Chapter 6: The Incident of Changing the Maid
How did I end up with such an unreasonable father? Fang Zheng rolled his eyes behind his back and muttered a few discontented words
Halfway there, Fang Zheng suddenly slapped his forehead: "Look at my terrible memory, didn't I say I would bring rouge for Xiao Lu? How could I forget it."
Young master, I do not dare.
In contemplation, Xiao Lu and several young maidservants entered with dishes in hand. After they arranged the meals one by one on the table, they bowed and withdrew. Xiao Lu stood beside Fang Zheng, attending to him.
***
Little Green, do you have any alcohol? Today I would like to have some drinks
Fang Zheng suddenly realized that Xiao Lu had only been assigned to be his personal maid for just over a month, which explained why she was not very close to him. Why had no one ever told him about this? In that case, it would be better to keep her by his side and take the time to train her. However, what did Mother mean when she said that at a critical moment, she would be my second life?
Young master, I do not dare.
Speaking of which, Xiao Lu is actually quite good; aside from not being close enough to him, she has not neglected any of her responsibilities.
Upon careful consideration, aside from being somewhat aloof and speaking less, Xiao Lu performs quite well in other aspects. At the very least, her care for this young master is meticulous. Fang Zheng, who in his previous life had to fend for himself in terms of food and clothing, has now become accustomed to being attended to. Perhaps it is a manifestation of human laziness, but a larger reason is that Xiao Lu takes excellent care of him. Xiao Lu is a clever girl; often, she knows what Fang Zheng wants without him having to say a word. Such an understanding and beautiful maid would be priceless in his previous life.
"Little Green, do you drink? Shall we have a few drinks together?" After Little Green poured him a drink, Fang Zheng tentatively asked a question.
Little Green, have you seen the goldfish? Later, shall I take you to see the goldfish?
Oh, this is not a big deal. Xiao Lu came to our family when she was twelve. Ever since you fell into a coma last month, your father and I carefully selected her from among the many maids to be your personal maid. During the days you were unconscious, she worked tirelessly both inside and out, and it was the hardest for her; she even assisted you with bathing and cleaning. Zheng'er, you should treat her well on ordinary days; at a critical moment, she might just be your second life.
"Young Master, I dare not," Xiao Lu replied without even raising her eyelids, her indifferent attitude making Fang Zheng feel a deep irritation.
Ah, this young man has a bright future with books. Fang Zheng accepted the rouge, happily patted Xiao Wu's shoulder, and said: "You are quite impressive, really know how to handle things. How about this, you won't have to follow Steward Liu anymore. I'll speak to Steward Liu and have you transferred to my side as my servant."
The dishes are exquisite, and there is only one young master in the Fang family. Naturally, the servants in the residence do not dare to neglect him, ensuring that he is served the best food and drink first
Little Green, come here, sit down, let me chat with you...
Upon returning to the residence, Fang Zheng went straight back to his own courtyard
As I was contemplating how to speak to Xiao Lu, she had already entered with a drink in hand
Before even entering the door, Fang Zheng shouted loudly: "Xiao Lu, Xiao Lu, hurry up with the food, I'm starving!"
Young master, this servant does not dare
Fang Zheng was unaware of the many twists and turns within, but Xiao Wu was a clever person and became even more attentive to Fang Zheng before and after.
Feeling somewhat guilty for secretly asking his parents to replace her, Fang Zheng realized it was ultimately a flaw inherent in men. The girl wore a cold expression, which ignited Fang Zheng's desire to conquer her. After much effort, he found that he could not win her over. With his pride at stake, he decided to transfer her away, believing that out of sight would mean out of mind, and he could treat her as if he did not know her.
Little Green's delicate willow leaf-like eyebrows furrowed into a frown, and she said, "Please wait a moment, young master; I will bring you some wine." After speaking, she turned and exited.
Little Green, there are only the two of us here, what harm is there in sitting down? You keep standing there watching me eat, and I feel a bit shy...
