Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 65 Love Me, Love My Dog

"clove?"

Meng Shu's heart skipped a beat; Dingxiang was a maidservant by Huanyun's side.

It's true that the Tang family has been busy lately. Meng Shu originally wanted to ask someone to pass on a message to her sister Huanyun at the end of the month. She vaguely felt that Huanyun's feelings for her uncle had not diminished in the past three years, so she didn't think it would be abrupt.

After briefly explaining Dingxiang's identity to the second young lady, who was also aware of her connection to Meng Shu's uncle, she waved her hand and said:

"Go quickly. If there's anything you can't handle, feel free to ask the Tang family for help."

Meng Shu hurried to the side gate, calculating on the way how much silver she could exchange for the jewelry and fabric she had accumulated over the past few months. She wished she could save up enough silver to redeem her sister Huanyun from prostitution as soon as possible. She wondered how her sister Huanyun had ended up in a brothel and what the conditions for her redemption were.

As she thought things through, she sorted out her thoughts. Fortunately, she was always thorough in her work, and when she arrived at the side gate, she didn't forget to give the gatekeeper and the maid who delivered the message a few coins as a thank you.

A few feet away from the doorway, Dingxiang, with her usual willow-leaf hairstyle and wearing an apricot-yellow autumn shirt, waited anxiously, a large bamboo basket at her feet. A few steps away from Dingxiang was a man in shorts, arms crossed, squinting at Meng Shu as she came out.

Aside from the maids who did the washing and cleaning, all the women in Chunfeng Tower, whether they were girls or maids, needed someone from Jin Dalang to accompany them when they went out.

"Meng Shu?"

Dingxiang opened her big eyes and asked uncertainly. The girl in front of her had clear features and a beautiful face, which was very different from Meng Shu in her memory.

"Don't you recognize me, Sister Dingxiang?" Meng Shu smiled and stepped forward to take her hand, her other hand moving with her body. "You seem to have grown a bit taller."

Meng Shu had already suffered for several years before being sold to Chunfeng Tower, and in that kind of setting, she was practically covered in dust and dirt every day. But after coming to the Tang Mansion, she really seemed like a different person in a short time, and even Donggua (her son) had gotten a little fatter.

Dingxiang was also surprised by Meng Shu's change, but quickly smiled and said, "Seeing that you are doing well makes me happy for you. I can tell the young lady when I get back so she can rest assured."

Meng Shu had something to say to Ding Xiang, so she took out half a string of coins from her sleeve and gave it to the tortoise claw, saying, "Brother, please do me a favor and let me talk to Sister Ding Xiang."

Most of the tortoise claws were greedy for money. The half-string of coins hanging on Meng Shu's fair and slender fingers made him as happy as a dog seeing a bone. He quickly took it and wisely went away.

Seeing that Meng Shu was so worldly-wise at such a young age, Ding Xiang thought of her daughter's words and sighed that her daughter was truly discerning. Seeing Meng Shu casually give away half a string of coins, she also felt that her daughter had worried for nothing.

The two girls were five or six years apart in age. Dingxiang felt that she was the older sister, so she took Meng Shu's hand and led her to a corner, asking carefully whether she had been mistreated in the Tang family and whether she had enough to eat. She was obviously asking on behalf of Huanyun.

Meng Shu couldn't help but feel touched. Sister Huanyun was showing affection for her husband because of him; it seemed she truly cared about her uncle all along.

It was inconvenient to reveal too much about the Tang family's affairs, so Meng Shu only mentioned what she could. While listening, Ding Xiang was also busy with her hands, lifting the dark blue cover to reveal many things.

"This was specially prepared by our girl. There are some snacks that we just bought from the street for you to try."

Pointing to the fabric beside her, she said, "The young lady knows you have formal attire in the manor, but you still need to prepare your own undergarments. Since you're so skilled, I've saved these fine cotton fabrics for you, along with two pairs of shoes..."

