Chapter 23: Finding Another Way
While Mother Yu was frowning and thinking of a solution, Jiaohong was talking to Mother Liu with red eyes, holding a handkerchief in her hand.
Jiaohong and Qingrui entered the Huainan Marquis's mansion together. They both started as the lowest maids and had a very good relationship. Jiaohong was not a born child, but was sold to the mansion alone. At that time, Mama Liu had not yet become the housekeeper of the West House, but lived in the back street of the mansion's servants. During the break, Qingrui would take Jiaohong to Mama Liu's house to play.
Qingrui's mother passed away early, and her stepmother either beat or scolded her. She was brought up by her aunt Liu Mama, and they had a deep affection for each other. Later, through their own efforts, one became the eldest maid beside the fourth young lady, and the other became the first servant beside the wife of the prince. They were both very respectable among the servants in the Huainan Marquis's mansion.
"Don't cry. There's nothing you can do about it. It's better than being sold out, right?" Mother Liu said softly while pouring water for Jiaohong.
"I know, it's also my good luck. I had my period that day and couldn't serve the Fourth Miss. Alas, poor Jiaofeng..." Jiaohong took the water and took a sip.
"Don't worry, I've asked the second son to tell Jiaofeng's family. I'm sure they will find a way." Mother Liu also sighed.
"I'm sorry to have caused trouble to Aunt Liu. Jiaofeng has sent a lot of money to our family over the years. It should be possible to redeem her in a short time."
"Why are the dark circles under your eyes so heavy? Stop thinking about Jiaofeng. You have done your best and there is nothing else you can do to help. Don't let yourself get hurt."
"I'm not like this because of Jiaofeng." Jiaohong said with a wry smile.
"Could it be the Fourth Miss?"
Jiaohong nodded helplessly, "Aunt Liu also knows that the fourth young lady is usually not easy to serve. Everyone below is scolded by her. Those little girls are covered with bruises every day. Even though I have served her like this for many years and know her habits and temperament, she will sometimes lose face in front of others, not to mention that my son is now because of this matter... Hey, I have been really depressed these days, so I am using this opportunity to talk to Aunt Liu."
"Still not taking the medicine?"
"Not only that, some gossipy girl said this morning that the knee might become a scar, which made Miss Four very angry. I coaxed her and said that if she persisted in applying medicine, it would heal over time. But she said that I was just like everyone else, and I couldn't bear to see her get better, so I didn't even tell her the truth.
"Maybe it was because of the hot weather and she hadn't been able to go out for a few days. The fourth young lady was very irritable. At noon, she got angry because of a bowl of meatball soup. She said some unpleasant things and asked me to leave in front of the maids. She said she didn't need me to serve her anymore. This is nothing. There is no master who doesn't lose her temper. The key point is that she did it in front of those little maids. It was really a slap in the face."
Jiaohong sighed, "Miss Fourth loves to have dreams at night if she doesn't take the medicine. Although she has minor injuries on her body, they are not serious, right? Every time Madam asks about it, I don't know how to answer."
"Isn't it Mama Liu who usually answers the calls?" Mama Liu asked. Mama Liu was the fourth young lady's wet nurse.
"We take turns. When the fourth young lady gets angry, no one can do anything about it. She won't listen to anyone. After Jiaofeng was sold, I had to do the work of two people alone. I also had to coax her to take medicine and apply the medicine."
"I'm sorry, but I think if Miss Four doesn't want to drink, then don't drink. She'll be fine after a few days of tantrums."
"I thought so too, but who dared to bring it up? In fact, the fourth young lady is usually fine, although she is a bit domineering, but if you explain things clearly and follow her wishes, she will still listen. It was because of this incident that she got hurt a little and couldn't move around. She was stuck in the house for several days. In addition, I heard from someone that Shuqin jumped into the pond, and I was really scared."
Just as Aunt Liu was about to say something, she looked through the window and saw Su Qing entering the yard. Jiaohong also saw it and turned her head and said, "This girl has caught Aunt Liu's eye."
Mother Liu did not tell Jiaohong about Jinlianhua. After all, she was not her biological niece, and the more she said, the more mistakes she would make.
"Yes, like you, she was sold here alone, with no one to rely on, so pitiful. But she is very well-behaved, obedient and hardworking. Because of the flower banquet a while ago, she came to my place frequently and we became familiar with each other."
Jiaohong nodded and stood up. "I've talked to Aunt Liu and I feel much better. I'll go back first. Today is the first day that the fourth young lady has left the house after the accident. Even though I'm going to the lady in the east room, I have to go back early to check on her."
When she walked out of the door, she bumped into Su Qing. Su Qing had only seen Jiaohong once when she accompanied Mama Liu to deliver the golden lotus, and she knew that she was the fourth young lady's capable person, so she stood up and saluted.
Watching Jiaohong walk out of the courtyard, Mother Liu took Su Qing's hand and went into the house, "I made a dress for you, take a look and see if you like it."
"Aunt, why are you wasting your energy? I have clothes to wear." Su Qing watched as Mama Liu took out a set of clothes from the box and spread them out on the bed. It was a common style, with a lake blue vest similar to silk, and a slightly darker long skirt underneath.
Su Qing hasn't worn a skirt since she started wearing it. It's more convenient for her to wear wide-leg pants like the ones she's wearing when she's doing her work on weekdays.
"Oh, it's really beautiful, but how can I have the chance to wear it?" Su Qing went forward and touched it. She really liked it. Even in her previous life, she was not very old. Who wouldn't love beautiful clothes?
"You can't wear it on weekdays when you're on duty, but you'll have the chance when you're on break. When you get the chance to go out for a walk, you'll always change into something new." Mother Liu was happy to see that she really liked it, and she picked up the vest to try it on Su Qing.
"I noticed that Sister Jiaohong's eyes were red just now, but what about the Fourth Miss..." Su Qing stood there and let Mother Liu gesture to her, and asked softly.
"That's right. She's been in a bad temper all day and refused to take her medicine. Just now she scolded Jiaohong in front of the servants. When will it end? This Fourth Miss has a bad temper. I don't think Wanxiang will get better after she goes there."
"Didn't Wanxiang say that the third-class servants are not allowed to serve closely?"
"That's true, but considering the tempers of those mother and daughter, I'm afraid they won't be willing to do that." Mother Liu knew Wanxiang's mother very well. She treated her two daughters as cash cows. The eldest daughter went after the second daughter without even realizing it.
"I heard that the fourth young lady is not allowed to go out, so what does she do every day?"
"What else can I do? I can't sit still. I don't like reading or sewing. I just ask people to bring the pair of birds into the house every day, but after a while, I get tired of it. Or I ask people to move the flowers and plants to the low table and put them in this pot and that pot. I don't like anything. In a few days, I've changed the fish twice."
Su Qing watched Mother Liu packing clothes into her bag and washing plums and peaches for her, and she couldn't help but frown and think. The fourth young lady now looked like a primary school student who was locked in the classroom and not allowed to attend physical education classes. She was also a student from a privileged family with a bad temper.
Su Qing wondered if she were a teacher, what method would she use to make such a student obedient, or quiet down, write well, and attend class well?
"Take these back and eat them with Cai'er in the evening." Mother Liu put the washed fruits into a basket and handed it to Su Qing.