Liu'er only returned after dinner, carrying a big bundle on her back. As soon as she entered the room and closed the door, she said, "I'm exhausted." Ning Cui stepped forward to take the bundle, and it was indeed heavy.
Susu hurried to pour water for Liu'er, who took a big gulp before saying, "My grandpa said that as long as we can truly learn a few words, if these supplies aren't enough, he'll bring more!"
As she spoke, Liu'er untied the bundle, revealing four sets of the four treasures of the study. They weren't particularly valuable, but they were quite nice for beginners.
Susu didn't know much about other things, but that thick stack of paper, white and smooth, was snow paper personally supervised by the Holy Ancestor Emperor, and there were four identical calligraphy books and one copy of the "Thousand Character Classic."
Bisi looked at these things and said, "Grandpa Qiao really went all out."
These items, at the very least, cost dozens of taels of silver. She considered offering silver as a token of gratitude, but then remembered Susu had just arrived and didn't have much savings. Saying so might put her in a difficult position, so she didn't know what to say for a moment.
Though Liu'er's personality was quite carefree, serving in the matriarch's courtyard meant she wasn't foolish. With a quick glance, she figured out what Bisi was thinking, "Don't you dare tease me!"
Susu also thought about the silver. She was about to speak when Liu'er said, "You're just starting to learn; you don't actually need such good supplies. Shall we let the main steward return them?"
Liu'er was both amused and exasperated, "My dear Susu, my grandpa is the main steward of the Song Mansion. Returning something worth these dozens of taels of silver, how would that look? We serve in the matriarch's quarters and squabble over such a small amount of silver! If others find out, they'll laugh at us for being short-sighted. Don't say another word, or I'll get angry."
Maintaining a stern face, Liu'er saw the other three putting on scared expressions and couldn't help but burst into laughter. The four of them joked and laughed for a while, feeling closer.
Liu'er continued, "My grandpa wants to thank Susu. He said to visit our home one day for tea, and my mother will cook something delicious for you." Then she whispered, "My grandpa also said that Susu should secretly teach us first. Once we've learned some characters, we'll quietly inform Sister Zhen Zhu. It's better to let the matriarch know officially, so people won't gossip."
Susu nodded repeatedly, truly a thorough plan from the main steward.
As soon as the lunar twelfth month began, the New Year's atmosphere was in the air. At the end of November, Susu, who had only been at the Song Family for a few days, received her first month's salary.
In the Song Mansion, the monthly salary for a top maid was two taels, for a second-class maid, it was one tael, for a third-class maid, it was five qian, and for general servants, it was two hundred copper coins.
This was how Susu learned that the founding Holy Ancestor Emperor of Great Chu had re-standardized weights and measures. Regarding silver coin exchange: one tael of silver equals ten qian equals one thousand copper coins, and ten taels of silver equal one tael of gold.
Due to an advanced economy and abundant resources, silver had strong purchasing power. One tael of silver could buy two dan of ordinary rice (one dan being set at one hundred jin), one copper coin could buy two mantou or one meat bun, pork was twenty copper coins per jin, and a modest household could cover monthly expenses with two taels of silver.
Regarding land, fields to the south were more expensive than those in the suburbs of the capital, with prime farmland costing between twelve to fifteen taels of silver.
The jewelry and rewards Susu received in the past few days at the Song Family were enough to buy ten acres of fine farmland.
No wonder in "Dream of the Red Chamber," after just a few years as a maid, Xi Ren could buy land and property for her family! The Song Family was much wealthier than the Jia Family.
During this time, Susu also met several other heads of the Song Family: the eldest master was about thirty years old, with a graceful demeanor, more like a scholar than a businessman.
The eldest lady, Ms. Le, was the legitimate daughter of a minor official and excelled at maintaining appearances.
The children from the first wife included the legitimate eldest young master and eldest girl, a pair of twins, twelve years old this year.
There was also the illegitimate Fourth Young Master, eight years old, and the illegitimate Fourth Miss, seven years old.
The second master, in his mid to late twenties, was quite handsome but in poor health. He had recently qualified as a scholar.
The second madam, Ms. Chang, was the daughter of a humble scholar, reputedly impoverished, yet she maintained an air of scholarly arrogance, looking down on everyone. Her relationship with the second master was poor, and she had only borne one legitimate daughter, the Second Miss, ten years old this year.
The Second Master had two concubines, who bore the second house's eldest illegitimate son, the Second Young Master, nine years old, as well as the illegitimate Third Young Master and Third Miss, both eight years old.
The third master was born of a concubine, but his mother passed away early, so he was raised by the matriarch. He married Ms. Li, a legitimate niece from the matriarch's maternal family. They had a son, the Fifth Young Master, who just turned six, and a legitimate daughter, the three-year-old Sixth Miss, along with another concubine, Aunt Gao, who had the illegitimate Fifth Miss, five years old this year.
Surprisingly, of all the matriarch's grandchildren, only the third family's children were close to their grandmother.
The grandchildren from the first and second families had moved to the outer courtyard after age six for their upbringing and only came to the inner courtyard to greet the matriarch on holidays, having little chance for conversation.
The two legitimate daughters, the Eldest and Second Misses, only observed the formalities of greeting, which the matriarch was too indifferent to see, allowing daughters-in-law and granddaughters to pay respects only on the first and fifteenth day of each month.
Liu'er secretly warned Susu about such matters, making Susu feel sympathy for the matriarch, though the matriarch seemed to take it in stride.
Susu made time daily to teach her roommates literacy. From penmanship to sitting posture, grinding ink, and laying out paper, she taught them just as the teacher had instructed the original owner at Duke Li's Mansion.
Learning five characters a day, they not only had to read and write them but also understand the meanings, and be able to form words and sentences.
Unexpectedly, even Liu'er, who usually couldn't sit still, managed to persist.
What Susu didn't know was that Liu'er had made a solemn promise to her grandfather.
In just a few days, Susu and the other three made their progress known to Zhen Zhu. Zhen Zhu didn't object and simply encouraged them to study well with Susu.
On the day of the Laba Festival, the matriarch, after enjoying a bowl of Laba porridge early in the morning, dismissed her children and grandchildren post-greetings, feeling somewhat melancholic.
It was then that Zhen Zhu laughed and announced, "Time to congratulate the matriarch!"
The matriarch was puzzled, "What's the good news?"
"Isn't it good news that talented girls are emerging at the matriarch's side?"
With that, Zhen Zhu recounted how Liu'er and the other two had been learning literacy from Susu.
"Liu'er told me, Sister Zhen Zhu, from now on, I won't be called Liu'er. I'll be called Yang Liu, like the graceful willows, Yang Liu."
Zhen Zhu mimicked Liu'er's proud demeanor perfectly, amusing the matriarch so much she almost choked on her tea, pointing at Zhen Zhu while laughing and scolding, "You cheeky imp!"
Unable to suppress her laughter, she said, "Quick, bring those four girls in so I can see this graceful Yang Liu!"
The maids attending in the inner room burst into collective laughter.
Jade personally went to the outer room and called out, "Ning Cui, Bisi, Susu, come in. The matriarch wants to see you, and that Yang Liu who's like graceful willows."
The remark left the matriarch at a loss for words with a smile.