Chapter 42 A New Job (1)
After returning to the kitchen, Mao's mother looked listless.
When Li Xiaoxiao saw that she looked gloomy when she returned from the main room, she assumed that she had been scolded by Madam Liu and asked curiously, "Madam Mao, what's wrong? Did Madam scold you?"
Mother Mao looked at her with a complicated expression, then suddenly asked, "Have you ever thought about working at the outer courtyard?"
Li Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "Working in the outer courtyard? What kind of work?"
Madam Mao said, "You're to serve the young master. The master and madam have asked you to go and attend to him."
Li Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that Meng Guanqi had already told Magistrate Meng everything, and that Magistrate Meng was worried about Meng Guanqi's safety, so he took her away.
She said nonchalantly, "Sure, I'll go. I'm tired of fetching water and chopping wood every day anyway, and Granny Qi always forbids me from going out..." Her eyes sparkled, "If I go to the outer courtyard, won't I be able to go out more often? Hehe~"
Looking at her carefree attitude, Mao's mother felt a surge of anger: "You're just leaving like this? Don't you feel any reluctance at all?"
Li Xiaoxiao stared at her in astonishment. It seemed as if tears welled up in Mao's mother's eyes. When she realized that Li Xiaoxiao had noticed, she quickly turned her head away: "I was thinking of starting to teach you how to cook."
Li Xiaoxiao rushed over and hugged Mama Mao's shoulders: "Hahaha, I know, Mama Mao, you must be reluctant to part with me, right? Don't worry, I'm just changing jobs, it's not like I'm being given away by the master. Even if I work at the outer courtyard during the day, I'll come back to sleep at night~ It's not like we'll never see each other again. Besides, I have such a big appetite, my rations definitely won't be enough, and I'll definitely sneak back to ask you for food. Please don't treat me like an outsider~"
She glanced at the water tank and the pile of firewood, then patted her chest and assured them, "If you run out of water or firewood, just let me know, and I'll definitely help!"
Mao's mother pushed her away with a look of disgust: "Get away, it's so hot!" But being disturbed like this did make her feel much better.
That's true. She's just changed jobs; she hasn't left. And who says she can stay by the young master's side forever? Maybe in a few years, she'll come back...
Mao's mother decided that if she had the opportunity to be transferred again in the future, she would do everything she could to bring her back to work in the kitchen and pass on all her culinary skills to her.
Li smiled and grinned, revealing two rows of bright white teeth.
Before noon, everyone in the backyard knew that Li Xiaoxiao was going to be assigned to serve by the young master's side, and Yingchun was the one who reacted the most.
Her eyes were red with jealousy, and her face was full of disbelief.
Why? What's so good about Li Xiaoxiao? She's strong, speaks loudly and carelessly, and seems a bit silly. Why do the Madam, Young Master, Granny Qi, and Mama Mao all like her so much, and even assign her to serve the Young Master?
Her heart was pounding. No, the young master's side was currently empty. If she were to take a place for him first, would he still have any respect for her in the future?
She didn't care that Madam Liu was about to rest, and hurried to the main room. After greeting Madam Liu, she asked anxiously, "Madam, I heard that you have assigned Li Xiaoxiao to serve the young master. Is that true?"
Liu looked up at her and said, "It's true. The master asked for it, and I agreed."
Yingchun was very anxious: "No, Madam, Li Xiaoxiao is a rough person. She can only do rough work such as carrying water and chopping firewood. She couldn't even learn to make a bun when Mama Mao taught her. How could she do the delicate work of serving the young master?"
Liu picked up her teacup and took a sip: "So? You think she's not suitable, then who is?"
Yingchun said, "No matter which sister in the inner courtyard, they are all better than her."
Liu looked at her in surprise.
Yingchun blushed and said hurriedly, "Xiumei is gentle and cautious, Baoqin is quick-witted and clever, and even Liuzhi in our room, although young, is lively and clever. I have served by Madam's side since I was a child. Although I am not as meticulous and considerate as the older sisters, I am still more capable than a rough maid who only has brute strength, right? That Li Xiaoxiao is just a village woman. She is not good at serving people. Even if Madam is considering the young master, she cannot choose her!"
Madam Liu said calmly, "Xiumei and Baoqin are the only maids left by Aunt Luo and the eldest young lady. If I send one of them to work at Qi'er's place, would that mean Aunt Luo and the eldest young lady have to do everything for themselves? As for Liuzhi, although she is lively and clever, she is still too young to be of great use. So you mean that you are the most suitable, right?"
Yingchun sensed Liu's displeasure, but she had no way out. If she couldn't reveal her true feelings now, she would never have another chance. She knelt down, tears streaming down her face, and kowtowed, saying, "Please, Madam, have mercy. This servant is willing to serve the young master."
Liu's expression changed immediately.
It turns out that Yingchun had this idea all along. Even if Li Xiaoxiao wasn't the person she chose for Qi'er's room, it wouldn't be her place to interfere!
When she was in the Meng family mansion in the capital, the maids who served her either left or got married, none of them were willing to follow her to Biyang County. Only Yingchun, a second-class maid, remained loyal. She thought that Yingchun had some sincerity towards her mistress, but she never expected that this was what Yingchun was planning.
She didn't have her eye on her; she had her son on her side.
It's just a matter of transferring a maid, and she can't even keep it a secret anymore. What if one day Qi'er really takes in a concubine, or even marries a wife? What kind of trouble could she possibly cause?
Her chosen one is determined to pursue the imperial examination path wholeheartedly. If she has someone who cannot tolerate others by her side, what will happen if he ruins his plans?
