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

He was very anxious.

When I went out today, I saw that my older sister had already spent a lot of money, settling wages for Sister Yunzhu and the others, buying those expensive books at the bookstore, and just now buying this really expensive pearl rice.

All these amounts add up to a lot of money.

The family's cellar was full of grain. Last year, the weather was good, and my father and uncles worked hard, so the harvest was good. Even with my eldest sister's extra rations, we figured we could eat until the new harvest in the spring.

Although he didn't know exactly how much savings his elder sister had, it was all the money she had saved when she was a maid. That money was hard-earned, and she couldn't just spend it like that.

My eldest sister isn't married yet, so she's still a daughter of the Chen family. There's no reason for her to come home and not be fed, and have to buy her own food.

My older sister might not be used to the food since she just got back, so I understand that I should buy rice. We really can't afford to buy white rice at home, but these things that we already have at home... that's absolutely not acceptable.

"Really, ma'am, buying too many of these is just a waste of money. They'll just sit there and get infested with bugs."

Chen Wanxing didn't know what Chen Yanche was thinking, but seeing his somewhat anxious look, she readily withdrew her finger and shook her head at the shopkeeper: "Then let's just buy rice." After thinking for a moment, she added, "And weigh out ten catties of the best white flour as well."

When Chen Yanche heard that she had bought more flour, his expression became even more serious. Was his older sister's diet really that good? And the family... really was...

But he had no reason to object at this point, and just muttered under his breath, "We have some flour at home too..."

Chen Yanche seemed afraid of upsetting his sister, so he awkwardly explained, "Big sister, that's not what I meant... It's just that we really have enough food at home. Your money... should be saved to buy other more important things."

Seeing my younger brother's earnest yet slightly nervous expression as he tried so hard to express himself clearly, I felt a warmth in my heart.

"I know, it's because my older sister didn't think things through. As long as there's food at home, that's fine."

After leaving the grain shop and safely placing the rice and flour in the oxcart storage area, Chen Wanxing, along with her younger siblings, rejoined the flow of people on the main street of the county town.

"Come on, let's take our time." She spoke gently, taking Qinghui's hand, and then said to Qiuju and Dongmei, "Stay close, don't get separated. If there's anything you'd like to see more closely, just say so."

The three girls, Qing Sui, Qiu Ju, and Dong Mei, were like little sparrows released from their cages, turning their heads back and forth, eager to see all the new and interesting things.

Chen Yanche, being older, tried his best to appear calm and protect his sisters, but his eyes couldn't help but dart towards the sparks flying from the blacksmith's stall and the brand-new wood-chopping knife hanging there.

"Sugar figurine maker! Sugar figurine blowing! We can make all twelve zodiac animals!"

An old man with gray hair and beard sat on a street corner, holding a hot sugar syrup in his hand. In front of him was a bundle of straw with several crystal-clear, lifelike sugar monkeys and horses stuck on it. A group of eager children surrounded him.

"These sesame seed cakes are fresh out of the oven, so flaky and crumbly!" The oven at the sesame seed cake stall was blazing, emitting a wonderful aroma. The stall owner deftly used long tongs to pick out the golden-brown cakes and stacked them high.

"Candied hawthorn, sweet candied hawthorn."

There were also vendors selling bamboo baskets, handmade farm tools, and liniments for bruises and sprains. There was even an old man who told fortunes by divination, ringing a bell with a Bagua diagram spread out in front of him.

It was nearly noon, and the streets were at their busiest.

The sunlight dispelled the morning chill, and shops lined both sides of the street, their signs fluttering in the breeze. There were also many stalls set up along the street, almost squeezing half of the road.

Following the flow of people, driven by curiosity, they strolled along the two streets, stopping and starting intermittently. After walking around the two streets, each of them was carrying a bunch of things.

Qing Sui held up the amber-colored sugar rooster in one hand, which glistened and looked lovely in the sunlight, while carefully carrying an oil paper package in the other hand, containing a few sugar figurines to bring to her younger brother at home.

Qiu Ju and Dong Mei also had a handful of snacks: candied hawthorns, sesame malt candy, and a large bag of roasted chestnuts wrapped tightly in thick oil paper, still steaming and sweet. Chen Wanxing had specially bought extra to take back to his grandmother, parents, uncles, and aunts.

"Alright, we've bought almost everything."

Chen Wanxing estimated the time, then looked at her younger siblings' tired but excited faces, and said gently, "Are you all tired? Come on, I'll take you out to eat something good."

"Second sister, no need, no need. We can just find a noodle stall to eat at. This plain noodle dish is delicious enough. There's no need to go to a restaurant; it's too expensive."

Chen Wanxing had already made up her mind. For the first time, she would take her younger siblings out for the first time. She didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable, and she herself was also a little hungry.

She smiled, her tone reassuringly confident: "Let's go. This is the first time I've brought you out, so we should eat something decent. Listen to your sister."

After saying that, she took the lead and walked towards a two-story restaurant not far away, which looked to be of average quality in the county town and had a sign that read "Yuelai Lou". The others saw their eldest sister walk ahead and quickly followed.

As Chen Wanxing and her siblings approached the entrance of Yuelai Restaurant, before even stepping onto the steps, they heard a slightly hurried voice from the side.

"Manager Chen, I really just came to apologize today. I'm so sorry about what happened yesterday. I went through a lot of trouble to catch these two wild ducks yesterday. I don't want any money, please accept them."

Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a tall young man with his back to them, whispering something to a man dressed in silk robes who looked like a restaurant manager.

There was a bulging burlap sack at his feet, and you could vaguely see something moving slightly inside. The two exchanged a few more words, and finally the steward carried the sack inside.

Chen Yanche, with his sharp eyes, recognized the figure immediately. "Brother Xiao Chuan."

The young man turned around at the sound. He was about twenty years old, with a healthy wheat-colored complexion, regular features, slightly high brow bones, a straight nose, and tightly pursed lips, looking very stubborn.

He was sturdy, and his broad shoulders and long arms were visible beneath his patched cotton coat. He resembled a pine tree growing in the mountains, upright and full of strength.

Tian Chuan clearly hadn't expected to run into acquaintances here, so when his gaze swept over Chen Yanche and the others, his originally calm face suddenly turned red, and even the tips of his ears were stained with blood.

He looked away quickly, as if burned by something, his head involuntarily lowering as he stared at his toes. His heart pounded like a drum, his mind went blank, and he didn't even know where to put his hands and feet.

Chen Yanche, oblivious to Tian Chuan's odd behavior, smiled and stepped forward: "Brother Chuan, you've come to the county town today too?"

(Just to emphasize, this is not the male lead.)