"Thank you, Madam," Mrs. Li said gratefully as she knelt to give thanks.
"Rise. Put the things back first; let the grandchild play with me for a while," Madam commanded Mrs. Li with a wave of her hand, a small smile on her authoritative face.
"Hee hee hee," the Young Master laughed in his grandmother's embrace, taking advantage of his grandfather's distraction with his book to tug at his beard.
"You little rascal, ambushing your grandfather, your bottom deserves a spanking."
"No, no, don't. Spanking hurts, Grandmother save me..." the Young Master went to hug his grandmother's neck.
Ever since the young madam became pregnant, she hadn't visited this side to pay her respects, only having servants bring the Young Master over.
Mrs. Li took her bundle and headed back to the Young Master's courtyard, where she was seen returning with items once again.
"Mrs. Li, are those the Young Master's things?" a maid asked curiously. The old woman in the courtyard, as well as the other maids, looked on intently, wanting to hear Mrs. Li's reply. Even the house slave paused his work, noting that Mrs. Li was favored, bringing something back from Madam's courtyard for the second time.
"No, they're little gifts from Madam, saying I'm going back to visit my family tomorrow and that they're for the children," Mrs. Li answered honestly. In fact, if she wasn't honest, it wasn't like the news around the household was a secret. They would find out anyway, and pretending would only lower her standing.
"Mrs. Li, you're truly fortunate. Even when we, who are house slaves, go home to visit our families, we don't receive such honor. To receive gifts from Madam twice in one month of service," the envious maid said, her sentiment echoed by nods from the other maids, the old woman, and the house slave.
"Well, I thought everyone did. I'm really thankful to Madam. She probably thought my family was poor!"
Mrs. Li could only respond thus when faced with their envious gazes.
"Mrs. Li, you're lucky indeed. Even previous wet nurses didn't receive such good treatment," the doorkeeping old woman said jealously.
"Yes! We've worked here so long, always beside the Young Master, and although Madam rewards us too, she hasn't been as thoughtful as she has been with you," said a young servant, who carried water in the courtyard.
"I'm sorry, everyone, I want to put these things away, and then I have to go back to Madam's courtyard," Mrs. Li said, not daring to linger in the courtyard too long. She had to take the Young Master to the young madam's courtyard after putting things away.
People talked behind her back, knowing the prestigious position of the Young Master's wet nurse and many wished to recommend their relatives for such a spot.
They were truly envious of Mrs. Li's job, which offered a higher monthly salary and more rewards than theirs.
When Mrs. Li returned once more to Madam's living room, the Young Master called out loudly upon seeing her enter, "Wet nurse, if you don't come back, Grandfather is going to spank me."
The Young Master's milky voice made his grandfather laugh and cry at once. He shook his head and lightly pinched the child's nose, saying, "You little rascal, learning to tattle, you're so small but already so cunning."
"Grandfather, don't you bully me. The wet nurse is here for her grandson," the Young Master showed no fear of his grandfather.
"Young Master, you mustn't talk nonsense. Come, let your wet nurse take you to Yixin Garden," Mrs. Li said, her head bowed and a slight smile gracing her lips as she observed the harmonious scene between grandson and grandfather. She couldn't help but think of her own children and her family. Could it be that boys are different from girls, or is it that people are different from one another?
Mrs. Li carried the Young Master through the garden, followed by a maid.
"Wet nurse, those flowers are very pretty."
"Oh, it's the little girls who like flowers. Do you like flowers too, Young Master?"
"My mother likes flowers. Do you, wet nurse?"
"Yes, the wet nurse likes wildflowers from the mountains."
"Can the wet nurse pick flowers to wear? Do you pick flowers to bring back for your elder sisters and sisters?"
"I haven't, it's too much trouble."
"Oh, that's troublesome," the Young Master seemed to understand yet didn't fully grasp the concept.
Mrs. Li carried the Young Master to Yixin Garden, where the young madam greeted them with a smile and waved to her son as they entered.
"Mommy…" The Young Master was about to rush over when Mrs. Li held him back and said,
"Young Master, the young madam is carrying a heavy burden, and you mustn't hurt your little brother."
"Will it hurt my little brother? But my mommy didn't say it hurts," the Young Master didn't understand but obediently hugged and kissed the young madam.
"Yan'er, have you been good?" the young madam's gentle tone and tender expression were directed at her son.
"I've been good…" The Young Master buried his head in the young madam's embrace.
"Mrs. Li, I heard you're going home to visit tomorrow? Is it possible not to go?"
"This… Young Madam, if I go back earlier, I can return sooner. I don't know how the children at home have been this month?" Hearing the young madam ask this, Mrs. Li's face turned red with anxiety. Not being able to return home to see her own children was like cutting into her own flesh, her own heart.
"How did Madam arrange it for you?" the young madam softened a bit seeing Mrs. Li's pitiable state.
"Madam said that I should take the carriage home in the morning and return after lunch," said Mrs. Li.
"If that is the case, then let's proceed that way! We are both mothers, and I wouldn't want others to say I'm stingy. You are entitled to your leave, but the Young Master is too young, so you should come back early. Others might go on their family visits by riding or walking, but you have the honor of going back by carriage. You should cherish it," said the young madam, her words carrying a slight threat.
"Young Madam, Mrs. Li knows what's good for her." Mrs. Li had not signed a contract selling her life; she wasn't really a servant but rather a housekeeper. Unlike a bonded servant, whether under a dead or live contract, who lacked freedom, a housekeeper also lacked security and could be dismissed at any time.
"Since Madam has rewarded you, I shall also give you a little something," said the young madam graciously.
With a magnanimous air, the young madam instructed a maid to bring a small package, which the maid then handed to Mrs. Li.
"This contains hair ornaments for girls; take them back for your children," said the young madam.
"Thank you, Young Madam."
"Mm, these ornaments aren't something you can buy on any street, they are quality goods brought over from the Royal City by my maternal family," the young madam said with pride on her face.
"Thank you, Young Madam." Mrs. Li wasn't one for gossip and had no idea where the young madam's maternal family was from or what they did. These things were of no concern to her.
Being a young madam of a wealthy family meant having different means and status – either rich or noble.
Mrs. Li was inwardly delighted, with gifts to take back to her children. Thinking of how her children used to wear tattered clothes and how she would tie their hair with broken pieces of fabric fashioned into ties.
Nowhere near as precious or beautiful as the gifts from the young madam.
How could they, country folks, have ever seen so many nice things?
Mrs. Li had never seen such beautiful hair ornaments in her life; the only thing she owned was a wooden hairpin in her hair.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Mrs. Li got everything ready and went to check on the still-sleeping Young Master, instructing the maid to keep an eye on him and take good care of him once he woke up.
The maids in the Young Master's courtyard merely nodded their heads at Mrs. Li, their glances at each other flickering.
The innocent and honest Mrs. Li didn't notice the finer details and never suspected that someone might want to trap her or deliberately harm the Young Master.