Chapter 017
Chapter 17: Report to the New Post
Hugging her faded bedding roll with frayed corners, Xiao Man stood before the heavy red-lacquer doors of Auspicious Cloud Residence and drew a deep breath. She recited the first rule of workplace survival: [At a new department, greet the heads first.]
The first master of Auspicious Cloud Residence was of course that jade-like Buddha’s Chosen, Lin Qing Xuan. But her direct supervisors, like department managers, were the couple who ran the courtyard, Old Chen and his wife Granny Chen. Below them was the page boy Chen Shi, called Shi Tou, who handled Lin Qing Xuan’s daily needs. The whole staffing of Auspicious Cloud Residence was as simple as a blank page. There was also a granny who swept the grounds. People said she did not live here, only showed up at dawn like a ghost, swept, and vanished into the back yard.
Xiao Man found Granny Chen under the veranda, directing a little maid as she wiped flower pots. Xiao Man bowed properly: “Granny Chen, I am Xiao Man. By First Madam’s order, I’ve come to Auspicious Cloud Residence to serve the Eldest Grandson Young Master, and I’m here to report.”
Granny Chen turned, and her shrewd eyes swept Xiao Man up and down, then down and up, like a searchlight. It felt like she weighed Xiao Man inside and out. After a long beat, Granny Chen curled her lip and muttered with disbelief: “Oh, so it’s you? Huh… no three heads and six arms, I see.”
She leaned closer, lowered her voice, and spoke with gossipy excitement: “Old Madam called me over yesterday and told me over and over to put your room right next to the Eldest Grandson Young Master’s. See that east wing? That one. The furniture is top-grade rosewood. The bedding is freshly fluffed cotton with satin covers. All made ready for you. Why are you still dragging that shabby quilt? Toss it.”
Xiao Man hugged the old roll tighter and showed a shy, stubborn smile: “Thank you for your trouble, Granny Chen. But I sleep better with my own things.” In her heart, she roared: [It’s my abebe! Without my abebe I can’t sleep! Modern office worker’s comfort item, okay? You ancient folks wouldn’t understand.]
Granny Chen stared like Xiao Man had a screw loose, but she let it pass. She called to Old Chen, who was trimming branches: “Hey, old man, come look. This is the girl Old Madam and First Madam sent specially to serve the Eldest Grandson Young Master.”
Old Chen set down the shears and came over at an unhurried pace. His cloudy eyes skimmed Xiao Man and wrinkled. Granny Chen kept chattering: “You grumble all day that Master won’t look at women and not even a female mosquito can fly into this yard. Now they shove a fresh and pretty miss inside. What do you call that?”
Old Chen glared at his wife: “Shut that mouth. Are Master’s affairs for you to guess at? See to her bedding and take her to the main room to greet the Young Master.” His tone left no room for nonsense.
Granny Chen flinched, then huffed: “Got it.” She waved at Xiao Man: “Come along, girl.”
On the way to the east wing, Granny Chen’s mouth didn’t stop, like an ancient HR officer doing a background check: “What’s your name? Xiao Man? Flows off the tongue. How old? Sixteen or seventeen?” She barely waited for answers before piling on: “Any family left? Parents? Brothers or sisters? I heard you’re from Old Madam’s courtyard. What work did you do there? How’s your needlework? Can you cook?”
Xiao Man rolled her eyes in her head while keeping a mild, respectful face, answering one by one: “Granny Chen, I’m Xiao Man, seventeen by the old count. Family… Father and Mother are gone. Only an Aunt in the west of the city. I swept, ran errands, and did mending in Old Madam’s courtyard. My needlework is decent. In the kitchen I can tend a fire and cook simple porridge and rice.”
Granny Chen grunted, who knew how much she believed. She pushed open the east-wing door, and Xiao Man’s eyes lit up. The room was far bigger and brighter than the second-class maid’s room she had used in Old Madam’s yard. By the window stood a rosewood desk. Along the wall were a matching wardrobe and dressing table, simply shaped but polished to a deep shine. Most eye-catching was the canopy bed with a plain gauze curtain. Fresh satin quilts lay on top. The lake-blue cover gleamed softly in the light from the lattice window. On a side table, a few brand-new outfits were neatly folded: pale yellow, spring green, light pink, all bright enough to dazzle.
The little gremlin in Xiao Man’s head began to rant: [Uniforms. Carefully chosen uniforms. This isn’t about serving anyone. It’s an invitation to a “dress-up play.” Old Madam and First Madam, your scheme is showing.]
She swallowed the urge to snark and squeezed out a grateful smile: “This room is lovely. Thank you, Granny Chen.”
“Don’t thank me. The masters arranged it,” Granny Chen said, eyeing the clothes again. “Hurry and tidy up. Change into something bright. The Young Master likes clean and neat. Once you’re ready, go to the main room to pay respects. Rules come first. From today, you’re a person of Auspicious Cloud Residence. The first day you must greet your master.”
Xiao Man was a hundred times unwilling, but a roof is a roof. She dawdled and set her old bedding at the foot of the bed, refusing to change it. She straightened her collar and smoothed her hair to look clean and orderly. As for those pale yellow and spring green dresses? [Nope. Not happening.] Her half-worn indigo blouse was perfect: plain, low-key, and safe.
She braced herself and put on the standard, gentle “new employee” smile. Drawing a deep breath, she walked to the shut door of the main room.
Knock, knock, knock.
She raised her hand and tapped three times. After a short silence, a cool voice like ice-spring water came from inside without a ripple of emotion: “Come in.”