Wang Pangzi and his family hadn't eaten either; he and his wife were sorting through their money.
After much deliberation, I decided to take the path of managing the company, regardless of whether I get a promotion or not.
The daughter-in-law had been hinting these past few days that she could get Wang Da Niang a better position.
Aunt Wang took a small box out of the chest on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Inside are three silver ingots, one twisted silver bracelet, a pair of thin silver bracelets, and three pairs of silver cloves.
One hairpin is gilded silver, the other is plain silver.
A pair of pure gold orchid earrings, a handful of gold melon seeds, and a handful of silver melon seeds.
Aunt Wang put on a silver bracelet with twisted wire, a pair of silver cloves, and a gold-plated hairpin.
He took two more silver ingots and all the gold and silver melon seeds and went with Fatty Wang to Steward Rong's house.
When we arrived at their home, we first gave their grandson two packets of gold and silver melon seeds.
There's no way around it. Even though we're here to give gifts, gold and silver melon seeds are really beneath us; we're not the masters. Should we be giving them tips?
But it's different for young children.
Then he stuffed the rest into the hands of Zheng, the wife of Manager Rong.
"Granny, this was a gift from Aunt Cheng's family when they came to visit me while I was on duty in the backyard. It's a perfect match for Xiaoshan's mother (Rong's daughter-in-law). She looks very good."
After declining several times, Granny Zheng finally accepted it.
Having already incurred a favor, and with the family bringing gifts to their door, Manager Rong felt it wasn't a big deal.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Why don't we have this girl recognize me as her godfather? The First Madam's quarters are in need of a maid. If it works out, she can start her shift tomorrow."
Oh dear, that won't do. "If we can just get Yan'er in, and give her a proper job, that's enough. We can't possibly be related to Manager Rong."
Rong Dayou acted impulsively and has now regretted his words.
Hearing what Fatty Wang said, they took the opportunity to back down and didn't bring it up again.
"Alright, bring it to the maid first thing tomorrow morning, and I'll deliver it to the Madam."
After saying that, he returned the two silver ingots to them. Fatty Wang didn't dare to accept them, but he only took them back after Steward Rong insisted on returning them.
Although it was agreed upon, the family was still worried and didn't sleep well all night.
The next day, Granny Wang watched as Steward Rong took her daughter to see the First Madam.
Before long, a maid came to the side gate to report, "The Madam is very satisfied with her, and Sister Yan'er has been kept. She has already been assigned tasks in the courtyard."
Aunt Wang patted her chest, breathed a sigh of relief, and gave the little girl ten coins.
Well, after resting for a while, he suddenly realized that he needed to go and tell his younger sister.
Upon hearing this, Wang Ying felt relieved.
Now things are much better. My little sister won't have to be a maidservant and suffer any mistreatment. At such a young age, she won't have to come into contact with those shady and unscrupulous people.
……………
Liu Xiang'er woke up in a good mood and gave instructions to her maid Chun'er.
"Go and tell Steward Wang that Third Master wants Wang Yan to be transferred here to serve me."
The little girl was overjoyed upon hearing the news, but she managed to suppress it.
Not only is Xiang'er short-tempered, but she's also stingy and unwilling to give rewards. Sometimes, if something doesn't go her way, she'll even pinch it.
That's good, someone's here to replace her. She'd even be willing to go back to doing manual labor.
At least I won't get pinched by girls, it hurts so much.
After Liu Xiang'er finished washing up, she saw Wang Ying and raised her eyebrows with great pride. She then tidied her hair and went to the study to grind ink for the young master.
Wang Ying silently went about her work, her palms itching with resentment, but she dared not show it on her face.
It's not that I'm afraid of her, but if the Third Young Master finds out that I'm scheming against him behind his back, who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause.
Less than fifteen minutes later, the little girl returned looking embarrassed.
It wasn't until noon that he found a moment to relay Steward Wang's message to Liu Xiang'er.
"Wang Mama said that Yan'er has been sent to the First Madam's room as a third-class maid, and they can't transfer her here."
"How could this be such a bad coincidence? Who was guarding the gate yesterday? Go and ask Wang Ying and Wang Xing which one went out."
It's impossible for it to be such a coincidence; someone must have overheard the news.
The little girl didn't even eat her meal before turning around and leaving again.
The two old women guarding the gate were drinking wine, following the rations for second-class maids.
Each meal consists of one dish and one soup. Today's regular dish is stir-fried green beans and pork, and vegetable and tofu soup.
The staple food is porridge or steamed buns.
They took one of the day's standard dishes, then added about ten coins to their own account, and begged the head kitchen staff to exchange it for a plate of peanuts and a pot of coarse rice wine.
The two old women were savoring the wine with their eyes closed, thoroughly enjoying their drink.
The maid Chun'er suddenly appeared, startling the two old women.
Upon hearing the purpose of their visit, the old woman guarding the gate frowned and let out a cold snort.
"I'm a very disciplined gatekeeper, and I haven't seen anyone leave the gate except to carry food."
After saying that, he pursed his lips and muttered under his breath, "The most unruly person in the whole yard still has the nerve to ask others."
Chun'er blushed red from the teasing and, embarrassed, excused herself.
As soon as she stepped out, another gatekeeper, Granny Zheng, nudged Granny Shi and poured her a cup of coarse wine.
"Why be so forceful in your words? After all, they've climbed the social ladder now. If the little girl doesn't know better and relays the message back, she'll just incur people's jealousy."
"Pah!" Granny Shi had a bad temper.
“I’m not an old woman, I’m not going to let this go. In the end, she’s just a maidservant, not even half a mistress. She’s always strutting around with her eyebrows raised.”
After saying that, she picked up her wine cup and clinked it with Granny Zheng's. She felt relieved and drank the wine triumphantly.
When Chun'er returned, she only replied that the gatekeeper hadn't said anyone had gone out.
Could it be that little brat really got lucky? Liu Xiang'er felt a tightness in her chest from anger. Turning around, she saw Chun'er standing there silently, and her anger flared up again. She pinched Chun'er's arm.
"It really has no color at all. I can't tell you're thirsty, miss. Go to the tea room and get me a pot of Liubao tea."
Chun'er's eyes immediately filled with tears from being pinched, and she quickly grabbed the teapot and ran to the backyard.
While the tea server, Xingzi, was making tea, she dared to let her tears fall and rolled up her sleeve to look at the bruises from being pinched.
Xingzi frowned deeply upon seeing this, and then, hearing Chun'er's stomach rumbling, she gave her two pieces of bean cake.
With the tea room in charge, there's no shortage of these little pastries.
Sister Manjing specially bought a bunch of bean cakes so that the maids and servants could have a snack in their spare time.
The tea and snacks served to the master are made fresh daily in the main kitchen.
After eating two pieces of bean cake and drinking two cups of tea, Chun'er wiped away her tears with her sleeve. Not daring to delay, she quickly carried the tea back home.
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