Qi Yuan wasn’t so naïve as to think that Zhang Mama had simply gone back, thought things through, and returned because she believed following her held more promise. No, if she’d changed her mind so quickly after just one trip out, then there had to be some other reason.
And in this household, who else could make Zhang Mama change her mind so easily, make her willingly come back to serve at Qi Yuan’s side?
Qi Zhen wouldn’t concern himself with such trifles.
Madam Wang certainly wouldn’t—for her, this daughter didn’t even register as someone worth paying attention to.
That left very few people. You could count them on one hand.
Qi Yuan thought about it with some interest, watching as Zhang Mama, looking every bit the authoritative housekeeper, began selecting maids.
A quick glance told her Zhang Mama had indeed picked girls who wore competence on their faces.
As for the rest, they were naturally deemed unworthy.
One particularly thin girl, about twelve years old, stood there with teary eyes, pitiful and anxious as she realized everyone had been chosen except her. Tears brimmed in her eyes, ready to fall.
None of the chosen girls looked especially pleased either—it was clear they didn’t think being sent to this young lady’s quarters was anything to celebrate.
Qi Yuan’s gaze shifted, and she suddenly called out to Gao Mama, who had been about to leave: “Mama, may I pick one more person?”
Stewardess Gao glanced at Zhang Mama, visibly puzzled.
Why would this young lady ask for someone else after the selection was supposedly finished?
Still, it wasn’t a big deal. Just one more maid. Stewardess Gao had no reason to refuse something so minor.
She smiled and agreed.
Naturally, she had heard what the Young Master said earlier.
But as someone who served directly under the Madam, she wouldn’t go so far as to immediately trample over Qi Yuan’s face just to curry favor with the Young Master.
After all, the current masters of this household were still the Marquis and Madam.
Since the Marquis had acknowledged this eldest daughter, she had to do the same.
The little maid who’d been overlooked was stunned. She clearly hadn’t expected the situation to reverse so suddenly, and when Qi Yuan named her personally, she immediately kowtowed with loud thumps. Her forehead even broke open a little from the impact.
Both Gao Mama and Zhang Mama smiled.
Qi Yuan, however, did not.
She remained silent for a moment, then told the little maid to rise.
Gao Mama, having completed her task, excused herself.
Zhang Mama then asked Qi Yuan attentively, “Miss, shall we give them all names now?”
Qi Yuan nodded.
In her past life, she hadn’t even had the right to choose her own servants—much less name them.
Now that she could, she didn’t recognize any of them, so after some thought, she said, “The four first-class maids will be called Baizhi, Baiyin, Chenxiang, and Banxia.”
The two second-class maids she named Baihe and Shaoyao for now.
As for the four rough-task maids, she let them choose names: Xiaotao, Lianzi, Lihua, and Bihe.
Zhang Mama’s expression shifted again upon hearing the names.
The more she listened, the more she felt this eldest miss wasn’t raised in the countryside at all. Just from the names she gave her maids, one could tell she wasn’t ordinary.
While she was still mulling this over, Qi Yuan said to her, “Mama, take them down to learn the rules first. After that, bring them back.”
She pointed to the little maid who had injured her forehead. “You, come in with me.”
Zhang Mama wasn’t sure what was so special about this girl that Qi Yuan had chosen her, but she still needed to take this chance to win over the ones who would serve closely around the young miss. So she quickly agreed and led the others away.
The little girl followed Qi Yuan into the room, her head bowed in fear, standing a short distance away.
Qi Yuan asked in a low voice, “You really wanted to stay?”
The girl immediately fell to her knees again with a thump.
Qi Yuan frowned. “Get up!”
The girl looked up at her in terror, and tears spilled down her cheeks in an instant. “Miss, my father died of illness, and my mother is bedridden. If I can’t get into the household, my mother won’t even be able to afford medicine anymore. Please don’t turn me away!”
She was a bondservant by birth, but with her father gone and her mother ill, her situation was even worse than those bought later on.
Normally, someone like her would never be chosen to serve directly under a master.
Even getting a spot in the laundry yard would require silver.
But Qi Yuan—this unfavored young lady who’d just been brought back from outside—was the only place where a girl like her might get a chance.
Yet even then, Zhang Mama hadn’t picked her.
Now, being noticed by Qi Yuan herself, the girl couldn’t stop crying. Her teeth chattered as she trembled in fear.
This was what it meant to live at the bottom.
Qi Yuan understood that feeling all too well—because she had once been just like this.
Her voice deepened: “Get up. Don’t just kneel every time something happens.”
She couldn’t change others, but she wasn’t someone who could just sit back and enjoy wielding life and death over others.
Much less someone who found joy in toying with people.
The girl wiped her face and stood up as instructed, still sniffling.
Qi Yuan asked, “What’s your name?”
The girl answered timidly, “Lianqiao. My name is Lianqiao.”
“Very good. Lianqiao, from now on, you are mine,” Qi Yuan said with a smile. “Stay.”
Tears welled up even more in Lianqiao’s eyes, and she fell to her knees again. “Thank you, Miss! You’re truly a good person!”
Qi Yuan lifted her hand. “Your mother is sick?”
At the mention of her mother, a spark lit up Lianqiao’s dull eyes. “Yes. Mother was thrown out by one of the household’s older mamas. She had a stroke from the shock and we can’t afford a doctor. She just lies in bed.”
Qi Yuan walked to her vanity and opened a drawer.
She didn’t have much of a dowry yet; the drawer held only a few sparse pieces of jewelry.
But having seen good things in her past life, she knew exactly what kind of second-rate items these were.
Even with Qi Zhen’s support, the household still held a wait-and-see attitude toward her. Few believed she could truly overtake the second young lady.
But that was fine.
Without hesitation, she took out a gold bracelet and handed it to Lianqiao. “Take this and use it to treat your mother.”
Lianqiao’s eyes widened instantly.
She hadn’t even processed what had just happened.
Sure, trusted first-class maids and housekeepers occasionally received generous gifts.
But she was just a little maid who hadn’t even started working!
And yet Qi Yuan had given her such a heavy reward!
Lianqiao panicked. “N-no, Miss, I don’t dare accept such a valuable gift…”
Qi Yuan didn’t bother with more words. She raised her brows. “Don’t want to treat your mother’s illness? Take it. Worry about the rest later.”
Lianqiao took it with trembling hands, the bracelet feeling heavy in her palms. She almost started crying again.
Everyone else said the eldest miss couldn’t compare to the second miss—but to her, this was the best master anyone could ask for.
Where else could you find someone so compassionate?
Just then, Zhang Mama lifted the curtain and entered, smiling as she swept her gaze over Lianqiao. She said to Qi Yuan, “Miss, they’ve all learned the rules. Someone from the Madam’s side has come to invite you for dinner.”
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