"Xiaotian, this is your pay for the past few days; you don’t need to come tomorrow."
Xiaotian had just finished washing clothes at the home of Wang the merchant when she heard the butler drop this bombshell.
Tears sprang from her eyes instantly. She and the young master really needed the money; without her job, how would they survive? "Butler, I really need this job, please, talk to them again for me."
"Xiaotian, it’s not that I don’t want to employ you; it’s the master’s decision, and I’m powerless. Take the money and go quickly."
Xiaotian reluctantly headed home. Once there, she pretended to be calm, not wanting to worry the young master. If she couldn’t wash clothes, she could still try working in the kitchens at Zhao Residence.
But when she arrived at the kitchens at Zhao Residence, she was immediately pulled aside by a fellow maid. "Xiaotian, have you offended someone?"
"Not that I know of." Xiaotian was naive and very diligent. Having been under Li Fugui’s protection in the Li Residence, the people she met hadn’t been that malevolent, so she had no idea someone might be causing her trouble.
"I’ll tell you the truth, you can’t work here anymore. The master has spoken."
"What?" She hadn’t expected to lose even this kitchen job.
"Xiaotian, you must have offended someone. I’ve asked around, and it seems like someone in the county has spread the word not to hire you."
"..." What was her fellow maid talking about? Not allowing her to be hired?
"This is your pay for the past few days, Xiaotian. It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but we are all just servants and I’m powerless. You’ll have to fend for yourself."
Carrying the money her fellow maid had given her, Xiaotian walked down the street, extremely heartbroken, tears streaming from her eyes like springs. She didn’t know what to do. Could it really be as her fellow maid said, that she’d never find waiter’s work again?
She didn’t believe it; she had to try. What if someone was willing to hire her? Their current situation didn’t allow her to just eat without working; they had to survive, they absolutely needed money.
She began asking around the street if there was any work she could do. "Shopkeeper, are you hiring any help? I can do anything."
"There’s a dishwashing job in the kitchen. A helper just quit; come with me."
"Okay." Xiaotian’s eyes brightened, thrilled. Someone was willing to hire her, and she was going to earn money again, but her joy didn’t last long.
"Right, what’s your name?"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper paused, his expression changing. "Miss, I’m sorry, I got it wrong; the kitchen doesn’t need help after all."
"Shopkeeper, I can do anything."
"Miss, please leave; we really don’t need help."
Disheartened, Xiaotian left. She tried a few more places, but it was always the same result. They were willing to hire her until she said her name, then they all refused.
Xiaotian panicked. What was she supposed to do? She couldn’t find any work! She could no longer help share the young master’s burdens; instead, she had become a liability to him.
The more she thought, the more desperate she became, weeping silently, her eyes red. How was she going to explain this to the young master?
The young master didn’t want to leave, he wanted to reclaim the Li Family, he wanted revenge, but she couldn’t help him anymore.
Tired from crying, she stopped, wiped her tears away, and a resolute look replaced the despair in her eyes. She couldn’t be a burden to the young master; the only thing left for her to do was to leave him.
"Young master, I’m sorry."