Most of human fear stems from ignorance. Previously Yu Cailing’s anxiety, gains and losses, and melancholy were more than half due to worry about an unknown future. But after these several days of eavesdropping, she had basically settled her heart. Her parents were shrewd and capable, the family circumstances wealthy. She had several brothers, including her own dragon-phoenix twin brother. With such a basic foundation in hand, no matter what, she wouldn’t be wronged to any great degree.

Once her heart settled, this sleep was exceptionally sweet. Moreover, it seemed the medicinal soup the cheap parents brought was very effective. Sleeping until dawn, when opening her eyes she felt her heart and lungs smooth, the weakness in her hands and feet lessened by several parts.

Happily turning her head, she saw A’Zhu had already knelt beside the couch arranging bowls, plates, cups and vessels. Yu Cailing was both surprised and delighted, hurriedly asking about the situation. Only then did she learn that under Madam Xiao’s instructions, A’Zhu had already become her nanny. The two maidservants kneeling behind A’Zhu apparently were also assigned by Madam Xiao to serve her.

Yu Cailing originally wanted to exclaim approval, then continue asking about A’Mei and A’Liang. Suddenly feeling something wrong, she hurriedly said: “Have my father and mother both returned? This time they won’t leave again, right? Then what about my original nanny and servants?” Thanks to the salted fish club president gifting her Stanislavski, she finally didn’t forget an actor’s self-cultivation—how could a good child not think of parents first but ask about playmates instead?

A’Zhu’s face became solemn: “The young mistress has grown up and should understand matters. After the master and mistress returned, they make all decisions for you in everything. Those people your paternal aunt assigned you before—all are not wanted.”

These words were very meaningful. While Yu Cailing concealed her inner thoughts, she pretended displeasure, pouting: “Since Mother knows Paternal Aunt treated me poorly, why not earlier send people to my side to serve? Making me suffer so much.” An uncomprehending little girl—she played it without any pressure.

A’Zhu smiled slightly: “In earlier years outside was very chaotic. Even letters couldn’t be delivered properly. Moreover, the trivial affairs of the inner residence—even if the mistress knew something, she couldn’t timely manage and restrain. The household was decided by Paternal Aunt. Even if the mistress assigned people, what use would it be?” Actually Madam Xiao’s original words were: Loyal servants are hard to come by. Now is precisely when people are needed—don’t let them be broken in inner residence women’s schemes.

Yu Cailing from childhood had a sharp and caustic mouth. She originally still wanted to stab this ‘wise and omnipotent’ Madam Xiao a few more sentences, but seeing A’Zhu’s exhausted face, her heart couldn’t bear it.

Since coming to this place, her closest was none other than this taciturn and honest woman before her. Thinking of how back then A’Zhu, being cautious in conduct, dared not seek many servants to help—all affairs she personally handled herself. When Yu Cailing couldn’t swallow things, A’Zhu took medicinal juice and fed her bit by bit. To give her fever relief, in such cold winter white snow weather, A’Zhu also several times daily heated water to wipe her body and change clothes. As a result the well water froze and she could only scoop accumulated snow to melt. A’Zhu’s originally fairly well-maintained fingers directly developed frostbite. Because she disliked meat soup being greasy, A’Zhu personally went to the mountains turning over snow and digging earth to find those few mushrooms and vegetables to add to soup—thinking A’Zhu these days should have had no proper rest. Better save her some trouble.

Yu Cailing lowered her head: “I’ll listen to Nanny.” If those who got along day and night before came over, she couldn’t guarantee not revealing the truth. Not that she feared someone would say she wasn’t the original person—she feared this bunch of superstitious fellows would come pour talisman water on her saying she was possessed by ghosts or something.

A’Zhu was very satisfied, serving Yu Cailing in rinsing her mouth and eating porridge.

Actually if the original nanny and servants were here, they couldn’t help but be amazed how their young mistress became so agreeable. However, A’Zhu having cared for Yu Cailing so many days, always felt she was a child of fundamentally pure and kind nature, so didn’t find it strange.

In the wine-red lacquer wood small square tray were placed three same-colored lacquer small bowls. On the bowl walls were depicted some strange small beasts in dark color. The slightly larger lacquer wood bowl in the middle held fragrant rice porridge. Yu Cailing smelled it and immediately knew it was her favorite beef bone mushroom porridge. In the slightly smaller bowl beside it were pickled vegetables preserved with sea salt and vinegar—salty and sour, delicious—precisely A’Zhu’s specialty. The last small lacquer wood bowl with rounded corners and square edges actually held two small pieces of milk-fragrant sweet milk cake—who knew how much sugar was inside. Yu Cailing knew that at this time candied preserves weren’t easily obtained. In the countryside, having two pieces of malt sugar could already attract the envy of many children.

