Chapter 6 I Must Have Lots of Money
Chunyan left with the food box; she couldn't stay too long because she had work to do.
As evening approached, the wind rustled through the bamboo, casting its shadows on the white window, creating a sense of loneliness.
Shanlai sat alone in the room, his face burning up in waves, then turning cold.
She felt terrified.
Because she realized that she couldn't trust anyone here.
She shouldn't easily assume Ru Hui is a good person. Because Ru Hui herself said that the old lady doesn't manage things much, and the servants' minds have long been spoiled. Ru Hui's warning to be careful is correct, so she also needs to be careful around Ru Hui.
Chunyan may not be entirely trustworthy. Chunyan had been kind to her, and if she were a person with a conscience, she shouldn't have thought this way. However, Chunyan's words implied that she wanted to gain something from her. Since she wanted something, she was bound to have ulterior motives. She mentioned Ruhui to scare her, but it's hard to say that she wasn't just using Ruhui to scare her.
Human hearts are hard to fathom; there's practically nothing to rely on in this place.
Later that evening, Ru Hui came over and said she would take her to see the old lady.
When we arrived, the old lady was having dinner.
A dining table, two people sitting, surrounded by about a dozen maids: some serving dishes, some holding chopsticks, some carrying bowls, some holding towels, some fanning, some holding whisks...
The old lady was quite old and had a small appetite. She had already finished eating and was only picking up food for Liu Min.
Liu Min kept eating, but he ate very slowly, taking small bites and chewing carefully.
Ru Hui led Shan Lai to stand among the maids without making a sound. The maids also kept their eyes fixed on the objects in their hands, waiting for instructions.
The old lady was also thinking about it and was about to ask when she looked up and saw Shanlai standing in the crowd. She immediately smiled and waved, saying, "Come here quickly."
Shanlai walked over, and because of Ru Hui's instructions earlier, he didn't forget to bow this time.
Place your right hand on your left hand, make a fist and place it in the center of your abdomen. At the same time, take a small step back with your right foot, bend your knees slightly, and lower your head and eyebrows.
The gift was so perfect that even the old lady Qin was astonished.
This country girl, when she bows, is so graceful and elegant, truly possessing a remarkable bearing. Where did she learn that? She is even better than her own nieces and grandnieces.
That's wonderful. No wonder she took a liking to it at first sight. The more I look at it, the more I like it.
Old Madam Qin grasped Shanlai's hand, pulling her closer to herself, and said with a smile, "I asked you to come here to tell you that the person who went to your house has returned, and Doctor Wang has prescribed medicine for your father..."
For the first time today, Shanlai felt truly happy. As if afraid of missing out, he hurriedly asked, "How is my father?" Before he could finish speaking, tears had already fallen.
"He's not well." Old Madam Qin stopped smiling and said slowly, "He doesn't want my money and keeps insisting that you go back. He was so anxious that he fainted, but fortunately, Doctor Wang was there to calm him down."
Shanlai's heart clenched instantly.
She knew it.
"he……"
The first thing she said was a sob. She couldn't continue speaking and just choked up. She felt it was undignified, so she turned her head to the side, raised her hand to cover her face, and cried so hard that her shoulders trembled. She looked pitiful.
Even Madam Qin couldn't help but shed tears.
She had a smooth life and didn't experience many difficult times, but she did suffer some hardships from relying on each other for survival.
Two people, I lean on you, you lean on me, supporting each other. If one of them is gone, what will happen to the other?
Shanlai's tears evoked a sense of sorrow in Old Madam Qin, a feeling of sympathy for those of the same kind.
Fortunately, she still had money.
Madam Qin liked the tears that Shanlai shed at this moment, because it proved that this child was a person who valued loyalty and affection. She was beautiful and kind, and she was willing to please her. She wanted to keep her by her side and would never let go.
Her hands clenched tightly.
“Good child, your father is good to you, and that is why you, as his child, should repay him doubly…”
That one sentence calmed Shanlai's heart.
Yes, she had to repay him. No matter what, she had to fulfill her filial duty because her father had always been good to her.
Madam Qin continued, "You should stay here and learn the rules for a few days. Once you've learned them well, go home and visit your father. The two of you can talk and catch up. By then, your father should be feeling better. After you've seen him, come back."
Shan Lai raised his face, his round eyes wide with tears in them.
She thought the old lady must be a good person.
Madam Qin turned to look at Ru Hui, who had been standing silently to the side, and instructed her, "Starting tomorrow, you will teach her, only the things in the study, so that she knows what work to do." She also instructed, "Teach her well." Finally, she looked at Shan Lai and said with a smile, "The roast duck and eight-treasure soup today are quite good. You can take them back to your room to eat."
Shanlai took the two dishes that Old Madam Qin had given her back with her.
She was very hungry, and two dishes were right in front of her.
The roast duck looked golden and crispy with a rich aroma, while the eight-treasure soup smelled both fresh and fragrant.
It's definitely a great product.
But others have already eaten; this is leftovers, no matter how good it is, it's still leftovers.
