Yueyuan is truly a nice person, willing to support newcomers, provided they catch her eye. It seems now that Qu Fulan has indeed caught her eye.
She even personally escorted Qu Fulan out, then said to her, "Now that you're brewing medicine for the Old Madam, this is not a task to be taken lightly. In the future, you needn't do other things. Even if you have free time, resting more is better than working for others, understand? If you really can't be idle, learning some needlework might be good."
Qu Fulan hurriedly said, "Haitang will remember Sister's guidance, and will definitely be more attentive in the future."
Yueyuan nodded and added, "This is a reward, store it well and lock it up, don't let anyone with ill intent see it. Although our yard is strictly managed, there might still be some with sticky fingers."
Just as Qu Fulan was wondering where the lock would come from, Yueyuan took out a lock for her: "I know you're new here and don't have a lock, consider this my gift to you. All the keys are here, take good care of them."
Qu Fulan repeatedly thanked Sister Yueyuan, although she didn't need a lock, having one was more convenient than not.
Otherwise, like that time when Haitang and Hai Xia rummaged through her bedding and cabinets and found nothing—at that time the rewards were small and others might think she carried the money on herself. Now that the rewards have increased, carrying them on her person isn't realistic.
Back in the eight-person room, only two or three maidservants were inside. Qu Fulan didn't say anything, walked to her cabinet, opened it, "put" the money inside, and locked it up.
Others only saw her hide the money, didn't see exactly how much, and didn't dare look too closely. Besides, everyone received rewards today, and there was no need to be envious of others.
These maidservants were instead interested in Qu Fulan's lock.
"Where did Sister Haitang's lock come from?"
Qu Fulan said it was a gift from Sister Yueyuan, making the maidservants envious.
"Sister is so lucky, we don't have such luck."
"What luck?"
Hai Xia came back from outside and instinctively joined the conversation upon hearing it.
Lively people are like that, able to fit into a group anytime, anywhere.
"Sister Haitang got a lock from Sister Yueyuan, we're just envying her."
After seeing Qu Fulan's lock, Hai Xia also said, "Although it's just a lock, it's a good one. Even if a thief came, it would take them some effort to open it. Sister Yueyuan is really good to you."
Although Hai Xia didn't use locks, she would send any nice things she got home, not worrying about theft. However, who doesn't like nice things? Her family didn't have such a nice lock either.
Qu Fulan said, "Sister Yueyuan is fair in her rewards and punishments, when sisters do well, she rewards them."
Another maidservant said, "If there's a reward next time, can we ask for a lock?"
Before waiting for others to respond, she realized the inappropriateness of her words.
Traditionally, you can only accept what the master gives; how can you request things?
One maidservant seemed to think of something, looking towards Hai Xia.
"Today, we all received money, Hai Xia Sister, can you find someone to help us buy some locks? So when we receive our monthly salary, we can lock them up and feel more secure."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone looked at Hai Xia. They couldn't leave the mansion freely, but Hai Xia was different. If she agreed to help buy locks, everyone would be incredibly grateful.
Hai Xia waved her hand: "It's no big deal, just let me know what price range you want and I'll bring them in tomorrow."
Even if she couldn't go out to buy directly, finding someone through her parents' connections was easy.
Hearing this, everyone thanked Hai Xia profusely.
Afterwards, they went about their own tasks.
Hai Xia didn't have anything particular to do, lying on the bed feeling rather bored. If Sister Haitang weren't there, she'd feel completely stifled.
Normally, given Hai Xia's character, she wouldn't return to the yard so early. Today, the Second Miss was having her return visit, the mansion was brightly lit and even more bustling than usual. By rights, she'd wander until the lights out before coming back.
Unfortunately, she wasn't lucky. During her wandering, her father saw her and scolded her harshly before she snuck away, tail between her legs.
"Sister Haitang, tomorrow I'm asking someone to help the sisters buy locks. If there's anything you want to buy, tell me and I'll bring it back."
Every month, the maidservants in the mansion receive their monthly salary, housing and meals are provided, and new clothes are given with each change of season. There's an additional bonus during festivals, a fairly decent treatment.
But maidservants can't leave the mansion freely, so the monthly salary seems almost useless.
In reality, that's not the case. What the mansion gives is ultimately regulated. To have better food, clothes, and uses, one has to supplement with one's funds.
For example, if there's something you want to eat, you can pay someone to buy it, or give money to the kitchen for extra dishes.
It's truly money that's needed for all aspects.
Hai Xia especially loved the Osmanthus Cake on Changning Street. If it weren't for her parents' strict control, she'd want to eat it every day.
Qu Fulan said, "I don't have anything I want to buy, what the mansion provides is enough."
If others said this, Hai Xia would surely doubt it, but since it was Sister Haitang, she believed it.
Haitang wasn't even interested in earnings, let alone other matters?
"Sister Haitang doesn't seem to need money now, so she's not interested in the rewards. But later, when you're of age to marry, you should start preparing some dowry for yourself."
"Ahem." Qu Fulan was drinking tea at that moment and choked, coughing before she said, "You're so young, why are you already thinking about these things?"
Hai Xia looked to be not even ten years old.
Hai Xia said, "My mother said, girls will marry one day, and they need dowries. You have to start preparing early, or else others will look down on you."
The little girl was still very young, speaking these words without any sense of shame.
Qu Fulan knew that what Hai Xia said was indeed right, a typical ancient mentality, but she wouldn't agree with that perspective. How others viewed her didn't concern her, she only knew she had the status of a third-class maidservant and her priority was to get promoted first.
When sleeping at night, Qu Fulan took stock of the money in her space. She wasn't as disinterested in money as Hai Xia claimed; she hadn't reached that level of detachment. She merely knew that the rewards would eventually be hers anyway, taking them later left a good impression of not being overly eager.
A servant should be diligent and honest to win the master's favor.
She had always taken the rewards and thrown them into her space without really counting, but now looking at it, she found she had quite a savings.
When treating the Old Madam, she earned twenty taels of silver, plus a bracelet and a string of pearls.
The Pei Mansion's top-tier maids had a monthly allowance of one tael, second-tier had one string, and third-tier had five hundred coins.
Today, Sister Yueyuan helped her receive two hundred coins.
Her current savings were equivalent to nearly two years' salary of a first-rank maid, not to mention the gold bracelets and jewelry.
Ah, in these days of lost freedom, only these riches could somewhat console her heart.