"Of course it’s true, they won’t be able to hit you anymore."
Holding her daughter tightly, Mrs. Wu felt immense heartache. Her daughter had clearly done nothing wrong, yet she had to endure so much suffering and hardship.
"Mother, I have a new name now. I’m called Wu La Mei, Mei’er. Does it sound good?"
"It sounds wonderful, my Mei’er is indeed very pleasant."
"Mother, the great lady said from now on I should follow the fifth lady. I’m the fifth lady’s Daya. What does Daya mean?"
Mrs. Wu felt very bitter and reluctant, but there was no other choice now. They didn’t even have a home, and the Wu family was no longer an option to return to, so they could only endure life here.
As a nanny, as a maid... On second thought, if not for the shelter provided by the Xiao family, if not for the help from a lady, how could she have gotten away from the Cao family unscathed?
Therefore, if she’s to serve, then she should serve diligently, without being careless.
Right away, she taught her daughter many things a maid should do.
"Mei’er, when serving the fifth lady, you must put in all your effort; the fifth lady is your mistress..." Mrs. Wu instructed one by one, and Mei’er indicated she understood.
However, Mei’er didn’t expect that the fifth lady did not require her to serve tea and pour water, but instead pulled her in to learn writing, reading, and drawing together.
"Mei’er, just accompanying me makes me very happy," said Chunxin. "I just need a study companion, and I think you’re smart, learning more is beneficial."
"Alright, I’ll listen to the lady."
"Tsk tsk, this little face..." Had it not been injured, it should be very gentle, perhaps even supple enough to squeeze water from.
Chunxin had heard her mother say that Nanny Wu’s daughter was quite good-looking and would certainly grow into a beauty.
"Do your injuries still hurt?"
"No, they just itch a bit."
"Itching is normal, it means that new flesh is growing." Chunxin said empathetically, "You need to listen to my elder sister; her medicine is very good and won’t leave scars."
"Yes, I’ll listen to Sister Bodhisattva. Sister, you look really beautiful."
"You are beautiful too." Chunxin knew she was referring to her elder sister, but this little maid was truly quite pretty herself.
With just a simple statement that she too looked beautiful, Mei’er successfully blushed.
When had she ever received such praise? Her family only called her dumb and lazy, saying she was nothing but a money-loser, a debtor... So, how could interacting with them ever be the same?
The Xiao family, she liked it.
The Xiao family’s estate took over twenty days to complete, and it was finally finished.
"Elder sister, can you see if there’s anything else that needs improvement?"
"It’s wonderful, very grand." Chun Nuan had previously told Chun Ning that the height of the house should be at least between three meters to three point eight meters; otherwise, the house would not look majestic and imposing.
After a thorough tour, Chun Nuan was quite satisfied with the new estate.
"Elder sister, let’s find an opportunity to move in."
This new estate cost a total of thirty-eight taels of Silver, with twelve rooms built, truly everyone having their own space. A large medicine room was also constructed, prepared for elder sister; and then a study room was added.
Elder sister had always said that in a household, one must never abandon reading.
Though the Xiao family could not take part in the imperial exams to become officials, reading should still be taken seriously.
Reading can enlighten a person, reading can broaden one’s knowledge.
Once the Xiao family’s subsistence was secured, they never ran out of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone; these things were even more indispensable than food.
"I am still pondering one issue."
Chun Nuan stomped on the soil of the ground, "This ground becomes slippery when it rains."
"Elder sister, Uncle Luo accompanied a tile craftsman to lay the tiles on this house, it’s very solid."
How could a newly built house possibly leak?
Thus, elder sister’s concerns were a bit too forward-thinking.
There is no such thing to worry about, what is she concerned about?
"Whenever there’s water, the ground will be slippery."
Chun Ning... Elder sister’s words made sense, the ground might indeed get water.
"Elder sister, then how should we handle this ground?"
"I remember you can buy flagstones?"
"Flagstones, meaning large, thin slices of stone?"
"Yes, exactly that kind. Buy some to pave the ground to make it clean and tidy."
"Alright, I’ll inquire tomorrow and find some people to help pave the stones onto the floor."
Chun Ning expressed she would follow elder sister’s suggestion.
Since elder sister was quite satisfied with everything else, only this issue needed her comment, it should be changed.
"Regarding the moving matter, we still need to ask Uncle Luo for help, check the calendar, and choose an auspicious day for relocation."
"Okay, I will ask Uncle Luo." Chun Ning said, "Elder sister, About Old Master Zhang’s estate..."
"I will continue residing there since it’s more convenient." Chun Nuan said, "You can notify me if anything comes up at home, and it’s also easier to make pills with the medicine room there."