Chapter 177 In the Charity Hall
Dongmai goes to the charity twice a month.
Once in the middle of the month, and once at the end of the month.
Although the housekeeper usually arranges for people to take care of things here, Dongmai is still a little worried.
Every household has its wicked servants, and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion is no exception.
Five years ago, wasn't there also a wicked servant who deceived his superiors and embezzled the children's living expenses?
If Dongmai hadn't come over and noticed that the children's cotton-padded clothes weren't filled with stored cotton, but rather with some reed fluff, we wouldn't have discovered that wicked servant!
From that time on, Dongmai would come twice a month.
The worst servants are the ones who not only abuse the children, but also squander their mistress's good intentions.
"Dongmai, look, although these embroidered things of ours can't be sold for much money, they're quite nice for the children to wear." Aunt Xin excitedly showed Dongmai her latest work.
Now, although she can earn money by teaching people how to make tea, she still can't help but try her hand at needlework whenever she sees Dongmai holding a needle and thread.
So what if we can't sell it for money?
She no longer earns money through needlework.
This is what the lady meant when she said that everything comes from interest, and only in this way can one do the best work...
Dongmai peeked out and sighed.
"You've made it a bit too small; the children here grow up very fast."
The clothes made in spring might be too short by autumn.
"Whether it's pants or shirts, the sleeves and pant legs should ideally be a bit longer," Dongmai instructed.
Aunt Xin nodded vigorously.
Yes, the children here only have clothes for two seasons a year, unlike those in the mansion, where they have more clothes than they can wear.
We should leave it a little longer.
Aunt Xin quickly accepted Dongmai's guidance and added two inches downwards to the measurement she was holding.
Seeing Aunt Xin's serious expression, Dongmai smiled smugly.
Look how good I am at disciplining people. Isn't it good enough that I can discipline Aunt Xin, who is always spoiled?
Indeed, it's quite nice that the Duke isn't in the manor; the whole place is peaceful and harmonious...
Thinking back to the first time Aunt Xin came to the charity hall with me, she brought a bundle of clothes made of brocade...
Dongmai burst out laughing again.
The laughter startled Aunt Xin.
She carefully examined the work in her hands.
The needle didn't go wrong. Although the stitches aren't perfectly even, it's definitely not wrong.
Also, the thread I used was the cotton and linen thread that Dongmai suggested, not the colored thread.
So, I didn't do anything wrong?
Why is the winter wheat smiling?
And he was laughing so unabashedly...
"I know you're probably thinking I'm a complete idiot," Aunt Xin said sullenly as she continued sewing.
Winter wheat...
"How did you know?" Dongmai asked with a mischievous grin.
Aunt Xin...
"You... Dongmai, I'm not making you tea anymore. You can forget about ever drinking tea made by me again," Aunt Xin said angrily.
When Dongmai saw that Aunt Xin seemed genuinely angry, she came over and tried to coax her.
I didn't call you a big idiot in my heart.
However, I admit to myself that I thought you were a little fool. "Dongmai said seriously.
Aunt Xin was taken aback and quickly asked, "Who are you calling a fool? How am I a fool?"
"Why aren't you stupid anymore? You're living a life of luxury and wealth, why are you coming to work in the countryside with me?"
Also, he gave me half of the meager monthly stipend money so I could take it to the charity.
"What else could you be but a fool?" Dongmai said with a smile.
Aunt Xin pursed her lips, then smiled.
“I am happy, I feel at ease, and I feel happy when I see the children calling me and wearing the clothes I made for them.”
Although the lady said that she would do good deeds without expecting anything in return.
But seeing that the children remember me and smile at me every time makes me happy.
Dongmai, think about it, I'm someone who has nowhere else to go except for the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
"When I get old and pass away, if even just one person remembers me, remembers the little good deeds I once did, wouldn't that be worth it?" Aunt Xin said with a smile.
Winter wheat nodded.
"That's right, Miss said it, do good deeds without expecting anything in return."
But sometimes, when you do a good deed, you should still mention it.
You see, whenever the manor makes donations, if someone asks whose family made the donation, I always say it was my young lady who made the donation.
I will also tell those people that when they go home and set up a memorial tablet for their daughter, they should remember her name.
You absolutely must not write it wrong.
You may not remember me, but you must remember my young lady.
Aunt Xin looked at Dongmai with a hint of admiration.
Look how well Dongmai does things! No wonder the lady likes Dongmai the most!
"Dongmai, you really treat Madam like family," Aunt Xin exclaimed.
Dongmai nodded immediately.
"Isn't this what I should do? My life was saved by Miss. If it weren't for Miss, I don't know which family would have bought me!"
Or rather, I can't even sell myself!
"So, do I still have any questions for Miss?" Dongmai asked.
Aunt Xin immediately shook her head.
“No problem, of course. Madam is the kindest person in the capital, unlike those other wives who are sweet on the outside but bitter on the inside, always thinking of ways to torment others,” said Aunt Xin.
Just as Dongmai was about to nod, she saw several children skipping and hopping over.
"Aunt Dong, Aunt Xin, have some fruit."
"We picked them ourselves. They're called 'Sweet Girl' and they're delicious!"
"These are the earliest ripening batches; we've been looking for them for a long time. The others won't be available for another month!"
"We washed it, we washed it twice!"
......
The children chattered amongst themselves as they placed the wild fruits they had finally found in front of Dongmai and Aunt Xin.
"Why aren't you eating?" Aunt Xin asked with a smile.
"In another month, they will be everywhere, in the mountains and ditches, and then we will eat them."
"You come less often, so you have fewer opportunities to eat," said the eldest child in the group.
Dongmai smiled, put down her needlework, picked up a sweet treat and popped it into her mouth.
"It's delicious, thank you all. Yunniang, you should rest for a while and have some too." Dongmai gestured for Aunt Xin to have two as well.
The children worked hard to pick these; they wouldn't feel at ease if we didn't eat them.
Aunt Xin understood what Dongmai meant, so she quickly put down her work, picked up a sweet girl, and put it in her mouth.
"It's delicious, thank you!" Aunt Xin said with a smile.
The children all laughed, and then sat down around Dongmai and Aunt Xin.
These children are the children of soldiers who died in the last conflict with the Northern Hu.
At that time, the Duke of Dingguo felt sorry for these children, so he had them all brought to the outskirts of the capital and settled them down.
More than ten years have passed, and the children have all grown up.
Shangguan Jin was also a little worried about how to settle these children...
Although many children wanted to go to the North, Shangguan Jin always felt that there might be a better arrangement.
These children range in age from fifteen to eleven...
As Dongmai looked at the children, he tried to subtly ask them what else they wanted to do besides go to the North.
The sound of horses' hooves approached.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be someone working for Steward Shen of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
"Aunt Xin, Madam wants you to come back with us immediately."
Aunt Xin, who was about to eat the second sweet girl, suddenly trembled.
"Dongmai, Madam is asking me to go back alone. Does she intend to sell me?" Aunt Xin asked anxiously.
Winter wheat...
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