All things she loved to eat—Yu Cailing ate with exceptional appetite. A’Zhu beside her watched with a smiling face, as if the things the girl ate into her mouth entered her own belly with the same satisfaction.

During the meal Yu Cailing asked about A’Mei’s siblings. A’Zhu smiled: “Thanks to the mistress not abandoning them, A’Mei will also come serve the young lady in the future. A’Liang also doesn’t know which young master he can follow. However, they’ve grown wild in the countryside. Now Madam Qing Cong is finding someone to teach the siblings proper rules.” Then she introduced the two maidservants behind her.

That round-faced maidservant was slightly younger, probably only thirteen or fourteen, named Qiao Guo. The other with an oval face was slightly older, probably fifteen or sixteen, named Lian Fang. According to A’Zhu’s explanation, the ‘wise and omnipotent’ Madam Xiao from several years ago had paid attention to finding reliable and loyal confidant maidservants for her daughter. These two were clearly the results of careful selection from thousands.

Yu Cailing twitched the corners of her mouth. Shouldn’t confidants be creatures one cultivates oneself to be reliable?

“Then who is Madam Qing Cong?” Yu Cailing said while gnawing the small sweet cake.

A’Zhu smiled: “She’s Mistress’s sworn sister. These years Mistress has relied much on her help. You must treat her respectfully in the future.”

Yu Cailing nodded. So it was Little Auntie.

After finishing the meal, Qiao Guo carried the food tray down. Lian Fang hurriedly took out a half-foot-high lacquer wood round cylinder warmed in a cotton nest, mixed it with hot water in a copper basin for Yu Cailing to wash up. Actually Yu Cailing wasn’t full yet, but A’Zhu only gave her seventy percent, only saying “Later you still have to drink medicinal soup.” After washing up, A’Zhu pulled Yu Cailing, who originally wanted to laze back into the bedding to continue sleeping, forcibly out and began walking around the small room. “Outside is cold. The young mistress is weak—better walk inside the room.”

Yu Cailing was unwilling in her heart, but reality was—the former Heroine Yu who could do splits dancing and break bricks fighting, after just two laps was gasping for breath. Clearly before she could already walk far around the countryside, but as a result one night returned to pre-liberation, having to eat medicine and recuperate from illness all over again from the beginning. Yu Cailing had a belly full of anger. Walking then resting, resting then cursing a sentence, cursing that surnamed Ge master-servant pair to fall when going out, twist their waists when turning corners, and when looking back encounter a confidence trickster who cheats money and feelings!

Gasping for breath while walking the eighth lap inside the room, round-faced Qiao Guo entered carrying steaming medicinal soup. As soon as she lifted the thick velvet cloth and cotton curtain, facing her was a blast of spicy bitter smell.

A’Zhu helped Yu Cailing sit on the couch, tightly bringing the medicine bowl forward. Yu Cailing had just sipped one mouthful when she only felt from tongue tip to forehead all went bitter and numb—bitter with sour, sour with spicy, spicy still with fishy smell. All sorts of wonderful sensations rushed so that Yu Cailing immediately teared up. Seeing this, A’Zhu hurriedly said: “This is medicine prescribed by the palace attending physician. Though bitter, it’s very efficacious. Yesterday the young mistress took one dose of medicine and immediately the fever subsided.”

Nonsense—if not coveting getting well faster, who would eat this moldy thing whose eighteen generations of ancestors accumulated no virtue? While Yu Cailing inwardly slandered while tearfully moving toward the bowl edge again, just at this moment, she heard Lian Fang’s voice outside the door: “The master and mistress arrive.”

Immediately, as the door curtain lifted it brought in a slight cold air. Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao, bringing only Qing Cong, entered the room. A’Zhu, who was just now chattering about how many rare materials were added to this medicine, hurriedly took the medicine bowl from Yu Cailing’s hands, supporting her to prostrate on the shiny floor, arms making salute, mouth calling acknowledgment: “Greet Father and Mother, inquire after Father and Mother’s well-being.”