In the future, I should treat Xiao Lu better. Fang Zheng silently told himself: After all, she has bathed me; my pure and untainted body has been seen by her. If she does not take responsibility, who will?
Although Xiao Lu's temperament is indifferent, after all, Fang Zheng is her master, and she has no choice but to obey his words
The slender figure of Xiao Lu appeared at the door, responding softly, before turning to go to the kitchen to serve the dishes
Fang Zheng understood that this girl was simply impervious to reason, leaving him as helpless as a dog trying to bite a hedgehog. Forget it, tomorrow I will report to my mother and have her replaced. It is likely that this girl feels troubled just by looking at herself every day; it would be better for both to forget each other in the Fang residence.
What is this girl always trying to act cool for? Did I really owe her money in the past and never paid it back? Fang Zheng furrowed his brows, trying hard to recall.
What? Change to Little Green? Why? The next morning, when Fang Zheng went to pay respects to his parents, he casually mentioned this matter to Madam Fang, who was somewhat surprised
Why?
"For no reason, I say it cannot be done, and that is final. What? Are you dissatisfied with it?" Master Fang shot him a glare, stood up, and brushed off his sleeves as he returned to the inner courtyard
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu was overjoyed and repeatedly bowed to Fang Zheng. If it had not been in the street, he might have knelt down on the spot to express his gratitude and pledge his loyalty.
No way
Fang Zheng slowly savored the dishes, a wave of satisfaction rising in his heart. How fortunate the young masters of the feudal society were, not having to lift a finger for their food and clothing, with many tasks essentially handled by the maids and servants. The ancients said, "It is easy to fall from frugality into extravagance," and this saying holds great truth. Nowadays, Fang Zheng has indeed developed a sense of laziness; not to mention trivial matters like pouring wine and serving food, he doesn't even bother to get up in the morning to dress himself, as Xiao Lu will arrange everything meticulously.
Young master, I do not dare.
To match the occasion, look at the moonlight, the red candles, the beautiful person, and the exquisite delicacies. Such a splendid time and beautiful scenery, if there is no wine to accompany it, would it not greatly lose its charm
Xiao Wu was directly promoted from a servant to Young Master Fang's personal attendant, which can be described as a meteoric rise. From then on, among all the servants in the Fang residence, he could be considered a figure of the 'brother' generation, and even the stewards of the eastern and western courtyards had to show him a degree of respect. Therefore, Xiao Wu's gratitude towards Fang Zheng was truly sincere and genuine.
Although both the menial workers and the servants are considered lower-class, there is a fundamental difference between them. The character from Stephen Chow's "Flirting Scholar" is akin to the one numbered 9527, whose daily task is to pick up dog feces. In contrast, the high-ranking companion scholar, Hua An, is clearly of a much higher status.
"Zheng'er, could it be that Xiao Lu has been disrespectful to you on a regular basis?" Madam Fang asked with concern for Fang Zheng.
"Young Master, your health has not yet recovered; the doctor advised against drinking alcohol." Xiao Lu's words were quite stern.
Little Green, look, this is the rouge powder that I specially bought for you from Ruyuzhai. Here, accept it...
Xiao Wu cleverly stepped forward, took out a beautifully packaged box of rouge from the bundle, and said with a smile: "Young Master, Xiao Wu has remembered for you, and specially selected one with a fine color."
Little Green and I are not from the same mold... Fang Zheng noticed his father's displeased expression and quickly changed his tone: "Um, cough, well, Little Green should go to the position in our Fang family where she is most needed, to maximize her light and warmth..."
Fang Zheng is an outgoing person; he enjoys making friends and being close to others. If even the maid by his side cannot get close to him, it is a torment for both him and Xiao Lu. Rather than this, it would be better to transfer Xiao Lu away.
No, absolutely not. It's just that Xiao Lu is too quiet, while the child enjoys lively company, fearing that the two may not get along well in the future