Shanlai doesn't like to eat leftovers. It's not that she's never eaten leftovers before, but the leftovers from her own home are different from the leftovers from other people.
Even the best leftovers from others seem to be associated with the phrase "leftovers," and they come from someone of higher status, as if they were given as charity or a favor.
Shanlai had already decided that Old Madam Qin was a good person, but he still refused to eat her leftovers.
In truth, Shan Lai would never eat anyone's leftovers, not even if the food was being given to him by the emperor.
I've tried to convince myself that since I've already sold myself into slavery, why should I care about a couple of leftovers? When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. If people find out, they'll inevitably say I don't know what's good for me.
But I just can't get over it.
So I just keep watching, no matter how hungry I am.
But we can't just keep watching. What if someone comes over and asks? What should we say? If we say something wrong and it gets out, will it cause trouble?
Because she was in great difficulty and danger, she couldn't help but become sensitive and suspicious, as if everyone wanted to harm her, and she had to be extremely careful so as not to be hurt.
Fortunately, Chunyan came again, bringing peaches.
As soon as she entered, she exclaimed how delicious it smelled. "Hey girl, what are you eating?"
Shanlai told the truth and then invited Chunyan to sit down.
Chunyan slowly sat down, her eyes never leaving the soup bowl in the middle of the table.
Seeing her like this, Shanlai hesitated for a moment, then asked her, "Would you like something to eat?"
"Me?" Chunyan stared into Shanlai's eyes, stretched out her index finger, turned it to point at her own face, and raised her voice, "Are you asking me if I want to eat? Can I really eat?"
Shanlai didn't say anything, but silently served her a bowl of soup, a full bowl.
When Chunyan received the bowl, her hands, and indeed her whole body, trembled uncontrollably.
She drank the whole bowl of soup in one go without stopping.
Shan Lai was alarmed and couldn't help but pull her arm, "Slow down..."
After finishing the soup, Chunyan still didn't put down the bowl. She held it with both hands, looked down at it, and slowly, a layer of tears welled up in her eyes.
Shanlai didn't understand why he was crying.
"What's wrong, Sister Chunyan?"
Chunyan didn't speak, she just stared at the bowl, tears streaming down her face silently.
Shanlai dared not say anything more, but he did not remove his hand.
After a while, Chunyan finally made a move again. She looked up at Shanlai and asked, "Can I have another bowl?"
Shanlai quickly served her another bowl.
Chunyan drank it slowly this time.
After finishing her drink, she said to Shanlai, "I was the one who lit the fire to make this soup." She burst into tears, "I've been tending the fire for four years, and this is the first time I've ever tasted this soup..."
"Every time I go back to the village, I dress up impeccably. Everyone praises my good fortune and says they wish their children were as successful as me... But I know deep down that I'm just putting on a show. In the Liu family, I'm just a kitchen helper, always covered in smoke and grease... Every time they come to the kitchen for food, I look at them with such envy... So every time I go home, I dress up like that, and sure enough, the villagers think of me the way I think of them... But those who come to the kitchen for food are just errand runners. The truly respectable ones don't care about the kitchen..." The house smells terrible, nobody wants to come here… You tell me, we're all human, why are we so different? Even the senior maids don't dare compare themselves to the masters… Even the junior maids, because they're born into the household, think they're superior to us who were bought from outside, and they look down on us… You know, I've never had enough to eat at home. I'm small, and when I arrived here, I was barely taller than the stove, but I had to do all sorts of chores… Nobody wants to talk to me. I finally got to know Yue'e, but I was kicked out… I won't lie to you, it was because of you that I met the old lady for the first time, and entered Fuze Hall for the first time…”
Hearing these words, Shanlai felt extremely sad and couldn't help but hold Chunyan's hand tightly, trying to comfort her.
Almost instantly, Chunyan grasped Shanlai's hand in return, her eyes fixed on Shanlai's face with eager anticipation.
"But things are different now. I have you, my dear sister. Do you know that the old lady only ever gave dishes to the young master and his cousin? Among the maids, you were the first to receive one. And I, thanks to you, got to drink the Eight Treasure Soup that none of them had ever tasted. You have no idea how complicated it is to make this soup. The ingredients have to be soaked early in the morning, the broth has to be prepared, and finally it has to be simmered over a low flame. No one else will touch it unless the master specifically requests it... Now that I think about it, I was so wise. I'm not a smart person. I don't say a word in this mansion. How did I have the guts to ask you to come here back then? And Fuze Hall, how did I dare to go? It's such a long way, and I was scared away on the way..."
"So, it's all fate! It was destined that you would come here, and it was destined that I would prosper! My dear sister, we're neighbors. It's good when we're neighbors. I still remember those thirteen eggs. You have me in your heart, and of course I remember you. Now that we're both away from home, we should love each other even more. I may not be as good as you, but you'll need my help someday. When you become powerful, don't forget me! You have to promote me to manage the kitchen! You have no idea how much grease and grease there is in the kitchen! I must have lots and lots of money, and wear gold and silver and silk..."
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