Raising her head to look, she saw Cheng Shi today had removed his entire military attire, only wearing a spacious dark-colored gold-thread-embroidered long robe, bound with a dark silver-threaded great sash. At his waist all gold and jade ornaments were absent. Madam Xiao wore a purple large-flowered curved-hem deep robe. Below the robe exposed a two-palm-wide light purple underskirt lower edge. Around the collar was encircled a ring of snow-white fox fur. Her hair was combed in a half-high bun with a gold phoenix white jade hairpin stuck through. White jade pendants at her temples further set off her beautiful flying countenance and extraordinary bearing.

Seeing his daughter in much better spirits than yesterday, Cheng Shi was happy in his heart but didn’t know where to begin speaking. He could only sit on the couch laughing heartily. Qing Cong helped Madam Xiao sit to the side. As the child, Yu Cailing could only continue lowering her head kneeling on the rush cushion below.

Not only did Cheng Shi not know where to begin—even with Madam Xiao’s many schemes and strategies, at this time she also didn’t know where to begin. She could only clear her throat lightly: “Is my child well now?” Yu Cailing slightly raised her head, saying in a small voice: “Much better.” She didn’t do it intentionally—just facing the cheap parents her heart felt empty, so naturally her voice weakened.

Not raising her head was fine, but with this head raise, Cheng Shi saw his daughter teary-eyed and urgently said: “Why is my child shedding tears?”

Just about to say ‘this old man has returned—which bastard still dares bully my daughter, watch this old man go find justice,’ he heard his daughter weakly say: “It’s… the medicine is too bitter.”

Yu Cailing didn’t know how pitiful her current appearance was. Skeletal frame frail, shoulders sharply sloped, having just recovered from serious illness her skin was white to almost half-transparent. The slender neck supported the head with difficulty. Just kneeling sitting there already swaying as if about to topple onto the floor. Opening her mouth, the voice was even more thin and weak. Cheng Shi felt his one palm-leaf fan grab could pinch his daughter to death like a young bird. Now not only his heart softened, even his voice softened: “How about adding some malt sugar to the medicinal soup?”

These words drew an eye roll from Madam Xiao, who said solemnly: “Master speaks nonsense. Can things be randomly added to medicine prescribed by physicians? Good medicine tastes bitter—can only eat medicine then contain sugar.”

Cheng Shi hurriedly said: “What Madam says is right.” Then turned his head toward his daughter: “Must listen to your mother. When the illness recovers, Father will take you horse riding, to see the lantern festival after New Year’s.”

Since acknowledging this pair of cheap parents until now, only these words were most pleasing to the ear. Yu Cailing happily smiled toward Cheng Shi. The pale skin flushed with several traces of childish light red—adorable like a jade doll.

Cheng Shi was greatly delighted in his heart, truly feeling his own daughter was indeed the number one beautiful young lady under heaven. All those young daughters General Wan bore gathered together and squeezed into a bunch of morning glories couldn’t compare. Next time drinking wine he must boast a few sentences and be pleased. Madam Xiao seeing Yu Cailing’s appearance still had complex expressions.

Cheng Shi managed his own fantasizing and still felt insufficient, turning his head to smile at his wife: “Our Niaoniao is born good-looking.” Then added a sentence: “All is Madam’s merit.”

Qing Cong looked speechlessly to the sky. She always knew her own master was blind with open eyes. The young mistress clearly wasn’t born resembling either parent. In her view, though the young mistress’s appearance wasn’t bad, she was pitiful and not very grand—how could she compare with Madam Xiao’s flying spirit and brilliance?

Contemporary aesthetic sense already preferred tall, healthy, and robust women. Who knew whether in the future with good nourishment, the young mistress could grow taller and plumper. Originally Old Madam Xiao was delicate and weak, but her figure wasn’t lacking… Qing Cong was thinking when inadvertently turning her eyes, she saw the small young girl was watching Cheng Shi and Madam Xiao with quite some interest. Big eyes black and white distinct, full of spirit and vigor, lively and wild like a young forest beast—she was immediately startled.

Yu Cailing at this moment was sizing up others. Her kneeling position with level gaze went precisely to below Madam Xiao’s chest. She secretly delighted in her heart: According to what A’Zhu said, including children who died young, this Madam Xiao had borne seven or eight, yet her figure was still this hot—having front and back curves. Father Cheng truly had good fortune.

Madam Xiao didn’t know her confidant and daughter were wildly thinking about what. She said to her husband with a straight face: “…Master must not go out talking nonsense. What use is daily boasting about a girl’s beauty? More talent, learning, and virtue is what’s important.” Who knows a husband better than a wife—she saw through at one glance what her husband wanted to do. Cheng Shi could only feel sheepish.

