In just a few days, Cheng Jiao-niang had already changed three batches of maids.
Apart from the one who ran away with the Zhou family, the other two batches were sold off.
The Cheng family, known for its strict household management, clear ancestral rules, and leniency towards servants, rarely encountered such incidents. Normally, selling servants consecutively would be a rare event, happening perhaps once in several years. However, in less than a month, it had already occurred twice. This left all the servants in the household on edge, proceeding with utmost caution.
News of the two batches of maids being sold off quickly spread.
It was all tied to the fool in the Cheng family’s second household.
Unlike the fools in other families, who were often ugly, unpredictable, and abusive, this fool in the Cheng family excelled at framing and incriminating the servants, leaving all the servants and maids in a state of fear.
The most critical issue was that this fool was backed by her maternal family and cannot be provoked. As a result, working for the fool in the Cheng family now not only meant facing exclusion and oppression but also the risk of jeopardizing the future of their entire family.
“Hey, you came early. We don’t dare go in to serve.”
“My little sister is still nursing. If I get sold, I won’t survive.”
Seeing the two new maids pleading with her in terror, the maid found the situation both amusing and exasperating.
“Actually, the mistress isn’t like that…” she said.
The maid who was sold wasn’t really wronged; she had played a prank on the mistress first, so…
In any other household, she would have been severely punished as well. No maid would ever dare to do such a thing if it were with other households.
In the end, it was a case of one’s deceit rebounding on oneself.
But, how did the fool know she was being pranked?
Could it be, she’s not actually foolish?
For a moment, the maid was lost in thought.
“Please, you are a kind-hearted Bodhisattva. Our whole family is relying on you,” the two maids pleaded, tugging at her sleeve.
The maid snapped out of her thoughts and sighed.
“Alright, alright, you don’t have to go inside to serve. Just do the sweeping, cleaning, and cooking. I will attend to the mistress myself,” she said.
The two maids, feeling as if they had been granted amnesty, repeatedly expressed their gratitude.
The maid turned and entered the room.
Inside, the fool, once ridiculed and now feared and avoided, was quietly sitting as usual, reading a book.
The maid poured a cup of plain water, knelt down, and handed it over.
“Miss, have some water,” she said.
Cheng Jiao-niang responded with a hum, reaching out to take the cup.
The maid looked at the book on the table. Since the day she first saw it, it remained on the same page, never turned.
The lady’s long, fair fingers were pressed on a line of text, which already bore the marks of repeated rubbing.
“Would you like to take a nap now?” the maid asked again.
Cheng Jiao-niang shook her head and extended her hand.
“Help me up,” she said.
The maid quickly stood up and offered her assistance.
“I want to go for a walk,” she said.
The maid nodded and supported her as they walked out onto the veranda.
The maids who had gathered in the courtyard to chat suddenly stopped and turned towards the sound. They saw a young lady standing in the doorway of the hall, dressed in a plain dress and a blue satin jacket, with her black hair flowing loosely. They were all taken aback.
Recognizing who she was, they quickly rushed into the kitchen. They only caught a fleeting glimpse of the young lady’s delicate, fair face. They didn’t dare to scrutinize her appearance closely.
If they inadvertently upset her and she accused them of harming her, it could spell serious trouble.
The maid looked around at the suddenly quiet courtyard, feeling a bit awkward.
“They’re rushing to tidy up the kitchen,” she explained.
Cheng Jiao-niang, however, seemed unfazed as she raised her head slightly.
The sunlight was intense, accompanied by the chorus of autumn cicadas.
Cheng Jiao-niang narrowed her eyes.
The maid hesitated, unsure, and cautiously offered her arm to help her descend.
“Bring the veiled hat,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, “I can’t be in the sunlight, it makes me uncomfortable.”
The maid exclaimed softly, a hint of concern in her voice.
“I didn’t know, my apologies,” she said.
“It’s alright,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, “I’m telling you now, so you’ll know for next time.”
“Understood. I will remember,” the maid said eagerly, turning to fetch the veiled hat. She carefully placed it over Cheng Jiao-niang and then assisted her in walking out slowly.
“Oh my, that scared me!”
“On a hot day like this, why did she go out? She will frighten many people.”
The two maids had just peeked out from the kitchen, patting their chests, their faces still showing traces of fear.
Cheng Jiao-niang didn’t walk far, just circled around her courtyard once before stopping at the entrance.
