Chapter 71 Xiang Hui
In Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, the water for bathing was not managed by the Small Tea Room.
The kitchen kept the large stove burning day and night without sealing the fire, constantly heating water.
Today, with a grand banquet throughout the entire household, Granny Fan neglected her duties after drinking and, unaware that Shen Si Jier was staying, did not heat extra water.
Shen Si Jier was staying in the west wing guest room and had not brought any maidservant with her. Zhi Qing casually assigned Xiang Hui to attend to her.
Had it been any other maidservant, it might have been fine, but this Xiang Hui was a troublemaker through and through.
A few days earlier, she had caused a commotion and smashed the celadon jar containing Sheng Yimei’s plum preserves.
Granny Zhao had given her a beating and ordered her to compensate for the fruit and the cost of the porcelain.
The plum preserves were worth three qian of silver, which was manageable, but that celadon jar was worth over ten taels—enough to buy someone like her outright.
If deducted from her monthly wages, it would take at least four or five years to repay.
Xiang Hui was careless with money, and her monthly wages weren’t even enough for her expenses—where could she find the money to compensate?
Seeing others buying pepper, she got an idea.
She had no money herself, so she took the lead and gathered some maidservants and old women to hoard ten catties of pepper.
She bought it for over five taels, but in the end, it all ended up stuck in her hands, leaving her completely bankrupt.
She didn’t earn a single coin and was left with a pile of debt, so anxious that her mouth was covered in blisters.
What money-making methods could a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl have?
Seeing that Pear Moon and the others ate relatively well, she thought to herself that the tea room must have its perks and decided to seize this position.
That evening, when Shen Si Jier requested hot water for bathing, Xiang Hui was already impatient.
Cursing under her breath, she went to the kitchen and, finding no hot water on the large stove, suddenly hatched a plan.
She went straight to the small room and banged on the door, intending to cause trouble for Pear Moon.
As soon as Pear Moon saw her, she knew Xiang Hui was there to stir up trouble.
Pear Moon wasn’t the least bit afraid of such a muddle-headed fool.
Only after hearing Xiang Hui’s demand for hot water did Pear Moon slowly rise, smiling as she put on her clothes.
“The tea room is responsible for brewing tea for the main rooms. If Fourth Miss wants to bathe, she’ll have to go to the kitchen stove to heat water.”
Seeing that Pear Moon dared to refuse, Xiang Hui raised her eyebrows and pointed at Shen Si Jier to make her case.
“Asking you to heat water is an honor! Fourth Miss is a distinguished guest from the maternal family. Neglecting her—do you have a death wish?”
Pear Moon wasn’t angered. She leisurely put on her shoes, winked at Autumn Abundance, and signaled Huan Huan not to get up.
“Fourth Miss is a relative—who would dare neglect her? But in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, firewood is firewood and water is water. There’s no reason to flip the teapot just to wash a face!”
“Who’s here to reason with you? You’re in charge of the Small Tea Room. If I don’t ask you for hot water, who else should I ask? If you delay Fourth Miss’s bath, don’t even think about managing that tea room anymore!”
Xiang Hui wouldn’t listen, only stirring up trouble unreasonably.
Autumn Abundance finally got up, tying her hair with a hairband clenched in her teeth, her shoes slapping loudly against the floor.
“You’re never this diligent in front of the mistress. How much reward did you get today, wagging your tail like a dog to curry favor! Tomorrow, when Fourth Miss marries the son-in-law, she’ll surely take you along as part of her dowry and put you in charge of a tea room. Then you can heat all the bathwater you want!”
After tossing out these sarcastic remarks, she shuffled away in her shoes.
Xiang Hui flushed red with anger, pointing at Pear Moon’s nose and cursing loudly.
“Keeping you as a tea room maid is just for the convenience of heating water! Who do you think Fourth Miss is? How dare you speak so disrespectfully? Just you wait—I’ll find the granny and have you thrown out!”
Pear Moon, seeing her flustered and furious, understood her intentions perfectly.
She was just desperate for money lately and wanted to take over a lucrative position.
“Even if you get me thrown out, you still won’t manage the tea room. Who doesn’t know you’re buried in debt? Forget the tea room—even a birdcage or chicken coop, the granny wouldn’t dare entrust to you. Don’t get your hopes up!”
Having her thoughts exposed, Xiang Hui flew into a rage out of humiliation and lunged forward, ready to claw and tear at Pear Moon.
Pear Moon anticipated her move and pushed first, shoving her to the ground.
Xiang Hui fell flat on her back. She scrambled up, unable to believe Pear Moon dared to push her.
These coarse maids had always endured beatings and scoldings from the dowry maids.
