Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Entering the Mansion (4)
Magistrate Meng was originally an illegitimate son. When he was useful to his family, he naturally had everything he needed. But after causing trouble, the treatment of his fourth branch of the family plummeted. When the family was divided, they didn't receive much property and were thus humiliated and kicked out.
Magistrate Meng and his wife, Lady Liu, were driven out of their home. Overwhelmed with shame and indignation, they both fell seriously ill. However, their appointments were urgent, so they had no choice but to set off for Biyang County despite their illnesses. They sought medical treatment along the way and nearly died on their journey to take up their posts.
They finally arrived at Biyang County. Magistrate Meng was still recuperating. Liu, despite her illness, managed the household affairs. As the wife of a concubine's son, she had never been in charge of a household before. When dealing with these trivial matters, she inevitably neglected one thing for another, which gradually aroused the dissatisfaction of the servants who had been assigned from the mansion.
In Madam Mao's opinion, what good are these servants assigned by the mansion? The truly loyal and capable servants have long been firmly controlled by the legitimate masters. The servants who are given to our master are definitely those that the other branches of the family don't want. They are lazy, shirk their duties, and only think about getting benefits.
Magistrate Meng fell ill on the way and took nearly a month to recover after arriving in Biyang County. He was about to take over all the affairs of the county government and was so busy that he barely had time to rest. After half a year, the official business was almost in order, but unexpectedly, his trusted advisor, Master Peng, resigned.
Betrayed by his most trusted confidant, Magistrate Meng was so angry he almost vomited blood. He declared in his mansion that any servants who had come from the capital and had no ambition, or who felt they had no future following him, were free to ask to find a better job elsewhere. He would not make things difficult for them and would release them all!
Upon hearing this, eight or nine out of ten of the servants who had come with her wanted to leave. Fearing that Magistrate Meng might get sick from anger, Madam Liu promptly and efficiently provided them with travel expenses and told them to get lost. She was unusually decisive and efficient, getting rid of all the disloyal people in the front and back courtyards. That's why Li Xiaoxiao was bought into the kitchen as a maid during this gap.
These are truths known only to her confidants. Of course, Madam Mao would not tell a girl she had just bought. Even if she was bought under a contract, she would still have to carefully observe whether she was trustworthy.
Li Xiaoxiao was completely baffled: "Aunt Mao, is a Principal of the Ministry of Personnel a very high-ranking official? Even higher than a county magistrate?"
Mao's mother said proudly, "Of course, that's a sixth-rank official, and officials in the capital are half a rank higher than those appointed outside the capital. Countless people would kill to get one."
Li Xiaoxiao understood immediately. Other officials rose through the ranks, but Magistrate Meng's rank kept decreasing. He must have made some mistake and been exiled here.
Madam Mao said, "Although you have never witnessed the wealth of the main families in the capital, the current household has a small number of people and fewer masters, which is actually a good thing for us servants, as it reduces a lot of disputes. Remember, we now have three and a half masters to serve. The first one is the lady you just met, and all arrangements in the household are made according to her orders. Besides the lady, the eldest son of the east wing, Meng Guanqi, and the eldest daughter of the west wing, Meng Liniang, are also our masters. As for the half master, it is the master's concubine, Aunt Luo, the eldest daughter's birth mother, who lives in the side room on the right side of the main house."
The concubine could only be considered half a mistress. Compared to the servants, she was only slightly more respectable because the master did not like having many wives and concubines in the backyard. Over the years, he had only one wife and one concubine, and his offspring were not plentiful. He only had a son and a daughter. Therefore, Concubine Luo's treatment was better than that of the other concubines in the master's house in the original mansion.
But that's all in the past. In the present situation, I'm afraid I'll have to do most of the fine work myself. The glory days are gone forever.
Madam Mao said, "Our eldest son is a promising young man. He passed the county-level imperial examination last year and is now fourteen years old. He is studying hard day and night to prepare for the provincial-level imperial examination next year."
The imperial examination? Li Xiaoxiao became interested. She remembered that her history teacher had once explained the ancient imperial examination system in detail, especially the metropolitan examination, which was held only once every three years and only three hundred people were selected from all over the country each time. It was truly a case of thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge. Many people wasted their lives and could not even pass the county-level examination. They would still take the exam when their hair turned white.
This young master Meng actually passed the county-level examination at the age of thirteen and was going to participate in the provincial-level examination. He can be considered a genius, right?
When Madam Mao saw that her eyes lit up when she heard that the eldest son had passed the imperial examination, she immediately assumed that she had some thoughts on her mind. She immediately said with displeasure, "The master is the master. He is the bright moon in the sky. We servants are just the mud on the ground. Especially for someone like you who has signed a life-or-death contract, your life or death depends entirely on the master's word. Keep your little thoughts to yourself."
Huh? What do you mean? Li Xiaoxiao looked at her blankly. She was just happy to hear what she remembered, so why was this Aunt Mao scolding her?
She mumbled an "oh" in confusion and didn't ask any more questions.
Just as Mao's mother was about to give another lecture, someone outside the door suddenly called out, "Mao's mother."
