Qing Da's family had served the Marquis's Residence for three generations. He had been steadfastly loyal and grateful for its kindness, yet this was how he had ended up.
He had truly given his life to the wrong people!
According to the book's original plot, after the male lead drove her mother to her death, the Marquis's Residence had not even given her a proper burial.
Qing Da had walked back from the frontier, step by step. The journey took two years. He ate in the wind and slept beneath the open sky, starved until he was skin and bones, and walked until he was crippled, all to repair her mother's grave and light a stick of incense for her.
After offering the incense, Qing Da's body finally gave out from the journey, and he died beside her mother's grave.
Liu Wan's heart clenched.
Qing Da's father and daughter had all worked at the Marquis's Residence, three generations of one family. How could they have been reduced to such a fate?
If this was how the Marquis's Residence managed its servants, its ruin was only a matter of time.
She gave Wanwan her little finger to play with and told Qing Da, "Go notify all the masters of the residence. Tell them the heir and the marquis's wife are coming home."
Qing Da scratched his head, bewildered.
"Hurry up and go!" Pan Chun urged.
Qing Da dashed off. Whatever Madam did, she had her reasons.
Before long.
The front hall of the Marquis's Residence filled with people.
Even the second uncle, Xie Jinqian, the third uncle, Xie Jinzhao, and the fourth uncle, Xie Jinqiu, who had not attended the one-month celebration, arrived. Xu Rourou was already waiting there with her baby in her arms. Beside her stood Li Duoduo, a young cousin from Madam Li's natal family.
Counting the marquis's concubines and their children, the masters of the residence comprised more than a dozen households.
Now, for once, they had all gathered.
Clearly, Madam Li ruled the household with a firm hand. They did not dare stay away.
"Sister-in-law, what exactly is going on? You went with the heir yesterday to bring Mother home. Why aren't they back yet?"
The one who spoke was the second uncle, Xie Jinqian, a gentle, handsome man who was also the tallest of the brothers.
When Liu Wan married into the family five years ago, he had not been so tall.
"Yes, where exactly did my aunt and cousin go? Cousin-in-law, what happened yesterday? Why did you come home alone?"
Li Duoduo frowned as she asked, then glanced at the baby girl in Liu Wan's arms and quietly moved away from the one Xu Rourou was holding.
Oh, how noisy! I wondered who it was. So it's Second Uncle and my young cousin-aunt.
Little Wanwan watched them with glistening eyes, sucking her thumb.
You're the one talking to my mommy like that? Watch out, or I'll beat you up!
Little Wanwan pointed her damp finger at Li Duoduo.
Liu Wan swiftly pressed her hand down and told everyone, "Actually, there's another reason I called you all here."
Everyone looked at her.
Liu Wan recounted what Qing Da had told her yesterday.
Qing Da came in again and repeated the story with vivid flourishes, leaving everyone stunned.
What did that mean?
Three blackened people had tried to impersonate the masters of their residence?
What utter lawlessness! Did they think everyone at the Marquis's Residence was a fucking idiot?
The third uncle, Xie Jinzhao, scoffed and said flippantly, "A few fools dared impersonate our masters? Did you hand them over to the authorities?"
"I did!" Qing Da answered.
"If you ask me, handing them over was letting them off too lightly. You should have beaten them first, so they'd know our residence isn't somewhere just anyone can offend!"
The fourth uncle, Xie Jinqiu, spoke with a stern expression, then covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed twice, supported by a servant.
"To be honest, Fourth Young Master, I took the liberty of having them taught a lesson. I reckon they won't dare come again," Qing Da replied with a smile.
Liu Wan nodded, then said, "This concerns the reputation of our residence. If vagrants come impersonating us today and beggars do the same tomorrow, once word spreads, everyone in the city will think we're fools. What dignity would we have left then?"
Everyone exchanged looks and nodded.
"So how do you intend to handle it, Sister-in-law?" Xie Jinqian asked.
"Anyone reduced to committing fraud like this must be a pitiful soul with nowhere left to turn. To keep this from happening again, I'd like to set up a porridge stall outside the city in the residence's name. It would preserve our good reputation and might even draw His Majesty's attention in the future!"
Liu Wan explained.
Everyone agreed.
Liu Wan continued, "But we've already cut back on food and clothing, and our finances are nowhere near what they were. This would require a considerable sum of silver... If we took that much from the accounts, we'd have to deduct some from everyone's monthly allowances. I thought it would be better for everyone to donate voluntarily instead. As mistress of the household, I'll start by donating a hundred taels!"
Everyone hesitated again, falling silent for quite some time.
Xu Rourou stepped forward with her baby, lowering her head pitifully. "Madam, I haven't received this month's allowance yet, so I won't be donating."
With her taking the lead, the others dared to speak as well.
Li Duoduo sneered. "Cousin-in-law, if you want to play the good person, why drag everyone else into it? We donate the silver, but you get the good reputation? Isn't that moral blackmail?"
Liu Wan ignored them and looked at her brothers-in-law. "And you? What do you think?"
Of Xie Jinzhao and Xie Jinqiu, one remained silent, bouncing his leg.
The other covered his mouth with his handkerchief and backed away, his face pale.
"It would be in the residence's name. If this drew His Majesty's attention, it would benefit the residence. But so far, no other family has distributed porridge outside the city..."
"Sister-in-law, our monthly allowances aren't much. You're donating a hundred taels in one go, but we can't come up with that much!"
Xie Jinzhao folded his arms, chewing a dried plum.
"Sister-in-law, my monthly allowance doesn't even cover my medicine... cough, cough," Xie Jinqiu said weakly.
Ah, good thing I know the plot. The people in this residence are all pulling in different directions. Mommy, don't be angry.
In a few days, the surrounding neighborhoods will flood, and His Majesty will send officials to provide disaster relief. If Mommy sets up the first porridge stall, she'll definitely receive praise and rewards.
The people of this residence have no fortune to enjoy this wealth pouring down from the heavens!
Liu Wan heard her.
She let out a heavy sigh.
The residence's fortunes were declining. As mistress of the household, she had done what she could to save it.
Who would have thought that not a single person in the entire residence had any sense?
Mommy, Mommy, respect other people's choices and laugh at their fate. Don't sigh. They aren't worth it!
Little Wanwan clutched her mother's clothes tightly, trying hard to press her little face against Liu Wan's.
Liu Wan came to a realization. "Since that's the case, the residence won't undertake this."
"But everyone has seen Qing Da's quick thinking and loyalty. Surely it's only right that I reward him."
Xie Jinzhao said, "Of course. We agree that he did nothing wrong!"
The others nodded too.
Liu Wan said, "Then I'll transfer Qing Da to the Second Courtyard to take over as its steward, and reward him with some Silver Melon Seeds."
The steward's position in the Second Courtyard was slightly higher than Qing Da's current post. Though the pay was about the same, being close to the masters meant he could receive plenty of fine gifts.
No one objected.
Just then, a servant led officials from the authorities inside.
Behind them came three people as black as coal, their skin evenly darkened and gleaming.
One of them even had a filthy white bandage hanging from his hand!
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