Liu looked coldly at Yingchun, then closed her eyes and said, "You may leave now."
Yingchun was shocked. The madam wouldn't agree? She kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "Please, madam, have mercy! Please grant my request..."
Liu was so angry her face turned pale. To please her? Was she asking her to sacrifice her own son to please her? Was she out of her mind?!
"You can go now. You don't need to come to work for the next two days!" A stern voice suddenly rang out in the room.
Yingchun, her face streaked with tears, looked up in alarm. The one who spoke was Granny Qi, her face ashen.
She couldn't help but shiver.
Granny Qi squinted and said, "What? Do I have to say it again?"
Yingchun's face turned pale instantly, and she said blankly, "Granny Qi!"
Granny Qi said sternly, "You won't leave? Should I call a servant to drag you away?!"
Yingchun finally came to her senses. She had angered Madam and Granny Qi. Granny Qi was the head steward of the inner courtyard. If she really wanted to punish her, Madam would definitely not go against her wishes...
She immediately wanted to ask Granny Qi to speak up for her, but Granny Qi's face was too frightening. She mustered her courage several times, but in the end she didn't dare to say anything more and quickly lowered her head and retreated.
The room fell silent for a moment, and neither Liu nor Granny Qi spoke.
After a while, Granny Qi stepped forward and let Liu Shi's hair down. As she combed her hair, she said, "Yingchun is not young anymore. She is seventeen this year. It's time for her to be matched with someone."
Liu was not a heartless person. If Yingchun hadn't been so impatient, she would have considered asking her son's opinion after Qi'er passed the imperial examination and taking her as a concubine.
But given her performance today, she can't stay.
She sighed, "She followed me all the way here, and I thought she was loyal enough, but who knew she had such high aspirations? I'm the one who held her back."
Granny Qi comforted her, "It's alright. With our young master's talent, which maid could possibly keep him in check? The maids chosen for the concubines should know their place. They are there to serve the master, not to fight or grab, and they must be reasonable. Yingchun's performance over the years has shown that she is not up to the task. Madam, why don't you marry her off?"
Liu hesitated for a moment: "But Biyang County is too remote and there's nothing good there... But Zhao Jian from Steward Zhao's household is not married yet. What do you think of Yingchun as a match for him?"
Granny Qi said, "Absolutely not, Madam. She still has feelings for the young master. If you force her to marry Zhao Jian, she might become a resentful couple. The master only has two trustworthy people by his side. Do you want to cause him more trouble?"
Liu then remembered that Master Peng had already left, and the most useful people to Magistrate Meng now were Steward Zhao and his son. If Yingchun harbored resentment towards her, hated her for forcibly separating her from Qi'er and forcing her to marry Zhao Jian, wouldn't Zhao Jian also develop a dislike for Magistrate Meng under her influence over time?
She murmured, "This won't do, that won't do, am I really going to just marry her off to anyone? After all, she's been with me for so long..."
Even with such thoughts in mind, Liu Shi remained indecisive. Granny Qi couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She was never one to make decisions for herself, and now she had been forced into this situation. "If Madam really can't bear to punish her," she said, "why not return her indenture, send her some travel expenses, and have a security escort agency send her back to her father's family home in the capital? She'll be free from being a servant girl, and her parents will be able to arrange her marriage in the future. Then she won't have to blame us."
This idea truly resonated with Liu, who immediately breathed a sigh of relief and patted Granny Qi's hand: "Let's do it your way."
For two days, no one in the inner courtyard had seen Yingchun. On the third day, Li Xiaoxiao had just gotten up when she suddenly heard a shrill scream, which was quickly covered up. She was startled and quickly opened the door. She saw two old women pulling Yingchun, whose face was covered in tears, out of the room. Granny Qi followed behind them with a large bundle on her back. Soon they went out through the back door.
Li Xiaoxiao was taken aback and was about to go up to see what had happened when Mao's mother stopped her: "Stop right there, this is none of your business."
Li Xiaoxiao's eyes widened. What was going on? Had she seen correctly? Were those two old women pulling Yingchun along? What had she done wrong? Had she been sold by the madam?
Knowing that this matter couldn't be kept secret for long, Madam Mao glanced at her and told her the truth: "It's a good thing for Yingchun. Madam returned her indenture and asked the escort agency to send her back to her parents' home in the capital. From now on, she will no longer be a servant."
The lady not only returned her indenture, but also let her take all the things in her trunk. She also gave her a twenty-tael silver travel allowance and arranged for a security escort agency to send her back. This whole trip would have brought her well over fifty taels of silver.
She sighed, wondering whether meeting such a kind-hearted mistress was a good thing or a bad thing.
She didn't say what mistake she made, only that she was sent back. Li Xiaoxiao was puzzled: "Why did she have to be sent back to the capital after such a short time? Why did she come here in the first place?"
Mother Mao snorted coldly: "You can't see into someone's heart, who knows? This has nothing to do with you. Don't just stand there like an idiot. The new kitchen helper hasn't arrived yet. Hurry up and fetch me some water and chop some firewood."
Li Xiaoxiao said "okay" and obediently went to fetch water.
Although Madam Mao did not know what Yingchun had done, it was clear that she had made a serious mistake; otherwise, Madam would not have dismissed her when she was already in dire need of help.
But with this kind of treatment, Yingchun could easily tell her parents that she was returning home in glory, right? After all, she didn't need the ransom money and even received a large reward. If she could use twenty taels of silver as dowry, she could marry into a decent family...
Even though the family is already struggling financially, they still have such soft hearts. Mao's mother shook her head, wondering how long this family could hold on.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com