Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 380 - 379: The Servant Bullies the Master

Chapter 380: Chapter 379: The Servant Bullies the Master

Manager Luo was not only charged with administering Tang Garden, but also held the title of Deputy Manager to the Capital Marquis Mansion and yet held no position in the Senator’s Mansion. However, he was a trusted confidant of the young master, and all the servants in the Senator’s Mansion paid him immense respect.

Since he couldn’t overstep his boundaries, he had to let Mrs. Luo speak to Madam about their uncle’s mistreatment. Simultaneously, it was an excellent opportunity for the Madam to eradicate servants who took advantage of their masters.

Upon hearing Mrs. Luo’s words, Chen Afu felt an intense pain in her chest out of anger. She had unmistakably arranged a carriage for Alu, but those treacherous servants went against her orders and made Alu depart in a cart. She could only guess how else they might have mistreated Alu.

The most crucial reason for them treating Alu this way was their disdain for her as a countrywoman.

She was incredibly self-reproachful. In the past, she allocated more attention to Dabao, Yan’er, and Li Xuan as they were younger, believing that since Alu was older and her younger brother, he would tell her if something was wrong. She never expected that he would withhold everything and endure all the hardships on his own...

Chen Afu said to Mrs. Luo, "Thank Manager Luo for the heads-up on my behalf. I understand."

It was almost midday now. She suppressed her emotions, planning to visit Gui Court in the late afternoon.

At noon, Dabao and Alu walked hand in hand into the main court.

Chen Afu pulled Alu in front of her and asked, "Are you doing well here? Are the servants attentive?"

Alu shyly smiled and said, "It’s okay, the servants are doing fine."

Chen Afu pinched his face out of annoyance, which made him blush even more.

Chen Afu pretended like nothing was wrong, had lunch with the children, and then sent them back to their respective courtyards to sleep.

After the afternoon break, assuming it was time for Alu to study, Chen Afu, leaning on Qingfeng, along with Mrs. Li and Xiao Huang, headed toward the Gui Courtyard.

The back door of the Gui Courtyard was half-open, and from inside, the conversation of the old women could be heard. Their voices were low, but they could hear clearly.

One old woman said, "...We can’t compare ourselves with those who serve the eldest sister as they serve the rightful master. We can only stand by and watch. Look at the Chaohua Courtyard, Bao is a burden brought by the Madam, not her biological child, yet the workers in that courtyard have a lot more benefits than us. Fifteen monthly salaries. I heard that Mrs. Luo exchanged Bao’s two ounces of monthly silver for two strings of copper coins, and everyone in the courtyard got several hundred wen. But our courtyard’s master, let alone receiving a single penny, hasn’t even tasted his snack... Alas, when Deputy Manager Liu assigned me to the Chaohua Courtyard, I was not willing because I felt that serving Bao was not as good as serving the uncle, after all, the uncle is the Madam’s actual younger brother. Heavens, what a waste!"

The voice of another old woman cut in, "However, we hardworking folks don’t have that. The maids and young manservants serving Uncle, as well as the junior managers, have all been rewarded generously by Uncle. If they weren’t, their words wouldn’t be as pleasing, nor would they be as diligent. Uncle is clever; he knows to watch people."

The first old woman continued, "There are always so many leftover steamed egg custards, green pea cakes, and crystal dumplings from Bao’s meals for the people in their courtyard to share. But our master who we serve, apart from the leftover porridge, he always eats everything up, I’ve even heard that he often sends San Quan to the street to buy him snacks. Heaven, growing up in the countryside, how could he eat so much..."

Chen Afu felt rage surging through her as she heard this, and Mrs. Li shouted, "You two rotten-mouthed old goods, is this how you slander the master?"

When the two old women saw Chen Afu walking in, they were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, crying for mercy, "Madam, spare our lives, Madam, spare our lives..."

Chen Afu didn’t want to waste her breath on the coarse old women. She ordered Xiao Huang, "Go, call Chief Steward Yang, Deputy Manager Liu and Mrs. Luo."

Upon hearing that these people were to be called, the cries of the two old women grew louder.

Lan Hua and Lan Cao, who were inside the house, came out when they heard this.

Seeing Chen Afu standing there with a stern face, they were also scared and knelt down.

Chen Afu took a seat on a chair and said nothing, waiting for the arrival of the managers.

After a short while, Chief Steward Yang, Deputy Manager Liu, and Mrs. Luo arrived.

Chief Steward Yang bent over and said, "Madam, whatever mistake these two old goods have committed, this old servant will immediately correct them."

Chen Afu sneered, "I’m a countrywoman who doesn’t often stay here, I am unqualified to deal with them. Of course, I must wait for you, the head managers, to correct them."

Upon hearing this, the several individuals were frightened and knelt down.

Chen Afu said to Qingfeng, "Repeat the words of these two old women for our head managers to hear."

Consequently, Qingfeng repeated what the two old women had said.

The startled head managers kept kowtowing and pleading, "Madam, please forgive us, we have failed..."

The cries and pleas of the two old women grew even louder.

Mrs. Li shouted, "Don’t scream and shout like this. If you agitate the little master in Madam’s belly, your sins will be even more severe."

Chen Afu next addressed Lan Cao and Lan Hua, "Tell me, why doesn’t Uncle have enough to eat? Why doesn’t he reward you, making your words less pleasant and your legs less sprightly? Why was Uncle in a donkey cart yesterday? Is there anything else I don’t know? Speak up. If I hear from others about anything you have not mentioned, an additional punishment will be added." She asked someone to call San Quan from the front.

Lan Cao, known for her sharp tongue and for having received some significant rewards and gifts from Alu, was so frightened that she could not speak. Lan Hua, who had not committed any big mistakes, spoke truthfully about everything she knew.

Uncle’s breakfast was sometimes smaller than that of other family members, and there were never any delicacies such as bird’s nest or pigeon soup. Gradually, Lan Cao became more daring, often stealing good snacks from the road for her younger siblings. When Uncle ate, he would also reward the personal servants with some snacks... When Uncle went out, he had to tip the coachman and the gatekeeper... If stationery was used up and you went to get more, you needed to give the manager a tip... If one did not tip, their faces would not look good...

When San Quan came, he also knelt and told her everything he knew, including his own...

He then cried and said, "Madam, it was not me who asked for it, it was given by Uncle, I just accepted it."

Lan Cao, who was already frightened to the point of paralysis, also kowtowed and cried, "Madam, spare me, it was Uncle who rewarded me, I did not ask for it..."

Chen Afu, expressing her disdain for the old women, the maids, and the young servants, directed her words towards Chief Steward Yang, Deputy Manager Liu, and Mrs. Luo, "After all this time, do not say that you have completely ignored the mistreatment of my brother. By acting ignorant, you are not being disrespectful to my brother, you are being disrespectful to me. If you feel I am not worthy to be your mistress, then find another tree to perch on, my husband and I will not insist. If you feel that you are old and deserve respect, and have the Marquis and my uncle’s support, I will apologize to the Marquis, and my husband will apologize to my uncle."

Chief Steward Yang and the others kowtowed as if they were pounding garlic, continuously saying, "Madam, you are making us ashamed. Being able to serve my master and madam is a great blessing. We have no other improper thoughts..."