County Magistrate Meng was originally a concubine-born son. Naturally, when he was useful to the family, he lacked for nothing. But once he caused trouble, the treatment of their fourth branch immediately fell from heaven to earth. When the family property was divided, they received hardly any assets at all and were thrown out of the family in a miserable state.
He and his wife, Madam Liu, were driven out of the family home. Overcome with shame and anger, they both fell seriously ill. But the appointment order came urgently, leaving them no choice but to set out for Miyang County while still sick. They sought medical treatment and medicine along the way and nearly died of illness before they even reached their post.
After finally arriving in Miyang County, Magistrate Meng was still recuperating, while Madam Liu forced herself to manage the household despite her illness. She had been the wife of a concubine-born son and had never managed a household before. When dealing with these trivial affairs, she inevitably found herself neglecting one thing while attending to another, gradually arousing the dissatisfaction of the servants assigned to them from the main residence.
In Mama Mao’s view, how could any of the servants sent over from the main residence be any good? The truly loyal and capable servants had long since been firmly controlled by the various legitimate masters. What they could give their Fourth Master were naturally servants that the various branches did not want, people who dragged their feet when doing things, shirked their duties, slacked off, and were always thinking about how to profit for themselves.
Magistrate Meng had fallen ill on the way, and after arriving in Miyang County, he spent nearly a month recuperating before his health finally improved. He was just about to take over all the county government’s affairs and became so busy that his feet barely touched the ground. After half a year had finally passed and his official duties were more or less in order, he never expected that Master Peng, whom he had always regarded as his trusted aide, would tender his resignation.
Betrayed by the trusted aide he had relied on most, Magistrate Meng was so furious that he nearly vomited blood. He declared throughout the residence that if any of the servants who had followed him from the capital had ulterior motives or felt that there was no future in following him, they could say so and seek a better master. He would not make things difficult for them and would release every single one of them.
Once these words were spoken, an astonishing eighty to ninety percent of the servants who had followed them actually asked to leave. Fearing that Magistrate Meng would become ill from anger, Madam Liu immediately gave them their travel expenses and sent them away. It was a rare display of decisiveness on her part. She took the opportunity to clear out everyone in the front and rear courtyards who harbored disloyal intentions. As a result, Li Xiaoxiao happened to be purchased as a kitchen maid during this period of upheaval.
These were matters known only to the trusted aides. Naturally, Mama Mao could not tell them to a maid who had only just been bought. Although Li Xiaoxiao had signed a deed of sale, they still needed to observe her for a while and determine whether she was worthy of their trust.
Li Xiaoxiao was completely unaware of all this.
“Mama Mao, is an official of the Ministry of Personnel a very high-ranking official? Higher than a county magistrate?”
Mama Mao said proudly, “Of course. That is a proper sixth-rank official, and officials in the capital are even half a rank higher than officials serving outside the capital. Countless people rack their brains trying to obtain such a position and still cannot get one.”
Li Xiaoxiao understood. Other people rose to increasingly higher positions as they served as officials, while Magistrate Meng had gone from a higher position to a lower one. He had probably committed some mistake and been sent into exile here.
Mama Mao said, “Although you have never seen the wealth and splendor of the main family in the capital, there are few people in the residence now and fewer masters, which is actually a good thing for servants like us. It also means far fewer conflicts. Remember this: we currently have three and a half masters to serve.
“The first is the Madam you just met. All the arrangements in the household are to follow Madam’s orders. Apart from Madam, the Eldest Young Master Meng Guanqi in the eastern wing and the Eldest Miss Meng Liniang in the western wing are also our masters. As for that half a master, she is Master’s concubine, Concubine Luo, the Eldest Miss’s biological mother. She lives in the side room to the right of the main room.”
A concubine could only be considered half a master. Compared with the servants, she merely had a little more dignity because Master Meng did not like having a courtyard full of wives and concubines. Over the years, he had only had one wife and one concubine, and he did not have many children either, only a son and a daughter, the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Miss. As a result, Concubine Luo was actually treated somewhat better than the other concubines in the various masters’ residences of the main family.
But that was all in the past. In their current circumstances, even the more delicate tasks would probably have to be done personally. The glory she had once enjoyed was gone for good.
“Our Eldest Young Master has a promising future. He passed the xiucai examination last year, and he is fourteen this year. He is currently studying hard day and night in preparation for next year’s provincial examination.”
The imperial examinations? Li Xiaoxiao became interested. She remembered that her history teacher had once given them a detailed introduction to the ancient imperial examination system, especially the metropolitan examination. It was held only once every three years, and only three hundred people were selected nationwide each time. It was truly like an army of thousands crossing a single-plank bridge. Many people spent their entire lives without even passing the xiucai examination, and some still went to take the exams when their hair had already turned gray.
This Young Master Meng had actually passed the xiucai examination at the age of thirteen and was now going to take the provincial examination. He could be considered a genius, right?
Seeing that her eyes had lit up when she heard that the Eldest Young Master had passed the xiucai examination, Mama Mao immediately assumed that she had developed some improper thoughts. She instantly became displeased.
“A master is a master. They are the bright moon in the heavens, while servants like us are the mud beneath the earth. Especially someone like you, who has signed a deed of sale. Whether you live or die depends entirely on a single word from your master. Put those little thoughts of yours away.”
Huh? What did she mean? Li Xiaoxiao stared at her blankly. She had merely been happy because she had heard something she remembered. How had Mama Mao suddenly started scolding her?
She gave a bewildered “oh” and stopped asking questions.
Mama Mao was about to lecture her further when someone suddenly called from outside the door, “Mama Mao.”
