"As the saying goes, every profession has its own specialty. The doctors in the residence are unable to solve the old lady's insomnia. It just so happens that this girl's family used to have a physician, and she has done some research in this area. The formula is very particular, and it is difficult for anyone else to match it except her."
When the Second Miss heard this, she felt that it was unbelievable. She was just a little maidservant. How could she be more powerful than a real doctor? However, she couldn't refute Yue Yuan's words. Otherwise, others would think that she didn't have any respect for her elders and didn't care about their health.
"It is my negligence. I have returned for so long and did not know that Grandmother is ill. It is my fault."
Yue Yuan said, "Second Miss, you don't have to blame yourself. Now, the old lady is fine in everything except for her sleep. It's normal that outsiders don't know about what happened at night."
"How long will Grandmother's symptoms take to be cured?" the Second Miss asked.
This was a crucial question.
Yue Yuan wanted to lie, but she couldn't lie about this kind of question. She would know everything once she asked about it. Besides, the Second Miss would leave in less than half a month. Even if she knew, she couldn't do anything, so she told the truth.
"She will need to recuperate for more than a month before she can cure it."
As expected, the Second Miss fell silent.
Just when Qu Fulan and Yue Yuan thought that the Second Miss would give up, she actually said this:
"Grandmother's health is not good and I think that one cannot leave like this. One fears that one must wait for Grandmother's health to be fully recovered before one can leave with peace of mind."
The meaning of her words was too obvious. She was set on Qu Fulan.
Yue Yuan was so terrified that she didn't know what to say.
The Second Miss had already made her decision and instructed the people beside her, "Send a letter back. Say that Grandmother is ill and that I need to stay at home to show filial respect to Grandmother. The ancestors said that 'filial piety is the most important in all things'. The husband's family will definitely understand."
The servant girl did as she was told.
For a moment, when everyone's attention was on the Second Miss, Qu Fulan's hand made a subtle movement, and her eyes were cold.
On the way back, Yue Yuan's face was full of self-blame.
"Second Miss is so stubborn. It's my fault for not being able to protect you."
Instead, Qu Fulan consoled her. "Sister Yue Yuan, you don't have to blame yourself. It's just that I'm serving my master. It doesn't matter who I serve. I don't mind."
Yue Yuan looked like she wanted to say something but stopped. She was still at a loss whether to tell Hai Tang the Second Miss's true intentions or not. She was also worried that it would be useless to tell her. After all, they were all maidservants. Even if she knew the Second Miss's true intentions, what could she do?
"That being said, I'm just worried..."
Qu Fulan smiled at her. "Sister Yue Yuan, you really don't have to worry about me. I'm a homeless person, and my body is like a floating duckweed. It's just fate that I'm able to float anywhere."
When Yue Yuan heard this, she blamed herself even more. She thought that when she returned, she would definitely say a few good words for Hai Tang in front of the old lady. This way, when Second Miss asked the old lady for her, she hoped the old lady would be able to consider it.
This was the only way. Other than that, Yue Yuan could not think of a better way.
If they did not succeed in the end, things would be just as Hai Tang had said. It was all fate. As servants, they had to accept their fate.
'Do you accept your fate?' Qu Fulan asked herself in her heart.
Then, she slowly gave an answer, 'How was that possible?'
It was already the end of spring, the time when the afternoon sun was at its strongest. Qu Fulan walked under the sun, unhurriedly walking toward the small courtyard.
The scorching sun shone on her head, body, and face, but she didn't seem to notice it. Finally, she walked to a big tree and stopped. The sunlight on the ground was passed down through the gaps of the lush leaves. She slowly raised her hand, and the sunlight moved from the ground to her hand. She looked at the swaying sunlight on her hand.
She chuckled.
When Hai Xia arrived, she saw Hai Tang smiling. Hai Tang was beautiful, so her smile was even more beautiful. However, although her smile was beautiful, it seemed to be different from usual. Hai Xia could not tell what the difference was. She could not help but ask, "Sister, what are you laughing at?"
Qu Fulan looked at Hai Xia.
Hai Xia had only gotten close to her because of the old lady, but it was understandable. There were no friendships in the world without a reason. They would only interact with each other for one reason or another in the beginning.
As for whether they could become good friends in the end, it would depend on whether the two people's personalities and values were compatible.
Hai Xia was a friend worth befriending since it had gone against Hai Chun time and time again for her sake. However, they were not close friends yet.
In her current situation, she was not suitable to have a deep friendship with others.
She had a stomach full of unspeakable secrets that would probably rot in her stomach until the day she died.
She didn't even have a close friend that she couldn't talk about in the modern world, let alone in the ancient times.
"In a few days, the residence will be giving out the monthly allowance. I am laughing at this," Qu Fulan said.
Hai Xia's eyes widened. "Oh my, how could I have forgotten about that? Haha! When I get my monthly allowance, I can enjoy eating osmanthus cake again!"
After that, Hai Xia seemed to have thought of something and said, "But Sister is not as interested in good food as I am. You don't even take the initiative to receive the reward, so why are you interested in the monthly salary now?"
Qu Fulan said, "I'm just not like you. I'm not surprised and excited, but that doesn't mean that I'm not interested in money. You just have to go out and ask around. Who in this manor is not interested in money?"
Hai Xia thought about it and agreed with her. Even a strict person like Yue Yuan would smile when it came to the day of the monthly allowance.
Qu Fulan did not say anything.
Who wouldn't be happy to be rewarded for their own efforts?
Who in the world would be willing to be the Yang Bailao?
The current management of the Pei Residence was divided into 'outer' and 'inner courtyard.' The men were in charge of the outside, while the women were in charge of the inner courtyard.
Under the old lady's authorization, the Pei family's inner courtyard was currently managed by Second Madam, while the outer courtyard was managed by Second Master.
Why was it said that they were managing it on behalf of the Pei family? It was because the wealth of the Pei family was supported by the first branch of the Pei family.
However, the first branch was currently guarding the borders.
The old lady was after all old and did not have the energy to manage so many things. Naturally, she had to delegate power to the second branch to manage on her behalf. When the first branch returned in the future, everything would be considered at a long time. This was something to be discussed later.
Under the management of the Second Madam, there had never been a situation of embezzling a servant's monthly allowance, so the servants in the Pei Residence were loyal and many of them did not want to leave the residence when the time limit was up.
If a good manager wanted their employees to work hard, they had to give reasonable rewards and make fair deals.
If the servants wanted to get paid, they had to work hard.
This way, the residence would be safe and smooth, and not filled with complaints and causing trouble everywhere.
From this, it could be seen that the old lady had a good eye, and the Second Madam did not let her down. She was a qualified manager.
And qualified managers were not everywhere.
This was also the reason why the old lady did not choose the third branch to do this.
In this world, the majority of people did not know their own limitations.
There would always be some people who wanted to buy people's hearts and make others work for them wholeheartedly, but they didn't want to give the corresponding return. They didn't know what others really wanted, so they tried to use overbearing means to control others to achieve the purpose of making others work for them.
This was the biggest joke in the world.
Only a fool would think that the human heart could be controlled like this.
Now, she would let her see the consequences of overestimating her own ability and trying to control others!