A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

"Grandma, they went to the reed marshes to make adobe bricks. Uncle said that before it snows these past two days and the ground freezes, they should quickly store up more adobe bricks so that they can build another house for Sister Wanxing next spring."

As they were talking, footsteps and voices came from outside the courtyard gate. Chen's mother and Chen's third aunt walked in one after the other, carrying some things.

"Mom, you're back." Chen's mother saw Grandma Chen and Chen Wanxing at the entrance of the main room and smiled. She quickened her pace, and her third aunt also greeted them before entering the house.

"There were a lot of people in town today, and I waited a while to buy cotton, so I came back late." As she spoke, her gaze fell on Chen Wanxing with concern. "Wanxing, you must be tired after walking around with Grandma for so long?"

Grandma Chen nodded, her attention drawn to the heavy bundle in Chen's mother's hands: "Did you buy the cotton?"

"I got it! It's top-quality, finely processed cotton, so soft to the touch." As she spoke, Chen's mother opened the bundle, revealing the snow-white, fluffy cotton inside.

"Hmm, it looks pretty good." Grandma Chen reached out and squeezed the cotton; it did feel quite substantial. Just as she was about to say something more, Chen's mother couldn't wait any longer. She bent down, picked up the whole cotton, and headed towards Chen Wanxing's temporary room.

After taking a couple of steps, Chen's mother seemed to suddenly remember something, so she quickly turned around, took out a round cake wrapped in oil paper from another basket, walked back quickly, and stuffed it directly into Chen Wanxing's hand.

The oil paper was still slightly warm when I touched it, and a rich aroma mixed with the scent of cooked flour and roasted sesame seeds instantly filled my nostrils.

"I almost forgot, Old Liu's sesame seed cakes at the town entrance are fresh out of the oven, eat them while they're hot."

Chen's mother spoke very quickly. After she finished speaking, without waiting for a response, she grabbed the cotton and rushed into the room.

Chen Wanxing held the warm sesame seed cake in her hand, the aroma filling her nostrils; she was indeed a little hungry.

During the off-season, the Chen family always eats two meals a day. Several hours have passed since Chen Wanxing had his simple farm breakfast this morning. He has also walked a lot and talked a lot, so his stomach is already empty.

The feeling of hunger was unbearable. She had originally planned to go to the kitchen later and make herself something to eat to tide her over. She could replenish her food later, since she had money.

So at this moment, Chen Wanxing looked down at the golden-brown sesame seed cake in her hand, smelling its genuine aroma of grain, and felt even hungrier. Without much hesitation, she carefully unwrapped the oil paper, broke the cake in half, and handed one half to Grandma Chen beside her.

"Grandma, you should try some, it's still warm."

Grandma Chen looked at the pancake she was handed over, a complex mix of relief flashing in her eyes, and took it: "Okay, Grandma will try some too. Your mother usually can't bear to buy pancakes when she goes to town."

After Chen's mother took the ball of new cotton into the side room, she was never seen to come out again. Her sister-in-law, Hui Niang, cooked dinner all by herself.

As the aroma of dinner gradually wafted from the kitchen, people began to sit down in the main room. Chen's father, Chen Yancheng, Chen Yanche, and others had all returned after finishing their work.

"Where's your mother? Is she still busy inside?" Grandma Chen glanced into the house and asked Hui Niang, who was setting out chopsticks.

Hui Niang nodded and lowered her voice: "Mother said we should get it done quickly. Just now I saw my younger sister go to call her for dinner. Mother said that there are only a few stitches left, and that we should eat first and leave a portion warm in the pot for her."

The younger sister disagreed, telling Mother not to rush. The two argued briefly, but the younger sister couldn't persuade Mother otherwise.

Grandma Chen frowned and said to Hui Niang, "It's cold. If you leave it in the pot, it will get cold in no time. There's no rush for this. Go and call your mother to come out and eat first, so she can warm up before we talk."

Hui Niang responded and called out a few more times at the door of the side room. This time, Chen's mother finally lifted the curtain and came out, her fingers still covered in cotton lint. "Mother, it's almost finished..."

"We're almost done, so one more meal won't make a difference. Let's eat first." Grandma Chen's tone left no room for argument.

Chen's mother then sat down at the table, her mind still on the quilt. The meal was simple, and she ate quickly. After finishing, she put down her bowl, didn't bother to rest, wiped her mouth, and got up to go back to her room.

Inside the main room, everyone chatted for a while before dispersing to rest or attend to their bedtime chores.

After washing up, Chen Wanxing went inside. Her mother was reinforcing the four corners of the quilt, and she sat on a low stool next to her, watching her mother work. It wasn't that she didn't want to help, but Chen Wanxing really didn't know how to quilt.

Although her needlework skills are not as good as Amber's, she has practiced and is still quite capable. However, her skill points are only focused on embroidery. Let alone making a quilt cover, she would have a hard time even making a complete garment.

So all I could do for now was sit and keep Chen's mother company, chatting with her. But even so, Chen's mother was already very happy.

"All done." After finishing the last stitch, Chen's mother lowered her head and bit off the cotton thread, her voice light and cheerful.

She patted the now thicker and fuller quilt, a satisfied smile on her face.

Chen's mother deftly spread the new quilt on the bed, carefully smoothing out the edges, then turned around and looked at her daughter standing beside her. Under the lamplight, her eyes were gentle yet somewhat hesitant.

She took out the thin hemp rope she had prepared from her bosom, her voice lower than before, but earnest: "Wanxing, come here, let your mother measure your feet. I want to make you a pair of warm new shoes. I went to town today and specially bought a foot of cloth, just enough to make a pair of shoe uppers."

Chen Wanxing didn't refuse or stand on ceremony; she simply sat down obediently on the edge of the bed and stretched out her legs.

Chen's mother immediately squatted down and carefully measured the length and width of her daughter's feet with a hemp rope, her movements gentle and focused. The dim light of the oil lamp cast the shadows of the mother and daughter onto the earthen wall, magnifying this silent and tender scene.

After taking the measurements, Chen's mother carefully marked the hemp rope. Just as she was about to say something more, there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Sis, are you asleep?" It was Chen Yanche's voice.

"Not yet, come in, Che-ge'er," Chen Wanxing replied.

Chen Yanche pushed open the door and came in, carrying an old ceramic basin filled with some dark charcoal chunks.

He looked a little embarrassed, placed the basin on the floor against the wall, and pointed to it: "Sister, this is for you. I put the two pounds of charcoal that Mom bought today in this basin. If you're still cold tonight, light it to keep warm. Remember to open the window a crack so it doesn't get stuffy."

"Thank you, Brother Che, that's very kind of you," Chen Wanxing said gently.

Chen Yanche blushed, waved his hand, turned around and walked out quickly, carefully closing the door behind him.

Looking at the pot of charcoal, then at her daughter, Chen's mother's smile deepened, filled with relief: "Your brother is usually a quiet type, but he's still quite perceptive."

She put away the hemp rope, stood up, and said, "Alright, you should get some rest too. The blankets are thick, and with the charcoal brazier, you shouldn't be cold."

"Mother, you should rest early too. You've had a hard day." Chen Wanxing saw her mother to the door.

Chen's mother waved her hand, turned around and went back to her room. Although she had been busy all day, her back looked very relaxed.