Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 150 - 3: Servants (Part 1)

There wasn’t much to tidy up in the room, Fen Dai and the others merely replaced the bedding with the ones Susu was accustomed to using.

Before long, Fen Dai’s mother sent over a maid of about fourteen or fifteen years old carrying four kinds of pastries. Susu noticed this girl bore a five or six tenths resemblance to Fen Dai, and indeed Fen Dai happily greeted her, calling out, "Big Sister!"

At that time, Susu had mentioned she only wanted maidens of about eleven or twelve years old, considering that those too young were still ignorant, and those too mature had already formed character, which makes them difficult to train and, before long, they’d be ready for marriage, wasting effort. Upon seeing Fen Dai’s eldest sister’s demeanor and conduct, she thought it was quite good, then asked what her name was.

Fen Dai’s elder sister, at this age, had been given tasks before; because she was lovely and of gentle temperament, she served as a second-class maid by Young Master’s side. In the past, the mansion employed numerous beauties, yet none compared to the celestial grace of the present mistress. Beauties previously encountered seemed as unremarkable as dirt, not worth mentioning.

Previously, she felt somewhat uneasy in her heart, as several maids on the estate privately remarked that being a maidservant was a disgrace, yet she disliked gossip, so she kept it to herself. Now seeing it, she realized only such exceptional people are cherished and loved by the Old Madam of Bo Mansion!

Fen Dai noticed her normally courteous elder sister now appeared stunned upon meeting the mistress, even though she understood the mistress’s attractiveness was overwhelming, but that was no excuse for not responding when spoken to by the master, so she slyly pinched her sister on the back.

Susu had grown accustomed to such scenarios, and Fen Dai’s elder sister realized her lapse in manners, hurriedly offered a curtsey: "Greetings, Mistress! When I previously served, the original master bestowed upon me the name Hong Dou."

Susu was momentarily surprised, thinking of the verse, "Linglong dice embedded with red beans, engraved deep longing do you know?" This name hardly seemed to be one given by a mistress. However, it was all past matters, and Susu paid it little heed.

Sampling the four kinds of pastries with Yun Tong and Chun Feng: one Red Bean Crisp, one Jade Bean Cake, one Date and Yam Cake, and one savory Pepper and Salt Shortbread, all exquisitely delicate, a mouthful each, wouldn’t smudge lip rouge, a plate merely held eight, wouldn’t affect luncheon, truly well-thought-out!

Susu had tasted abundant delicacies in the Song Mansion; though well-crafted, these pastries were not exceedingly remarkable, but it was the thoughtful effort that was commendable.

After cleansing her hands, Susu remarked, "Your mother was considerate. These taste no worse than those made in our mansion. Linglong, bring a pair of pearl earrings to your Sister Hong Dou, and relay to Aunt Lin, no need for lavish dishes such as plump chicken and duck at lunch, just prepare five or six signature dishes using the green rice we brought, with a soup to accompany!"

Hong Dou thanked her for the reward and retired, then Fen Dai chased after her, with a grin slipping her sister a silver nugget and a bolt of cloth sufficient for an entire outfit.

"These were given as rewards as instructed by the Mistress before, and I still have good things left for you, Sister, to speak of at home!" Then sternly continued, "Sister, when you return, you must warn those frivolous ones properly. Our Mistress is someone of great intellect; don’t let them embarrass the uncles and elders! The Mistress values etiquette and loyalty; praises and rewards the good, punishes the bad, even in the Bo Mansion as the word is decisive!"

Hong Dou pinched her younger sister’s cheek, "Little girl grows up, now lecturing her elder sister; these words are redundant from you when our parents and uncle-aunts say these eight times a day. The younger ones are still okay, but the older ones who have worked before, favored in front of the masters as first or second class, never having met the Mistress, they may comply verbally but not completely in heart, words won’t suffice, always needing the Mistress to set an example and establish authority!"

Hong Dou finished speaking, seeing her sister with a thoughtful expression, she laughed and said, "Hurry and go inside, you are blessed, serve the Mistress well!"

Fen Dai entered the room, saw Susu smiling at her, felt a tad embarrassed herself, and recounted all her sister had said to Susu like pouring beans. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Susu laughed and said, "From now on, all of your families will go northwest with me; this has been clear since my betrothal. For those unwilling, I’ll cancel their registration and release them, which is my kindness as a master; I don’t like trouble!"

Susu had never been tenderhearted; only in the Song Family cherished by the Old Madam, none dared offend, even when fierce, there was no outlet. Previously upon returning to the capital, confronting the housekeeper’s misconduct was when Susu was most severe!

Upon hearing this, the four silently burned incense for those making trouble, realizing being renounced by the mistress, even if registration was canceled, would hardly bring a prosperous future!