High-class maid

Chapter 274 Mother is Sick

Fatty had never experienced anything like this before. She glanced at Jin'er, bewildered, clearly having come to regard this quiet girl as her pillar of support.

Jin'er pulled her hand and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Madam."

Madam Wang was somewhat unaccustomed to being called "Madam," but considering that her family would become better and better in the future and that there would definitely be more and more servants, she thought it best to get used to it as soon as possible.

She waved her hand and said, "Our family is small and doesn't have many rules. As the daughter, I'm in charge. If you don't understand anything, just ask her."

After saying that, she pulled Shen Kun to the street to buy clothes for the two of them.

The shop only makes custom-made clothes, and there's obviously not enough time to make them for the two of them, so they'll have to buy them from a ready-made clothing shop outside.

"I'll buy you a set of clothes first, and then I'll make you another set when I have time, so you can alternate wearing them," Shen Xing'er said.

The chubby girl couldn't hide her joy; she could finally wear new clothes!

"After I buy you into my home, you will be part of my family. But I will reward you for your hard work. I won't let you work for nothing. You will receive two hundred silver coins every month. If you do well in the future, I will give you a raise. I will take care of your food and lodging. In the first year, I will give you two sets of clothes and two pairs of shoes every quarter. In the second year, I will give you one set of clothes and one pair of shoes every quarter. Do you have any objections?"

Jin'er exchanged a surprised glance with the fat girl. This was truly unexpected. Even when she was working at the Li family, her treatment was only this. She never imagined that she would meet such a kind master!

She couldn't hide her excitement, and her eyes were red as she spoke.

"Miss, you are so kind. We are so lucky to have met such a kind master after we were sold. We will definitely do our best and live up to your expectations!"

Fatty didn't say anything, she just kept nodding.

Jin'er was her mouthpiece, saying what she wanted to say. She didn't know how to express her excitement, but she knew that there was more and more hope!

"However," Shen Xing'er changed the subject, "after giving you the sweet treat, it's time to give you a good beating."

"Cheating and shirking are unacceptable, and I don't like those with wicked intentions either. Just do your jobs well, and I won't treat you unfairly. I can buy you, and I can sell you as well. But I trust my judgment, and you won't let me down."

Jin'er and Pangya straightened up, suppressing their earlier excitement, and both expressed their determination to perform their duties well and not disappoint their master.

"Alright, when Madam returns, you all change into your new clothes and shoes. Fatty, you go back with Madam to make pickled vegetables, and Jin'er, you stay at the shop and help me out."

The Shen family doesn't support idlers; everyone has to be busy!

The two maids nodded. While they were talking, Madam Wang and Shen Kun returned from the street.

Wang Shi also has daughters. She not only bought them new clothes and shoes, but also thoughtfully bought them underwear and socks. Jin'er and Pang Ya were deeply moved.

That evening, Shen Kun, Shen Xing'er, and Shan Tao walked home together.

"Cook something for yourself in the kitchen, and remember to close the doors and windows. This will be your room from now on. Aren't you afraid to stay here alone at night?" Shen Xing'er asked Jin'er.

"Miss, I'm not afraid," Jin'er said, looking at the cozy little house in front of her.

This is much better than the dormitory-style room she lived in at the brokerage firm. There's even a big trunk in this room! She can keep her savings there from now on. Life is getting better and better!

"Alright, let's go back. From now on, open the door at Chenshi (7-9 AM) every day, and make sure to lock the doors and windows at night!" Shen Xing'er instructed.

Jin'er nodded and watched the father and daughter leave. After Shen Xing'er disappeared from her sight, she turned around and went back into the house to pick up the account book and start reading. Since her master trusted her so much, she had to practice hard!

As soon as the three entered the courtyard, they saw Wang Shi come out of the house with a dark face.

"Mother, what's wrong? Did you have a fight with someone?" Shen Xing'er asked.

Shen Kun looked at his wife with a worried expression.

"Shen Zhiyuan is here. His mother is seriously ill," Wang said, her face grim.

Shen Kun's expression was also not good, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he said, "I'll go inside and take a look. You three eat first."

Wang nodded and invited the chubby girl, who was standing in the kitchen looking lost, to eat.

Fatty didn't know what had happened, only that a younger man had arrived, and then the lady's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. She also heard the man say something...

"Sister-in-law's family can afford servants now, surely they have money to treat Mother's illness?"

"Fatty, sit down and eat. You've had a long day, so make sure you're well-rested for work tomorrow," Shen Xing'er said, patting her shoulder to reassure her when she saw that she seemed a little uneasy.

"Yes, Miss, where did Jin'er go?" the chubby girl asked in a low voice.

Could it be that Jin'er didn't perform her duties properly and was sold out by her master?

"She didn't do her job properly, so we sent her back to the brokerage." How could Shan Tao not know the worries in Pang Ya's heart? Looking at the innocent girl in front of her, she suddenly had the urge to play with her.

Fatty's head went blank, and her face turned pale. If even an outstanding girl like Jin'er could be sent back, how many days could she possibly stay in the Shen family?

"Don't listen to her. That girl loves to play tricks on people. I've let Jin'er stay at the shop so she won't have to run around with me all day," Shen Xing'er hurriedly explained when she saw the chubby girl holding her bowl and not even daring to eat.

"Yes." The chubby girl breathed a sigh of relief; at least she hadn't been sold back.

In the kitchen, because of Shen Zhiyuan's arrival, none of the others were in the mood to talk; they just ate with their heads down. Inside the house, Shen Kun's expression was also somewhat unpleasant. He looked at his younger brother, with whom he had never had a good relationship, and said with a headache...

"So, you've come to borrow money?"

"Mother's illness came on strangely and can't be cured in the village. I want to take her to the city for treatment, but the cost of treating her is already high. If we rent a small courtyard in the city, I'm afraid we won't have enough money to cover her treatment. I wonder if we could stay at my elder brother's house?"

Shen Zhiyuan said, blushing.

When the family divided their property, his mother made a solemn vow that she would never have this son again, but who knew that she would come back in disgrace in less than a year.

"Over the years, I've sent at least three hundred taels of silver home, if not five hundred. Where did you all spend it? What illness can't be cured with three hundred taels? You gave us another sum of money when we divided the family property. Can't you even afford to rent a courtyard?" Shen Kun questioned loudly.

Shen Zhiyuan's expression was rather unpleasant. He was always respected in the village, and it had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him so rudely, especially since the other party was a servant.

"Don't I spend money on social engagements all these years? I also have to buy new clothes every quarter, not to mention paper, ink and paper, which cost a lot of money. And then there's Wu'er, who hasn't gotten pregnant in the years since we got married. She's been seeing doctors and taking medicine all day long, so we've run out of money."

Shen Zhiyuan's voice grew softer and softer; he knew that coming to find Shen Kun was a mistake.