Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 17 It turns out to be you

Chen Siyuan entered the Rongguo Mansion from the back door and just turned to his own courtyard when he saw a maid walking towards him. She was wearing some half-new clothes, with her black hair tied up in a bun, and she had a long face, a slim figure, but was very pretty and clean.

Unlike the other maids who avoided her gaze, the maid stared at her intently for a few seconds before quickly moving aside and bowing, saying, "Master Chen."

Chen Siyuan responded, and the maid stood up and left. Chen Siyuan was halfway through the courtyard gate when he suddenly stopped and turned to look. He saw the maid turn her head to glance at him, then cover her face with a handkerchief and quickly walk away.

"Weird." Chen Siyuan muttered and then walked in.

Just then, the maidservant Yunxiang answered the phone. After hearing what was going on, she asked, "Master, what's wrong?"

Chen Siyuan shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I just saw a maid staring at me."

Yunxiang wanted to tease him, but she had no idea of ​​Chen Siyuan's temper, so she held it back, feeling incredibly frustrated. After sending Chen Siyuan back to his room, Yunxiang turned around and went out to look for the maid, but she was nowhere to be found, and Yunxiang felt even more frustrated.

The west skirt room of Rongguo Mansion.

The east and west sides of the Rongguo Mansion were lined with servants' quarters. The Rongguo Mansion employed over a thousand servants, with three to four hundred serving within the mansion alone. Due to the growing population, the majority of these servants were housed in the Rongning Back Street. Having a residence within the mansion was, no matter how you looked it up, a sign of respectability.

Xiaohong's family was well-off because her parents were both housekeepers. Before the second aunt got married, the lady made the decision and allowed their family to move in and settle down.

Xiaohong couldn't help blushing when she thought about what had just happened. She took a deep breath and made up her mind before entering the house.

Just after this time, my mother Lin Zhixiao was having breakfast at home.

Hearing the noise, he turned around and saw his daughter coming back. He asked, "Are you back? Have you had dinner yet?" Then he felt something was wrong and his expression suddenly changed: "Why are you back at this time? Did you offend Master Bao?"

Xiao Hong shook her head and curled her lips, saying, "Master Bao doesn't even know who I am, so how could I possibly offend him? If I continue like this, I'm afraid I'll just be a third-class maid. When I'm old enough to marry a boy, I'll just be a servant from now on."

As he spoke, he came forward to serve the food to his mother.

Lin Zhixiao's wife frowned upon hearing this and said, "Be patient for a while. I've discussed with your father that we need to find someone to rely on within the mansion. Right now, Madam is only in charge, and the housekeeping is left to Second Madam. If you can get through to Second Madam, Mom will definitely find you a good job."

Who in the mansion didn't know that Master Bao's place was a good place to stay? When Lin Zhixiao and his wife chose a maid for Baoyu, they put in a lot of effort and used all their connections to finally send their daughter Hongyu there. However, the maids in Baoyu's room were so outstanding, and they were so closely guarded, that not only was Hongyu renamed "Xiaohong" to avoid taboos, but she also spent years outside the house, taking orders.

Seeing that her daughter had no future if she stayed with Master Bao, Lin Zhixiao's wife became anxious. She had been urging Lin Zhixiao to get in touch with Second Lady Wang Xifeng for some time.

Xiao Hong said, "Now the three girls all have their own maids. Even if I go there, can I replace the others? They are either born in our family or brought by the concubines. If I'm not careful, we'll create an enemy."

Lin Zhixiao's brows furrowed, and as soon as he put down his chopsticks, his appetite vanished. He glanced at Hongyu and said soothingly, "This matter...can't be rushed. Please wait a little longer."

Xiao Hong said, "I can't wait any longer. If I wait any longer, I'll really be paired with the boy." After a pause, she continued, "Mom, I'm afraid I can't go to this first-class place, but now there is a chance to go to this first-class place." "Oh? Where did the vacancy come from?"

Xiaohong came over to massage Lin Zhixiao's shoulders and said softly, "Miss Ping came to talk to me this morning. She said there's a new Mr. Chen, the eldest wife's nephew..."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Zhixiao's face suddenly changed, and he shook his head and said repeatedly: "No, this won't do!"

Xiaohong said, "Mom, why don't you take a look? That Mr. Chen is quite capable."

Lin Zhixiao's wife said, "So what if he's talented? At most, he's a Jinshi. What kind of family is the Rongguo Mansion? Just go to the gatehouse and see how many Jinshi are trying to curry favor with them all day long? They boast about their achievements outside, but when they get to the gate, they still bow and scrape. Take the steward of the mansion, for example. If he goes to the Shuntian Prefecture government office, the prefect will greet him politely. How can a mere Jinshi compare to that respect?"

Xiaohong moved Lin Zhixiao's body over and said solemnly, "That respect was for the Rongguo Mansion. What does it have to do with servants like us? To put it bluntly, it's just a fox borrowing the power of the tiger. If we really start to argue, who will take us seriously? We have been servants in the Lin family for three generations. Daddy and Mom worked hard to become stewards. Now it's my generation that must think about changing the family. We can't just go back to the old ways, right?"

Lin Zhixiao's wife was choked by Xiaohong and couldn't speak.

Xiaohong continued, "Besides, I see that Master Chen is full of vigor and vitality. The three young ladies in the mansion all went to visit him this morning. I heard from Ruhua that Master Chen is quite talented and that passing the imperial examination will be as easy as taking candy from a purse. If I go to work for him now, it's better than continuing to work for Master Bao."

Lin Zhixiao's wife glanced at her daughter and said hesitantly, "I heard that after the incident yesterday, the concubine took the initiative to give Xiangling, who was with Master Xue, as compensation. I have seen Xiangling before, and she is a first-class character. If you go..."

Xiaohong smiled bitterly and said, "Mom, you're overthinking it. It's a little early to say this. Besides...even if Mr. Chen doesn't like me, with my abilities, I can definitely win his favor. It would be nice for me to be a housekeeper in the future."

Lin Zhixiao's family was somewhat reluctant, but then they thought that what Xiaohong said was right. If they delayed any longer, they would really have to be forced to marry the boy.

At this time, Xiaohong begged Ken again, "Mom, why don't you trust me this time? From now on, whether it's bitter or sweet, your daughter will accept it."

Having said this, Lin Zhixiao's wife sighed and said, "Well, you are right. Then go and tell Miss Ping."

Xiaohong playfully put her arms around Lin Zhixiao's neck and said, "Don't worry, Mom. I have a very good eye. Who knows, one day the cold stove will become hot, and others won't be able to get in."

The mother and daughter never mentioned the matter of the indenture from beginning to end. Firstly, Lin Zhixiao and his wife were both in charge and had a certain status; secondly, the family had a growing population and the masters were eager for the servants to clear themselves and be released.

After conferring with her mother, Xiaohong, determined not to turn back, turned and went to look for Ping'er. Nearing the hour of Si, Xiaohong emerged from Qixianzhai, carrying a small bundle, and followed Ping'er to Chensiyuan.

This time, Xiaohong restrained her impudence and allowed Ping'er to introduce her. "This is Xiaohong. She used to serve Master Bao, but today she is assigned to serve Master Yuan."

Xiaohong hurried forward and bowed: "Greetings, Master Yuan."

Chen Siyuan's eyes fixed on her and he thought to himself, "It's you, Lin Hongyu!"
(End of this chapter)