Xiao Linshuang, however, hadn’t thought that much into it. She merely felt that these two older sisters were speaking up for her. Although she felt somewhat undeserving, she was nonetheless delighted to have someone helping her. She straightened her back and her face also revealed a smug smile, just like Xia Zheng’s.
"Exactly. Don’t believe it? Weren’t you just fawning over my two sisters—ahem, maids? Why are you silent now? Keep talking. Oh right, Xia He, bring me those copper coins. The young lady here is craving sweets, and I only have silver notes on me—I really don’t have any copper coins to buy sweets with."
Xia He couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. She respectfully bent down and, with hands outstretched, presented the four copper coins to Xiao Linshuang, making sure to add, "Please accept these, Young Lady."
Watching the three of them coordinate so well, Jin Lingling and Meng Chunyan’s faces alternated between red and white. The person they had desperately toiled to ingratiated themselves with was merely a maid, whereas the one they’d looked down upon and underestimated turned out to be a bona fide Young Lady. How could this be? How!?
"It’s impossible! Stop putting on this charade to fool us!" Meng Chunyan, red-faced with disbelief, pointed at the little maid and then asked Jin Lingling, "Lingling, you must say something. Didn’t you say she was just a little village girl’s sister? How could she, how could she have two such fine, fine maids?"
Indeed, they were far too fine, even better than her own maids. Better dressed, better adorned, with a better presence, and even their looks were much superior.
Jin Lingling was flabbergasted at this moment. If she hadn’t failed to see Lin Yuan there earlier, she wouldn’t have thought to belittle this little maid. She was dying with regret, so much that she felt her intestines turning blue!
Lin Yuan was the boss of Fuman Building. Would it be difficult for her to find two decent maids for her sister? Difficult? Not at all!
It was her own fault for being too arrogant and lacking discernment, failing to recognize that those two weren’t Young Ladies.
Prodded by Meng Chunyan’s elbow, Jin Lingling also grew anxious. She shrugged off the touch impatiently and nearly shouted, "How should I know! I’m not a worm in her stomach!"
After speaking, she realized that everyone in the shop was looking at her in disbelief. As she was a regular customer, she naturally had many acquaintances there.
Aware of her impropriety, Jin Lingling bit her lip and shot Xiao Linshuang a venomous glance before walking away indignantly.
Meng Chunyan, brushed aside and displeased, saw Jin Lingling leaving and decided to follow suit.
Yet she didn’t dare vent her anger on Jin Lingling; instead, she could only direct her fury at Xiao Linshuang. After all, she now knew that those two women, wealthier than herself, were nothing but maids. Who knew how they acquired such fine clothes—perhaps Shopkeeper Liu of Fuman Building had given them?
Yes, that must be it.
Comforted by this thought, Meng Chunyan looked disdainfully at Xia He and Qiu Ju, sneering, "No wonder you’re dressed so nicely; it’s all given by that old man! Humph, shameless tramps, the lot of you are disgraceful!"
"What did you say?" Xia He’s expression changed, her demeanor growing more assertive. Xiao Linshuang was too young to understand, but that didn’t mean they didn’t. What shameless tramps? What old man? The words Meng Chunyan spoke were clearly insinuating that they had been given...
How could she say such things? They had never tolerated such insults back in the capital city!
Qiu Ju was furious too and demanded Meng Chunyan clarify her statement.
Meng Chunyan couldn’t clarify; after all, she had been speculating wildly. Seeing the two of them approach her menacingly to demand answers, she began to feel uncertain herself.