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

"No, no, you're too kind of yourself. Having nieces like you and Amber is a blessing for your Uncle Liu and me."

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu smiled even more warmly, her gaze shifting between Chen Wanxing and Amber, before sighing meaningfully,

"Speaking of which, Miss Amber's situation was truly an undeserved disaster. Fortunately, it's all in the past now. Since we're in Kaifeng, let's make the most of it. Although it can't compare to the capital, it's still quite nice here, very prosperous and lively."

The words were vague, but everyone present knew exactly what they meant.

Chen Wanxing simply smiled and didn't respond to that question. Instead, he asked, "Uncle Liu, how's business at your shop lately? You manage two cloth shops, and there's also a mulberry orchard and silkworm rearing outside the city. It must be quite a lot of work."

Manager Liu picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and spoke with the composure of a businessman:

"Our Kaifeng Prefecture was a famous silk-producing area a few decades ago. Mulberry fields were everywhere, and there were many families raising silkworms and reeling silk. The Bian silk woven from it was once a highly sought-after commodity."

Back then, merchant ships were constantly going out to transport goods, and everyone was very busy every day.

Unfortunately, cotton was later widely distributed, and cotton cloth, being inexpensive and durable, captured a significant portion of the market. Furthermore, the reputations of brocade, Nanjing brocade, and Suzhou embroidery from the south grew, causing our local silk weaving industry to gradually decline.

He paused for a moment, then concluded, "So now this business is just sticking to the old ways, year after year, it's not exactly booming, it's just stable."

They simply make a living by the weather. The mulberry orchards produce raw silk, and the shops stock up on light gauze and silk in spring and summer, and thick satin and brocade in autumn and winter, earning a meager living from the hard work of trading between the north and south.

Now I basically only do business in this one city, and I have a lot of free time every day.

Chen Wanxing nodded: "A stable business is a blessing. In this world, being able to live peacefully is better than anything else."

"What the young lady says is true," Manager Liu echoed.

As for deeper topics, now is not the time to discuss them.

The group chatted about the prices and local customs of Kaifeng, creating a harmonious atmosphere. Chen Wanxing even invited them to have lunch in Baishi Lane.

Originally, Chen Wanxing suggested going to a restaurant outside, but Liu Niangzi said that since they were all family, why spend money outside? With just one sentence, she brought the group closer together.

After a lively meal, the couple sat for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Manager Liu found an excuse to get up and say goodbye with his wife.

Chen Wanxing and Amber escorted the two to the door and watched their figures disappear into the alley.

Amber let out a long sigh and said in a low voice, "This Manager Liu is really shrewd. You've never been to Kaifeng before, how did you two meet? And you seem to know each other quite well."

"I've never been to Kaifeng, does that mean they can't go to the capital?"

Chen Wanxing smiled and said, "Anyone who can gain a foothold in the Marquis's estate is shrewd and cunning. Whether they are clever or not, they have come today to tell us that they are willing to continue to be on good terms with us, and that is enough."

As the carriage drove away from Baishi Lane, Madam Liu breathed a sigh of relief inside the carriage: "My lord, after seeing Miss Chen last time, I thought Miss Amber's color must be quite good."

Seeing her today, it's true! With such beauty, no wonder the Third Master took a liking to her at first glance.

Manager Liu leaned against the car wall, his eyes slightly closed. Hearing this, he slowly spoke, his tone filled with obvious admiration: "What does appearance matter? Her methods are what matter most."

Think about it, she came here to inquire about the Zhou family and the old house before, and the next day, news spread in the old house that the Third Master and the Zhou family had angered the First Master.

I told you then that she was the one who did it, but you didn't believe me. Now look, the amber is perfectly fine with Miss Chen. What does that mean?

Before his wife could answer, he asked and answered himself:

"This shows that she is well-informed and decisive. You see, as soon as she got the information, she took action immediately without any hesitation."

But most importantly, I didn't tell her about the conflicts at the old house, yet she knew exactly how to make things work, who to contact, and how to say it. That's no small feat.

Madam Liu nodded repeatedly: "Now that you mention it, it's true. And when I looked at Amber, she seemed to be in good spirits and didn't look like she had suffered any great hardship. Miss Chen handled this matter beautifully and thoroughly."

"So," Manager Liu concluded, "even if such a smart and capable person is no longer serving by the lady's side and has shed the skin of the Marquis's mansion, as long as he doesn't make any mistakes, he may still have a future."

"We already have a family history, so this is a good time for us to become friends. Having more friends means having more options; you never know when that might come in handy."

Madam Liu agreed, then frowned slightly: "That makes sense. However, although she was polite and easygoing today, she wasn't very approachable."

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu laughed. "That's more like it. You didn't open up to anyone when you came up, so why would they feel like you've known each other forever?"

"Let's make our stance clear today, and that's enough. Relationships are like simmering soup over a low flame; you can't rush them. The more we visit, the closer our relationship will naturally become."

As the two chatted, Liu Niangzi thought about what her husband had just said, and an idea suddenly popped into her head. She nudged her husband's arm.

"Honey, it just occurred to me that this Miss Chen is getting better and better. Her looks and demeanor are impeccable, and she speaks and acts so prudently and thoughtfully. What do you think, her relationship with our second son..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear: she wanted to explore the possibility of matchmaking.

Manager Liu didn't even lift his eyelids, directly pouring cold water on her idea: "Give up on this idea as soon as possible, it's wishful thinking. Putting everything else aside, just based on the methods she displayed today, our blockhead is not good enough for her, nor can he handle her."

Upon hearing her husband belittle her son in this way, Liu Niangzi immediately became agitated, and her voice rose slightly:

"Why is she not good enough? She is capable, but no matter how capable she is, she is still an orphan with no relatives to rely on in this world. She can't stand on her own."

Besides, judging from what you said earlier, she has been the head maid in charge of the accounts by the madam's side for several years. She must be at least twenty years old, right? At this age, if she is still not married, how can she not be anxious?

Our second son is only sixteen, the perfect age, and with the family business, in a way, our son is actually at a disadvantage.

Manager Liu then looked up and smiled helplessly at his wife's protective and unyielding expression.

Looking at her silent husband, Lady Liu pinched his waist hard and secretly plotted.

The urge to promote her son hadn't died down.

Since my husband says we should visit more often, I'll go over there more often and praise my second son to Miss Chen. Maybe one day she'll fall for him.