"You can come down now, don't damage my fruit trees," said Granny Cai. She was worried that if Cuiyun climbed the tree, she would trample on the pear trees that she had been taking care of for several years.
"Yours? How did these fruit trees in the Fourth Prince's mansion become yours?" Cuiyun retorted irritably.
As she slowly climbed down the pear tree branch, she knocked off quite a few more leaves, which pained Granny Cai greatly. She relied on these few fruit trees to earn a living, and seeing the leaves fall was like losing a few ounces of her own flesh.
"This old woman has been tending these fruit trees here for years. You just climb up and trample the branches, pull out the leaves. It's not like you're the one taking care of them, don't you care?" Granny Cai thought. She saw that Uya was just a concubine, not a proper mistress at all, but more like a maid in the mansion, with a maid serving her. She was really ill-mannered. Granny Cai was actually the Fujin's person. She was only able to take care of these fruit trees because of the Fujin's favor. She didn't know about the secret collusion between Uya and the Fujin, so she looked down on Uya.
"You, where did you step and break it? I can't be bothered with you, you old hag!" Cuiyun was furious that a cleaning woman would nag her.
"You little slut, where did you come from? How dare you cause trouble here? You have no shame!" Granny Cai was quite shrewish when she was young, but now that a maid had come in from outside called her an "old hag," she couldn't hold back any longer and immediately started cursing.
Sitting in the pavilion, Wuya could no longer hold back. She stood up, went over and pulled Cuiyun aside, saying, "Don't waste your breath on her. It's just a few leaves. Is it worth spitting all over her like that?"
"Oh, this must be Madam Wuya. I'm an old woman who's never seen anything like this before. Your maid trampled my pear tree. What should I do?" Granny Cai still didn't take Madam Wuya seriously.
"Grandma Cai, it's all because Cuiyun is so ignorant. Don't take it to heart. This is for you. You've taken such good care of the pear trees here." Wuya suppressed her anger, took a silver ring off her hand, and stuffed it into Grandma Cai's hand.
The old woman who received the tip was also greedy for money. Her tone immediately changed, and she chuckled at Cuiyun, saying, "Miss, please don't blame me. These fruit trees were entrusted to me by the Fujin. If you step on them like that, you'll ruin my pears, and it will break my heart."
Cuiyun was indignant, but seeing Wuya's reaction, she didn't want to argue with her any longer. She just said irritably, "Mother-in-law is very stingy!"
"My dear girl, this old woman relies on the fruit from these few trees to exchange for some money. We're not like you, young ladies, who often receive rewards from our masters," Granny Cai said with a smile, completely different from her previous shrewish demeanor.
“Grandma, take this one. I have a favor to ask of you, Grandma. I wonder if you can help me?” Uya thought disdainfully, but she believed that people who coveted money like this were the ones who could get things done. So, Uya took off another gold ring from her hand and stuffed it into Grandma Cai’s hand.
The old woman had never received such a generous reward before, and her face immediately lit up with a smile.
"Madam, as long as you trust this old woman, I will definitely do my best for you." Granny Cai almost knelt down to lick Wuya's instep.
“Hehe, it’s not a difficult matter. It’s like this, when I was outside, I was used to using the rouge and powder from a certain peddler. Now that I’m in the Fourth Prince’s mansion, I can’t go out to buy them freely anymore. These next few days, that peddler carrying his goods will probably pass by here. He’ll be shouting ‘rouge and powder!’ Could you help me call him to stop him?” said Madam Wuya. “Actually, we don’t know when he’ll come, so we often come here. But we can’t always stay here. It’s more convenient for you, Madam!”
Listening to Wuya's words, Granny Cai naturally knew that Wuya was trying to dress up nicely to win the Fourth Prince's favor; no wonder she was so generous. The gold ring she had just given herself must have weighed at least several ounces; it was quite heavy.
“What a difficult thing! Madam just misses the rouge and powder she used to use. If Madam trusts this old woman, I’ll go out and buy them for her. There’s no need for Madam to wait here!” Granny Cai said readily.
“No need for that. I’m used to picking them out myself from him. If my mother-in-law goes, she probably won’t be able to find a color that suits me,” Uya said with a smile.
“Madam is right. My eyesight is failing me; I can’t possibly find anything suitable. I’ll keep an eye out for you here,” Granny Cai quickly replied.
"That would be perfect. By the way, Granny, I'm afraid the gatekeeper won't let that peddler in, will he?" Uya pulled Granny Cai aside and whispered.
"According to the rules, peddlers can only stand outside the house," said Granny Cai.
“Grandma Cai, I think you’re familiar with the gatekeeper at the west corner gate. Why don’t you go and tell him to give this to him? I’m afraid people will gossip if I’m out too long. It’s better to let that peddler in and let him browse around here; no one will see him.” Uya took out a gold ring from her hand and stuffed it into Grandma Cai’s hand, indicating that she should give it to the gatekeeper.
“Well, Madam, no one is allowed to enter the mansion.” Granny Cai was a little embarrassed.
"Mother-in-law, she's just a vendor. And she's here, who could possibly find her? Please help her out, I'll need your help a lot in the future," Uya hinted.
Granny Cai, seeing how generous Uya was, and not wanting to lose this source of income, gritted her teeth and agreed. She then took the gold ring Uya had given her and went to speak with the gatekeeper.
"Madam, this old woman is cunning and eccentric. Why are you still letting her do things for us?" Cuiyun whispered to Wuya as soon as she saw Granny Cai go to the gatehouse.
“This kind of person is the most useful. She only wants money, and as long as you pay her enough, she will obey and do her bidding. Moreover, she will keep her mouth shut and will not dare to easily reveal anything after taking the money. Besides, the things I ask her to do are all trivial matters. How could she refuse?” said Uya.
“But if you let her know that person came in, wouldn’t her place be the first to be exposed if an investigation were to begin?” Cuiyun said.
“She dares not expose herself. Once exposed, she will be the first to be punished. Do you think someone who can’t even bear to part with a few leaves would be willing to give up her livelihood and life?” Uya said, certain that Granny Cai would not easily betray her.
Meanwhile, Granny Cai spoke a few words with the servant guarding the northwest gate, slipping out Wuya's reward, and the other side agreed. After all, their northwest corner was practically deserted, just like Granny Cai's—a completely unprofitable place with almost no insider opportunities.
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