Not to mention heating water for the stove—even if heavier tasks were thrown at them, they wouldn’t dare refuse.
“I’m the young mistress’s dowry maid! In Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, I have the say, not you! Just wait till I report you to the granny. She’ll beat your wretched hide raw and sell you to a brothel as a courtesan. Let’s see how long you can strut around then!”
“How long I can strut around, I don’t know. But if you don’t repay the silver you owe others, someone will surely report you to the granny. Who gets sold off then remains to be seen.”
Xiang Hui, struck where it hurt most, instantly flew into a rage, cursing wildly about wretched whores and cheap courtesans.
The kitchen courtyard was close to the servants’ quarters. Hearing the commotion, the grannies hurried to the Main Chamber to fetch Granny Zhao.
When Granny Zhao arrived and saw Xiang Hui gesticulating wildly while hurling abuse, she sternly demanded an explanation.
Pear Moon smiled faintly. “The Fourth Young Miss wants to bathe. Sister Xiang Hui wouldn’t use the kitchen’s hot water and ordered me to boil some in the tea room. I argued back a little, and that’s how the quarrel started.”
Xiang Hui stomped her feet in agitation. “The kitchen stoves are all cold—not a drop of hot water to be found! If there had been hot water, I wouldn’t have sent her to the tea room! The cook didn’t prepare any, and Xiao Yue was slacking off. Granny, don’t listen to her nonsense!”
In her haste to argue with Pear Moon, she didn’t realize she had offended Granny Fan.
Hearing “cold stoves,” Granny Fan was already incensed.
Wasn’t this implying she hadn’t done her duty?
“Who are you to call me ‘cook’? Which eye of yours saw cold stoves? Spouting lies with your eyes wide open, daring to make a scene before me, Granny Fan? You have no say in this kitchen!”
With that, she dragged Granny Zhao to the stove room to see for herself—a large pot of boiling water was simmering on the stove.
Autumn Abundance, twirling a handkerchief, grinned mischievously and winked in their direction.
Pear Moon had sent her to remind Granny Fan to quickly light the stove and heat the water.
Seeing the hot water on the stove, Granny Zhao’s face darkened like charcoal. She barked at Xiang Hui, “What do you have to say for yourself?”
Xiang Hui realized she had been tricked. Furious, ashamed, and enraged, she stamped her feet and burst into tears.
“There was definitely no water earlier! It’s all Granny Fan and her playing tricks! Xiao Yue is just a coarse maid—what’s wrong with sending her to boil water in the tea room? How dare she make excuses and refuse? Back when she was under our charge, if she dared utter one extra word, I’d beat her hands with a stick more than once! Now she’s even ordering Granny Fan around!”
Before Granny Zhao, Pear Moon remained silent.
But Granny Fan couldn’t hold back. She grabbed Xiang Hui and spat right in her face.
“You thieving wretch, you cheap tramp! ‘Granny Fan’ is what you call me? At my age, you little shit-eating brat dare address me as ‘granny’ to my face? Xiao Yue left the kitchen courtyard, but she’s a third-rank maid just like you. How dare you beat her hands? What kind of master raised you to have no respect for anyone?”
Though Granny Fan wasn’t particularly capable, her temper was generally mild—she yielded to softness but not to force.
Whoever treated her with courtesy and flattery received her special care.
Xiang Hui, looking down on Granny Fan for her lack of skill, had never hidden her contempt—how could Granny Fan not notice?
She could tolerate it for a day or two, but not for a month or two. How could Granny Fan allow her to run wild?
Pear Moon hurried forward to mediate. “Granny Fan, please don’t be angry. Everyone knows how reliable you are!”
Xiang Hui tried to shout again but was swiftly slapped down by Granny Zhao, whose face was as dark as storm clouds.
“The young mistress has just fallen asleep. If you wretched girl dares utter another word, I’ll cut out your tongue!”
Xiang Hui had made a futile effort—not only did she fail to snatch the duty, but she also earned two slaps in return. Covering her face, she began to cry.
It was merely about boiling water, nothing major. Granny Zhao scolded her a few times and then left.
Pear Moon and Autumn Abundance brought over buckets, scooped two pails of hot water, and placed them on the spot.
Granny Fan called out to Xiang Hui, “There’s plenty of hot water. Carry it over yourself—don’t think about ordering others around!”
Having lost all face, Xiang Hui grew even more furious and wanted to speak a few harsh words to salvage some dignity.
“Everyone knows that in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard, the small kitchen has the most perks—it’s made Granny Fan fat! And Xiao Yue’s tea room is a den of thieves, pilfering daily and stuffing all the good food into their own mouths! You all gang up to deceive the masters, but don’t let me catch you red-handed. When that happens, we’ll all go down together!”