Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

When Ah Jin saw Xi Chun, he asked, "Is it all finished embroidering?"

"Five more... five more..."

Xi Chun's eyes welled up with grievance, and she cried, "I really tried my best! I haven't slept a wink for the past three days, and I haven't even had time to drink much water. My hands are swollen from embroidery."

I really can't finish those five... Please be lenient, just pretend I didn't do well this time, I'll definitely make it up to you next time."

"Alright, you did your best."

A casual remark put Xi Chun's mind at ease after three days of anxiety.

It's a miracle I wasn't punished!

"Then I'll trouble you, Ah Jin, to take this carefully and report it to Second Master for me!"

She thought the matter was over and that she could go back and get a good night's sleep once Ah Jin took the suitcase away.

To everyone's surprise, Ah Jin casually rummaged through it a couple of times and then threw it back.

The next moment, he raised his hand and slammed the entire wooden box onto the ground!

The sachets rolled all over the ground, covered in dust, looking dusty and gray.

Before Xi Chun could react, he saw A Jin pull out a tinderbox from his waist.

With a snap, he lit it and placed it directly on the scattered sachets.

Flames instantly leaped up, licking the embroidered cloth and silk threads, and the brightly colored sachet was instantly reduced to ashes.

"What are you doing?!"

Xi Chun was terrified and frantically tried to rush forward to save him.

But the flames burned so fast, how could anyone touch them?

She could only stand frozen in place, watching as the fruits of her labor, which she had worked on for three days and three nights, were consumed by the fire.

"What are you doing?"

Ah Jin blew out the fire extinguisher and patted the ash off his hands.

"Look at your embroidery. It's so sloppy and careless. Aren't you afraid of offending the Second Master's eyes?"

Even if I were to deliver it to the Second Master, it would just end up being thrown away and burned. It's better for me to handle it here quickly and avoid further trouble.

Actually, that's not the case. Burning the sachets was also ordered to him by the Second Master. Ah Jin just picked up a random excuse.

Xi Chun collapsed to the ground, crying out, "But I spent three sleepless nights embroidering that! It's my life's work!"

"Now you know how to cherish your hard work? Why didn't you know that when you were tormenting people before?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't linger and his figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

At this moment, Xi Chun understood completely.

Second Master was never unaware of the situation; he knew everything. He knew she was withholding embroidery materials and that she was deliberately making things difficult for Liu Wenying.

Asking her to embroider thirty sachets was no casual assignment.

Today it's all gone to ashes, not simply because the embroidery is crude; even if she had embroidered something beautiful, she wouldn't have received any praise.

From beginning to end, the Second Master was supporting Liu Wenying and warning her that Liu Wenying would not tolerate her being mistreated in the slightest.

After thinking it through, Xi Chun suppressed the last bit of desire in his heart to torment and take revenge on Liu Wenying.

She was a maidservant who depended on others for her life, while Liu Wenying had the old lady's favor and the second master's secret support.

What does she have to compete with? What does she have to compare herself to?

Day two.

After Xi Chun returned from her illness, Liu Wenying felt that she had changed.

The former hostility was gone, replaced by a hint of fear.

Even when he sees her, he will subconsciously avoid her.

Liu Wenying was delighted with the outcome; it was excellent for her that Xi Chun would behave himself and stop causing her trouble.

Without Xi Chun's刁难 (difficulties/challenges), she thrived more and more in Mingxi Hall.

That afternoon, Liu Wenying had just finished serving the old lady her medicine and was preparing to take a nap when the gatekeeper rushed over, saying that someone outside was looking for her.

Liu Wenying was taken aback: "Looking for me? Who?"

"They say it's Jinhua Silk Shop, and the young master of Manager Xu's family is named Xu Jiang."

Xu Jiang? She hadn't heard that name in a long time.

Last time, when Master Pei Dingxuan insisted on taking her as a concubine, Madam, in order to quell the controversy, secretly arranged for her to find a suitable husband.

That man was Xu Jiang. He came from a respectable family and was an honest man. He was from a well-off family.

To avoid trouble, she visited the silk shop several times and met Xu Jiang a few times.

Later, he was transferred to Mingxi Hall, but due to his busy schedule, he never set foot there again.

He's come knocking on my door now, probably for this very reason.

Things always have to come to an end, so Liu Wenying asked Granny Wu for a short leave and hurriedly headed towards the main gate.

Sure enough, a young man was standing at the bottom of the bluestone steps outside the main gate.

He had a kind face and was carrying an oil paper package in his hand.

When he saw Liu Wenying come out, his eyes lit up, then he blushed and nervously rubbed the corner of his clothes.

"Miss Liu, it's been a long time since I've seen you at the shop. My mother has been thinking of you and asked me to bring you some food."

"You're too kind. I no longer work under the First Madam and am really too busy. Thank you for your concern."

"No need for that. These are pastries from the Li family's shop. They're delicious, you must accept them."

Liu Wenying declined several times, but finally accepted it.

After taking the oil paper package, she reached into her waistband, pulled out a purse, and handed over a piece of silver, her tone sincere.

"Then I shall accept your offer, but the rules of the household are strict, and it is inconvenient for me to invite you for tea. Consider this a small amount as payment for the tea, and please do not refuse."

That piece of silver weighed two or three coins, enough to buy ten cups of tea.

Anyone with eyes to see could tell that this was her way of returning the favor, not wanting to owe anyone a favor.

Xu Jiang held the silver, the blush on his face fading slightly, but he understood her meaning. He stammered and accepted it, then after a long pause, managed to ask, "How are things going for you at the manor?"

He is honest and straightforward, and the concern in his eyes is direct and genuine.

Liu Wenying knew that he was still concerned about the matter of the First Madam's matchmaking, so rather than dragging it out in ambiguity, she decided to be upfront to avoid future trouble.

"Xu Jiang, the First Madam had previously intended to play matchmaker, but I am currently serving the Old Madam at Mingxi Hall, and my duties are important. I haven't thought about marriage for the time being, so please don't waste your time on me."

He spoke frankly and directly, without any beating around the bush, yet he also showed leniency.

Xu Jiang looked at her, his eyes, which were always darting away, were filled with disbelief and desolation.

"I...I understand..."

"I just wanted to come see you. You're busy, I'll be going now."

He said a few words hastily, then turned and walked away quickly.

Liu Wenying breathed a sigh of relief, considering the matter completely resolved.

She returned to the manor and continued to serve the old lady as before, busying herself with various tasks, no longer taking the matter to heart.

The next day at noon, the gatekeeper came again and handed over a note, saying that Xu Jiang had asked someone to deliver it the day before.

Liu Wenying unfolded her handwriting; it wasn't exactly elegant, but each stroke was neat and tidy.

Xu Jiang invited her to meet him at 1-3 PM the next day.

The next day, at the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), the sun was at its zenith.

Liu Wenying arrived as promised and stood by the stone lion at the gate for almost a quarter of an hour, but Xu Jiang never appeared.

Only a few pedestrians hurried by on the long street, holding umbrellas and bowing their heads to avoid the scorching sun.

Liu Wenying stood beside the steps, which offered no shade, and gradually withered like an orchid exposed to the scorching sun.

Sweat soaked through his inner shirt, sticking stickily to his back.

She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, her patience gradually dissipating as the moisture evaporated from her body.

Can't wait any longer.

She arrived just in time for the old lady's afternoon nap. The time was fast approaching, and if she waited any longer, she would definitely miss her mission.

Liu Wenying turned around, about to return to the mansion to leave a message for the gatekeeper, when a female voice came from behind her.

"Miss Liu, Miss Liu, please wait!"

…………