Zhou Xiuer had a well-laid plan, using the pretext of admiring Wufu’s craftsmanship, she might just be able to coax her naive aunt into giving her what she wanted.
However, her plan might have been clever, but not everyone was as foolish as she expected, especially Hongyu, who was watching like a tiger eyeing its prey.
Who was Hongyu, after all? Although the little girl was only ten years old this year, her upbringing had made her clever and shrewd with well-thought-out plans—not otherwise, given her family situation. With the adults gone half the month, if she, a young servant girl, hadn’t been astute, she would have been taken advantage of long ago.
Therefore, as soon as Zhou Xiuer spoke, before Madam Zhou could respond, Hongyu interjected, "Madam, don’t you know the young lady’s temperament? She dislikes others touching her things the most. If they get disorganized, she will definitely be unhappy."
As she spoke, she cast a glance at Zhou Xiuer, her eyes conveying a clear message—over my dead body will you take advantage.
Zhou Xiuer understood all too well and was furious, retorting, "Aunt, how can a servant be so presumptuous? You, the mistress, haven’t even spoken, and a servant dares to make decisions for you?"
Hongyu’s expression changed immediately—this was provocation.
She hurriedly looked to Madam Zhou, fearing that she would be influenced, for she knew all too well that Madam Zhou was prone to be influenced by others.
When Madam Zhou heard Zhou Xiuer’s words, her brow furrowed, but she wasn’t really foolish enough to be manipulated so easily, and said, "Hongyu isn’t wrong. Your cousin doesn’t like us meddling with her crafts. If we mess it up, she would get angry."
Previously, even when she simply helped to tidy up, Wufu was somewhat displeased.
Zhou Xiuer replied, "I just want to look, Aunt. Didn’t my cousin carve hairpins and earrings for you? I can just look at them without causing any mess, can’t I?"
Hongyu quickly retorted, "Weren’t the hairpins taken by your mother before? Haven’t you had enough of looking at them? Or do you intend to snatch them again?"
"Aunt..." Zhou Xiuer immediately teared up, looking pitifully at Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou said to Xiao Yu, "Go soak the red beans, we’ll make red bean cakes later." She too found the child’s words too sharp.
Hongyu’s expression went through several changes upon hearing this—Madam Zhou was being deceived by Zhou Xiuer.
But as Zhou Xiuer had pointed out, she was a servant and Madam Zhou was the mistress. Now that Madam Zhou had spoken, she had no grounds for objection.
Out of Madam Zhou’s sight, Hongyu glared fiercely at Zhou Xiuer a couple of times. Xiuer was quite the schemer, showing two different faces in public and private.
Zhou Xiuer was exceedingly smug, especially upon seeing Hongyu’s frustration. She smirked triumphantly at her, then quickly looked away to Madam Zhou, dropping her gaze.
"Aunt, I just want to take a look. Xiuxiu has never seen such beautiful jewelry before."
Madam Zhou’s heart softened, and she smiled, "Then I shall enlighten you. They are indeed excellently made."
With that, she led her into the room.
Hongyu watched with a heart full of urgency. She hurriedly went to soak the red beans and then ran to the main room. Without entering, she stood at the doorway, ears pricked, listening to the sounds from within.
Hongyu had seen that hairpin before and found it even more beautiful now—perhaps because it had been worn and taken on some of the wearer’s own charm, it seemed especially lustrous.
And as for the pair of earrings, with every glance, her fondness grew. She thought that such vibrant colors should match someone her age instead, and thought her aunt was definitely shameless.
"Aunt, this is really so beautiful. Can I try it on?" Zhou Xiuer’s eyes shone, "I won’t take it, just try it on."
Seeing those soft, pleading eyes, the kind-hearted Madam Zhou could not bring herself to be stern and personally placed the earrings on her.