Back at the residence, Xiaojin stood guard outside the room door.
“Madam Third Young Master, Master must have told you, today is my last day taking care of the Third Young Master!” Xiaojin let out a long sigh.
“I heard!
Xiaojin, why the sighs?” Zhong Lingling looked curiously at the skinny Xiaojin.
He wore a look of unending worry.
Asked by Zhong Lingling, he choked up even more.
“I’ve been taking care of the young master since I was eighteen!
It’s been five years!
It’s really hard to leave the young master, and my mother is seriously ill.
If I lose this job, I won’t be able to find a new one immediately, and I’ll have no way to support my mother!” With that, Xiaojin burst into tears.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Lingling felt a surge of sorrow.
“Xiaojin!
Don’t be like this, there will always be a way!
Take this money for now, and let me, I’ll go beg the master and ask if there are any other positions in the family that you can fill!” Zhong Lingling stuffed two red envelopes she had received while serving tea into Xiaojin’s arms.
“No!
Madam Third Young Master, how can I take your money!” Xiaojin dared not accept it.
The red envelopes felt thick with a considerable amount of money inside.
“Madam, this is the gift the master and his wife gave you when they saw you!” Xiaobing also hurried to persuade.
“Xiaojin, listen to me, I will never need this money in the Xiang family, but it’s different for you—you have a sick mother to support.
No matter what, you must take this money!
If you don’t, I’ll assume you think the money I’m giving you is too little!” Zhong Lingling came to the Xiang Family without a cent to her name.
Otherwise, given her nature, she would have given all she had to the pitiful Xiaojin.
“Madam, you’re such a good person, but I really can’t take your money, especially since it’s the gift the master and his wife gave you.
If you really want to help me, please beg the master to let me stay and continue working, alright?” Xiaojin firmly returned the money to Zhong Lingling.
Left with no choice, Zhong Lingling had to take the money back.
“Xiaobing, you and Xiaojin stay here and look after the young master, I’ll go to see the master!” Zhong Lingling said.
Without bothering to return to her room, she turned back toward the main house.
“Madam, wait for me, I’ll come with you!” Xiaobing wanted to follow along.
However, Zhong Lingling stopped her.
She alone went to the main house to find Xiang Zongyin.
In the garden of the main house, Xiang Zongyin was leisurely watering the flowers by himself with nothing else to do.
Dressed in a crisp suit and a black overcoat, he was half-kneeling in front of a flowerpot, whistling a tune, appearing utterly content.
“Dad!” Zhong Lingling called out softly.
“Oh, Lingling, why have you come back?
Did you forget to take something from the table?” Master Xiang rose to his feet, setting aside the watering can.
“No, Dad, I have something I want to talk to you about!”
“What is it?” Master Xiang noticed the grave expression on Zhong Lingling’s face and quickly invited her to sit in the garden pavilion.
“Lingling, are you not used to the house having just arrived?
You can tell me whatever you need, as long as it’s reasonable, I will try my best to meet your needs!”
“No, Dad, I think everything at home is great, I’m eating well and living comfortably!
I couldn’t be more satisfied and have no further requests, it’s just that…!”
“Just what?”
“Dad, the reason I came to see you is because of Xiaojin!
He’s really in a desperate situation, he has his mother to take care of, he can’t afford to lose this job, can you let him stay and continue to work at home?” Zhong Lingling’s hopeful eyes fixed intently on Master Xiang’s face.