Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 272 - 24: Contentment Is Happiness (Third Update)

Chapter 272: Chapter 24: Contentment Is Happiness (Third Update)

Mrs. Sun told Susu about Aunt Qin planning to introduce her to some of the Hami Guard’s upper-class ladies.

Susu, hearing this, really didn’t know what to say, "It’s troubling Aunt Qin. Later, please tell her I’ll prepare some rare items to show her my gratitude another day."

Mrs. Sun smiled and agreed on behalf of her master.

"Just make sure to let Mama know, I’ll be moving to the Garrison these few days to tidy up the residence for my husband. If the date is set, please inform me a couple of days in advance so I can prepare well; I can’t let Aunt Qin lose face."

Mrs. Sun had naturally gotten the news from Aunt Qin and knew that Hong Sheng now had a lot on his plate, likely requiring an extended stay at the Garrison. Hearing this, she agreed wholeheartedly.

Mrs. Sun stayed for quite a while and shared her experiences about the needs at the Garrison with Susu. Susu accompanied her around the house, admiring its elegance and the propriety of the servants, before she returned to the Liu Mansion.

Susu didn’t realize that when Mrs. Sun returned to the Liu Mansion to report to Aunt Qin, she mentioned that Miss Yue, who occupied the inner court’s embroidery building, was rather bothersome.

Susu, afraid Aunt Qin would worry, didn’t mention it to Mrs. Sun. But knowing Mrs. Sun’s character, having followed Aunt Qin from Duke Li’s Mansion to the Northwest, she’d seen all sorts of strange things!

Moreover, Hami County was so small, and with Miss Yue causing a stir just as Susu arrived and wandering the streets during her banquet, people had already concocted at least ten different dramas.

Aunt Qin knew Susu was the Thirteenth Lady, so naturally, she didn’t believe the wild stories outside. Mrs. Sun went over just to see if Susu had been wronged.

In the end, Susu wasn’t wronged, but Yue Baiyou was indeed rather bullying.

On hearing this, Aunt Qin sneered, "Thirteenth Lady is still too soft-hearted. What is she to claim being a lady? Just kick her out."

The Liu Mansion had no concubines, and Aunt Qin had had a smooth sailing life these years, making her disdainful of those who debase themselves with ease. She also had a feeling of frustration towards Susu, pondering a special wife-training plan for her.

However, Mrs. Sun, as an observer, understood that the current Miss Thirteen was no longer the one who would jump at the call of a cat.

Since her lady was well-meaning and it was rare for her not to be gloomy all day, Mrs. Sun not only didn’t stop her but also offered quite a few suggestions.

Susu didn’t know that she would soon have two elite warriors with strong combat power joining her anti-Miss Yue campaign.

After finishing her breakfast, Susu finally saw the items Aunt Qin had prepared for her, with a gift list spanning several pages, leaving her not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

These weren’t just simple dishes and tea sets; clearly, they were prepared in the scale of a dowry, with over twenty boxes in total.

At this point, Susu could no longer misunderstand and knew Aunt Qin was privately supporting her.

After their honest conversation yesterday, Susu also realized that refusing would waste Aunt Qin’s goodwill.

Moreover, quite a few items were indeed necessary for daily life, saving her a lot of time.

Afraid that talkative people might let outsiders know, Susu had to personally oversee five maids organizing, registering, and inventorying them.

During the organizing, she discovered many items not listed on the gift registry, with two boxes each of unset gemstones and pearls.

Though the gemstones were smaller than the ones Susu had sent, their quality was excellent, and they came in all colors, all uniquely around the size of a lotus seed.

The pearls were genuine East Pearls, varying in size but all lustrously round, with fifty to sixty in a box, worth a fortune.

There were also two sets of imperial-made jewelry, a Ru Kiln tea set, eight lengths of fine silk, a jade mountain, and a pair of red jade bracelets—the kind of good stuff found in Aunt Qin’s dowry, none of which were on the gift list.

Clearly, these things weren’t forgotten; they were secretly given by Aunt Qin, leaving Susu with mixed feelings.

She had received a hefty sum of silver from her Seventh Sister, which Aunt Qin probably knew about, and yet Aunt Qin still feared she would be wronged, even giving her items from her dowry—how could Susu ever repay that?

The twenty boxes of items left the five maids dazed; even Fen Dai and the others, who were no strangers to good things with Susu, found this visual impact quite overwhelming.

Susu noticed several boxes of clothes and a few boxes of jewelry that, although not exquisite, were substantial, recognizing them as outside purchases.

In the Song Family, she often saw such things; if the masters didn’t wear them, they would be rewarded to servants.

Susu checked the gift list and saw that Aunt Qin specifically instructed her to use them as rewards.

Susu flipped through them: two boxes each for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, all women’s items. The jewelry consisted of a box each of silver, gold, embedded with pearls and gemstones, and one more box of jade rings, pendants, and bracelets.

Seeing the five little maids, who despite their exclamations, showed no greed, Susu smiled, "Today’s a good day for you to follow me and prosper. Each of you take a bracelet from the jade box, a hairpin from the gold box, and a ring from the embedded gem box. I also have a few boxes of clothes that are either worn or too small; later, each of you pick a set for summer wear, and I’ll award you autumn and winter clothes on another day!"

Fen Dai and the others knew Susu had always been generous, so they quickly pulled the still-dazed Linlang to thank her.

After organizing the items, they called people in to move them to storage. Susu had already instructed the maids, the granny, and the carriage drivers to hurry and pack the items Mrs. Sun mentioned onto the carriage.

After Fen Dai and the others finished packing Susu’s personal belongings, they quickly returned to their side rooms to pack their own, naturally holding the clothes and jewelry Susu had awarded them.

Once named Han Niu, now called Linlang, though still showing a simple nature, the young girl looked at her two clothes and three pieces of jewelry, still somewhat bewildered.

What had happened? How did the master bestow so many things overnight?

The two pieces of clothing, although called old clothes, were still sixty to seventy percent new, made of fine flax, perfect for summer wear.

A goose-yellow blouse, a green skirt, a green jade bracelet, a golden gardenia hairpin, and a green gemstone of pea-sized on the gold ring.

Looking at these things felt like a dream! Linlang pinched her thigh hard, and it was indeed painful!

"Linlang, Linlang, have you finished packing? Hurry up, don’t keep the master waiting too long!"

It was her roommate, Linglong, calling her from the door. Linlang quickly and diligently packed a small bundle, "Coming, Sister Linglong, wait for me!" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

With a small bundle on her back, Linlang walked out the door, thinking nothing more of it. Whatever the master gave, she accepted. She was the master’s guard; even if she died for the master, someone with the master’s nature would certainly care for her brother Chang Sheng properly.

Thinking of her brother, Linlang happened to see him with a small pack, wearing a blue valet outfit, next to Linglong’s brother Bai Yue. Well, though the word ’Yue’ might not be ideal, the master didn’t mind.

"Sis, the master just awarded me and Bai Yue a plate of custard buns each. I’ll save some for you!"

Linlang haughtily lifted her chin, "Just eat it yourself. Following the master, what can’t I eat? I also have the pine nut candy the master gave me, which I’ll share with you!"

From the time he became sensible, Linlang had always listened to her brother, but now she finally found the manner of a big sister—this feels right!

Today, we common folks are truly happy!

And Susu, sitting in the carriage, felt she should start taking deep breaths from now on to avoid getting too excited and "faint" upon reaching the Garrison!

She only wondered whether Hong Sheng would be surprised by her arrival. If not, then... whack, whack, whack!