Chapter 275 What Are You Doing?

Chapter 275 What Are You Doing?

After Shuanglian finished speaking, she waited shyly and timidly for Yu Sanbao's reaction.

Unexpectedly, Yu Sanbao's reaction was quite indifferent, and he even nodded: "You're really quite frail. It seems like you don't do much work usually. I'll speak to Rou'er (his wife) and have her assign you more tasks to strengthen your body. Also, when you have free time, go help out with Mother and the wives of the eldest and second brothers. As for the fourth brother's wife, she has plenty of people around, so you don't need to go there."

Thinking of this, Yu Sanbao added: "Rou'er is pregnant, she doesn't like to order people around, but you should be more perceptive."

Shuanglian stiffened all over, unable to speak.

After giving his instructions, Yu Sanbao left immediately.

Shuanglian's face went through a series of color changes, from green to white to red.

Not long after, Shuangqing brought the doctor, who after taking Shuanglian's pulse, prescribed some fever-reducing medicine.

Shuanglian had her monthly allowance, but Wei Pozi, considering Shuanglian's effort in going into the mountains to search for someone the day before, paid for the medicine on her behalf.

After a day when Shuanglian's fever subsided, she went to thank Wei Pozi.

Wei Pozi's expression was indifferent, and she didn't say much.

Meanwhile, Bai Xiaofeng, who was holding Bang Geer and came to Wei Pozi's place to play with Xingxing, couldn't help but say: "I say, Shuanglian, you should be more careful in the future. With such a frail body, sneaking into the mountains, were you planning to help rescue people or carry them? Who knows who would end up rescuing whom."

Shuanglian lowered her head: "I was just... worried about Third Master, I didn't think much."

Bai Xiaofeng, somewhat annoyed by Shuanglian's attitude, pursed her lips: "You didn't think much, but you completely neglected the chores in your courtyard? When the third sister-in-law, who is pregnant, wanted a sip of hot water and there was no one around, you didn't care either? You say you were worried about your Third Master, but what about your Third Madam, who is pregnant, physically weak, and emotionally unstable, weren't you worried about her?"

Shuanglian's face turned as red as a beet.

Bai Xiaofeng covered her mouth and laughed: "Shuanglian, I'm just straightforward, I say what I think, it's about the matter, not the person, don't take it to heart."

Shuanglian forcibly pinched her palm to keep herself from crying, forcing a smile: "Second Madam Bai is joking... I wouldn't dare take it to heart."

Shuanglian, after all, was still young, and the phrase "I wouldn't dare" revealed a hint of her resentment and displeasure.

Bai Xiaofeng pursed her lips, glanced at Wei Pozi, and continued: "Shuanglian, I have to tell you this, even if it's hard to hear. Do you know, when you disappeared yesterday, my mother almost went into the mountains to look for you. Do you know how dangerous that is?—There was an avalanche that buried someone, and when they dug him out yesterday, he was in bad shape! If it weren't for Xingxing stopping my mother, if she had really gone into the mountains and encountered any danger..."

Bai Xiaofeng quickly said "knock on wood": "Mother will surely live a long life!"

Shuanglian lowered her head even further: "I was wrong."

Bai Xiaofeng wanted to say more, but Wei Pozi didn't want her to continue on this topic, so she changed the subject: "...Speaking of which, how is Zhao Youcai doing?"

When Zhao Youcai was dug out from the snow the day before yesterday, he was in bad shape, but it must be said, his vitality was quite tenacious. Yesterday, when the villagers were chatting, they said he looked a bit better, and with proper care, he might survive.

Bai Xiaofeng and Wei Pozi both sighed at this.

After this sigh, they both ignored Shuanglian.

Shuanglian stood there for a while, seeing that Bai Xiaofeng and Wei Pozi were only chatting with each other and ignoring her, she felt utterly out of place, bit her lip, and turned to leave.

