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

On the seventh day of the fourth lunar month, at dawn, Ping'an Town was still shrouded in a thin layer of mist, and the bluestone road gleamed with a damp sheen.

But the Chen and Zhang families were already busy, and an unusually solemn atmosphere permeated the air.

Today is the big day for Zhang Youcong, the grandson of the Zhang family and the great-grandson of the Chen family, to officially begin his studies at the only school in town run by a scholar.

On the Chen family's main branch, Zhang Huiniang got up before dawn and tidied her son Youcong from head to toe.

The little guy was wearing a brand-new royal blue fine cloth long gown that his parents had specially made for him, and a square scarf of the same color on his head.

Although he was still young, he had inherited the delicate features of his parents. He tried to look serious with a straight face, but his dark eyes still revealed a bit of curiosity and nervousness about the unknown school.

Chen Yancheng carefully inspected the schoolbag his son was going to take. Inside was a brand new set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Chen Wanxing had specially chosen these for him: pine soot ink and wolf hair brushes.

He patted his son on the shoulder, said little, but said in a deep voice: "When you go to school, listen to your teacher and study hard."

Sending a child to school is a major event for a farming family. The entire Chen family, from the eldest son to the youngest, had gathered in the courtyard.

Chen's mother straightened his already neat collar, her eyes slightly red, full of relief: "Our Youcong is going to be a scholar, good boy, study hard."

Grandma Chen sat upright at the head of the main room, wearing her most presentable dark blue jacket, her hair neatly combed.

She looked at her great-grandson, dressed in his new clothes, her wrinkled face displaying a complex expression. There was pride, anticipation, and a hint of unspeakable melancholy.

She initially agreed to let Youcong change his surname to Zhang for the sake of the child's future, as well as out of gratitude for the sincerity of her in-laws, the Zhang family, and for the plight of her only daughter, Huiniang.

But now, watching the child embark on his academic journey as "Zhang Youcong," the old man couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

"When you get to school, respect your teachers and cherish your classmates." Grandma Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it was very serious, unlike her usual kind demeanor. "You're going there to learn skills, and also to cultivate your character and virtue. Do you understand?"

"I remember, Great-Grandma." Zhang Youcong nodded obediently, looking very serious.

On the other side, the Zhang family's mule cart had already stopped outside the Chen family's courtyard. The Zhang family elders, Manager Zhang and his wife, had also come in person, bringing with them a set of six gifts prepared in advance.

Celery, lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, longan, and two pieces of dried meat were neatly arranged in a basket tied with red silk.

Shopkeeper Zhang's face beamed with joy, his eyes filled with pride and anticipation as he looked at Zhang Youcong.

He only had one daughter, Hui Niang. Now his grandson has changed his surname to Zhang and is about to start school, continuing the Zhang family's legacy. He genuinely likes Chen Yancheng, his son-in-law, and the Chen family, his in-laws.

"Good! Energetic! You look like a young scholar!"

Shopkeeper Zhang laughed heartily and personally carried his grandson onto the padded mule cart, where the Chen family surrounded him as they saw him off to the door.

Looking at Zhang Youcong's radiant appearance and his brand-new stationery box, Aunt Chen's eyes were full of envy.

Compared to her second sister-in-law's family, her family had actually treated her quite well, but her family was also very poor, much worse off than the Liu and Zhang families.

However, compared to how much the Zhang family elders valued Hui Niang and the children, her own family was lucky if they could even take care of themselves, let alone help her.

"Let's go, it's almost time. Don't keep the master waiting." Chen Yancheng nodded to his father-in-law.

Manager Zhang responded and personally sat on the carriage shaft, while Mr. and Mrs. Chen Yancheng, along with Zhang Youcong, also boarded the carriage.

Chen Wanxing had already harnessed a mule cart, carrying Grandma Chen, Mr. and Mrs. Chen, and Chen Qinghui. The two families joined together and headed towards Ping'an Town.

Behind the car, the gazes of the rest of the Chen family and several neighbors lingered, filled with envy, eagerness, and complex emotions.

There wasn't much conversation on the way, and after about fifteen minutes, the outline of Ping'an Town became clear.

Today wasn't a market day, but the entrance to the courtyard with the Shanxuetang sign at the east end of town was much busier than usual.

There are only four or five scholars in the entire Ping'an Town, and the only one who runs a school in Ping'an Town is Scholar He. Today is the day he begins to accept new students.

Outside the school's simple wooden door, a rather long queue had formed. Most of the children were adults leading their grandchildren, ranging from five or six to eight or nine years old. They were all dressed neatly and cleanly, their little faces showing either nervousness or confusion.

As the procession slowly moved forward, the Chen family members saw that there was a steward-like person and a nanny who was nearly forty years old standing at the door. After each child came out, the nanny would lead another child inside.

Each child spends a considerable amount of time inside; they all seem to undergo a brief examination by the teacher, indicating that not everyone is welcome.

This scene made everyone in line even more solemn.

Manager Zhang led Youcong, who was dressed in new clothes, to the end of the line, followed closely by Chen Yancheng and Huiniang, while Grandma Chen and the others waited under a willow tree not far away.

The wait seemed rather long. Chen Wanxing observed the people in line. Judging from their clothes, most of them were wearing fine cloth shirts and seemed to come from well-off families, but there were also a few dressed in old clothes.

It seems that this scholar He is quite prestigious in the Ping'an Town area, and he doesn't only consider family background when accepting students.

About an hour later, it was Zhang Youcong's turn to go in. Chen Yancheng accompanied the child inside, while Hui Niang nervously peeked out from outside the door, clutching her handkerchief.

Shopkeeper Zhang glanced at the sun, then at Zhang Huiniang, who looked anxious, and said to the Chen family, "Auntie, in-laws, it's still early. It's too crowded and noisy here. Why don't you all go to my shop and wait? You can rest your feet and have some tea."

Grandma Chen was indeed a little tired after standing for a while, so the group left the school and headed towards the Zhang family's grocery store on the main street.

The Zhang family's general store wasn't very big, but it was in a good location. The store was packed full of goods, from needles and thread, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar to simple fabrics and farm tool parts—it had everything.