When Mama Mao turned around, she saw Qi Mama's granddaughter, Liu Zhi, who was holding a bundle in her hand: "Mama Mao, my grandma asked me to bring you clothes and shoes."
Madam Mao had no choice but to put down what she was saying and gestured for Li Xiaoxiao to take over: "The servants in the mansion need to wear uniforms. Here are two sets for you to change into."
Wow, she already has new clothes to wear after just arriving! From yesterday to today, she has already had three sets of clothes to wear. Li Xiaoxiao hugged her bundle and smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits: "Thank you, little sister."
Liu Zhi smiled slightly: "Sister, you don't need to thank me. I have something to do, so I'll be going now."
Seeing her hugging the clothes and grinning from ear to ear, looking carefree and not at all deep in thought, Mother Mao put down the scolding she was about to say. She thought, "Never mind, if she really dares to make a mistake, I'll just find the fault and give her a good beating. That's better than talking until my lips are sore."
Mother Mao told Li Xiaoxiao to put the bundle in the cupboard and gave her a lock: "From now on, put any valuables in the cupboard and lock them up so that no one can take them."
After seeing that she had put everything away, Mao's mother arranged her daily tasks: "There are only the two of us in the kitchen right now. You can't do the work on the stove, but you have to take on the other tasks, such as fetching water, chopping wood, and starting the fire. You also have to help me. It's not easy."
Li Xiaoxiao followed Mao's mother on a tour of the kitchen. As soon as she entered, she smelled an enticing aroma. Li Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and exclaimed in surprise, "It smells so good!"
Madam Mao said proudly, "You have a good nose. My cooking skills have been praised by the old lady." Unfortunately, she had a bad temper and was not as good at flattery as others, so she was eventually assigned to the Fourth Master's household.
But what does it matter? Mother Mao earns her living with her own skills. As long as she is loyal to her master and does her job well, it doesn't matter who she works for.
Smelling the aroma, Li Xiaoxiao couldn't move, her stomach rumbling loudly.
She slept until noon without eating a single grain of rice. Now, looking at the small clay pot stewing meat in the kitchen, she smelled an aroma she had never experienced before.
Mama Mao heard her stomach growling and immediately saw her staring at the meat in the small casserole. She said irritably, "That's the masters' food. How dare you even think about it!"
Thinking that she would be working under her in the future, Madam Mao rolled up her sleeves: "Never mind, I'll make you a bowl of noodles first, so you don't think that even a maid in the magistrate's mansion can't get enough to eat."
Of course, the servants' food couldn't compare to that of their masters; meat couldn't be added to the noodles. But to show off her skills, Sister Mao scooped a small spoonful of soup from the small clay pot and added it to the noodles, then placed a full bowl in front of Li Xiaoxiao: "Eat up."
Li Xiaoxiao drank every last drop of the noodle soup and still wanted more: "Is there any more?"
Mao's mother stared in disbelief: "This bowl of noodles is enough for an average strong adult man, and you're still not full?"
Li smiled and said, "I've been hungry for a long time." Since coming into this world, she hasn't had a full meal.
Mother Mao sighed, thinking that she was a refugee who had fled here. She opened the cupboard and took out a small basket of steamed buns and a small dish of pickled vegetables: "There's no more noodles. If you're not full, have some steamed buns."
Li Xiaoxiao was flattered and took the basket from her hand. She took a bite and her eyes widened: "It tastes better than the steamed buns that cost one cent each on the street!"
Madam Mao said proudly, "Of course, these are made of white flour. How can the ones sold on the street compare to the fine flour in our mansion?" Then she saw Li Xiaoxiao devour the whole basket of steamed buns in a flash.
Mao's mother's legs felt a little weak: "You...you've finished eating?"
This is enough for three people to eat.
Li Xiaoxiao let out a burp: "Uh~ I'm full."
This is so delicious! After being in this world for so long, she has finally had a full meal! And this meal is so delicious. She sincerely held Mao Mama's hand and looked into her eyes with a sincere expression: "You are such a good person."
Mao's mother was sweating profusely. She had asked the lady to buy her because she was strong and could do the work of two people. But if she ate the food of three people, wouldn't that be a loss?
Seeing her terrified expression, Li Xiaoxiao patted her hand reassuringly: "I'm only eating so much because my body hasn't fully recovered. Once I'm fully recovered, I won't need to eat so much anymore."
You look a bit silly, but since we've already bought you, how can we just give you up? Mama Mao sighed, "Since you eat so much, you have to do a lot of work too. Don't let Madam regret buying you and sell you off in the blink of an eye."
What? Wasn't she already sold to this family? Can she be sold again?
She scratched her head in confusion: "Will the madam sell me because I eat so much?"
Madam Mao said irritably, "You eat a lot but don't do your job properly. Of course, the madam can sell you. A maid who has signed a contract of life and death can be dealt with according to the master and madam's wishes."
Li Xiaoxiao suddenly realized: "So that's how it is. Once I recover, I'll earn my own living and won't give Madam the opportunity to sell me."
Madam Mao spat at her: "I've never heard of servants earning their own living. How are you going to earn yours? You should just do your job properly. Otherwise, I can deal with you before I even have to report to Madam."
A note from the author:
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