"One tael of silver?" Zhou Chenyu's eyes widened, thinking she had misheard.
Before coming to the Tang residence, Chen Tongsheng had mentioned the matter of wages to her. If she could get this job, she would earn at least five hundred coins, and possibly as much as seven or eight hundred coins, depending on the specific circumstances.
The price quoted to her by Feng Chuli's men was double what she had expected, which would amount to three taels of silver over three days.
These three taels of silver represent a year's or even two years' worth of income for an ordinary family.
Happiness came so quickly that Zhou Chenyu couldn't quite believe it and asked a particularly silly question, "Really one or two ounces? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Seeing her stunned expression, Chen Tongsheng smiled and said, "Chenyu, I tasted everything you made just now. Without exaggeration, it was the best sweet soup I've ever had in my life. Since Steward Feng approved the payment, it must be because he approved of the sweet soup you made. You deserve it all, there's no need to question it."
The subordinate also said, "What the student said is absolutely right. It is all what Miss Zhou deserves."
Seeing that they were still talking, Feng Chuli slowly walked over and asked with a smile, "Miss Chenyu, do you feel that one tael of silver a day is too little?"
Upon seeing Feng Chuli, Zhou Chenyu was as excited as if she had seen a relative, and immediately replied, "No, no!"
After two years of being brutally beaten in the workplace, Zhou Chenyu has mastered the art of being a lazy bum, doing only what she's paid for, because you get what you pay for.
However, as long as the boss pays her enough, she will definitely show him what it means to be worth more than her salary!
Earning a year's salary in three days, Zhou Chenyu beamed with joy, "Manager Feng, don't worry! I'll definitely be on time!"
Feng Chuli was probably infected by her smile, and his calm eyes also showed a smile. "Those two men just now humiliated you and made you feel wronged."
humiliation?
Zhou Chenyu recalled the two men's ashen faces; if she had said a few harsh words, she would have given herself away. She should have been the one humiliating them.
She raised an eyebrow. "Manager Feng, do I look like I've been wronged?"
Feng Chuli walked a little closer, stared intently at Zhou Chenyu, shook his head and smiled, "It really doesn't look like her."
Completely bewildered, Chen Tongsheng asked nervously, "Steward Feng, what happened?"
Feng Chuli recounted the whole story, and Chen Tongsheng clenched his fist in anger, "Those two bastards look respectable, how could they say such awful things? If I were there, I would have ripped their tongues out!"
With Chen Tongsheng protecting him like this, Zhou Chenyu smiled and said, "Those two are just small fry. I can handle them by myself. Why would you need to come personally?"
Having spent so much time with this sly girl, Chen Tongsheng was no longer fooled by her flattery. "Steward Feng, you don't know this, but my little sister is as capable as a man. She can handle anything on her own, so you don't need to worry."
Zhou Chenyu frowned and immediately denied it: "Wrong! Women are no less capable than you men!"
Feng Chuli's gaze fell on Zhou Chenyu's face, and he looked at him with newfound respect.
Chen Tongsheng frowned, puzzled. "That's exactly what I meant."
Zhou Chenyu: "..."
——
After discussing all the details of making sweet soup for the housewarming banquet, Zhou Chenyu and Chen Tongsheng prepared to leave the Tang residence. However, when they reached the gate, she suddenly had a stomachache and couldn't hold on until she got home. Helpless, she asked the maid who was leading the way to take her to the outhouse.
On the way, the girl had important business to attend to, so she told Zhou Chenyu to remember the way out. Zhou Chenyu was in a hurry to go to the toilet, so she agreed verbally, but she didn't actually listen to a word she said.
After finishing in the restroom and coming out, Zhou Chenyu looked at the empty doorway and touched her forehead in confusion. "Oh no, did I come from the left or the right?"
Chen Tongsheng was still waiting outside the door. Zhou Chenyu looked left and right, and habitually walked to the right. He thought he would reach the gate soon, but the road became more and more complicated, with more and more forks, and he could not see a single servant.
Zhou Chenyu looked at the road in front of her. There was no village in front of her and no shop behind her. She didn't know what kind of place she would end up in if she went forward, and she probably wouldn't be able to get to the toilet if she went back.
"Why live in such a big house? Isn't this just making things difficult for someone like me who has no sense of direction?"
She muttered something to herself, glancing into the distance where there were few buildings; it must be a garden. She walked straight along the corridor to the end, turned a corner, and saw a round gate made of stones. A breeze was constantly blowing out from the other side of the gate, and the light was exceptionally good.
As Zhou Chenyu stepped across the threshold, he was immediately stunned by the expansive view before him. Looking out, he saw a huge lake, as smooth as a mirror, stretching to the foot of the mountain on the opposite bank. Painted boats drifted slowly in the distance, and the emerald green lotus leaves swayed and danced in the ripples.
Under the pavilion beside the lotus pond, a young girl in pink was leaning on the railing, gazing intently at the lake, lost in thought.
"Finally, someone's here. Should we ask her for directions?"
She walked over slowly. The girl thought it was her personal maid returning with a message, so she looked up and asked excitedly, "Fen'er, have you seen him?"
who is he?
Zhou Chenyu looked at the woman in front of him. The woman's anxious yet joyful expression was like that of a young girl who had just fallen in love and was longing for the return of her beloved.
As if sensing a whiff of gossip, and pondering how to begin, the girl's eyes lost their sparkle, replaced by a look of utter disappointment. "Who are you? Why are you in my residence?"
The woman's attire was much better than that of the kitchen maids; she was probably a young lady from a wealthy family.
Seeing that she had a kind face and no malice in her eyes, Zhou Chenyu told her the truth, "I did not mean to disturb you, Miss. Please forgive me."
The young woman walked forward with a gentle expression, showing no sign of blame. She smiled and said, "This is the outer courtyard pavilion. If you follow the corridor on your left, you will reach the place you mentioned."
"Keep walking along the left-hand corridor." Zhou Chenyu carefully memorized the route, then turned back and smiled at the gentle and quiet girl. "Thank you, Miss."
After saying that, Zhou Chenyu turned to leave, but was suddenly stopped by her, "Wait."
Zhou Chenyu's heart skipped a beat. She remembered Chen Tongsheng's warning. Was she going to punish her?
The girl walked forward slowly, glanced at Zhou Chenyu, and then smiled like a little rabbit, "The white fungus soup that Brother Chuli sent just now was made by you, young lady?"
Zhou Chenyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Miss. I don't know if it suits your taste?"
"You're too modest, young lady." The girl recalled the bowl of crystal-clear white fungus soup with a touch of red in the middle, her expression filled with undisguised joy: "I don't usually like sweets, but the sweet soup you made is sweet, but it's not cloying at all, and it has a hint of fruit fragrance. I really like it."
So many people have tried those few bowls of sweet soup, and all they've said is that it tastes good. It's rare to find someone who appreciates the thoughtful touch she added. Zhou Chenyu straightened her back and gave a bright smile, "Thank you."
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