A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

The door closed again, leaving only Chen Wanxing and the two people she had just chosen to spend her future days with.

"From now on, Granny Li will be my head maid, and you will be in charge of all household affairs."

She looked at the young girl and remembered that when she asked them to introduce themselves, she had said her name was Daya. Chen Wanxing paused for a moment and then said, "You shall be called Yunzhu, and you shall serve me."

Granny Li bowed steadily, her tone calm and solemn, reflecting the weight of her past experiences: "Yes, Miss. This old servant will do my utmost to live up to your trust."

Yunzhu was both surprised and delighted. She hurriedly followed Li Mama's example and bowed, her voice clear and melodious: "Thank you for bestowing a name upon me, Miss. Yunzhu will remember it."

Chen Wanxing did not immediately let them relax, but sat upright and slowly spoke, explaining that the rules should be agreed upon in advance.

"Since you've come with me, there are some things I need to say upfront. I don't have many rules here, just a few, and you must remember them."

Granny Li immediately focused her attention and listened intently, while Yunzhu also stood up straight nervously.

"The first rule is to be faithful. I cannot tolerate betrayal and treachery. Now that you have entered my door, whatever you see or hear, you must keep your mouths shut."

Her tone was calm, but the content carried immense weight.

"Secondly, your hands and feet must be clean. Every stitch and thread has its rightful owner. What is rightfully yours, I will not be stingy with; what is not rightfully yours, you are not allowed to touch even a penny of. This is the bottom line. If you violate this rule, I will not let you off lightly and will immediately return you to the brokerage."

"The third point is that you must act with moderation. When you are with me, do your job diligently; when I don't call on you, you can arrange your own work, as long as you don't neglect your duties, I won't be harsh. But if you cheat or shirk your duties, and I find out, I won't tolerate it."

After she finished speaking, she looked at the two men in front of her with stern expressions and softened her tone slightly: "With me, as long as you abide by these three rules, I usually consider myself an easy-going host, but if you break my principles..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but both Granny Li and Yunzhu understood what the unfinished words meant.

"This servant/old servant will remember your teachings, young lady, and will never dare to disobey!" The two replied in unison, their respect for their young mistress growing even stronger.

Once the rules were established, Chen Wanxing summoned the innkeeper and instructed him, "Give these two a lower-class room next to or near me."

The waiter left as instructed. Granny Li remained calm, and Yunzhu showed no unusual reaction; to them, this was a perfectly normal arrangement.

"We'll stay here for a few days and move when we find a house. The inn is quite expensive, so the two of you can share a lower room. It's a bit cramped, but it's much better than a large dormitory. Just make do for a few days."

Granny Li immediately said, "Miss's consideration is excellent. This arrangement is already very good. How could we dare to say it's just a compromise?" Yunzhu also nodded hurriedly.

Seeing that they were sensible, Chen Wanxing was pleased. She rewarded the two with some tea, fruit, and seeds, and told them to go back to their rooms and settle in. She then began to think about her next step in her grand plan to buy a house.

The next day, Chen Wanxing set off before dawn, but when she arrived at the yamen gate, Granny Sun was already there, having waited for an unknown amount of time.

The two greeted each other and went into the yamen together. Granny Sun was obviously very familiar with the people here, so Chen Wanxing didn't bother to look for that Li Kuaishou anymore.

Coincidentally, the clerk on duty was the same one from the day before. He looked up and saw Chen Wanxing, paused for a moment, and then smiled.

"Oh, it's you, young lady! That's really efficient. You just registered your household registration a few days ago, and you're already signing a contract to buy someone today?"

Chen Wanxing smiled and returned the greeting, her tone gentle: "You flatter me, sir. It's just the beginning of settling down, and there are many trivial matters to attend to. We need someone to help manage things. Thanks to you, everything is going smoothly."

The clerk nodded as he took the indenture document, "Of course, of course. It's good that you've established yourself so quickly, young lady."

He examined the contract and, after confirming it was correct, asked, "Will these two sign a permanent contract or a temporary contract? If a temporary contract, the duration must be specified."

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Wanxing said, "Let's establish a contract. Eight years for the nanny, ten years for the maid." The kneeling nanny Li and the little maid Yunzhu trembled slightly and lowered their heads even further.

Emerging from the yamen, the sun was just rising, and the air still carried a slight morning chill. Seeing that it was still early, Chen Wanxing had the waiting carriage return to the inn.

"We've been busy all morning and are on an empty stomach. Let's find a place nearby to have breakfast before we go back," she said, leading Granny Li and Yunzhu on a slow walk along the street.

Instead of choosing a restaurant, Chen Wanxing went to a stall with a large tent, steaming hot food, and many diners sitting there.

The air was filled with a rich, spicy aroma, mixed with the smoky scent of fried noodles.

This is the most common breakfast food in Kaifeng Prefecture: spicy soup.

The three of them found an empty table and sat down. The waiter came over to greet them, and Chen Wanxing skillfully ordered three bowls of spicy soup, plus six freshly made, golden and crispy fried dough sticks.

"Alright! Three bowls of spicy soup and six fried dough sticks, thank you, that'll be ninety coins!" the waiter announced loudly.

The price made Yunzhu, who was standing with her head bowed, secretly click her tongue. Ninety coins was enough to buy four catties of pork. In a more frugal family, it would be enough for half a month's worth of grain.

This seemingly unremarkable soup is actually so precious?

She couldn't help but steal a glance at her young mistress, and seeing her counting out the copper coins with a normal expression, she felt even more awe and restraint.

Granny Li, however, remained calm. Having often accompanied the madam to the homes of officials, she could tell at a glance that the price was not exorbitant.

The pepper, cinnamon, and other spices used to enhance the flavor of the soup are all expensive, costing as much as silver. Even the cooking oil used to fry the dough sticks is not something an ordinary family would be willing to use every day.

The girl brought them here to eat this. Although it's a small, unassuming shop, the price is anything but modest.

The steaming hot soup and fried dough sticks were served quickly. The dark brown soup was thick, and you could see the gluten, diced meat, and wood ear mushrooms inside, with a wonderful aroma.

"Sit down, everyone, and eat while it's hot," Chen Wanxing said, picking up a spoon herself first.

Granny Li thanked her, calmly sat down halfway on the stool, and picked up a spoon, her movements unhurried.

Yunzhu was still a little at a loss. Only after being prompted by Li Mama's eyes did she carefully sit down next to the stool.

Looking at the tempting soup in front of her, she hesitated to take a bite, only secretly glancing at Chen Wanxing and Granny Li's actions.

Chen Wanxing saw her embarrassment but didn't say anything. He simply said, "Since it's a reward for you, eat it in peace. From now on, follow the rules when you're with me, and eat your meals properly. You'll have the energy to do things if you eat well."

Yunzhu seemed to have received permission, and quietly replied "Yes," picked up the spoon, and imitated her, scooping up a small spoonful and putting it into her mouth.

The spicy, fresh, and mellow flavor melted in her mouth, making her eyes light up for a moment. Then she quickly lowered her head and ate it in small bites, both cherishing it and feeling a little apprehensive.

As Chen Wanxing ate this "expensive" breakfast, her thoughts became much simpler. She was simply enjoying the delicious food and the pleasant morning.