“Would you like to go back?” the maid carefully supported her, and seeing her stop, she quickly asked.
“Yes,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
The maid didn’t dare to ask further and assisted her back inside. The maids in the courtyard scattered in a fluster again.
Since then, Cheng Jiao-niang began taking a daily stroll around the courtyard, not straying far. The maids gradually grew accustomed to her presence, no longer startled or avoiding her each time. Cheng Jiao-niang also increased her walks from one circle to two or three.
After half a month, the scorching summer faded, giving way to early autumn.
“Miss, are you tired? Shall we take a break?” the maid asked. She no longer needed to support Cheng Jiao-niang but carefully followed behind.
Having completed three circles, Cheng Jiao-niang stood at the doorway, her veiled hat pushed back to reveal her face.
Tiny beads of sweat dotted her fair skin.
“I’m not tired, let’s continue,” she replied.
The maid nodded in agreement and followed along.
After completing four circles, Cheng Jiao-niang finally stopped, her body feeling tired as she leaned on the maid.
“Miss, why strain yourself? Take a break if you’re tired,” the maid suggested.
During these days together, she had unconsciously grown fond of this quiet lady.
Compared to the other mistresses in the house who were often unpredictable, despite the intimidating reputation of this lady, she was actually much easier to care for—just follow her lead.
Cheng Jiao-niang stopped in her tracks and glanced behind her.
“I’m not tired,” she said.
Each day was an improvement over the last, albeit gradual. She believed that continuing with this exercise regimen would soon restore her mobility. Seeing such promising results made these efforts feel effortless.
The maid waited a moment, seeing Cheng Jiao-niang wasn’t going to say more, understanding that this was the end of her response. She quickly assisted her back inside.
The hot water was already prepared. After helping Cheng Jiao-niang bathe and change into clean clothes, the maid helped dry her hair while Cheng Jiao-niang continued reading.
Standing behind her, the maid noticed Cheng Jiao-niang’s left hand slowly moving across the lines of text, while her right hand traced slowly on the table. After a while, the hands switched roles, repeating this action.
Was she reading the book? It’s truly quite strange.
The room was remarkably quiet. Cheng Jiao-niang sat calmly, repeatedly running her fingers over the surface.
The maid suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
Miss spoke very sparingly. Besides essential tasks like dressing, eating, and drinking, she seldom uttered a word.
The maid remembered Ban Qin. When Ban Qin was present, she and the other maids often heard the mistress and Ban Qin conversing in the courtyard, mostly Ban Qin doing the talking.
Since Ban Qin left, Miss had grown even quieter, pacing silently around the courtyard and repetitively tracing her fingers in the room.
Did she know that Ban Qin had left?
Was she grieving over it?
“Miss, do you still remember Ban Qin?” the maid suddenly asked.
After speaking, she startled herself, feeling somewhat afraid.
It was said that fools don’t remember people.
Cheng Jiao-niang paused.
“I remember,” she replied, her thin lips forming a slight but discernible curve.
This made her entire face come alive.
The maid looked stunned.
Was she smiling?
Such a faint smile, yet it looked so beautiful.
But why was she smiling?
“Miss, do you, um, know that she…” the maid hesitated, then continued.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded slightly.
She was aware and remembered that Ban Qin, the maid, had left with someone else.
At that moment, she realized she could recall things.
Why couldn’t she remember before? Was it due to illness, or simply because she had someone to rely on and didn’t bother to remember?
In that instant, it felt as though she had recovered from her illness.
In truth, she wasn’t actually sick. Her mind was sound, and her body was healthy; she just lacked coordination.
Recognizing this, Cheng Jiao-niang noticed a significant improvement in her physical recovery. It was a good thing, so why would she forget about it?
“Miss, when Ban Qin left, she bowed to you outside,” the maid said, looking at Cheng Jiao-niang’s calm face.
Why did she mention this? Was it to console her, knowing Ban Qin didn’t leave without saying goodbye?
“Oh,” Cheng Jiao-niang responded.
A simple word, devoid of discernible emotion.
The maid suddenly felt relieved and knelt nearby.
“Miss, I think…” she paused, considering whether to say more, perhaps inventing something Ban Qin might have said.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled again as she looked at her.
“Thank you, but I’m not sad,” she said. “It’s she who is sad.”
