Chen Ruolan knelt in the courtyard, the scorching sun making her dizzy and lightheaded, her eyes filled with resentment.
Large beads of sweat dripped from her forehead. Servants from the Fan family came and went, their eyes filled with contempt and disdain as if she were something filthy.
"She is the master's new fifth concubine. She looks like she hasn't fully grown up yet. How did the master choose her with such a appearance?"
"What do you mean by being chosen by the master? It's something you got by sleeping with him. Otherwise, why would the master take a liking to this kind of trash?"
"Tsk tsk tsk, they've really lost all shame just to climb the social ladder."
"What shame do you have? I heard from Butler Shi that our master had no idea what was going on. He woke up to find himself doing *that* with this shameless woman. What's even more infuriating is that her own grandparents brought people to catch them in the act. The master had no choice but to agree to let her in. He was completely fooled by her..."
"Really, so you're saying she's a vain, shameless slut."
"That's right, she's a shameless slut."
"Alright, alright, let's stop talking and get back to what we were doing!"
The girls scattered in a panic.
Hearing these harsh words, Chen Ruolan felt a surge of anger rising within her, so angry that she almost bit her lip until it bled.
These things should have been borne by that brat Chen Qingqing, but instead, she has to bear them all. It's all that brat's fault, and one day she will make her pay double.
Chen Ruolan's mind was twisted, and she was completely unaware that this outcome was her own doing and that she had only herself to blame.
She silently plotted in her heart that no matter what, she must win Fan Tong's favor and repay the humiliation she suffered today to those who hurt her.
Fan Tong had seen all kinds of women; Chen Ruolan had completely overestimated herself.
At this moment, Madam Fan's personal maid, Wan'er, came over and warned sternly, "Madam said that you must kneel for two full hours, not a moment less. If you dare to slack off, you'll be in big trouble."
Chen Ruolan glared fiercely at Wan'er, but dared not retort.
Time ticked by, and Chen Ruolan felt she was about to give up.
Just then, two women dressed in flamboyant attire passed by the courtyard; they were the third concubine, Qiu Tong, and the fourth concubine, Yan Li.
Seeing Chen Ruolan's disheveled appearance, the Third Concubine's lips curled into a gloating smile. "Oh, isn't this the newly arrived Fifth Concubine? How come she's fallen out of favor so quickly? It seems her seductive skills aren't up to par!"
Yanli covered her mouth and chuckled, "Sister, what are you saying? She's just a concubine who got the position by climbing into someone's bed. What do you mean by falling out of favor? She was never favored to begin with."
"Hmph, don't think that just because you've entered the Fan family you can rise to the top. Life here isn't as easy as she imagines."
The two walked past Chen Ruolan as they talked.
Two hours later, Chen Ruolan's vision went black, and she almost collapsed to the ground.
"Get up, Madam wants you to go to her room." Wan'er came closer and kicked her.
Chen Ruolan clenched her fists tightly, hiding the hatred in her eyes, and dragged her heavy legs as she followed Wan'er into Madam Fan's room.
Madam Fan was leisurely sipping her tea when she slowly said, "This is just the beginning. There's a long road ahead. If you know what's good for you, you'll behave and listen to me, or you'll suffer the consequences."
Chen Ruolan lowered her head, suppressing the hatred in her heart, "Madam, I know I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again."
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Madam Fan chuckled and said, "You are just a concubine. What is a concubine? To put it bluntly, she is just a plaything. If you are lucky enough to win the master's favor and give birth to a son or daughter, you will be considered fortunate."
If all you do all day is cry and whine, I'll sell you to a slave trader. The Fan family isn't a place for pampered young ladies, understand?
"I'll remember that, I'll never do it again."
"Alright, let's continue with the tea ceremony. We still need to go through the necessary formalities."
Wan'er brought over the tea set. Chen Ruolan forced herself to be alert, took the teacup with both hands, bent her knees, and knelt before Madam Fan, her voice trembling slightly.
"Madam, please have some tea."
Madam Fan glanced at her sideways, slowly took the teacup, took a small sip, and then slammed the teacup down on the table beside her.
"Now that you've joined the Fan family, you have to abide by the Fan family's rules and stop thinking about crooked ways all day long."
Keep your little schemes to yourself in front of me, and serve the master obediently. If you dare to be jealous or cause trouble, I have plenty of ways to deal with you.
Don't think you can turn the world upside down with a few seductive tricks. Remember to be honest and upright, and uphold the virtues of a woman.
The master was only temporarily misled by you. Although he brought you into the house, don't think you can act recklessly.
"If you dare to cause any trouble in this household, I'll make you regret ever stepping into the Fan family's door!"
Chen Ruolan lowered her head and bit her lip. "Yes, Madam, don't worry, I've remembered."
Wan'er handed another cup of tea to Chen Ruolan, indicating that she should offer tea to Third Aunt Qiu Tong.
Chen Ruolan walked up to Qiu Tong and said respectfully, "Third Aunt, please have some tea."
Qiu Tong took the tea, but deliberately let go, causing the teacup to fall on Chen Ruolan and splash tea all over her.
Qiu Tong snorted coldly, "Clumsy, what bad luck."
Chen Ruolan felt deeply humiliated, but she could only swallow her anger.
Then he offered tea to his fourth aunt, Yanli. Yanli accepted the teacup but said sarcastically, "Younger sister, you're new here, so you'd better follow the rules and not cause any trouble."
Chen Ruolan nodded in agreement.
Madam Fan instructed Shi Taishou, "Take Fifth Concubine with you and go downstairs. Remember to serve her well and do not neglect her."
"Don't worry, Madam, I'll arrange it right away." Shi Taishou called over several maids and servants and led Chen Ruolan away.
******
Chen Qingqing got up early and, while eating breakfast, took out the house construction plans she had drawn the day before and handed them to Chen Zhanshan and Lin Shi.
"Dad, Mom, look, this is our future house."
The two took the blueprints, tilted their heads, and stared at the patterns on the paper for a long time, but they still couldn't understand anything.
Chen Zhancai scratched his head. "Qing girl, the rules and regulations are drawn quite well, but which one is the house?"
“Yes, Qing’er, look, there’s a square here, and another one here, and several squares in total. I don’t understand either.” Madam Lin also looked confused.
Chen Qingqing was amused by their antics and pointed as she explained.
"This is a large mansion with three courtyards. Each courtyard has a main house, side rooms, and servants' quarters. Look here, this is the first courtyard."
This framed area is the main building; these two areas are the east and west wing rooms; and this strip-shaped frame is the covered walkway.
This area will become our sugar mill, with warehouses, cellars, stone mills, and so on.
......
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