Seeing him like this, Madam Xiao thought of how enthusiastic her husband had been since their daughter was born. For the insistence of his old mother and wife, he had no choice but to separate for ten years. At this moment he was so delighted he didn’t know what to do. Her heart immediately softened. Sighing gently: “Everyone has eyes. When Yong’er and his brothers follow General Wan’s family convoy and return together, we’ll take Niaoniao out to attend banquets and visit gardens. Who won’t see? Without us saying, others will also know.”

The family was chatting idly. Before Yu Cailing had opportunity to speak, she heard from afar a burst of both shrill and rough elderly female shouting. The front voice carried some misery, the back tone carried some mournfulness, the main melody was indignation. Especially the ending “ah ah ah ah ah ah~~~~” at the back continued a full seven or eight seconds without pause.

Yu Cailing’s heart gave birth to extraordinary admiration. Able to invest emotion while maintaining loud and long calling—this good voice was simply Mama-san version Pavarotti combined with neighborhood committee Li Shuangjiang! Then she thought—no matter how loud the call, to transmit this clearly, it seems the Cheng family residence isn’t large. So just how well is this Father Cheng doing?

Finishing thinking about these random things, seeing Qing Cong beside her with no fluctuation on her face, and above Cheng Shi couple tacitly looking at each other, only then did she realize—the good show has begun.

Mother Cheng’s calling soon turned to repeated shouting ‘Eldest my son… my son…’ The sound from far to near quickly arrived. Yu Cailing increasingly felt this residence wasn’t very large.

The couple finished their eye battle. Cheng Shi cleared his throat, standing up to go greet Mother Cheng. But Madam Xiao unhurriedly helped her husband straighten his clothing sash, not forgetting to instruct Yu Cailing with one sentence: “Don’t be dazed—quickly drink down the medicinal soup.”

The couple was about to go out the door but underestimated Mother Cheng’s mobility. Qing Cong walking in front hadn’t yet lifted the door curtain when she was rushed back by a great force. Mother Cheng like an arrow-struck wild boar charged in headfirst, nearly tearing down the door curtain.

This time behind her she didn’t put on that long string of servant women’s airs—only leading Ge Shi and another two women Yu Cailing didn’t recognize. The lead one was about Mother Cheng’s age, the degree of coarseness in appearance also equivalent, snot and tears smeared into one mess. The other was born pretty and shrewd-looking, appearing over thirty, just the powder applied was slightly thick—also weeping.

Mother Cheng’s form was extremely wretched. Gorgeous clothing torn until the collar opened, not wearing the thick-as-firewood-stick great gold hairpin, the pinwheel-like great gold earrings only had one left. Tears and snot hung on her face, mouth still not stopping: “…You must save your maternal uncle… this will take lives…”

As soon as she saw Cheng Shi she pounced and launched into heart-tearing lung-splitting wailing. Everyone could only watch helplessly as Mother Cheng’s two wine-bowl-sized fists pounded on her own majestic abundant chest, producing frightening heavy sounds, while not forgetting to reach out a hand to pound her son, producing thumping muffled sounds. Even though Cheng Shi’s body was sturdy, he was pounded staggering several steps.

Madam Xiao watched with twitching mouth corners, thinking what a pity Mother-in-law was born in the wrong body. If born a male she’d definitely be a brave general. While carefully avoiding some to prevent flying horizontal fists from wrongly injuring innocent citizens. Who knew with one turn of her head, she saw her own daughter making exactly the same movements, shifting to avoid into a corner, still turning her head to say something to A’Zhu. Amidst the chaos she only heard ‘…Paternal Grandmother should become a general…’ several words. Before finishing speaking, the small girl was stuffed behind A’Zhu by her to hide.

Madam Xiao was stunned.

A’Zhu seeing the situation chaotic, originally wanted to pull Yu Cailing out of the room, but how could Yu Cailing be willing to leave now—she was excited beyond measure.

A’Zhu pulled once and couldn’t move. Seeing the girl tightly holding the medicine bowl shrinking in the corner, small body still somewhat trembling, she understood it as the small girl being frightened into shaking. Thinking now that she was about to recover from illness, going out to catch wind wouldn’t be good. Moreover the Mistress hadn’t given orders. Moreover, it was Mother Cheng losing face. A’Zhu was also unconcerned.

