C7 Chapter 7

"Mrs. Su, I'm back," Su Luo greeted as she approached. She noticed a few maids escorting a beautiful woman away in the distance, clearly the lady of the house from her attire and entourage. Whether she was the wife or a concubine, Su Luo couldn't tell.

Mrs. Su looked Su Luo over, noticing her slightly fatigued expression. "This work may seem easy, but it's quite tedious. Once things settle down, take a few days off. Let others handle the rest of the tasks."

Su Luo, recalling memories and handling things carefully, replied, "The goods from the estate have been loaded onto the cart and should be nearing the city gates by now. With the New Year approaching, the household is bustling with activities, so I thought it best to settle the accounts early and returned ahead of time." She had efficiently prepared an inventory of the New Year's supplies during her journey. As she finished speaking, she handed it over.

Mrs. Su reviewed it with a smile. "You always handle things reliably. Alright, go rest! I'll have someone bring your dinner to your room tonight." She tucked the list away and leisurely walked off.

Watching Mrs. Su's plump figure waddle into the distance, Su Luo suddenly remembered something. No wonder Mrs. Su was so kind to her—they were relatives. There's a saying that it's easier to meet the king than to deal with his underlings. Being just a third-class maid, Su Luo rarely encountered the master or mistress of the house. With Mrs. Su as her ally, she no longer needed to worry.

Su Luo felt happy inside and started humming a tune. She walked along, occasionally scooping up a handful of water or picking a lotus petal.

"Sis."

She faintly heard a voice. Su Luo ignored it and kept humming as she walked forward. Just around the corner was her little house.

"Sis." The voice was louder this time. Su Luo stopped, hesitantly looking back, and saw a hint of pink peeking out from behind a canna lily. "Are you calling me?" Su Luo wondered who this person was and if they knew her.

"I heard you were back, but I didn't believe it!" The young girl slowly stepped out from behind the tree. She was wearing a light pink dress, soft and flowing, and as she moved, the skirt gently rippled. She was naturally delicate, and with the breeze and the mist from the pond, she looked even more fragile and endearing. "I was so worried when you went away."

As the girl approached, Su Luo said, "It wasn't that far! I just went out of town to the countryside for a bit, with some friends. What could happen?" The two were now close, and the girl barely reached Su Luo's chest. Her small face was pale and colorless. "Look at you, standing in the draft when you're not well. Come inside with me. I need to see if you've gained or lost weight these past few days," Su Luo teased, opening the door and stepping inside.

Su Luo remembered that the young girl was named Biyin. They had entered the estate together, and since childhood, Biyin had been frail. Su Luo had always taken good care of her, and Biyin regarded Su Luo as her own sister.

"This room hasn't been used for a few days; we should open the windows to let in some fresh air." As soon as they entered, Biyin flitted around like a little bird, bustling about.

Su Luo watched her with a smile. "Anything new happening around here?" She poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. The tea was cold and bitter, and having tasted fine teas in her past life, she set it down with a frown.

"Don't drink that, sister." Biyin came over and poured out the tea. "Last time, during the old man's birthday, he gave out some tea leaves. I still have a bit left. I'll bring some over later."

Su Luo frowned, "You finally got something nice; you don't have to think of me every time."

Biyin shook her head and said earnestly, "What's mine is yours, sister. You always shared with me, even if it was just a piece of cake." Her eyes reddened slightly as she lowered her head and took out a beautifully embroidered pouch. "I made this especially for you. It’s filled with various herbs to add fragrance and keep away mosquitoes and bad spirits. I meant to give it to you on the festival day, but I was late, and you had already left."

Su Luo held it in her hand and took a gentle sniff. It wasn't the usual incense from a wealthy household but rather a delicate herbal scent. "I'll keep it then," she said, pausing for a moment. "I just heard from John that the old man lost his temper again."

"That's right," Feng Biyin nodded. "Maybe things haven't been going well for him at work lately, so he's taking it out on a few of the young men." She smiled slightly. "Actually, it's really Third Young Master Yan who's in trouble. Today, he had the garden turned upside down, and the old man found out. When someone asked about it, they discovered it was all because of some cricket king." She giggled, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. "The old man was furious, saying, 'I've risked my life out there, and even on my birthday, you never went to such lengths. Turns out I'm not as important as a cricket.'"

She mimicked the old man's words perfectly, her delicate face managing to pull off a stern, angry expression. Su Luo burst into laughter. "Third Young Master Yan must have had a rough time."

"Isn't that the truth? But he's tough; a little punishment is nothing to him."

It seemed like this Third Young Master Yan was quite the hopeless case. Su Luo pursed her lips, suppressing a strange unease in her heart and pushing it to the back of her mind.

As they chatted away, they didn't notice the sky growing dark. Biyin lit a candle, its flame flickering and casting dancing shadows. Just then, there was a knock at the door—it was the young girl bringing in some food.