who delivered maids to wealthy families; the maids that Ning's family had bought in the past were delivered by her.
Fu'er had dealt with her before.
That day on the street, Fang Sao saw Fu'er looking for other work and realized that Fu'er was no longer working as a maid in Ning Mansion.
They immediately wanted to find a good place for Fu'er.
Fu'er refused without thinking, but to her surprise, the woman found her at home.
Seeing that Fu'er was about to refuse again, Aunt Fang explained, "Good girl, please do me a favor."
"Just go for one day, and I'll give you two taels of silver after it's done, okay?"
“We run a legitimate business. You know my shop; it’s on Ruyi Street.”
"If I'm trying to trick you, just have your parents come to my house and find me."
Two taels of silver could buy her family a month's worth of food.
Fu'er was somewhat tempted, but she didn't quite trust Sister Fang.
On a sudden inspiration, he said, "I'll believe you if you leave the jade hairpin in your hair."
"I'll send it to you when I get home."
Fu'er has been in the Ning residence for so long, she thinks she has found something good.
I know that the hairpin in Sister Fang's hair is not cheap.
After much deliberation, Sister Fang reluctantly agreed to Fu'er's request.
After Fu'er followed Sister Fang to her shop, she learned that Sister Fang not only dealt in human teeth but also sold ready-made clothes.
Aunt Fang made her change into a rose-red fitted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), which made Fu'er's figure appear even more voluptuous.
Fu'er had never worn such a tight-fitting dress before.
Shivering from the cold, she cautiously asked, "Sister Fang, what kind of errand do you want me to do?"
"You have to dress like this."
Sister Fang smiled and said, "I won't sell you; I'll just serve you meals."
After saying that, he pointed to two beautiful girls next to him.
They were still wearing high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), which was even more revealing than hers.
Only then did she agree to change her clothes.
The housekeeper also styled Fu'er's hair into a cloud-shaped bun. She wanted to apply some rouge to her, but seeing her face as beautiful as a peach blossom, she hesitated.
On the contrary, it's superfluous and a waste of her rouge and powder.
Aunt Fang looked Fu'er up and down and said with satisfaction, "I knew it, I didn't pick the wrong person."
Looking at her thinner reflection in the bronze mirror, Fu'er couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
Just as she was about to apply some lip rouge, Fang Sao pulled her out of the side room.
The group then traveled by carriage to a magnificent courtyard in the northern part of the city.
Before she could even see the plaque on the courtyard gate frame clearly...
Fang's sister pushed the three of them into the other courtyard.
The middle-aged manager at the gate looked like he had been waiting for a long time.
After exchanging a few words with Sister Fang, he glanced at the three of them and nodded in satisfaction.
Then he led them through the hanging flower gate, then through a covered corridor, and finally to a unique courtyard.
We walked through the spacious courtyard, stepped onto the bluestone steps, and finally stopped outside the gate.
At this moment, a woman holding a pipa was standing under the eaves.
It seems they had been waiting here for a long time.
She wore a light purple embroidered crabapple blossom skirt, with a plain-colored cloak over it.
Hearing the noise, she turned her head to look, then turned away again with a nonchalant expression.
She has a cool and aloof temperament and a beautiful appearance.
Fu'er recognized her at a glance as You Luowan, the most beautiful courtesan of Tianxiang Pavilion.
I've heard she's very talented, and she only sells her art, not her body.
Some wealthy young men were willing to spend a fortune just to see her, but even that failed.
This made Fu'er even more curious about who the noble lady inside was.
They actually managed to get her to come.
And it would also make her willingly wait here.
The steward instructed a servant to hand the wine jugs from the lacquer trays to the three young ladies.
Then, led by the steward, the group slowly stepped into the room.
A carved pear wood screen stands facing you, vaguely reflecting the figures of several people inside the room.
The walls are decorated with calligraphy and paintings in a staggered manner.
Two lush pine and cypress bonsai trees were placed in the corner.
After entering the side room, they hadn't taken more than a few steps when the steward gestured for them to wait behind the screen until he gave them instructions to enter the inner room.
After the talking inside gradually stopped, the manager waved for the four of them to enter the inner room.
You Luowan walked at the front, and as soon as she entered, she curtsied to the guests.
"Yunlu greets all lords."
Fu'er followed at the very back, her head bowed, unable to see the person in front of her at all.
She only heard a stern voice, "No need for formalities."
"Play a tune to cheer us up."
"yes."
Fu'er couldn't help but raise her eyes slightly out of curiosity, only to meet a familiar gaze.
She looked up abruptly and saw Ning Shiyu staring coldly at her.
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