Mama Mao turned around and saw Liu Zhi, Granny Qin’s granddaughter, holding a bundle. “Mama Mao, Grandma told me to bring over some clothes, shoes, and socks.”
Mama Mao had no choice but to drop the subject and gestured for Li Xiaoxiao to take them. “The servants in the residence have to wear uniform clothing. These are the two sets assigned to you. Alternate between them.”
Wow, she had new clothes to wear as soon as she arrived! From yesterday to today, she had actually gotten three sets of clothes to wear. Li Xiaoxiao hugged the bundle, her eyes narrowing into crescents from her smile. “Thank you, little sister.”
Liu Zhi smiled faintly. “No need to thank me. I still have things to do, so I’ll be going.”
Seeing her hugging the clothes and grinning from ear to ear, looking utterly simple-minded rather than deep or calculating, Mama Mao swallowed the lecture that had been on the tip of her tongue. Forget it. If she really dared to make a mistake, catching her in the act and giving her a good beating would be more effective than lecturing until her lips wore out.
Mama Mao had Li Xiaoxiao put the bundle into the cabinet and also gave her a lock. “From now on, put any valuables in the cabinet and lock them up. Then no one else can take them.”
After watching her put everything away, Mama Mao began arranging the tasks she would have to do every day. “There are only the two of us in the kitchen right now. You can’t handle the cooking yet, but you have to take responsibility for everything else. Fetching water, chopping firewood, tending the fire, and assisting me. It won’t be easy.”
Li Xiaoxiao followed Mama Mao around as she toured the kitchen. The moment she entered, she smelled an incredibly tantalizing aroma. She took a deep breath and exclaimed in shock, “It smells so good!”
Mama Mao looked proud. “You certainly have a good nose. My cooking has even been praised by the Old Madam.” It was a pity that she had a bad temper and was not as good as others at flattering and currying favor, so in the end, she had been assigned to Fourth Master’s branch.
But what did that matter? Mama Mao made her living through her own skills. As long as she was completely loyal to her master and did her duty well, what difference did it make whom she served?
Enticed by the aroma, Li Xiaoxiao could not bring herself to move. Her stomach let out a tremendous rumble.
She had slept all the way until the hour of Si and had not eaten a single grain of rice. Now she was staring at the meat stewing in the little clay pot in the kitchen. It was an aroma unlike anything she had ever smelled before.
Mama Mao heard her stomach growling and immediately saw her staring at the meat in the little clay pot. She said irritably, “That’s food for the masters. How dare you even think about it!”
Thinking that Li Xiaoxiao would be working under her from now on, Mama Mao rolled up her sleeves. “Forget it. I’ll make you a bowl of noodles first, so you don’t think that becoming a maid in the magistrate’s residence means you can’t even eat your fill.”
Naturally, the servants’ food could not compare with the masters’ meals. Meat could not be added to their noodles, but wanting to show off her culinary skills, Mama Mao ladled a small spoonful of broth from the little clay pot into the bowl before setting it in front of Li Xiaoxiao.
“Eat.”
Li Xiaoxiao finished every last drop of the noodle soup, yet she still wanted more. She looked up expectantly. “Is there any left?”
Mama Mao stared at her in disbelief. “The portion in that bowl is enough for an ordinary grown man, and you’re still not full?”
“I’ve been hungry for a long time.” Li Xiaoxiao had not eaten a single full meal since arriving in this world.
Remembering that she was a refugee who had fled the disaster, Mama Mao sighed. She opened the cupboard and took out a small basket of steamed buns and a small dish of pickles.
“There are no more noodles. If you’re still hungry, eat some steamed buns.”
Li Xiaoxiao accepted the basket in surprise and immediately bit into one. Her eyes widened.
“These are better than the steamed buns that cost one wen each on the street!”
“Of course.” Pride crept into Mama Mao’s voice. “These are made from fine white flour. How could the ones sold on the street compare with the fine flour used in our residence?”
She watched as Li Xiaoxiao devoured the entire small basket of steamed buns as if swept away by a gale.
Mama Mao’s legs nearly gave way.
“Y-you ate all of them?”
That was the amount ordinarily eaten by three people.
Li Xiaoxiao burped. “Er~ I’m full now.”
It was so delicious. After being in this world for so long, she had finally eaten a full meal! And the meal had been incredibly delicious. She sincerely took Mama Mao’s hand and looked straight into her eyes with a completely earnest expression. “You’re such a good person.”
Mama Mao was drenched in cold sweat. She had only spoken to Madam and asked her to buy Li Xiaoxiao because she had seen that the girl was strong enough to do the work of two people by herself. But if she ate enough for three people by herself, wouldn’t that mean they were losing money?
Seeing the look of horror on her face, Li Xiaoxiao reassuringly patted her hand. “It’s because my body hasn’t recovered yet that I need to eat so much. Once I’ve recovered, I won’t need to eat this much.”
She seemed a little simple-minded, but they had already bought her. Could they really just get rid of her? Mama Mao sighed. “Since you eat so much, you have to do more work too. Don’t make Madam regret buying you and decide to sell you again.”
What? Hadn’t she already been sold to this household? Could she really be sold again?
She scratched her head in confusion. “Would Madam sell me because I eat too much?”
Mama Mao said irritably, “If you eat a lot and still don’t do your job properly, of course Madam can sell you. For a maid who has signed a deed of sale, how she is dealt with is entirely up to their master.”
Li Xiaoxiao suddenly understood.
“I see. Once I recover, I’ll earn my own food and won’t give Madam a chance to sell me.”
Mama Mao snapped, “I’ve never heard of a servant earning her own food. How are you going to earn it? Do your job properly. That’s what matters. Otherwise, you won’t even need to be reported to Madam. I can deal with you myself.”
…
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