Meng Shu's nose tingled, and she almost burst into tears. Her voice was nasal as she spoke, "I'm sorry to have worried Sister Huanyun. I'm doing well at the Tang residence. It's just that she..."

Dingxiang was an impatient person. Before the young lady had finished explaining, she grabbed Meng Shu's arm and interrupted her. She then whispered in her ear, "I have some silver wrapped in fine cotton cloth. The young lady told you not to be stingy. She said, 'There's still a long way to go. There will always be a day when the clouds part and the sun shines through.'"

Although the Tang family's monthly allowance is considerable, there are still expenses to be made, including bribes for everyone, medicine for illnesses, and even small favors for the kitchen staff if you want to eat something nice. All in all, you should spend your money as it comes.

After hearing Huanyun's earnest instructions, Meng Shu couldn't hold back her tears. She wiped them away and said, "I don't need any money. I'll work for the Second Miss in the manor. Tell Huanyun that I'm really fine. Tell her that the Tang family is also helping to find my uncle. They've sent many people out along the route the ship took back then. I think they'll have news soon."

Upon hearing Meng Shu mention Zhou Bai, Ding Xiang couldn't help but say angrily, "Men's mouths are always lying, and your uncle is the most heartless one. My daughter once saved up two hundred taels of silver and gave it to him, and now four years have passed without a word. Even a letter would be appreciated. My poor daughter waits for him day and night and has never doubted him."

Dingxiang was stolen by human traffickers when she was a child and was sold to many families over the years. She eventually ended up in Chunfeng Tower. Fortunately, she finally followed Huanyun and lived a few years of human life. Therefore, although the two were mistress and servant, they were as close as sisters.

Despite being at the bottom of the brothel, she hated heartless and ungrateful men the most and felt sorry for her daughter.

“Uncle might be trapped somewhere, Sister Dingxiang. My uncle keeps his promises and would never betray Sister Huanyun,” Meng Shu explained.

"Never mind, I was just complaining a bit on behalf of the girl."

Having watched for quite some time, Meng Shu hurriedly asked, "Sister Dingxiang, do you know what the conditions are for redeeming Sister Huanyun?"

Dingxiang carefully covered the basket with the cloth, then looked up and said, "Why are you asking this? The young lady told me to tell you not to mention Chunfeng Tower again. When we enter the mansion later, if anyone you know asks you, just make up an excuse to cover it up, understand?"

Meng Shu was extremely anxious, but Ding Xiang, being impatient, spoke rapidly without getting to the point. In the end, she finally understood.

The two continued their back-and-forth conversation, their expressions shifting between shock, resentment, and finally settling into a shared sense of frustration. Finally, Turtle Claws impatiently approached and said, "Are you finished? It's been almost an hour, and we need to go back to the building."

Dingxiang tucked the cloth tightly into the basket along the inner wall and then shoved it into Meng Shu's arms. "It's getting late, I really have to go. I've already said everything that should and shouldn't have been said about you today. You should go back now. When you have some free time in a few days, you will send me to come and see you again."

Dingxiang stood up and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. This little thing was always asking questions, which made her recall a sad memory.

Holding a large basket, Meng Shu waved goodbye to Ding Xiang until Ding Xiang turned the corner without looking back before she composed herself and headed back to her residence.

The old woman at the side gate was eyeing the things in the basket, but she hadn't managed to sneak a peek at any of them from a distance. She wanted to ask, but seeing that Meng Shu's eyes were red, she didn't dare to make things difficult for her.

Things are different now. Meng Shu is now a servant of the Second Miss, no longer a lowly maid in Langya Courtyard.

"Three thousand taels of silver..."

The basket was large and heavy. Meng Shu carried Huan Yun's heartfelt gift and walked unsteadily toward Yunyi Courtyard, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She was shocked by the exorbitant price of silver and saddened by Huan Yun's plight.