Seeing those rich residences, with pavilions and terraces, artificial mountains and flowing water, even the floors covered with wool carpets, and curtains strung with pearls and jade, Zhang Meng deeply felt that the yamen had become as poor as a slum.
When they reached the Xu mansion, although the interior wasn't as extravagant as the Qin or Qian mansions, it was still quite impressive, because even a casual cup of tea there probably cost more than her monthly salary.
The head of the Xu family, Xu Hong, very warmly invited them to sit.
Xu Hong had the housekeeper bring a bank note and hand it to Zhang Meng. Zhang Meng recorded the amount in the account book, and a constable named Zheng Shu took the bank note from Zhang Meng's hand and put it in the money bag.
"Well then, Madam Xu, we'll take our leave now," Zhang Meng said with a smile.
Zhang Meng and Zheng Shu stood up to leave.
As they passed through the courtyard, Zhang Meng heard a faint, muffled groan.
She turned her head and saw, not far away, Xu Lu Cha in green robes slapping the face of a man dressed as a servant.
The man's face was red and swollen, kneeling on the ground, not daring to move or cry.
Zi Yi, standing next to Xu Lu Cha, seemed to sense her gaze. He turned his head, and seeing it was Zhang Meng, widened his eyes in surprise.
Zhang Meng nodded at him somewhat uncomfortably, then averted her gaze and walked out of the Xu mansion with Zheng Shu.
Xu Lu Cha flexed his fingers, examining his hand as white as jade, and said softly to the kneeling servant: "Do you still dare to steal my things?"
The servant held back his tears and quickly shook his head: "I don't dare, Third Young Master, I don't dare."
Xu Lu Cha gave him a cold look: "Go back and tell that old hag that not everyone can touch Miss Qian's things."
The servant nodded repeatedly, got up, and stumbled away.
Xu Lu Cha turned back and saw Zi Yi staring straight at the main gate. He casually asked, "What's wrong, Zi Yi?"
Zi Yi quickly withdrew his gaze: "Constable Zhang just saw you hitting someone, Young Master."
Xu Lu Cha: "..."
Zhang Meng and Zheng Shu returned to the yamen but couldn't eat yet. She could only hold her stomach and return to her room to rest.
Since she stopped working in the kitchen, Old Lady Zhang and the others in the kitchen were often too busy, and it was always very late before they could serve meals, and the food wasn't very good.
The constable sisters all complained terribly, pleading with Zhong Huo to let Zhang Meng return to the kitchen.
Fortunately, Zhong Huo kept her word. When she said she wouldn't let Zhang Meng near the kitchen, she really wouldn't let her near the kitchen.
So every time Zhang Meng returned from her shift, she could finally rest. As for the food being unpalatable, she didn't mind. After all, she had eaten Yang Qing's cooking for several years, and that was truly dark cuisine.
"Zhang Meng, you're back?" said the uncle who was cleaning in the courtyard.
"Yes, uncle," Zhang Meng smiled.
The uncle mysteriously approached Zhang Meng: "Today at noon after you and the superior returned, the superior locked herself in the study, and hasn't come out yet."
Zhang Meng was stunned: "Really?"
"Yes, I even secretly went to the door to listen. I heard the superior grinding her teeth and cursing 'stupid person' in a low voice. Do you know what happened to the superior?"
Zhang Meng quickly shook her head: "I don't know."
She had been by the superior's side all morning and indeed hadn't noticed the superior having any unpleasant encounters with anyone.
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