Chapter 50 The Eccentric Miss
The candle in the room was reduced to a short stub, and then the entire room was plunged into darkness.
Even though the unfamiliar environment was comfortable, Lin Yuesha still felt somewhat uncomfortable and remained vigilant, fearing that something fishy might be going on.
For some reason, she always felt that there was a pair of eyes watching her in the darkness.
Yes, that was the gaze, extremely focused.
Could it be that the Jiang residence is haunted?
Thinking of this, Lin Yuesha's hair stood on end. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips, hesitating to open her eyes to take a look, but she was also worried about seeing something she shouldn't see, and she was very conflicted.
"Fine, I'll just go for it!"
After about fifteen minutes, the strange gaze still hadn't left.
Lin Yuesha felt like she had thorns in her back. After a struggle with herself, she decided to open her eyes and see, otherwise she would definitely not be able to sleep that night.
Prepared mentally and for being frightened, Lin Yuesha opened her eyes.
The lanterns hanging in front of the courtyard had been extinguished. By the light of the snow, the inner room was not so dark. A white figure with disheveled hair sat on the edge of Lin Yuesha's bed.
Lin Yuesha: "..."
Who are you?
The woman in white had a deathly pale face and lips so pale they were almost unrecognizable; she looked eerie in the darkness.
Lin Yuesha rolled twice on the bed to keep a safe distance. Seeing that the woman in white didn't answer, she asked again, her voice trembling with tears, "What kind of ghost are you?"
The servants at the Jiang residence were very polite to her, arranging such a nice room for her on her first day. Could it be because it's haunted?
A young lady from a wealthy family, forced into marriage, resisted to the death and ultimately hanged herself in her room.
As Lin Yuesha imagined the scene, she felt even more terrified. She stared wide-eyed, trying to see if there were any purple marks on the female ghost's neck.
Jiang Baozhu, who was mistaken for a female ghost: "..."
According to Xiaoxi, her parents have found her another man over the years, and she doesn't know how many they've changed, which is making her very upset.
The presence of extra people in the courtyard made Jiang Baozhu feel unsafe. Unable to sleep at night, she would go to the side room to check, only to be mistaken for a female ghost.
Jiang Baozhu resisted the urge to roll her eyes, lit an oil lamp, pointed to her shadow on the wall at Lin Yuesha, and then, to Lin Yuesha's surprise, quietly left.
"Not a female ghost, but more terrifying than a female ghost."
It wasn't until long after the person left that Lin Yuesha realized she was covered in a cold sweat and felt sticky all over.
In this courtyard, besides the mute old woman, only Jiang Baozhu lives. Xiao Xi's parents are also servants in the household; she has to go home at night.
Therefore, the white-clad female ghost from earlier was undoubtedly Jiang Baozhu.
Lin Yuesha went to the tea room and got a large bucket of hot water to rinse herself off. She also drank a cup of hot tea to calm her nerves. She had a premonition that the two taels of silver that Master Jiang gave her every month were not so easy to earn.
I'm afraid that a month from now, I'll be assimilated by Jiang Baozhu, or scared into a madman by Miss Jiang's unpredictable appearances and disappearances.
After washing up, Lin Yuesha felt sleepy again and slept until dawn.
As dawn broke, a rustling sound came from the courtyard, very rhythmic.
Lin Yuesha dared not sleep in. After washing up and going out, she saw the mute old woman sweeping the yard and nodded to her.
"Sister Lin, you're up so early?"
With no work to do, Lin Yuesha stretched her arms and legs and jogged around the yard to warm up, realizing that she really needed to be in good health.
"It's getting late."
If they were still in the village, her mother, Chen, would have already fed the chickens and prepared medicine for her father. On her very first day away, Lin Yuesha already felt homesick.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Sister Lin, I forgot to mention it yesterday."
Xiao Xi rubbed her hands awkwardly. Her young mistress usually slept until noon, so she didn't need to get up so early.
"That's right."
Lin Yuesha nodded in understanding. But in her heart, she thought, "Of course she has to sleep until late morning! Staying up all night, wandering around scaring people—Miss Jiang Baozhu's strange habit!"
On her first day at the Jiang residence, Lin Yuesha seemed to have discovered some secret.
Breakfast was delivered from the main kitchen; it included pan-fried buns, vegetable porridge, and several dishes of pickled, bright green cucumbers—light and refreshing.
The pan-fried buns were filled with meat. One bite revealed a glistening layer of oil inside. Lin Yuesha ate five in one go, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
The taste is exactly the same as the one produced in the Suzhou and Hangzhou area in later generations. She can make it too, but it may not be as authentic.
"Sister Lin, eat more. The master and mistress are very kind and never mistreat us."
The pan-fried buns weren't big; Xiao Xi could eat ten by herself. This time, when she went to get breakfast, she added an extra portion according to her own needs.
"Okay, thank you, Xiaoxi."
Lin Yuesha thanked them, and aside from the fright she had suffered the previous night, the atmosphere at the Jiang residence was quite pleasant.
"I went to the kitchen to get something this morning. I heard that Young Master He is coming to visit Miss today."
In an ordinary courtyard, it is always quiet.
Jiang Baozhu believed silence was golden. The mute old woman couldn't speak, so only Xiao Xi was left. She was at the age where she loved to play and was feeling stifled.
Xiao Xi was the happiest when Lin Yuesha arrived, finally finding someone to gossip with.
"Who is Young Master He?"
Lin Yuesha drank the last mouthful of porridge, feeling full and satisfied.
Although the north is bitterly cold, the japonica rice produced there is much better than that of the south. If you cook it for a little longer, the rice oil floating on the surface will be the most nourishing.
This was the best porridge Lin Yuesha had ever had since she transmigrated. It was made entirely of glutinous rice, soft and sticky, unlike the brown rice she had at home.
"If you eat and drink well, you'll naturally be in a good mood," Lin Yuesha asked knowingly.
"You've come to the right person."
The mute woman cleared away the dishes, and Xiao Xi pulled Lin Yuesha to the tea room. She then took out an oil paper package from her sleeve, which contained a large handful of melon seeds.
"Sister Lin, Young Master He often visits the mansion. Judging from Master's intentions, he wants to marry our young lady to Young Master He!"
Xiao Xi offered the melon seeds, talking as she ate them, without neglecting to spit out the shells.
"Master Jiang summoned me because he hopes that Miss can be more cheerful."
Lin Yuesha ate a few melon seeds, which were roasted in a large iron pot. They were fragrant, but unfortunately, they weren't salty or savory. She preferred spiced melon seeds.
"Young Master He, your family is also in business, isn't it?"
Xiao Xi's eyes sparkled, clearly having grasped a series of gossips, waiting for Lin Yuesha to ask questions.
Lin Yuesha's lips twitched, and she had no choice but to continue cooperating with the little girl.
"Young Master He is a scholar; he has already passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai!"
When Lin Yuesha asked the key question, Xiao Xi became very excited.
Young Master He's given name is He Xing, and his ancestors lived in the north. He Xing's father used to be a shop assistant in the Jiang family's shop.
Many years ago, He Xing's father went with Master Jiang to trade with the barbarians, but he was unfortunately killed by them.
At that time, He Xing was only a little over ten years old and had just started school. His family had lost its breadwinner and was struggling to make ends meet.
"The accident that happened to Young Master He's father was an accident. Our master is kind-hearted. He gave compensation money and also took the initiative to cover Young Master He's school expenses. He also invites him to stay at the mansion from time to time."
After Xiao Xi finished speaking, she raised her eyebrows triumphantly.
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