Time Travel: Brothel Maid

Chapter 39 Monthly Example

Yueya took the food box from Xiaoguo'er and said distressedly, "Second Miss has been so busy these days that she didn't even eat properly. She looks increasingly frail. You must eat well today and rest early."

Mrs. Zhou also hurriedly handed her a warm towel, "The second young lady is a capable person. The old lady who sells lotteries has also heard about it. It is really a good business, but the second young lady has worked really hard. No matter how good the business is, she still has to take care of her health. She must be starving. Hurry up and wipe your hands and have dinner. The eldest young lady has not asked for dinner, saying that she will wait for the second young lady."

Xiao Guoer wiped her hands and smiled with satisfaction. The feeling of being cared for was really heartwarming.

"I'm not as pitiful as you say. I will take care of myself too."

As he spoke, he walked into the main room, lifted the curtain, and saw Yingniang standing up and about to come out.

When Yingniang heard the noise in the yard, she was about to go out to see what was going on, but Xiaoguoer went into the house first.

Yingniang looked at Xiaoguo'er carefully. She hadn't talked to her properly in the past few days. When she saw her, she frowned.

"Your face is indeed thinner, your chin is more pointed, and your complexion is not good, but what happened to your business? Why do you look so haggard? If you really can't do it, just quit. Your health is more important."

Xiao Guoer felt even more comfortable, and leaned on Yingniang like a lazy bone and acted coquettishly.

"Hehe, sister, rub Xiaoguo'er's shoulders and Xiaoguo will not feel tired anymore."

Yingniang placed her slender hands on her shoulders, rubbed them slowly, and naggled with concern.

"We have enough money to last for a while, why put yourself through this? I don't ask how much money you can make, but I can live on simple food and drink."

Xiao Guoer was still thinking about paying back Zhou Fangye's money as soon as possible. She couldn't just sit there and do nothing. But she didn't want to tell Yingniang about her thoughts and make her more worried.

"Don't worry, sister. It's just a matter of a few days. Once things are back on track, I'll rent a store and hire a clerk. Then I won't have to work so hard. Then I can sit at home and count my money."

As he spoke, he took out ten taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to Yingniang.

"Sister, if you are bored at home, just go out for a walk and buy whatever you want. Xiao Guoer can make money now and will make a lot of money in the future. There is no need to be reluctant to spend money to save money."

Although Xiao Guoer made some money this time, she still wanted to rent a store. It was not a good idea to stay in Jinxianglou forever, so she had to have some money left over to rent a store whenever the time was right.

Yingniang looked at the ten taels of silver in her hand and felt bad. She wanted to say that she didn't want the money she had worked so hard for, but when she saw Xiaoguo'er's eyes full of expectation, her eyes became sore and she couldn't say no.

How could her little Guo'er be so pitiful?

How could she be worthy of having such a sister!

She nodded and accepted it, thinking only of saving it for Xiaoguo'er as a dowry in the future.

At this time, Yueya and Mrs. Zhou came in to set the table. Seeing the two sisters being affectionate, they joked, "The second young lady is very capable outside, but as soon as she comes home, she starts to act like a spoiled child with the eldest young lady. It's obvious that she's still a child at heart."

Xiao Guoer pouted and said, "It would be nice if I could be a child forever."

Several people laughed.

The food was placed on the table and everyone took their seats. Yueya and Mrs. Zhou had already completely adapted to the rule of master and servant eating at the same table and they no longer dared to take any food while eating as before.

Xiao Guoer took out two taels of silver from her bosom and said, "This is the monthly allowance for both of you, one tael of silver for each of you."

Yueya and Mrs. Zhou were so surprised that they both put down their chopsticks.

One tael of silver! The monthly allowance for a maid in Zhou's mansion was only 5 qian of silver, and their monthly allowance had always been only 3 qian of silver.

The two of them looked at each other, but no one reached out to take it.

"Second Miss, the master gave us a monthly allowance, how can we take two?"

Xiao Guoer noticed the expressions of the two women and knew that they were tempted. After all, that was a full tael of silver. The eunuchs in Zuihualou only earned 5 cents of silver a month.

Money is a good thing to buy people's hearts. After spending these few days together, she found that Yueya and Zhou Pozi were both honest and hardworking people. They were also dedicated to her and Yingniang and were not the kind of people who would play tricks on others.

