Chapter 14: Win people’s hearts
At the same time, Liu'er's experience next door was even more miserable. Faced with a bowl of tofu soup with almost no oil in it and the bland broth, her anger finally made her drop her chopsticks and stand at the door to vent her dissatisfaction.
While Liu'er was cursing, she heard Jiang Yingying's slight sneer, and the flames of her anger instantly shifted to Jiang Yingying.
Those harsh words, every bit as sharp as a knife, made Jiang Yingying feel heartbroken, but she gritted her teeth, just to protect the innocent life in her belly, and wait for Zheng Chengyan to arrive and seek justice.
On the other hand, after venting her emotions, Liu'er was left with tear marks on her face and red and swollen eyes. She ate all the food on the table while sobbing, which made people feel distressed.
The maidservant anxiously tried to comfort her.
But Liu'er was still young after all, and a few gentle words gradually stopped her tears.
As the sun sets, Su Wanyu and Yun Yi deliberately linger near the kitchen. This is the perfect time to meet Liu'er.
Sure enough, as soon as I walked around the rockery, I saw an argument between Liu'er and the vegetable delivery woman Hu Ma.
"Money! You are the second master's concubine now, so your monthly salary should be quite high, right? Give it to me now!"
Mother Hu grabbed Liu'er's arm tightly, urging her and pinching her arm unceremoniously, "Don't forget why you were sent here. Your brothers are still waiting for the bride price to marry their wives! If you delay their marriage, you will bear the consequences yourself!"
Tears welled up in Liu'er's eyes again, and her voice choked with sobs, "Mother, I have given you a lot over the years, can you give me some more time, until I get pregnant with Second Master's child..."
Mother Hu was unmoved and spat, "How long do you have to wait to get pregnant? You must give me the money tomorrow at the latest. Doesn't the Second Master dote on you? If you act like a spoiled child in front of him more, maybe you can get more money back!"
Upon hearing this, Su Wanyu raised her eyebrows slightly with a complicated look in her eyes.
Yun Yi leaned close to her ear and whispered in a low voice about Liu'er's past.
"They were from a poor family, and the whole family relied on farming to make a living and transporting vegetables to various mansions. There were five sons and one daughter in the family. Liu'er was the only daughter. She was sold here as a maid when she was young, and later promoted to a concubine. Her four elder brothers and one younger brother all relied on her meager monthly income to barely make ends meet."
Su Wanyu had heard about Liu'er's experience a long time ago. She came here today intending to play the role of a rescuer and take this opportunity to win over a loyal heart.
The grievances and dissatisfaction that had accumulated in Liu'er's heart for a long time burst out at this moment, and she suddenly broke free from her mother's hand.
"Mother, it's true that my brothers are your biological children, but am I not your child? Why do you give them all the money I worked so hard to earn? Now my monthly salary has been cut, how am I going to live in the future? In this mansion, I am just a concubine of low status, relying on my beauty to make a living. Who can understand my difficulties?"
Mother Hu was furious. She suddenly raised her hand and slapped Liu'er on the shoulder.
"So what if you're a concubine? At least you're a concubine of the Marquis of Changping! What great things can you achieve as a woman? You're just living on your face and belly. If I hadn't found this way out for you, you would have starved to death on the street with no one paying attention to you! Don't play tricks on me. Remember, money is the most reliable guarantee!"
As Mother Hu spoke, she pointed her index finger at Liu'er's forehead fiercely, "If you dare not give me the money, I will loudly publicize your unfilial behavior in front of the Marquis of Changping's mansion, and see how you can hold your head up in front of others!"
Liu Er's eyes were filled with tears. She took out the few remaining copper coins from her bosom and said, "Take them, take them all!"
Mother Hu was preparing to take the copper coins with a smug smile on her face: "That's more like talking!"
At this moment, Su Wanyu's voice rang out: "Who is there?!"
Mother Hu was startled and quickly retracted her hand, looking around panicked.
Su Wanyu walked out from behind the rockery calmly, "Who are you and why are you in the backyard of our Changping Marquis Mansion?"
Mother Hu immediately knelt on the ground, "Madam, please spare my life. I... I just came to deliver food to your house..."
Su Wanyu's face darkened. "Delivering food? This should be the job of the kitchen manager. Why did you come to the backyard without permission?"
Mother Hu glanced at Liu'er, who was also stunned, and gently pulled her clothes, trying to seek help.
Liu'er just stared ahead, deliberately avoiding eye contact with anyone.
She had never had a good impression of Su Wanyu in her heart, and now that she was discovered unexpectedly, she had no energy to defend herself.
Su Wanyu waved her hand and ordered the maid beside her: "Take this person away. She has trespassed into the mansion without permission. She will not be allowed in again in the future."
"Yes, Second Young Madam." Several maids responded quickly, rushed forward and roughly grabbed Hu Ma, preparing to drag her away from the scene.
Mother Hu struggled and shouted to Liu'er, "Liu'er, quickly tell the Second Young Madam that I am your mother! Please help me explain!"
Liu'er pursed her lips, hesitating whether to speak.
Su Wanyu took the lead and said, "As far as I know, you have already signed a contract to sell yourself to the Marquis of Changping Mansion. Now you are the concubine of the second wife. What does it have to do with you, an outsider?"
Liu'er's face was instantly filled with astonishment. She raised her eyelids abruptly and her gaze met Su Wanyu's cold eyes.
Mother Hu's figure trembled slightly, and finally only her back was left as she hurriedly retreated out the door, with the door panel making a dull sound.
Liu'er's eyes were full of puzzlement and bewilderment. She looked closely at the Second Young Madam, who usually acted so high and mighty.
In her memory, she always tried to please the Second Master carefully under Su Wanyu's nose, and never thought that there would be a day when Su Wanyu would stand up to defend her.
"Second Young Madam, why...why are you helping me?" There was disbelief in Liu'er's voice.
Su Wanyu didn't turn around, but just stood there quietly.
After a long while, she slowly spoke, "I did this not to help you, but because... I think what your mother said is not entirely right..."
Liu Er frowned when she heard this and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
She turned her head slowly: "Your mother said that women can only rely on their looks and offspring to make a living, but I think the world is so vast, with so many rivers and mountains, there must be a way for women to maintain their dignity and be independent and free without having to rely on others."
Liu'er stood there in a daze. These ideas that subverted traditional concepts were too new to her. From childhood to adulthood, what echoed in her ears were always the teachings that asked her to serve the Second Master well, as if that was the only way out.
Su Wanyu's words warmed her heart that was bound by rigid ideas.
Although there was a rift between them because of Zheng Chengyan in their previous life, Su Wanyu no longer had any jealousy in her heart in this life.
Before leaving, Su Wanyu signaled Yun Yi to hand an ingot of silver to Liu'er.
Liu'er took it with both hands and didn't come back to her senses for a long time.