Chapter One, the lecherous Fourth Master.

Cen Sanniang turned back with a smile to look outside the courtyard, but her smile instantly vanished

The rain fell steadily throughout the night, and by dawn, it gradually lessened, floating in the air like mist

She took off her clothes and looked; the clothes had indeed been washed, but there was a hole the size of a coin in the front. Mrs. Xu, feeling distressed, began to complain about Baicao: "Why did this girl exert herself so much? Now look, she has washed a hole into it."

They have arrived! Bai Cao breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Mr. Xu come out. She bowed to the Fourth Master and, holding the food box, stepped aside against the wall, saying: "Fourth Master, safe travels!"

This layer of thought, however, is not convenient to express directly to the wet nurse. The thirteen-year-old girl already knows how to manipulate people's feelings, and Madam Xu would surely feel distressed. Just then, she caught sight of Baicao appearing at the entrance of the courtyard with a food box, and Cen San Niang changed the subject, "Ah, Baicao is back. I am about to starve to death."

Cen Sanniang understood clearly from upstairs, and she was so angry that she gritted her teeth: "Shameless!"

Xu's family has indeed been deceived, putting down the clothes in hand, hurriedly rushing downstairs: "This girl must have taken the breakfast and gone the long way to look at the flowers and plants in the garden, just wait and see how I deal with her!"

Bai Cao was both angry and furious, seemingly stunned by the words of the Fourth Master, and with a shudder, she let go of her grip

The fourth master, nearing forty years of age, has a thin, yellowish face that is sharply contoured. His mouth, adorned with sparse whiskers, is puckered up high as he mimics bird calls, seemingly teasing the birds, yet his eyes, filled with a lustful glint, are fixated on the myriad of grasses.

The wet nurse, Xu, was briskly tidying up the room. She suddenly caught sight of the blue-green embroidered garment with butterflies draped over the screen: "Oh, isn't this the one that got splashed with soup yesterday and was supposed to be washed by Baicao? Why is it still hanging here?"

The structures of southern courtyards and northern siheyuan differ; the narrow and deep passageways between the courtyards are only about one zhang wide. The four elders deliberately blocked the path with a birdcage, obstructing Baicao's way.

Xu is tall and in his early thirties, which is the prime of his vigor, as he treads heavily on the wooden stairs.

She quickly lifted her skirt and rushed down the stairs, deliberately shouting loudly, "Mother, has Baicao returned? I'm about to starve!"

Upon hearing the loud voice of the Xu family, the Fourth Master lost his train of thought. Seeing the beautiful face of Baicao, his courage grew even bolder: "Baicao, how about I take you as my concubine? That way, you won't have to endure the constant scolding from that woman!"

Xu looked at Cen Sanniang's nonchalant smile and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache: "If the master were still here, how could he allow Sanniang to wear a patched-up garment for three years..."

Cen Sanniang sat on the beauty couch on the second floor, lifted the bamboo curtain, inhaled the fresh air, and sipped her cup of honey water delicately.

Cen Sanniang smiled as she defended Baicao: "This fabric cannot withstand being washed and worn for three years; Baicao has already been very careful. It just so happens to be a Hundred Butterflies garment. Mother has excellent embroidery skills, and by using thread of the same color to mend a flower or butterfly, it can be worn again."

At this moment, Xu was opening the courtyard door when she looked up and saw Baicao being cornered by the Fourth Master in the alley. She opened her mouth to scold, "Baicao, are you itching for a beating? You’ve been wandering around with breakfast and only just returned! If I let Third Miss go hungry, I’ll skin you alive!"

It is unclear when it began, but the Fourth Master has taken to leaving the residence early in the morning to stroll with the birds, preferring to use the back door.

In ancient times, one zhang was approximately equal to about 2.6 meters, based on an average value

The next door is home to the fourth master of the Cen family, and the back door opens into the main alley of the courtyard where Cen San Niang resides

Reluctant to part with this old garment, her great-grandmother would feel that she is a grateful person, and would treat her better. Only then would their future days be more bearable

The food box fell to the ground, and the jar containing the porridge shattered into several pieces at the feet of the fourth elder, with porridge splattering onto the hem of his garment

"Where do I lack clothing? This was specially made for me by the weaving house at the request of my grandmother when I first entered the mansion, wasn't it? I can't bear to throw it away," replied Miss Cen with a smile, her playful tone causing Madam Xu to glance at her with a hint of reproach.