In the courtyard, Shuangyun, Shuangyue, and Shuangqing were beating the frozen clothes drying in the yard while laughing and chatting about the upcoming New Year, how the master had given them a day off, and what they would buy when they went to the county.

When Shuanglian came out of the main room, Shuangyun, Shuangyue, and Shuangqing immediately stopped laughing and talking, focusing on beating the clothes, as if the previous laughter and chatter had never happened.

Shuanglian's face turned red again.

She felt that the other Shuang-named maids were excluding her!

Shuanglian glared fiercely at Shuangyun, Shuangyue, and Shuangqing, and then ran off.

The more Shuanglian thought about it, the angrier she grew. She went to find Ah Wu and Yu Siyang's maids, Shuangxiu and Shuangjia, to talk.

Shuangxiu and Shuangjia had followed Ah Wu from the Liu family villa when she married into the Yujia household. They were maids from a well-established wealthy household.

At that moment, the two were sitting together by the room's heater, doing needlework, apparently making tiger-head shoes for Bang Geer.

When Shuanglian arrived, Shuangxiu put down the tiger-head shoes and greeted her with a smile, saying, "It's freezing outside, Sister Shuanglian. Why have you come over? Come sit and warm yourself."

Shuanglian finally managed a faint smile, thinking to herself that Shuangyun and the others were just inexperienced. Look at Shuangxiu and Shuangjia—maids from a wealthy household were clearly a cut above those from smaller families.

However, although Shuangxiu and Shuangjia spoke warmly and politely, when Shuanglian tentatively tried to vent about Shuangyun, they didn't take the bait. Instead, they advised her that they were all maids of the Yujia household and should consider themselves sisters. Even teeth and lips clash sometimes, so what about us?

Shuanglian left feeling dejected.

Shuangxiu and Shuangjia exchanged a glance, dismissing Shuanglian's little episode.

But Shuanglian wasn’t about to let it go.

Among the maids in the household, Moliu had grown up by the Fourth Madam's side, so their bond was naturally special—that was understandable. But the others? What were they?

No matter how much Shuangxiu and Shuangjia were maids from a wealthy household, they were still just maids like her!

Why did they look down on her?

As for Shuangyun, Shuangyue, and Shuangqing, they were even worse.

Shuanglian's expression darkened as she thought about it.

Her gaze unconsciously wandered to the main room of the third household.

Su Rouer was resting in bed.

While serving, Shuanglian had noticed that even the bedding Su Rouer lay on was made of fine silk that she could never afford with her monthly allowance.

Su Rouer's background wasn’t as respectable as hers. If Su Rouer could have it, why couldn't she?

...Besides, she wasn't trying to replace Su Rouer.

In those wealthy households in the county, when the main wife was pregnant, wasn't it common to arrange a concubine or a secondary wife for the man?

Her background was clean, and she wasn't bad-looking. Why shouldn’t she aim higher?

Once she became Third Master's concubine, she'd see which maid in the courtyard would dare ignore her again!

Shuanglian clenched her fists, quietly resolved.

When Yu Sanbao returned from the county and entered the courtyard, Shuanglian immediately approached him, smiling sweetly and calling out, "Third Master."

Yu Sanbao gave a noncommittal "hmm" without looking at her and strode toward the house.

As he casually removed his cloak, he asked, "How is Rouer today?"

Shuanglian smiled and said, "Madam is doing well. She's been thinking of you."

As she spoke, Shuanglian stood on her tiptoes to help Yu Sanbao remove his cloak.

Yu Sanbao frowned, about to step aside to avoid her, when Shuanglian whispered, "...It's just that Third Madam seems..."

Her voice was barely audible, but Yu Sanbao, concerned about Su Rouer, leaned in closer. "What did you say?"

"What are you doing?"

A trembling voice rang out. Yu Sanbao looked up sharply to see Su Rouer standing under the eaves, having pushed the door open at some point. Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she stared at them.