Mrs. Li listened to the young madam's words and glanced at the Young Master in her arms, a bitter smile in her heart. Her own baby must be crying from hunger now, right?
She wouldn't see her baby until a month later; would her child recognize her, his birth mother?
"Yes, young madam."
The well-fed Young Master had fallen asleep in Mrs. Li's arms, that feeling of satiated slumber. Mrs. Li looked down at the delicate baby and thought how wonderful it would be if this were her own child!
She wondered how her own child was doing now, whether he would be crying and calling for his mother, tears from hunger.
Tears swirled in her eyes, but she held them back, not daring to cry in front of the young madam.
"Mrs. Pan, take the Young Master's wet nurse down. Come back later for dinner," said the young madam, feeling exhausted after being kept awake for the past couple of days by her son's fussiness.
Along the way back to the Young Master's quarters, Mrs. Pan chattered to Mrs. Li, who was holding the Young Master, "Mrs. Li, if it weren't for the Young Master still fussing for milk, since his former wet nurse was let go for lack of milk, it wouldn't be your turn to enjoy this privilege.
Mrs. Li, who had been holding back her tears, now felt one trickle down; she would rather endure hardship at home where she could see her baby every day than leave her child to enjoy these comforts. No matter how nicely put, she was still a servant to others, life void of freedom.
"What's wrong? You don't look happy. But that's how it goes; everyone who just starts working here looks like that. After you get used to the good food and comfortable living here, I'm afraid you won't want to go back to your poor home. I saw your folks when I picked you up today; they might not be that great."
"Mrs. Pan, I miss my baby," said Mrs. Li, looking up for the first time at the grandeur of the garden that enveloped them. With its pavilions and towers, fish ponds, and profusely blooming flowers, she could never have dreamed of living in such a place if she were not working here.
"I advise you, now that things have come to this, take good care of the Young Master. If you can get some reward money, you can buy some treats for your baby when you go home to visit."
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Pan."
"Don't mention it. Right now, we're both servants to the young madam. Who knows, one day I might need your help."
Mrs. Pan gave Mrs. Li, who appeared obedient and simple, a few more glances. Such a person was more fitting to be a wet nurse; she was no longer as arrogant as before. As she said now, in the future, she might be the one needing help. Change is the only constant, who knows what may come?
Mrs. Li placed the Young Master in his little bed and covered him with a thin quilt, then silently sat down beside him.
At home, she never had such leisure time, nor had she ever taken a nap during the day. At this moment, all she could think about was her baby at home, silently shedding tears.
The Young Master's room had a crib, toys for children, and even some little books illustrated with pictures.
Mrs. Li couldn't read, but by looking at the pictures in those storybooks, she understood that these were books for children's enlightenment.
She then thought of her daughter at home. She was tasting the bitterness of illiteracy now; if her daughter could learn to read and count, wouldn't that make her children's lives better than hers?
Mrs. Li quietly decided in her heart that if she had money, she would inquire where to buy books that could enlighten her children.
"Wet nurse..." The Young Master woke up after sleeping for an hour, rubbed his bleary eyes, and upon seeing Mrs. Li, he crawled out of bed and affectionately asked her to hold him.
"Young Master, are you hungry or thirsty?"
"I want to drink water, I want some snacks." The Young Master, already two years old and only slightly dependent on milk, had eaten some solid food earlier and now wanted more.
Mrs. Li beckoned to another maid in the courtyard to bring over some warm pastries and warm water.
Here, she had another privilege; besides attending to the Young Master's needs, she had the highest authority and could command other servants to fulfill their duties.
Mrs. Li tenderly fed the Young Master the food and water delivered by the maid.
She discovered something; the Young Master was very well-behaved and smart.
As evening approached, Mrs. Pan came once again to convey the young Madam's wishes for Mrs. Li to bring the Young Master to Yixin Garden.
Seeing her son become obedient and lively, the young Madam tenderly watched her son, playfully interacting with Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li stood to the side with her head lowered, always compliant, and at this moment, she heard a man's voice.
"Haha, finally the child has stopped fussing, Madam, what are you two playing?"
A male stranger entered the room, and Mrs. Li guessed that this person must be the Eldest Young Master, so her head hung even lower, and her eyes stayed fixed on the tips of her toes.
"My husband has returned, servants, bring the dishes." The young Madam smiled tenderly, her affection for her husband sweet and gentle.
Soon dishes were laid out on the table by the maid, and the Young Master had his specially prepared weaning food, which Mrs. Li stood by to feed him.
The Eldest Young Master ate his meal and had the maid pour him wine, while secretly observing Mrs. Li, the new wet nurse, finding her honest and timid, with a gentle demeanor towards his son that did not seem feigned, and thus he felt satisfied.
After the evening, Mrs. Li carried the Young Master back to the courtyard; following Mrs. Pan's instructions earlier, she gently soothed the Young Master to sleep. Once he was asleep, she then returned to her own room to sleep but stayed alert, waking up every couple of hours to check on him.
The next morning, after feeding the Young Master, Mrs. Pan came over again and took Mrs. Li and the Young Master to pay respects to Madam.
Mrs. Li, following Mrs. Pan, arrived at a grand courtyard and entered an opulent sitting room where an Old Master and a Madam were seated at the head of the room.
The wealthy master, upon seeing the grandchild in Mrs. Li's arms, called the child over:
"Little grandson, come over to Grandfather here. "
"Grandfather, Grandmother."
"Ah," Madam and the Old Master replied, smiling.
The Old Master held his grandson sitting together with him.
Madam's eyes followed Mrs. Li, who stood in front of her, head bowed and compliant. She had already been informed that Mrs. Li had adapted to the environment within a day and taken good care of her grandson.
"Mrs. Li, you must take even more care with my grandson from now on, understand?"
"Yes, Madam,"
Mrs. Li bowed deeply, her manner full of trepidation, having heard that wealthy people are fierce, fearful of being scolded, and fearful of being beaten.
"Jinhua, give Mrs. Li the reward money."
"Yes," Jinhua the maid handed Mrs. Li a small wallet.
"I... I can't take this..." Mrs. Li refused honestly, shaking her hands. Having only taken care of the child for one day, receiving such a reward was something she dared not accept, feeling as if the money would burn her hand.
Everyone in the sitting room looked at Mrs. Li, each with their own thoughts; some inwardly laughed at her foolishness for not wanting reward money.
As the host, they indeed liked such people, not greedy, with meritorious qualities.
"If the Madam rewards you, you should take it. Just continue to take good care of the Young Master in the future," Mrs. Pan encouraged Mrs. Li at the right moment.
"This..." Mrs. Li turned her head to look at Mrs. Pan and, seeing her nod, finally took the wallet with trembling hands, realizing it was not Copper Coin but broken silver inside. She put the wallet away and knelt down to express her thanks.