While A’Zhu was still processing her thoughts, Yu Cailing had already heard the clues from Mother Cheng’s wailing, conveniently combining with the scattered past A’Zhu had spoken of earlier, and sorted out the cause and effect.

—Old Madam Cheng’s natal family was surnamed Dong. Back when the world was in great chaos, the Dong family also fled and died. Only Mother Cheng’s younger brother’s family endured until Cheng Shi made his fortune. From then the Dong family relied on the Cheng family to live.

Unfortunately Madam Xiao’s fingers were tight. What fell into Old Madam Cheng’s hands wasn’t abundant, let alone what leaked to the Dong family. Giving fish is not as good as teaching to fish. For the Dong family to benefit more, the ‘clever’ old mistress had Cheng Shi seek position for Maternal Uncle Dong. Unfortunately Maternal Uncle Dong neither could study or do commerce, and also found farming affairs onerous with slow returns. Outside he repeatedly hit walls.

Finally about two or three years ago, the old mistress heard the warfare ahead gradually eased and forced Cheng Shi to obtain a military position for Maternal Uncle Dong, thinking with her own nephew looking after him, he wouldn’t be bullied anymore and Madam Xiao would have no more excuses.

Indeed these two years Maternal Uncle Dong’s waist straightened and back stiffened, earning more money daily. He could from time to time transmit news of Cheng Shi couple receiving rewards and capturing spoils to his own elder sister. Old Madam Cheng became increasingly proud, constantly demanding money and fields from her son—the siblings lived who knows how contentedly.

These days Old Madam Cheng was originally waiting for her younger brother to return and report her son’s recent prospering situation. Who knew before waiting for the person to arrive, she waited for a calamity. Turns out Maternal Uncle Dong privately stole military equipment and military provisions to sell outside for money—the matter erupted and he was already reported.

Such a crime—even with discount applied—would confiscate family property, family members charged as official maids, not to mention the chief culprit would also be cut in half at the waist and abandoned at the market.

Upon hearing the news, Maternal Aunt Dong led her daughter-in-law to seek rescue. Upon hearing this, Mother Cheng nearly fainted to death. Thus Big Bear came seeking Doraemon who had already married a wife and wasn’t very obedient.

Cheng Shi used his army-champion strength to forcefully peel off his old mother’s great palm, turning his head to quickly glance at his wife. Seeing Madam Xiao’s eyes slightly flash—this action of barely one second was caught squarely by Yu Cailing, thinking in her heart: The meat of the drama has arrived.

Cheng Shi took a deep breath, shaking off his wrinkled robe sleeves, standing tall to make salute, then straightly and stiffly knelt down before Mother Cheng. Tiger eyes containing tears (Yu Cailing secretly applauded—look at this acting), sorrowfully sighing a long breath: “Mother! This matter I already heard from subordinates this morning. I originally wanted to come tell Mother, but… but truly didn’t know where to begin…”

Qing Cong again speechlessly looked to the sky. She knew her own master could pretend foolishness into real foolishness. Clearly early this morning he first came to visit his daughter. Because underestimating Maternal Aunt Dong mother-in-law-daughter-in-law’s mobility speed, he was blocked here. If you’re going to lie, at least lie more thoroughly. Truly wasting what Mistress worked hard teaching all night.

Supporting Mother Cheng, Ge Shi found a gap to insert needles, saying in a delicate voice: “After all it’s Maternal Uncle. No matter how difficult Elder Brother finds it, he must save him!” While speaking, she also sized up the tall and upright Cheng Shi.

Yu Cailing directly felt nauseated, thinking: Another one lacking a good mirror. You and Miss Xiao’s figure, appearance, temperament, and insight differ by at least eighteen Pan Jinlians. You’d better save it.

Madam Xiao immediately stepped forward, saying grimly to Ge Shi: “The master kneels and bows to Mother. Younger sister-in-law still doesn’t move aside—do you also want to receive this kneeling bow?”

Before Ge Shi could speak, Mother Cheng had already backhanded a slap over, angrily scolding: “Why don’t you scram! Rushing here to watch this old one’s natal family’s joke?!” Her own natal family’s ugly affair—she originally didn’t want too many people to know. But this Ge Shi upon hearing the news rushed to follow. How could Mother Cheng not know Ge Shi’s intestines? Just originally too lazy to care.

This slap was struck both loud and heavy. Ge Shi’s cheek immediately floated up a large swelling. She was humiliated beyond endurance. No longer looking at others, she covered her face crying and ran out the door.