The weather was perfect for a nap at noon. After returning to her room, Ma Linghua took a nap. Ma Lihua rolled up her sleeves and saw that it was past three o'clock. Since no one was coming to the backyard of the Buddhist temple, she decided to go out and take a look.
Rain was falling from the sky, and water droplets in the yard flowed down the eaves like a stream.
When the maid returned, all the servants gathered around her.
"How is it? Have you seen the old lady?"
"I never expected you to come back."
"Did you see the dry well in the backyard?"
The people around him asked questions all at once.
She was completely bewildered. "Why...why are you asking this?" She was utterly clueless.
Everyone was silent for a moment, then they heard someone calling from outside the door, "Xiaoyue, Grandma is looking for you."
"Hey! Coming!"
The maid hurriedly left the room, and the servants around her watched her departing figure in disbelief.
"This little Yue is really lucky. Anyone who has delivered meals to the old lady never comes back."
"That's right! Who knows which unlucky person will be next tomorrow."
The atmosphere around them instantly became somber.
Xiaoyue followed the maidservant beside the eldest mistress, being very careful and not daring to say much.
When they arrived at the eldest mistress's room, Xingzi (the eldest mistress's maid) led her inside.
Grandma lay on the bed, smoking a cigarette. She was dressed in fine silk and satin, her bright red dress embroidered with peonies, making her look exceptionally noble.
She had her hair up in a bun, was half-lying down, was somewhat overweight, and had rather long fingernails.
"Xiaoyue greets Grandma." With that, Xiaoyue knelt down.
The woman looked up at her, squinted, and asked, "Have you seen the old lady?"
Xiaoyue trembled and immediately kowtowed. "I've never seen it before. When I went to deliver the food today, it was Aunt Ma from the old lady's courtyard who took the food box."
"Aunt Ma?"
Xingzi immediately explained to her, "Grandma, that's a new maid who was hired to manage the backyard for the old lady."
"Oh~ a new recruit! I wonder if she'll even survive three days." She spoke flippantly from her bright red lips.
"Alright, you can go now!"
"yes."
As soon as Xiaoyue left, she put down her pipe and sat up.
"Are the deeds to the Song family's houses, land deeds, and those shops still in the hands of the old lady? She hasn't shown her face for over a year, saying she's been in seclusion in the Buddhist hall. Who knows what she's up to!"
“Grandma, you still have the eldest young master! No matter what, all those things that the old lady has will belong to the eldest young master in the future. Just wait and see, don’t get angry, lest those concubines cause trouble.” Xingzi comforted her from the side, trying to calm her down.
"Hmph! That's true. As long as the old lady is alive, my son's position will be even more secure."
Her eyes were full of smugness, then she seemed to remember something and asked, "Didn't they say that Young Master was coming soon? How come it's been a month and there's still no news?"
“A few days ago, when I passed by the master’s room, I heard that the young master’s health had worsened again, so he was delayed on the way.”
"Yes! That's true. It's too cold up north. It's good to come to the south to recuperate."
When Xiaoyue returned to her room, she seemed to sense something. Everyone was so wary of the old lady. Could there be some secret?
Until midnight, a friend secretly told her that none of the maids who had delivered meals to the old lady had returned; they had all mysteriously disappeared.
In the Song family mansion, Master Song kept the matter a complete secret, and the servants in the house were all bought and even had indentures, so the matter didn't escalate during the year.
Moreover, he himself had noticed that his mother seemed to be acting strangely.
He was thinking that after he finished this business trip, he would ask a Taoist priest to take a look at his mother; he couldn't just ignore her.
The old woman He who took over from Ma Hehua was not so good-tempered. Not only was she sharp-tongued and mean, but she also taught some even more despicable methods of seducing customers.
However, for the girls in those brothels, this was a rare skill.
When she got home, she saw more than a dozen steamed buns and was deeply moved. Her mother was so kind, always thinking of her, and her daughter was so good, even giving her a massage.
"Amitabha Buddha... Ding ding ding!"
In the dead of night, Madam Song's wooden fish rang again, and this time Ma Linghua wasn't going to tolerate it.
He rummaged around in his clothes until he reached the door, saying, "What are you doing, calling my ghost in the middle of the night? Do you want me to wash your bottom and put you to bed?"
Old Madam Song: "..."
If you don't want to recite it, then don't; reciting it in your heart is also fine.
Sure enough, the sound stopped, and Ma Hehua looked at her mother with admiration, "Mom, you are so awesome."
"Hmph! Of course, eat up, then go to sleep. Don't tire yourself out."
Ma Hehua felt a sweet warmth in her heart. Her mother was so good; she loved her mother the most.
After losing the money, Ma Linghua took her eldest granddaughter out to restaurants every day. The two of them ate so much that they spent all the money in just two weeks.
However, she could still eat at the cafeteria, so Pear Blossom gave her the remaining money to eat at a restaurant by herself.
Time flies, and a month has passed. Today is the day to receive monthly pay.
Manager Wang dressed himself up neatly and went to the backyard. His wife gritted her teeth but dared not ask any questions.
"Sister Ma, here's your monthly allowance. Take it." Wang Youcai handed her three silver dollars.
After taking it, Ma Linghua immediately handed it to Wang Youcai, saying, "Oh! Brother Youcai! I'll return these three silver dollars to you first." A bitter look appeared on her face.
"Sister Ma, there's no rush to pay that money back. You should focus on making the most of your life first, and pay it back when things are better in the future." Wang Youcai looked at her worried face with heartache.
"Well... I can't possibly accept that!"
She said that, but she quickly stuffed the three silver dollars in her hand into her pocket.
Wang Youcai: "…………………………"
Sigh! It must be tough for Ma Meizi, forced by life's circumstances.
As he left, he kept looking back at Ma Linghua, and almost tripped and fell in the end.
After watching him leave, Ma Linghua touched her face smugly.
"Tsk! I can't believe I'm over seventy and still a beauty!" No wonder, which old man doesn't get dizzy when he sees her?
Tomorrow is Lotus's day off. She got paid today, though I don't know how much.
Just as I was thinking about my salary, Ma Lihua pushed open the back door and came in.
"Grandma, a lot of soldiers have come to the front yard of the Song residence. They're wearing military uniforms, carrying guns on their backs, and their boots are shiny. I wonder which warlord has come up here." Ma Lihua was seeing warlords for the first time and was quite curious.
"Who cares, as long as they don't mess with us," Ma Linghua said leisurely.
The front courtyard of the Song residence attracted many onlookers. The area was packed with people, all of whom looked on with curiosity at the carriages at the entrance of the Song residence and the loads of luggage behind them.
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