“I…” Cui’er couldn’t say a word.
She acted so presumptuously because the old lady, her aunt, liked her, and because she found that this mistress wasn't very capable and didn't usually manage household affairs.
Who knew she was wrong?!
Jiang Bai glared at him and waved his hand dismissively: "Take him away."
"Mistress! Mistress, this servant was wrong! Please forgive this servant!"
She really didn't want to go to the woodshed to do errands; it was much more comfortable to stay by her aunt's side than to be near the woodshed.
Linglong, who was inside the house, heard Cui'er's screams and became anxious.
Cui'er had been with her since she was a child, and she couldn't bear to let others serve her.
Jiang Bai entered the room and happened to see Linglong getting out of bed.
Linglong looked at Jiang Bai and, in her haste, forgot her pretense, immediately questioning him: "Where did you take Cui'er?"
Jiang Bai was not angry at her shout, but laughed instead: "I just heard in the outer courtyard that you caught a cold today. How come you still have the strength to get out of bed and shout at me like this?"
Seeing Jiang Bai so calm, Linglong immediately realized her own loss of composure.
Fortunately, there was no one else in the room. She coughed lightly and resumed her gentle demeanor: "Mistress, I wonder how Cui'er offended you?"
Jiang Bai said in a serious tone, "Miss Linglong, this is my Zhao residence."
"You are currently staying at the Zhao residence as a guest. It is inappropriate for you to act like a host, let alone a maid."
Jiang Bai smiled and continued, "If you didn't know better, you'd think that Miss Linglong had poor upbringing, producing such an insolent maid."
Linglong was furious at Jiang Bai's words; she had never thought that Jiang Bai was so eloquent.
"The mistress is right to reprimand her; this maid has indeed been quite presumptuous."
Jiang Bai then found a seat and said, "Madam, I am not an unreasonable person, but in such a large mansion, there must be rules."
“You’ve been at the Zhao residence for so many days now. If you had just arrived, I would have turned a blind eye, but things are different now.”
Her hands clenched tightly within her delicate sleeves; she knew Jiang Bai's words had a hidden meaning.
What does it mean that times have changed?
A chill ran through her.
Jiang Bai saw that she looked somewhat fearful, but she was trying hard to suppress it, and he just found it funny.
"Come here, let me take a look at your illness."
Linglong took two steps back: "I...I'm fine now."
"fine?"
Jiang Bai would never let her off the hook. But she herself said she had caught a cold.
“Didn’t you catch a cold? Your body is already weak; what if you get seriously ill?” Jiang Bai said, getting up.
Linglong took two more steps back, and was forced to the edge of the bed.
Jiang Bai didn't step forward again: "What's wrong? Is there something I can't see?"
Linglong's back was covered in sweat: "No...no, I'm really fine."
"You said it yourself. If you get seriously ill, don't blame me." Jiang Bai said this and then ignored Linglong.
She still had things to do at the shop and didn't want to waste any more words with this woman.
Today served as a warning to her; if Linglong were any smarter, she would have kept a low profile.
Do not speak ill of the old lady in front of her or do anything that would cause trouble.
However, as soon as Jiang Bai left, Linglong pretended to be sick and went directly to the old lady's courtyard.
On the way, she was furious. Jiang Bai, that woman, not only drove away her personal maid, but also threatened her!
She was determined to show the old lady just how vicious the mistress of the house she had brought back was.
She was in tears in front of the old lady, and it was only with great difficulty that the old lady ordered that Cui'er be brought back.
Around noon, Cui'er returned from the woodshed.
Jiang Bai also heard about this while he was eating.
"Madam, what is your opinion on this matter?"
Jiang Bai ate his braised pork knuckle casually, saying, "So what if I'm out?"
"But...but this Cui'er was only locked up for half a day for talking back to you like that!" Ying'er was furious.
"Calm down." Jiang Bai turned and glanced at her. "Why are you so agitated?"
After Jiang Bai pointed it out, Ying'er realized her mistake: "Ying'er was wrong."
"It's nothing, you're just doing this for my own good."
Jiang Bai was very satisfied with today's braised pork knuckle and ate an extra bowl of rice.
She was in a good mood and not angry about Cui'er being released.
And this was all within her expectations.
"Ying'er, after all, this is someone the old lady is protecting. We can't really lock her up for three days, can we?"
“Ying’er understands.”
The mistress was a flexible person, and Ying'er felt ashamed of her earlier rashness.
Jiang Bai wiped his mouth and stood up: "I'm full. This braised pork knuckle was pretty good today. I'll send one to Linglong."
“Ying’er understands.”
Jiang Bai smiled and went back to being a corporate slave.
These past few days, Yipin Pavilion has been doing quite well, keeping Jiang Bai both busy and happy.
"Oh, right," Jiang Bai instructed, "Take her dinner over tonight, and also..."
Jiang Bai beckoned to Ying'er: "Let me see what she's eating. Make sure she takes a bite of the braised pork knuckle that's sent over."
"Ying'er understands."
That night, Ying'er was ordered by Jiang Bai to deliver braised pork knuckle to Linglong.
This braised pork knuckle, rich in oil and dark sauce, was made by a top chef in the capital; ordinary people could never afford to eat it.
Ying'er felt it was a real waste to give the woman to Linglong.
But she still obediently sent it in.
She timed it perfectly, and when she went in, Linglong had just finished eating.
Upon seeing Ying'er, she paused, her chopsticks stilled: "This is..."
"Our mistress said that Miss Linglong was frightened after falling into the water yesterday, and is also weak and needs to be nourished. This is a crystal pork knuckle made by the chef of Furonglou Restaurant, which I brought to you."
A flicker of emotion crossed Linglong's eyes, not happiness or dislike, but regret.
Ying'er was puzzled, but Linglong stood up and said, "Then thank you for your kindness, Mistress."
Cui'er took the pork knuckle from Ying'er's hand and then handed it to her master.
Ying'er stopped and looked at the food on the table; it was all rather bland.
Linglong looked at Ying'er, and Cui'er also looked at her.
He gestured to her with his eyes that she could leave.
Ying'er smiled and said, "Miss Linglong, why are you eating so lightly? Our chefs are excellent. Just tell the kitchen what you would like to eat."
"This is too plain. You should try this braised pork knuckle."
Her eyes were filled with expectation, making it hard to refuse.
Adding to the fact that Ying'er insisted on watching her take a bite, Linglong gave an awkward smile, picked up a piece, and took a bite.
The braised pork knuckle melts in your mouth and tastes amazing; Linglong loves it too.
But after a while, her expression became strange, as if she was trying her best to suppress something.
Ying'er left only after watching her swallow it.
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