Xiang'er, a second-tier maid in Wu Caiwei's courtyard, had been looking glum and sighing recently, attracting a lot of attention. Whenever asked, she would just shake her head helplessly, unwilling to say more.
Naturally, this caught the eye of those with ulterior motives. After investigating her family situation thoroughly, they made tentative contact.
Xiang'er was born into servitude. Her parents and siblings were honest folk, all working in low-paying jobs within the manor. Her elder brother guarded the back gate, her mother worked in the laundry, and her father swept the back courtyard.
One day, after his shift, Xiang'er's brother, Lai Gui, went to a small shop across the street. He ordered two ounces of wine and two small dishes, eating alone in his melancholy.
Suddenly, a man of ordinary appearance sat down opposite him. If Zheng Yiming were present, he would have recognized this man as the one who had pushed Old Master Zheng into the pond. Lai Gui, seeing him for the first time, thought hard, confirmed he didn't know him, and looked at him with some confusion.
"Drinking alone is so dull. Let me join you for a couple of drinks, brother," the man said familiarly, picking up a cup, pouring himself some wine, and clinking glasses with Lai Gui.
Although Lai Gui was honest, he understood the rule of not hitting a smiling face. He quickly picked up his own cup, clinked it with the man's, and drained it in one gulp.
One was eager to make friends, the other was burdened by sadness and needed someone to listen. Soon, they were calling each other brothers.
For several days, they took turns treating each other. The same location, different wines, different dishes, they chatted about everything under the sun.
Lai Gui felt as if they had met too late. "If only I had met you sooner, brother, perhaps my life would have taken a different turn," Lai Gui said with a sigh after a drink.
"Actually, your troubles are nothing in my eyes. There are shortcuts, but you're just too honest, brother," the man, who called himself Wang Guanglin, said with a shake of his head.
"With our family's situation, where are there any shortcuts? How come I don't know about them?" Lai Gui asked in surprise, thinking about the people and events around him, his face full of doubt.
"I must say, brother, you are truly too honest. With your sister's position, how many people secretly envy you, how many wish to befriend you, but you just don't know," the man said meaningfully, slowly revealing his point.
"But my sister is just a second-tier maid in the young master and mistress's courtyard. Her words carry no weight. If only my sister could become a first-tier maid, then, without you saying, I'd know our family's status in the manor would be extraordinary." Lai Gui shook his head, clearly disagreeing. He knew his family's worth.
"Now, there's someone who wants to meet you, and they can solve your troubles. But that matter is a bit risky, and I declined it for you."
"What matter? Tell me about it, brother." Lai Gui was curious. With his current circumstances, what could anyone want from him?
"Someone wants to send a potted plant into the young master's room. But don't worry, this plant is completely harmless. If you're afraid, you can take it to the clinic to ask first, and then send it. Wealthy families like theirs offer fifty taels of silver for such things. Think about it, with fifty taels, wouldn't your wishes come true?" Wang Guanglin said to him.
"Is it really that simple? But why do I feel this matter is unusual? Why would someone spend fifty taels to do something like this? If they want to send it, can't they do it openly?" Although Lai Gui felt his mind wasn't sharp enough, he still possessed basic common sense.
"How can we, small shrimps like you and me, understand the matters of rich families? However, this is a case of one willing to strike and one willing to be struck. You should have your sister find a way to send the potted plant into the young master and mistress's room, but that's only if the young master and mistress agree. We can't decide privately," Wang Guanglin said, looking at him as if he thought too much.
"What you say makes sense, but I still feel uneasy about this matter," Lai Gui said hesitantly.
"If you don't hurry, Hexiang will be married off to someone else. This is something you have to consider yourself. Why don't you go back and discuss it with your family, and come find me when you've decided?" Wang Guanglin said, smiling down and shaking his head.
"How will I find you then? We've known each other for so long, and I still don't know where you live." Lai Gui suddenly realized that after so many conversations, he had revealed everything about himself, yet he knew nothing about Wang Guanglin.
"Alas, what can I say about you? How can you be so careless? You only realize this now. There aren't as many good people in this world as you imagine. Be careful when talking to others in the future; don't pour out your heart. I'm here to visit relatives, and it's not convenient to take you to my relatives' homes. I'll be waiting for you at this small shop at this time in three days. If there's a chance, I'll take you to my home then," Wang Guanglin said to him earnestly, deeply moving Lai Gui.
Although Lai Gui's parents were honest folk, they had seen a lot during their years in the manor and absolutely refused to let their daughter take such a risk.
Lai Gui was already hesitant about the matter, and now with his parents' unanimous opposition, he felt relieved and decided to put it aside and not bring it up again.
The next day, while he was on duty, Hexiang found him, crying and telling him that if he didn't come to her family to propose by sunset tomorrow, she would be married to someone else.
"What kind of person have your parents found for you?" Lai Gui asked, looking at her with heartache.
"He's ten years older than me and already has a son and a daughter. He wants me to take care of his children. I heard his previous wife was beaten to death by him. From the matchmaker, I heard our family wants a lot of silver. But my family doesn't care whether I live or die, and they've set their sights on it." Hexiang said sadly. She felt Lai Gui's family couldn't afford so much silver, but if she didn't tell him, she felt unwilling. Born into an extremely patriarchal family, she had suffered a lot since childhood. She never expected that in her marriage, her mother would want to sell her for a good price to fund her brother's wedding.
"Will you have a good life if you marry him? Don't worry, I'll think of a way," Lai Gui said anxiously. Hexiang was such a good girl, but she just didn't have loving parents.
"What good way can there be? My parents are adamant about thirty taels of silver. How many families can afford that? I just wanted to tell you about this and see you. Perhaps we won't see each other again in this lifetime. This is my last lingering affection." Hexiang had long despaired of her own life and held no expectations.
Despite his reluctance, Lai Gui saw her off. After hesitating at the door for a moment, he turned and found his sister.
They say men don't shed tears easily, but only when their hearts are broken. He told his sister everything.
Xiang'er also felt troubled. She and Hexiang actually had a connection. The reason her brother met Hexiang was partly her fault. When she was little, she was almost kidnapped, and it was Hexiang who saved her. Knowing Hexiang's difficult life at home, they often helped her out, and through this, they became acquainted.
She sympathized with Hexiang's plight. She was also hesitant about the matter Wang Guanglin had mentioned, but her concern for her brother took precedence.