But after all, they came from the Zhou Mansion and received a monthly salary from Zhou Fangye, so it was inevitable that their hearts would lean towards Zhou Fangye.

If she wanted to make them completely her own people, it would not be enough to just say a few sincere words. She had to first make them sever their employment relationship with the Zhou family and take her money before they could truly treat her and Yingniang as their masters.

When she has more money in the future, she will have to buy their indentures from the Zhou Mansion. Based on her current income, it won't take long.

"Then you can just take my share and reject the Zhou family's share."

Mrs. Zhou hesitated, "This..."

One tael of silver is really tempting.

Xiao Guoer took their hands and put the silver into their palms, "Don't be so fussy, if your uncle has any objections, let him come to me, just accept it."

The two men looked at Yingniang, who had been silent, and only when they saw that the eldest girl nodded did they feel at ease and put the silver in their arms.

Xiao Guoer was satisfied and asked, "Speaking of your uncle, I was away during the day these few days. Has he come to visit?"

"I came here yesterday and only stayed for a cup of tea before leaving."

When Mrs. Zhou returned, she didn't know what the eldest lady was thinking. Every time the master came, she was cold and spoke in a sarcastic manner, forcing the master to leave in a hurry.

If this goes on, which man can bear such cold treatment? If you become cold-hearted, it will be difficult to change your mind.

Just as Mrs. Zhou finished her words, the door curtain opened and a person appeared.

It was Zhou Fangye.

"What are you saying about me? I heard it at the door."

Yueya and Zhou Pozi hurriedly stood up to greet them, and Yingniang also put down her chopsticks. Only Xiaoguoer did not stop and was still putting the braised pork elbow into her mouth.

Zhou Fangye smiled and waved his hand, "Please sit down. We are not in the Zhou residence, so there is no need to be so reserved. It is my fault that you all feel uncomfortable when I come here."

Yueya asked hurriedly, "Master, are you ready for dinner?"

Zhou Fangye had actually eaten it in Zhou's house, but he still said, "No, your food is good. Go and get me some bowls and chopsticks."

Yueya hurriedly opened the curtain and went out to get the dishes and chopsticks.

Xiao Guoer and Yingniang were quite surprised. Zhou Fangye had never eaten with their maids and servants before. They were always very particular about food and couldn't stand Xiao Guoer's disrespectful behavior.

What happened today?

Zhou Fangye didn't suddenly change his personality. The rules he learned since elementary school were ingrained in his bones and could not be easily changed.

However, when he met Yingniang these few days, when they were alone together, she didn't want to say a single extra word to him, and there was none of the gentleness and kindness she had shown when they were in love in the past.

He missed her, wanted to hug her and tell her about his difficulties, wanted her to understand him, but when he looked at her icy eyes, he felt he had no idea where to start.

Only then did he reluctantly eat at the same table with the servants, just to make Yingniang change her mind and see his feelings.

"Xiao Guo'er, your business has been very successful recently. I haven't had time to congratulate you yet."

Zhou Fangye sat next to Yingniang and chatted naturally.

Xiao Guoer raised her eyebrows when she heard this, "How did you know?"

Zhou Fangye smiled. "Lottery is such a new and interesting thing. It has been widely circulated in Shangjing City these days. Naturally, I have heard about it too."

Xiao Guoer became interested, "You heard about it too? That's great."

At this time, Zhou Fangye also had a greatly changed opinion of Xiao Guoer. He did not expect that a maid from a brothel could come up with such a wonderful business, and run the business successfully on her own, which was no less impressive than that of men.

"Yes, the first prize is 100 taels, but it has attracted many people's interest and they are eager to try. Today, someone in the government office said that he wanted to join in the fun and see if he could win the grand prize."

Xiao Guoer no longer had a stern face, "Then they should go to Jinxianglou and buy a lottery ticket to give it a try."

Zhou Fangye picked up a piece of five-flavor apricot cheese goose with chopsticks and put it into Yingniang's bowl. "I also want to buy a lottery ticket. Xiao Guoer, do you have any secrets to tell me?"

Xiao Guoer knew that he was joking and was talking to her, but his eyes were clearly looking at Yingniang.

"No, it all depends on your luck."