Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 64 The Art of Gift Giving

Another buzzing voice rang out: "Why waste that money? When you go there today, kneel down before her and have a good cry. If she doesn't give you the money, just say that your mother will die with regrets."

Donggua clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, her face turning blue with anger. Green Willow in the middle was deathly pale, her heart pounding like a drum. Upon hearing the first sentence, she was covered in cold sweat and collapsed to the ground, powerless. Meng Shu and the other person hurriedly helped her up.

As Green Willow looked up, two streams of tears welled up in her eyes. Her voice was small, hoarse, and urgent: "Quick...take me away from here...Meng Shu, I'll never do it again..."

On the carriage back to the manor, Donggua was unusually silent, while Meng Shu had nothing to say. After a long while, Lvliu finally emerged weakly from her memories, and said with a bitter smile, "So that sweetness was fake too."

"When I was sold, she secretly put a piece of sesame candy in my mouth, and kept hugging me and crying, saying that she would find a way to redeem me when things got better... It was that piece of candy that kept me going for so many years. Even when Biyu bullied me in Langya Courtyard, I didn't take it to heart. I pitied her because she was a servant born into a family and had to be a slave for life... Meng Shu, how ridiculous my life has been..."

Tears welled up in Meng Shu's eyes as she lifted the curtain of the car window to look outside.

Donggua jumped up, lifted the carriage curtain to signal the driver to stop, and then jumped out. He returned shortly with seven or eight kinds of candy, which he shoved into Lvliu's hands. "Eat up. From today onwards, you'll experience a new kind of sweetness."

Don't dwell on memories of warmth that never existed.

Meng Shu smiled. Donggua always manages to surprise people when they are in despair. Both the desserts she makes and she herself have the power to comfort people.

When the Tang family's fleet headed north again, Green Willow knelt down in shame to bid farewell to the Second Miss, and was then sent on a ship to Zheng's brokerage firm in Jinan County. Zhou the broker would take her to various places to buy people. After seeing so much of the coldness and warmth of human relationships, even the softest-hearted person would become cold and hard.

"I only hope that she can bloom from the mud." Meng Shu and Dong Gua said this. Dong Gua replied, "I think she is different. Yesterday she came to the small kitchen to apologize to me. When she told Rui Zhu about opening the shop, she did not mean it."

"Yes, I wrote a letter to Granny Zhou, telling her that if she makes a mistake and I'm too soft-hearted, I should slap her across the face."

"Pfft, hahaha Meng Shu, you're too ruthless. I wouldn't dare offend you again." Dong Gua grinned and stuffed a candy into Meng Shu's mouth as well. "Let's sweeten our mouths too."

Ten days after the betrothal ceremony, Tang Xian gave some instructions, went to Fu'an Residence to say goodbye to the old lady, and prepared to formally bring Fu Guangjin to the capital. This trip would not take place until after the results of the imperial examinations were announced next spring.

Aunt Wen began to have her own ideas. Although she was still under house arrest, the old lady had already shown some signs of relenting. In reality, it was because Aunt Lu had to take care of the second young master, Aunt Liu had to prepare for the eldest young lady's marriage, and the madam had to manage the household affairs. Wouldn't that leave her the only one who could accompany the eldest young master to the capital?

In the flower hall of Fu'an Residence, the old lady indeed spoke up: "...I can only feel at ease if there is someone caring about your daily life. Aunt Wen has always been quite attentive, so why not take her along?"

Madam Yun stared intently at the jade bonsai on the rosewood table, while Mama Wei beside her lowered her head and cautiously glanced at the old man.

"There are many complicated matters to attend to on this journey, and this matter is of great importance, so it is not advisable to make a fuss. My son will take several head managers with him." After saying this, he added that he would be picking up Lin Ge'er at that time, and the old lady did not insist anymore. She just turned around and told the head managers to take good care of him.

Yun Guiyuan.

Madam Yun was busy making arrangements for the luggage she would take to the capital. She not only had to prepare gifts for the Marquis of Huai'an's residence and the Yun family, but also had to manage various connections in the palace. She put a lot of thought into every aspect.

This was a teaching opportunity, so the second young lady was called over to help. Madam Yun checked the gift list in the storeroom and carefully explained to her daughter which type of gift to match the regulations of each mansion. It should not be stingy, nor should it be overstepped. It should also be in line with the preferences of the recipients, and personal relationships should also be taken into account. For example, the gift list for each branch of the Marquis's mansion should be carefully considered.

Since the Marquis's family has not divided, and especially since Tang Xian is personally visiting this time, it is secondary to not being stingy with gifts. What is most important is to be thorough in all aspects. There are many branches of the family, both legitimate and illegitimate, with many elders and juniors. Although it is not necessary to send gifts to everyone, the gifts are all on one list. We must put ourselves in their shoes and consider how to distribute these gifts, which ones are for whom. We must have a general plan. Only by giving thoughtful gifts can we better demonstrate the Tang family's care.

As for the Yun family, it's different. After the Yun family split up, there were four branches, which makes the question of distance between them very important.

The fourth branch of the Yun family is naturally the closest, being Tang Xian's in-laws. The eldest branch of the Yun family is headed by the family patriarch and holds a high position, so their support is crucial this time, and the gifts must be extremely generous. The other two branches only require a steward like Tang Shi to handle matters.

The gifts given to palace servants were simpler. Apart from a few key servants whose preferences needed to be carefully considered, the other palace servants preferred gold and silver.

Granny Gao hadn't gone into detail about these intricacies, but Madam Yun only mentioned the important parts this time, and then asked the second young lady to write up the gift list for the Marquis's residence.

After the second young lady finished writing, Madam Yun held it and read it. She shook her head and crossed out a few items with her pen. “It is indeed valuable, but you have forgotten that it was just after the Mid-Autumn Festival. The gifts were sent less than half a month ago. Such a grand gesture would seem a bit distant. Therefore, the Marquis’s gift list should be less and more refined, focusing on the younger generation of the Marquis’s family. It is your father’s greeting gift as an elder.”

Meng Shu was grinding ink at the table. The second young lady had just written a few things and she shook her head inwardly. To be fair, the second young lady's poetry and prose were indeed good, but she lacked a lot in terms of interpersonal skills.

Madam Yun handed the Second Miss a gift list she had written for the Yun family, and then stared at her earnestly, saying, "I don't know if it's right or wrong to make you read more books. From now on, you will come to Yun Gui Courtyard every day to learn how to manage the household affairs."

The second young lady readily agreed, while Ruizhu clicked her tongue in disbelief. "Our young lady's life is even more miserable than that of a lowly maid." In the morning, she attends her studies, and in the afternoon, she learns how to manage a household. Manager Qi of Yongxiu Cloth Shop is going to the capital this time, and the shop will be handed over to the second young lady for the next six months. Although she has been assigned a manager, the second young lady still needs to do everything herself.

And that bookstore, which is currently under renovation, also needs to be taken care of.

Once the gift list was prepared, Madam Yun personally led several young ladies to the dock to see them off. Tang Xian gave his daughters some detailed instructions and then bowed to Madam Yun, saying, "I hope you will take good care of things during these days."

Madam Yun simply straightened his clothes with her own hands and said softly, "My husband, please take care of yourself."

After the boat had sailed far away, the masters waved goodbye and boarded their carriages to return to their residences. On the way back to Yunyi Courtyard, a maidservant came to deliver a message, saying that a girl named Dingxiang had come looking for Meng Shu.