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

Looking at it this way, there really wasn't anything of great importance at home that required her constant monitoring, and Amber had also hinted at something in her letter...

Chen Wanxing gradually made up her mind. That place was also her home. Why not wait until Youcong's banquet was over, and then set off to return to Kaifeng to stay for a while?

When winter comes, I'll return to my hometown of Ruyang. I can manage both places, which is quite comfortable.

Having made up her mind, she began to make some preparations discreetly, but after careful consideration, she realized that she didn't need to bring any special luggage at all.

The house in Kaifeng has everything you need, and there are also spring and summer clothes left there. You only need to pick out a few close-fitting items to take with you, so you can change them on the way.

Besides, springtime is the perfect time for travel, so why not pack light and take your time, enjoying the scenery along the way? It would be quite pleasant.

Having decided to leave, Chen Wanxing did not delay and immediately told her grandmother, father, and mother about her plans.

Upon hearing that she was going back to Kaifeng for a while, Grandma Chen was taken aback at first, then her face showed deep reluctance as she held Chen Wanxing's hand and stroked it:

"You've only been back for a short time, why are you leaving again? And if you leave this time, will you come back? When will you be back?"

The old woman's eyes revealed obvious disappointment, and Chen's mother felt the same way, but she was clearly thinking more deeply, and cautiously asked, "Are you not used to living in your hometown? Or is there something bothering you?"

Chen Wanxing quickly shook her head and explained gently, "Mom, Grandma, no. Everything is fine at home, and we live comfortably."

I'm just going back to stay for a few days, and besides, Amber wrote to say she misses me.

I was thinking that now that everything at home is settled, I should take advantage of the warm spring weather and easy roads to go back and stay for a few months. When winter comes and it gets cold, I will come back.

My newly renovated house is still here, how could I not come back?

Upon hearing that she would be returning in winter, Grandma Chen and Mother Chen's expressions immediately softened considerably. Father Chen, puffing on his pipe, didn't say much, only musing, "Be careful on the road, and send a message back when you arrive."

In the days that followed, Chen Wanxing did her best to help with Youcong's banquet, but there really wasn't much that needed to be done in a big way.

Aunt Peach Blossom, on the other hand, came to the Chen family twice more under various pretexts, always trying to probe Chen Wanxing's opinion and persuade her more.

Chen Wanxing was either not home, or his mother politely but firmly turned her away, saying that the child had just returned and there was no rush.

Seeing that there was really no way to get out of the situation and that the Chen family's attitude was clear, Aunt Peach Blossom reluctantly gave up for the time being.

On the contrary, Uncle Chen was getting restless.

Ever since he heard that the Wang family was interested, he had been eagerly awaiting the matchmaker's formal visit, but as he waited and waited, the matter seemed to have sunk into the sea, and there was no further substantial progress.

He muttered to himself, wondering if the Wang family had changed their minds. He was in a state of turmoil, wanting to go to town to inquire but also afraid of losing face, so he could only worry anxiously, and his temper at home became a bit more irritable.

Even in private, Aunt Peach Blossom scolded him several times, feeling that he wasn't being taken seriously.

Qiuju saw her father's anxiety, but she felt a different kind of emotion.

When she heard about the marriage proposal that day, she instinctively resisted it. Now that the marriage has been delayed for so long, besides feeling relieved, she also felt a faint sense of relief, and even secretly prayed that the matter would just end there.

The girls in the family each have a different personality.

When Sister Wanxing left home that year, Xiahe was four or five years old, the most lively and lovely age. She was taken in by the heartbroken Grandma Chen and enjoyed her company.

So, apart from Chen Wanxing, the other four girls in the family, although all of them were raised by Grandma Chen, were the closest to her because Xia He ate and slept with her back then.

It not only filled a lot of longing, but also made him more cheerful and outgoing, and he is the most like her.

Dongmei and Qinghui were about the same age and spent all their time playing together. In particular, Chen Yanxin was born when Dongmei was only two years old. With Chen Ershen having a son, the pressure was not so great.

Moreover, with the birth of Chen Yanxin, her attention was focused more on her son.

On the contrary, Qiuju was the one who spent the most time with her mother. From a young age, she was taught by Aunt Chen to be diligent, sensible, and considerate of her family.

Moreover, when Aunt Chen gave birth to her younger sister Dongmei, she was the one who spent the most time with her mother, and she witnessed her mother's despair and tears at that time.

She fears she will fall into the same cycle in the future, fears facing a completely unfamiliar family and a potentially demanding mother-in-law, and even fears losing the peace she has now, which, although it requires work, is at least familiar and allows her to have some peace of her own for a short time.

Chen Qiuju seemed to have grasped the weight of life early on, bearing it quietly while also sensitively retreating.

She remained silent throughout, spending most of her time in her room, embroidering in front of the frame.

Feeling the delicate flowers, birds, insects, and fish gradually take shape at her fingertips, she was immersed in this tranquil world of colors and threads.

Chen Wanxing had originally planned to write a letter to Wang Yanning to inform her that she would be returning to Kaifeng.

But two days before the banquet, Wang Yanning's letter, which announced the good news and also bid farewell to his family, arrived first.

Looking at the words "will return soon" on the letter, Chen Wanxing's fingertip lingered on the paper for a moment before she changed her mind.

The letter was concise and clear, in Wang Yanning's usual style, without much elaboration. She first reported that she was safe and sound, and then got straight to the point.

"The results of the provincial examination have been released, and I am fortunate to have passed, ranking slightly above average. My brother Wenbo ranked fourth. With everything settled, I am eager to return home and will set off for Ruyang the day after tomorrow. It should take about two or three days to reach Ruyang."

There was no excessive description of the hardships of the exam, nor was there any exaggeration of the joy of high school, but the three words "fortunately passed" were enough to make people imagine the ease and certainty of that settled matter.

The return date is even more specific: we will depart the day after tomorrow. The legal studies will take two or three days, which, if we calculate the days, will fall around the time of the Zhang family banquet.

Since he'll be back soon, it might be better to tell him about my impending departure in person. Some things are always a bit distant when communicated through letters; it's better to wait until we meet, see how things are, and then tell him in person.

Moreover, he had just finished his exams and was about to relax and go home, so it seemed somewhat inappropriate for him to write a letter now mentioning his impending departure.