Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 62 Theft

This is not only extremely poorly said, but it also disgraces the Song family. Does it mean that the Tang family's daughter only needs to rely on her own dowry and not her husband's family after marriage?

Madam Yun tried to salvage the situation by saying, "A dowry is a woman's source of confidence. If things go smoothly, why would she need that confidence? My niece has been through this before, what do you think?"

When Sister-in-law Song arrived, she already had a general understanding of the various branches of the Tang family, and she wouldn't be so tactless as to argue with a concubine. She smiled and replied, echoing Madam Yun's words:

"Auntie is absolutely right. A parent's love for their daughter is deep and unwavering. No matter how much or how little the dowry is, it is the sentiment of the bride's family."

Before she left, my mother-in-law asked me to pass on a message to you and the old lady: that our eldest daughter is marrying far away, and perhaps she is a little apprehensive, but everyone in Jinan knows that the Song family is welcoming her."

This not only glossed over Aunt Liu's words, but also told the Tang family to rest assured that the Song family would wholeheartedly accept their new daughter-in-law.

Although the eldest daughter was born out of wedlock, she was the eldest daughter, and the old lady loved and valued her very much after her birth. Even Madam Yun never mistreated her. Therefore, the old lady was relieved after hearing this and personally invited the women of the Song family to have tea. The matchmaker presented the betrothal letter and the betrothal gifts. Madam Yun glanced at them and showed a satisfied expression. The atmosphere in the flower hall was extremely harmonious for a moment.

Behind the screen, the eldest young lady felt somewhat helpless towards her aunt. Seeing the ladies of Lin'an follow Guangbai into the room in the flower hall, the second young lady led her younger sisters back to the inner room.

Apart from the second young lady, the other young ladies are still young and are only here for fun. Only the fifth young lady is interested in the betrothal gifts. The betrothal gifts are not just about being as expensive as possible. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, betrothal gifts are generally based on ancient customs and emphasize a complete set of styles.

Gifts included things like "five bushels of rice, coins and cloth, betrothal cakes and three kinds of sacrificial animals, four kinds of sugar, incense, firecrackers and gold bracelets," and more particular families would also send symbolic items such as combs, rulers, ruyi scales, and bronze mirrors.

The sincerity of the betrothal gifts represents the importance placed on the bride. The fifth young lady secretly sent someone to Langya Courtyard to check. After receiving the news, the younger sisters sincerely congratulated their eldest sister on finding a good match.

When the Song family was preparing the betrothal gifts, they sent two pairs of wild geese, each tied with colorful ribbons, which Erlang had personally hunted. Today, when they presented the betrothal gifts, the list of gifts not only followed the traditions of Jinan but also took into account the customs of Lin'an, which shows how thoughtful they were.

The young lady was quite satisfied and even looked forward to the future.

After a while, Meng Shu reluctantly slipped out of the bustling Fu'an Residence. She knew that the Second Miss had some mischievous thoughts hidden beneath her dignified appearance. Just now, while the young ladies were talking, the Second Miss secretly instructed Meng Shu to sneak into the front yard, see what the eldest brother of the Song family looked like, and come back to tell her.

Just now, because Sister-in-law Song mentioned that this prospective son-in-law of the Tang family was tall and handsome, and since the prospective son-in-law couldn't come to the betrothal ceremony, the second young lady thought it would be good to see what Brother Song looked like. After all, they were brothers, so they must look alike.

Meng Shu walked briskly towards Langya Courtyard. After passing through a flower bush, she suddenly saw a small figure walking in front of the rockery. The figure was walking hurriedly, looking around. Judging from the back, it seemed to be Green Willow.

As usual, Meng Shu and the other two maids were serving the Second Miss today, while Green Willow and several other second-class maids stayed behind at Yunyi Courtyard. At this hour, they should be cleaning in the courtyard, so why are they here at Langya Courtyard?

Thinking of this, Meng Shu quickened her pace. "Green Willow?"

Green Willow, who was standing in front, froze upon hearing the call. She turned around and saw Meng Shu, and awkwardly responded, "Meng Shu, what brings you here? Weren't you serving the Second Miss at Fu'an Residence?"

"I'd like to ask you that too. What are you doing at Langya Academy instead of Yunyi Academy?"

"I...I went to...yes, it was Steward Cui who asked me to help out. Langya Courtyard is hosting guests today, and we're too busy to handle everything." Green Willow felt guilty and finally managed to come up with an excuse.

Meng Shu didn't really care to expose her, but a mandarin duck tassel hairpin peeked out from Green Willow's sleeve and fell to the ground.

Because the second young lady didn't like this hairpin, it had always been kept at the bottom of her makeup box, but Meng Shu recognized it at a glance.

Seeing that she had been exposed, Green Willow trembled like a leaf, knelt on the ground and hugged Meng Shu's legs, crying, "Meng Shu, I had no choice but to do this. I beg you... After I send it out to get money to save my life, I will go to the Second Miss and confess. I will accept any beating or punishment."

I can't just watch my mother die, sob sob..."

"Foolish thing."

In her memory, Green Willow had always been honest and even somewhat timid. Even though Meng Shu was dissatisfied with her because of her muddle-headed nature, she never doubted her character.

Enraged, Meng Shu suppressed the urge to kick her away and yelled, "What's wrong with your family? How dare they instigate you to steal your master's things? Do you know that this hairpin is worth two hundred taels of silver? That's enough to buy forty little maids like you. Don't you want to live?"

According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, if a servant steals property, a living contract will be handed over to the authorities for legal action, while a dead contract will allow the master to dispose of the property as he sees fit.

Green Willow's sobbing annoyed Meng Shu, who picked up the hairpin and put it away. "I'll be patient and help you one last time. I'll pretend I didn't notice and I'll put the hairpin back where it was, but you can't serve in Yunyi Courtyard anymore."

“I have some connections with Steward Cui. Since you just said you were going to help out at Langya Academy, you should go back to work there afterward.”

Meng Shu has maintained a good relationship with Steward Cui, often giving him snacks and drinks made by Dong Gua, as well as handkerchiefs and purses she makes herself. Steward Cui should give Meng Shu face.

As for Green Willow's fate at Yunyi Academy, no one will pay attention.

“Meng Shu, I really have no other choice… My brother has come to see me many times, and I have also sent people to check on my mother. She is indeed seriously ill and says that if she is not treated in time, she will not have many days left.”

Every time her brother came, he would ask for a hundred taels of silver. How could Green Willow possibly afford that? So her family gave her the idea of ​​stealing things. They told her to pick the most inconspicuous things to steal. The Tang family was so wealthy that even a small trinket was insignificant and could be lost easily.

"Green willow, hesitation will only lead to disaster. Why do we keep pressuring you to get treatment? Are your two brothers just for show? If the illness is truly serious, can't we raise the money by selling the house and land?"

After saying that, Meng Shu ignored her and took two steps when she heard Lü Liu choke out, "I just want my mother to live. Everyone else may not understand me, but how can you not understand me, Meng Shu... If your mother had received timely treatment when she was sick, she would have survived, wouldn't she?"

Meng Shu didn't turn around. Just as she was about to reach the corner, a "bang" suddenly came from behind her. When she turned around, she saw that Green Willow had crashed into a tree on the side.

In that instant, Meng Shu felt a chill run through her body, as if she had returned to that enclosed room and the scene of Zhao Di attempting suicide.

She ran over like a madwoman. Fortunately, Green Willow was half-lying on the ground, her chest still heaving, only her forehead was red. Meng Shu's blood rushed to her head, and she could no longer hold back, raising her hand to slap Green Willow hard across the face.

"You deserve to be the drum that gets beaten."