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

The door closed gently behind me, shutting out all outside noise.

Chen Wanxing's forced composure crumbled instantly. She almost staggered to the bedside, threw herself heavily into the soft bedding, and then pulled the quilt over her head.

The darkness and confinement brought a false sense of security.

Under the covers, she curled up in a ball, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, making her eardrums buzz.

I can't believe it...

These four words kept swirling in her mind: How could something like this happen to me?

She was used to being alone, used to struggling to survive on her own, and always felt that she was destined to have shallow family ties.

Besides, she sold herself; what noble cause was it to save her family?

It was only because she herself was about to starve to death, and seeing human slaves was like seeing the last straw.

She just wanted to live, that's all.

She even held a cold-blooded conviction that in those days when it was not uncommon for people to exchange children for food, if such a "money-losing" girl like her left, her family would probably forget about her soon, and might even be glad that they had one less mouth to feed.

From the moment she signed the contract of servitude and accepted those few strings of life-saving copper coins, in her mind, she was once again alone in this unfamiliar era.

She had already accepted this situation, and then forced herself to forget what had happened before. In the Marquis's mansion, that cannibalistic place, she planned step by step, saved money, and paved the way for herself.

In her planned future, there is only herself. At most, now there is also Amber, who is an unexpected bonus and needs her to lend a hand.

But now a father and son suddenly appear and tell her that someone has been looking for her for a long time.

The home she thought had long been buried in the dust actually still existed and had never given up searching for her.

This is absurd!

The air inside the blanket was stuffy, making her forehead bead with sweat, but her chaotic thoughts, like a wild horse, raced uncontrollably toward a darker direction.

Could it be a scam? A pig butchering scam specifically targeting her?

The thought suddenly popped into her head, giving her a jolt.

She abruptly threw off the covers and sat up, her chest heaving violently, her eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Yes, what a coincidence! That father and son had worked for her a few days ago and had been to her yard, so they knew she lived alone.

Although she still has Amber and Granny Li, to outsiders she is undoubtedly the backbone of the family, and with two courtyards, she seems to have some assets.

Did they secretly investigate her background? Did they know that she had also sold herself to the Marquis's mansion twelve years ago? So they deliberately fabricated some information about her sister, taking advantage of her sympathy, or even coveting her money?

Otherwise, how could they have happened to appear at the old house today, and just happened to run into her?

Once the idea took hold, it spread rapidly, almost overshadowing the initial shock. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed; the honest and unassuming demeanor of the father and son before now appeared to her as a carefully crafted performance.

Chen Wanxing's thoughts were in turmoil. She completely overlooked the fact that, given the social class and resources of that father and son, it was impossible for them to find out much about her background.

Moreover, she has always been very tight-lipped, and very few people actually know that she returned from the Marquis's mansion, let alone her place of origin and age.

At this moment, Chen Wanxing seemed to have gone into a dead end. Her rationality was temporarily blocked by the huge impact, leaving only her instinct for self-preservation screaming wildly.

She needs to verify this! She must verify it immediately!

She sat irritably on the edge of the bed for a moment, then suddenly stood up, paced around the room a couple of times, and then abruptly stopped.

Xinglong Pawnshop! Granny Wang!

She remembered that the first time she saw that father and son was at the entrance of Xinglong Pawnshop.

At the time, she was dealing with Granny Wang about buying a house. When she came out, she happened to see them asking the matchmaker for information at the door. Granny Wang even complained to her that the father and son came every year.

Granny Wang had worked in the brokerage business in Kaifeng for decades, and she was extremely well-informed about all sorts of people. If that father and son really went to the brokerage every year to ask questions, Granny Wang would definitely know their background.

Yes, go find Granny Wang and ask her directly. If that father and son are really liars, Granny Wang will definitely be able to find out the truth.

This thought seemed to provide a breakthrough for her chaotic mind, and a restlessness that was eager to verify and get rid of this uncertainty drove her.

She didn't even have time to think about whether there were other suspicious points, nor did she care whether her actions were impulsive.

She walked to the mirror, quickly tidied her slightly messy hair and clothes, took a deep breath, and then suddenly opened the door.

"Granny," she looked directly at the most composed Granny Li, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tension, "come with me to Xinglong Pawnshop to ask Granny Wang about something."

She didn't explain the specific reason, but her unusual expression and tone were enough for Li Mama and Amber to understand that something extremely important must have happened.

Without saying a word, Granny Li immediately put down her work: "Yes, Miss, this old servant will go with you right away."

She didn't ask any more questions, but quickly went to fetch Chen Wanxing's cloak.

Seeing Chen Wanxing's somewhat absent-minded appearance, Amber frowned with worry, but she knew this was not the time to press for answers, so she could only whisper, "Be careful on the road."

Chen Wanxing nodded haphazardly, letting Granny Li tie the cloak belt for her, and almost impatiently turned and left, with Granny Li following closely behind.

The master and servant hurriedly boarded the carriage and soon disappeared at the alley entrance, leaving Amber and Yunzhu looking at each other with a lot of doubt.

When Chen Wanxing brought Li Mama to Xinglong Pawnshop, her expression had returned to its usual calm.

As soon as they entered, a shop assistant greeted them with a smile. "Greetings, ladies. Welcome to Xinglong Real Estate Agency. Whether you're buying a person or investing in property, Xinglong Real Estate Agency can guarantee your satisfaction."

"I need to speak with Granny Wang about something. I wonder if she's at the guild right now?"

"Wang Mama? She went out this morning and isn't here right now. Would you like to wait a bit, or would you like us to arrange another nanny for you? Don't worry, every nanny here is very capable."

"Then let's wait here for a while, it's not urgent after all."

The master and servant sat quietly in the brokerage shop, waiting. Chen Wanxing had completely calmed down by now, and felt somewhat embarrassed when she recalled her earlier guess.

But since we're already here, let's ask again.

They didn't wait long, only about half an hour, before Granny Wang returned.

"Oh, Miss Chen, Granny Li, what brings you here today? Is there something at the house that needs your attention? You could have just sent someone to deliver the message, instead of troubling yourself to come all this way."

Granny Wang greeted them warmly.

Chen Wanxing gave a perfectly timed smile: "Don't worry, Granny, everything is fine at home. I came here today to ask you about something."