Chapter 62 Mid-Autumn
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Seeing that the Zhang family’s door was open, Second Master Cheng was overjoyed and hurriedly pulled Liu Pu over.
“My master is not at home,” the doorkeeper said immediately, squinting and putting on a stern face.
Liar!
All three people outside shouted in their hearts.
But they did not dare to say it out loud.
“You see, we’ve come several times…”Second Master Cheng said with a respectful and slightly flattering smile.
Before he finished speaking, the young maid exclaimed and hurriedly came over to greet him.
“Master, you are here too?” she called out.
Master? Second Master Cheng was taken aback, looking at the maid in front of him.
Me?
Before he could speak, Liu Pu was also taken aback but then became overjoyed, looking at him with some surprise.
“It turns out that even a maid from your household can enter and leave the Old Master’s house. That’s truly impressive,” he said loudly, his accent even thicker, causing a buzzing in Second Master Cheng’s ears.
“A maid from my household can come and go from the Old Master’s residence like this!”
A maid from my household!
Old Master Zhang picked up his teacup. Liu Pu and Second Master Cheng, understanding the situation, stood up.
“We’ll take our leave,” they said respectfully.
Old Master Zhang responded with a grunt. Second Master Cheng and Liu Pu then left the Zhang family’s old residence.
“Zi Gu, I really have to thank you this time,” Liu Pu said with an excited expression.
“There’s no need for such words,” Second Master Cheng’s face was somewhat stiff, but he still managed to squeeze out a smile and said.
“In that case, I must be on my way. I can’t drink and talk with you now, but if there’s a chance in the future, we won’t go home until we’re drunk,” Liu Pu said, reaching out to pat Second Master Cheng on the arm.
Liu Pu had practiced martial arts since childhood and later became a disciple of Zhang Chun. Although he studied, he never neglected his martial arts skills. When he patted Second Master Cheng on the arm, it hurt so much that Second Master Cheng gritted his teeth, but he was overjoyed in his heart.
With this event, he had established a connection with the Liu family of Tong-zhou.
Especially when Liu Pu carefully inquired about his future career prospects before parting. After hearing his response, Liu Pu seemed thoughtful but said nothing, and left with a cheerful goodbye.
“Is everything fine now?” Second Madam Cheng asked in confusion as she took the cloak her husband had just removed.
“Liu Yukun may seem rough, but he is meticulous. He will surely write to his uncle. With the recommendation from my teacher and the support of Scholar Liu, if this matter doesn’t succeed, I might as well resign and return to farming,” Second Master Cheng said with a smile.
Second Madam Cheng was very pleased, as she was counting on her husband to earn her the title of a noble lady in the future.
“Then this is truly wonderful. We must really thank Old Master Zhang,” she said with a smile.
Speaking of this, Second Master Cheng’s expression became stiff.
Thank Old Master Zhang for the favor of letting him in?
But…
“It wasn’t because of me,” he said as he sat down, with a complex mix of emotions, “it was because of a maid from our household.”
At that time, when the doorkeeper heard the maid call out “Master,” his expression immediately changed. When he heard them say they were there to pay respects, instead of the usual quick dismissal with “not home” and shutting the door, he said he would go and ask. After a short while, they were invited in.
Second Master Cheng knew very well that this favor was thanks to the maid.
“A maid?” Second Madam Cheng asked, puzzled.
Second Master Cheng explained the situation, and Second Madam Cheng’s expression was not much better than his.
“At the time, I couldn’t ask who she was, nor do I know her name,” Second Master Cheng said.
“Bring all the maids from our household here so I can see who it is.”
“How could one of our maids walk around outside freely, and even come and go from someone else’s house?” Second Madam Cheng said. “Could you have misheard?”
That’s true.
“Then she isn’t a maid from our household?” Second Master Cheng said.
Not from our household? Then from where?
The couple was completely baffled.
“Miss, you were indeed right. That old man is truly not an ordinary person,” the maid said, putting down the basket and speaking hurriedly.
“Today, I actually saw the Master there,” she continued, noticing the cold wind blowing in and quickly going back to shut the door.
Cheng Jiao-niang put down her book and responded with an “Oh” as she looked at her.
“The Master was very respectful in front of that old man,” the maid said with a smile, her excitement barely contained, “If that old man told the Master to allow us to go back, the Master would certainly comply.”
“Go back?” Cheng Jiao-niang looked at her. “I’ve come out with great difficulty and am enjoying this moment of freedom. Why would I want to go back?”
“Miss,” the maid said nervously, taking a few steps forward on her knees and holding onto Cheng Jiao-niang’s knee, “Even though we are staying here, please don’t entertain any thoughts of cultivating.”
Cheng Jiao-niang’s lips curled into a smile.
“Life is a journey of cultivation wherever you are. I won’t be confined to any one place,” she said, patting the maid’s hand. “Don’t worry about such things. First, get up and teach those nuns the few kinds of snacks you know so they can use them for the Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow.”
The maid complied with a nod.
“Miss, what would you like to eat? Tell me, and we’ll enjoy it while admiring the moon,” she said happily.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded and agreed.
“This place is high and refreshing, perfect for moon-gazing. At home, we might not have such serenity,” she said, looking outside at the bamboo forest, its rustling elegant and peaceful.
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, like thousands of other households, the Cheng family decorated with lanterns and festoons, creating a lively atmosphere.
The children returned from admiring the lanterns in the streets, and under the leadership of Old Madam Cheng, they paid respects to the moon. After the moon-gazing, the whole family gathered to eat, drink, and enjoy the moonlight. Cheng Liu-niang showcased flower arrangements, Cheng Wu-niang and Cheng Liu-niang presented Old Madam Cheng with a pair of embroidered shoes, and Cheng Qi-niang sketched a moon-gazing picture. The family was filled with laughter and joy.
While Old Madam Cheng was quietly conversing with a few old servants, a clattering noise came from the table where the daughters were sitting. It turned out that a maid had dropped a plate.
Such matters didn’t require First Madam Cheng to intervene; the responsible stewardess would handle it. The stewardess went over to scold the maid quietly. The maid had already knelt down to pick up the broken pieces, and as she knelt, a few round snacks rolled out of her sleeves.
“Ah, you’re asking for trouble, stealing things from here!” a maid who was standing close shouted sharply.
The shout drew everyone’s attention. They didn’t immediately understand what was happening, but they all heard the word “steal.”
Old Madam Cheng’s face hardened as she glanced at First Madam Cheng.
“She didn’t steal anything,” Cheng Qi-niang called out from the other side. “This is my personal maid.”
Everyone was taken aback, and Old Madam Cheng’s expression grew even harder as she looked at First Madam Cheng.
“Now, such a person can serve so closely?” she asked.
Those who served closely were naturally of some standing; for such behavior to occur indicated a lack of discipline in managing the household.
“It’s my fault,” First Madam Cheng said, lowering her head.
“It’s not like that, Grandmother,” Cheng Qi-niang interjected, stepping forward. “She didn’t steal anything. I asked her to take these back for me to eat when I returned.”
“No, that’s not it. It’s my fault. I’m the one who wanted to sneak some snack. It has nothing to do with Seventh Lady,” the maid said, her voice trembling and hurriedly knocking her head on the ground.
Such a hasty confession seemed quite abnormal.
Old Madam Cheng looked at First Madam Cheng with a gloomy expression, set the teacup down on the table with a loud clatter, and the sound was particularly harsh in the silence of the room.
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