Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 15 Urgent Need for Money

Unlike Meng Shu, Fu Zi was assigned to the Lanting Courtyard, where Aunt Wen lived, after arriving at the Tang Mansion. Although she was also a low-ranking maid, she still had a proper master above her.

However, Fu Zi was sensitive and proud. After her experience of being sold to Chunfeng Tower spread throughout the mansion, there were many rumors and gossips. She usually hid away and dared not talk to anyone.

Before they knew it, they had been at the Tang family's house for seven or eight days. Meng Shu had only seen her once in the dining hall. She saw that Fu Zi had dark circles under her eyes and looked pale.

"What kind of scene didn't you experience there that day? It's just that someone made a few sarcastic remarks about Chunfeng Tower. Why are you so upset?" After leaving the dining hall, Meng Shu followed behind her and, when no one was around, pulled Fu Zi behind a rockery and gently comforted her.

Fu Zi seemed startled, but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was Meng Shu. She said awkwardly, "It's still not good. After all, we stayed there for more than ten days."

Meng Shu rolled her eyes: "The innocent are innocent, why care about what others say? Are you not innocent yourself?"

Fu Zi suddenly shuddered, quickly covered Meng Shu's mouth, a hint of embarrassment on her face, and then said angrily, "Meng Shu, let's pretend we don't know each other from now on." After saying that, she hurriedly left.

Meng Shuyin stood behind the artificial hill for a while, gazing at Fuzi's retreating figure and sighing. She felt that women lived in airtight cages, and what was tragic was that these cages were also woven by the same women with their words.

She had been feeling unwell these past few days, and everyone in Langya Courtyard, except for Green Willow, was pointing fingers at her. This also caused a conflict with her roommate, Jade. The two had a fight, but Jade had grown up in the mansion, so she was no match for Meng Shu in an argument.

Therefore, Biyu complained to the head steward, Cao Mama, but Cao Mama scolded her without explanation. In the end, it seems that Biyu secretly gave a gift and was eventually moved to another room.

After this incident, everyone in Langya Courtyard knew that Meng Shu was not someone to be trifled with. In addition, she was efficient in her work and never made any mistakes, so people gradually stopped talking about her.

That afternoon, as usual, Cao Mama came over to inspect the place. At the end, she mentioned that the head steward from the nearby prefectural city would be coming to the Tang residence to discuss matters and report in a while, and that Langya Courtyard should be prepared to receive him.

Everything from food and tea to house cleaning, and even catering to the preferences of individual managers, requires meticulous division of labor to ensure no mistakes are made.

Since Meng Shu was new to the area, she was not assigned any important tasks and was instead given the daily cleaning duties.

However, she had a change of heart.

The job at the guest house was excellent; the managers traveled all over the country, so wouldn't it be a perfect opportunity to find out news about my uncle?

Speaking of the Tang Mansion, it covers a vast area with countless courtyards of all sizes. There are as many as five or six courtyards for entertaining guests. Langya Courtyard is the best of them all, with five guest rooms. The flowers and plants in the courtyard are also very exquisite, and it can be said that there is a beautiful view at every step.

At the end of the last month of each season, the top managers of the Tang Family Merchant Guild of the Great Zhou Dynasty would all arrive in Lin'an, and only the three most capable managers would have the honor of staying at Langya Courtyard.

Usually at this time, Cao Mama would send a few second-class maids and servants over to serve her.

Because the Tang family only had one male master, the eldest son, the old lady and the first wife would keep a close eye on him, and ordinary maids were not allowed to serve him. So, the maids with ulterior motives would vie to serve in Langya Courtyard whenever the head managers had a meeting.

After all, the head managers usually take advantage of this time to bring their sons to meet the boss.

After assigning the tasks, Cao Mama glanced at Meng Shu seemingly unintentionally before leaving. Meng Shu couldn't help but feel confused. If it were during the two days she had argued with Biyu, her heart would have skipped a beat. But now that matter was long over, why did it feel like Cao Mama was paying special attention to her?

While doing her job well, Meng Shu also became somewhat vigilant.

Donggua works in the old lady's small kitchen. The two don't see each other often. No outsiders are allowed to enter the old lady's yard, so Donggua always takes the initiative to find Meng Shu.

The winter melon seems to have become rounder, clearly indicating that it was quite comfortable in the small kitchen.

“Meng Shu, don’t pay attention to those gossipy women. When the rumors reached our small kitchen, Mother An immediately lost her temper and punished many people. No one in the old lady’s courtyard dares to spread rumors anymore. I think it won’t be long before no one talks about it anymore.”

This time, Donggua brought some freshly roasted pumpkin seeds and shared them with Meng Shu.

"I don't mind, but Madam An is very dedicated and has a lot of authority in the small kitchen." Meng Shu took the pumpkin seeds but didn't eat them, instead putting them in her purse. She secretly thought that this matter was not honorable, and Zhao Di's death was kept secret. The mansion would definitely not allow rumors to spread again, lest the Tang family's reputation be damaged.

“That’s right. One day, Madam An saw the purse you gave me by chance and said it was such a pity. She said your embroidery skills are very good and you should work in the needlework room in the manor.” Donggua also looked regretful. Although she had a good relationship with the sisters she worked with after arriving in Lin’an, she still felt that she was closest to Meng Shu.

Meng Shu had never met An's mother, and she figured An's mother wouldn't say such things casually; perhaps she deliberately had Donggua say them to her. Thinking about the future, she knew she had to cherish the kindness of others.

"When you have a day off, take me to thank Madam An. I was able to leave Chunfeng Tower thanks to your mention to the master. It's just a pity that I have nothing of value to offer as a tribute."

Meng Shu desperately needed money. At least until the council meeting at the end of next month, she would need silver to pave the way for gathering information. Currently, as a lowly maid, she earned even less than a kitchen maid like Donggua, only two hundred coins a month.

This amount of money is considerable in the countryside, but it is also necessary to make expenses in the government.

Besides clothing and shoes which could be drawn from the public treasury seasonally, one had to provide their own undergarments, as well as handkerchiefs and purses. Over time, social obligations would arise. Basic jewelry also needed to be purchased; even without hairpins, a pair of silver cloves was essential, otherwise, a plain-faced appearance would displease the master. In winter, one needed to save money to buy cotton fabric for warmth, as the clothing provided by the household could only guarantee survival from the cold.

Of course, working in the manor wasn't just about getting a monthly salary. Green Willow said that if there was a happy occasion in the manor, the servants would usually be given a reward. They would also occasionally receive a bonus for doing errands for their masters, especially the maids in the old lady's courtyard, who were very well paid.

In addition, they were not born into the household, so if they saved enough money, they might be able to redeem themselves and leave the manor. As for what conditions and how much money were needed for redemption, Meng Shu had not yet begun to inquire.

Thinking about this, Meng Shu couldn't help but worry, racking her brains for ways to make money. After thinking it over for the past few days, the only thing she could earn was by doing some embroidery work. But a problem arose: she was currently penniless, without even the capital to buy fabric and needles...

As soon as you feel sleepy, Donggua grinned and took out a thin pouch from his pocket. "Aunt An is envious of my purse, so I told her to make a few for her. Look, she asked me to bring some scraps of fabric and thread. When you're off duty, take some time to make a few for her as a return gift."