PFC Chapter 114 Have you found it?
Chapter 114 Have you found it?
Seeing her answer, the man said to her with an extremely anxious look. "Ms. Hongguo, what are you going to do? Could you please help me find something? My mistress gave me two golden peanuts as a reward. But this morning when I went to the kitchen to get breakfast, I accidentally lost them. I've been searching all morning and can't find them. Could you please help me find them?"
Hong Guo was already irritable and didn't want to meddle in other people's affairs. But remembering how her own young lady had treated her coldly, and seeing the anxious look on the man before her face, she couldn't bear it any longer. "Okay, I'll help you look for her, but it won't take too long. I also need to get back to my young lady to report."
Upon hearing this, the man excitedly grabbed Hongguo's hand and said, "Thank you, Miss Hongguo, you are so kind!" Then he pulled her forward and took the opportunity to rub his hands on her body.
Hongguo was completely unaware of this.
The two searched for a while but still couldn't find it. Hongguo was about to give up and leave, but suddenly he saw something shining in the sunlight at the edge of the grass in front of him.
She stepped forward, pointed at something on the ground, and shouted, "Come and see what this is."
When the woman heard this, she hurried over, parted the grass, and picked up a purse embroidered with gold thread from the ground. She opened it and saw that the golden peanuts were still inside the purse, and her face instantly lit up with joy.
Hongguo looked at her happy face and felt happy for her, but when she thought of her own situation, she couldn't help feeling a little sad.
The man happily put away the purse and thanked Hongguo repeatedly: "Miss Hongguo, today is really thanks to you. If it weren't for your help, I don't know when I would have found these golden peanuts. If you need any help in the future, please feel free to come to me."
Hongguo forced a smile and said, "You're welcome. Now that I've found it, I'll leave first." After that, she turned around and was about to leave.
But the man called her again: "Wait."
Hongguo turned and looked at her, a puzzled look on his face.
The man pulled a golden peanut from his pouch and stuffed it into her hand. "This is your reward. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to find either of these two golden peanuts. Since you helped me, it means you're destined to have them. Let's each have one."
Hong Guo repeatedly declined: "I didn't help you at all, I don't deserve this."
The man held her hand holding the golden peanut tightly, and looked at her red and swollen cheek with pity, "Here, take it. Ask someone to buy a bottle of medicine outside. Girl, don't let yourself get a scar."
Hongguo looked at the golden peanuts in her hand, a warm feeling welling up in her heart, and her eyes welled up slightly. She had been assigned by the Madam to serve the young lady since she was a child, but because she was taciturn, she had always been out of favor. Later, Hongying's ability to handle affairs became more and more outstanding, and she, the personal maid, was reduced to doing menial tasks.
But because it was given by the Madam, and the gift from the elders could not be despised, she had always retained the title of the head maid in name. This time, when Hongying got into trouble, the young lady beat and scolded her, and the nanny who had watched her grow up also turned a blind eye to it.
Unexpectedly, someone she didn't even know would have such kindness towards her. Hong Guo fought back the tears that threatened to burst out of her eyes, bowed her head, and hurriedly said "thank you," then turned and left, clutching the golden peanuts in her hand.
Watching Hongguo staggering away, Chuntao sighed softly. "As a slave, if your master isn't kind, how much suffering will you have to endure?"
She felt relieved again. Fortunately, the lady assigned her to Chunhua Courtyard to serve her own young lady.
She had a vague premonition that the young lady arranged for her to rub the peach hairs on someone else because she wanted to use her to punish Miss Lu next door. Otherwise, why would she reward her with the golden peanut before leaving?
...............
Hongguo walked forward with one foot deep and one foot shallow until she turned a corner and avoided Chuntao's sight. Then she raised her sleeves and wiped away the tears on her face.
She stood there, trying to calm herself down. After a long while, she quickly walked to the kitchen and asked the kitchen nanny for some ice.
As the ice cube touched her red and swollen face, the biting coldness made her heart tremble slightly, but the pain on her face was also relieved. She closed her eyes slightly, feeling the momentary relief.
After a while, she put the ice down when she felt the burning pain on her face was no longer so severe.
Thinking of the young lady's angry look, she didn't dare to stay any longer. She tidied her clothes, straightened her messy hair, and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes. Then she hurried back to Qiuliyuan.
In Qiuli Courtyard, after Nanny Chu's patient persuasion and counseling, Lu Zhaozhao's mood had calmed down considerably. She sat quietly in the courtyard, spreading a piece of white paper on the table, one hand gently holding her sleeve, the other holding a pen, waiting for a long time but unable to put pen to paper.
She had been restless and irritable these past few days, frequently losing her composure and making people laugh at her. Her mother often said that writing could calm one's mind.
Remembering her mother's instructions, she ordered the maid to bring out paper, pen, inkstone, and inkstone. However, her thoughts were in a turmoil, and she couldn't write a single word for a long time.
There was silence all around, only the occasional breeze gently ruffling the papers. She only looked up when she heard hurried footsteps at the door.
She looked up and saw Hongguo coming in. As soon as she looked up, she met her gaze. She couldn't help but flinch and bit her lip lightly, feeling a surge of trepidation. But she still took courage, stepped forward, bowed, and whispered, "Miss."
Seeing Hongguo's expression, Lu Zhaozhao's displeasure surged again. However, remembering Nanny Chu's heartfelt words just now, she forced herself to suppress her displeasure and stepped forward.
He placed his hand on Hongguo's sleeve and helped her up. Then he gently stroked Hongguo's cheek, which had obviously improved a lot, and said with a tone full of guilt: "I was wrong. I shouldn't have lost my temper with you. Please don't be angry with me."
Hong Guo lowered his eyes, unmoved by her kindness. His daughter was like that, unrestrained in her outbursts, only to return to soothe her afterward. At first, Hong Guo had hoped the daughter was truly kind to her.
But after so many years, she finally understood that the lady would only treat her well when she was useful. If she was useless, or if she was not satisfied by some mistake, she would be the first person to be beaten and scolded in the courtyard.
But she didn't dare to reveal her thoughts at this moment.
She blinked, suppressing the bitterness welling up in her heart, and looked up at Lu Zhaozhao, "Miss, it's my fault. I was born stupid, which is why I made you so angry."