High-class maid

Chapter 193 Funeral

"Good boy, go back now. You have to get up early to go to the clinic tomorrow," Wang said as she opened the door for Liang Yuwen.

Liang Yuwen glanced at Shen Xing'er briefly, then helped He Bo away.

There is a long way to go, so there is no rush.

After the three of them had finished washing up, it was already late at night. Shen Xing'er was fighting off sleep as she reported to her parents about the congratulatory gifts that everyone had brought.

"Aunt Yuan's family sent four boxes of Qianshansu pastries as a congratulatory gift, Aunt Tian's family sent a basket of fruits and vegetables as a congratulatory gift, Aunt Han's family sent two boxes of Baiyugao (white jade paste) that Brother Liang prepared himself as a congratulatory gift, Uncle He sent two pots of dragon blood trees as a congratulatory gift, and Master Ren sent a parrot as a congratulatory gift."

"Sure, nothing too expensive, just something to have fun with." Shen Kun was quite satisfied with the gifts everyone brought. If they were too expensive, they would feel burdened.

"I'm used to all sorts of jewelry and fabrics sent from the mansion, but the gifts from our neighbors are quite down-to-earth!" Shen Xing'er remarked, looking at the congratulatory gifts in the room.

“Yes, we’re used to the extravagance of the Minister’s mansion. This is what life is like for ordinary people like us.” Shen Kun didn’t forget to take the opportunity to educate his wife and daughter.

"Alright, alright, let's talk about it tomorrow. My back is starting to hurt again after running around all day." Wang rubbed her aching back; she had been running around since morning and was really feeling the strain.

Tomorrow we have to return all the tables and chairs, which is another big project.

After seeing He Bo off, Liang Yuwen quietly opened the courtyard gate to go home, only to find that Han Shi was not asleep, but was watching him with amusement at the door.

"Mother, why aren't you asleep yet?" Liang Yuwen blushed immediately. Why did he look at his mother so strangely?

No one knows a son better than his mother. Seeing her son's shy expression, Madam Han knew that he had taken a liking to the Shen family's daughter. She tentatively asked...

"Have you finished cleaning up for the Shen family?"

"Hmm, why is Mother looking at me like that?" Liang Yuwen asked knowingly.

"Tell your mother, have you taken a fancy to the Shen family's daughter?" Madam Han asked, leaning closer to her son, scrutinizing every expression on his face.

"Mother, what nonsense are you talking about? How can you say such things?" Liang Yuwen stammered anxiously, but neither admitted nor denied it.

"Oh, Mother thought my son had finally come to his senses! I was thinking that if you were interested in the Shen family's daughter, you should find a suitable opportunity to propose marriage," Madam Han said, feigning regret.

“It’s not impossible…” Liang Yuwen said softly.

"Hmph, you think you can fool me? I think this Miss Shen is a good one. She is bright and generous, gentle and polite. More importantly, she comes from a high-class family and is well-mannered. She will definitely be a good housekeeper in the future."

"Doesn't Mother mind that she used to be a maid?"

The reason Liang Yuwen didn't dare to mention it to Madam Han was because he was afraid that her mother would look down on Shen Xing'er's background. Although he liked Shen Xing'er, he cared more about his mother's feelings.

His mother raised him all by herself with great difficulty, and he shouldn't hurt her feelings for Shen Xing'er.

"Silly child, I'm afraid Miss Shen won't like our family!" What Madam Han didn't finish saying was that there were only the mother and son in their family. In this day and age, people value the prosperity of the family. If the Shen family used this as a reason to reject them, there was nothing they could do.

“Yes… Miss Shen has been living in a wealthy family for so long, how could she possibly be interested in her son?” Liang Yuwen also began to doubt himself.

"Alright, go and rest. Whether it works or not, I'll find out by visiting the Shen family more often."

Mrs. Han couldn't bear to see her son troubled by love. Although their family was small, her son didn't gamble or visit prostitutes and could earn money to support the family, which was not bad.

Knowing that worrying was futile, Liang Yuwen nodded and went to rest.

The next day, Shen Xing'er and Shen Kun got up early and returned all the tables and chairs to their neighbors.

“Your mother is still sleeping, and your father doesn’t feel like cooking. What would you like to eat? I’ll go to the market and buy some,” Shen Kun asked.

"Let me go buy it, you go back and rest," Shen Xing'er said.

Shen Kun had been running around all day yesterday, but Shen Xing'er, who was young, recovered after a good night's sleep. Now that she doesn't have to go to the manor to work, she does as much housework as she can.

"Alright, be careful on your way." Shen Kun didn't stand on ceremony with her, and the father and daughter parted ways at the alley entrance.

"It's been so long since I've had tofu pudding," Shen Xing'er muttered, as she prepared to go to Chang'an Street to buy some.

As soon as they arrived at Chang'an Street, they saw people standing on the roadside, and the street was bustling with the sound of gongs and drums. Shen Xing'er squeezed to the front as well.

"What are you doing?" Shen Xing'er asked an old man familiarly.

"Alas, this is the funeral procession of the two mistresses of the Song family! It's so pitiful that two mistresses have died at once..." The old man shook his head and said regretfully.

Shen Xing'er's heart skipped a beat. That's right. If she counted the time, Song's grandmother's funeral was today. Would she be able to see Song then?

She stood in the crowd, watching two white lions dancing and walking ahead, followed by two people holding white banners, and then a group of people dressed in mourning clothes carrying two coffins. Song Yanjiang was holding the front coffin, which should be Old Madam Song's.

Looking back, Song Wenyang and Song Wenheng were supporting the second coffin on either side. In just two days, Shen Xing'er felt that Song Wenyang looked much more haggard.

The funeral procession headed out of the city, accompanied by banging and lion dancing. Everyone watched the spectacle, and Shen Xing'er couldn't help but follow the crowd.

"Smash the bowls!" An old man shouted as the procession arrived at the city gate.

The funeral procession fell silent for a moment, and everyone looked at each other.

"Why isn't anyone coming out to smash the bowl?" someone murmured in the crowd.

Song Yanjiang turned to look at Song Wenyang. This child had promised to smash the bowl when he left, but at the crucial moment he was just pretending to be stupid.

"Heng'er, go ahead and fall!" Song Yanjiang had no choice but to say to Song Wenheng.

Song Wenheng glared at Song Wenyang. What did he mean by that? Knowing he wasn't a son of the Song family, he couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore, and just wanted to make a fool of himself in front of others?

This brief interlude went unnoticed by the crowd. After Song Wenheng smashed the bowl, the funeral procession headed towards the fields outside the city, and the people in the city dispersed.

"Alas, life is so unpredictable; a perfectly good family has fallen apart."

"Isn't that right? Who would have thought that just going to the temple to burn incense would lead to being killed by bandits?"

"Weren't the bandits supposed to have been executed? How come there are still some left?"

"Who knows? Maybe they've already got their eye on it. It's not the thief you should be afraid of, it's the one who's got their eye on you!"

Shen Xing'er ignored the whispers of the crowd; her mind was filled with the image of Song Wenyang with his unshaven beard. If nothing unexpected happened, she wouldn't see Song Wenyang for the next few months.

"I hope this won't affect his chances in the imperial examinations." Shen Xing'er sighed. There was nothing she could do now, so she could only stay home and wait for his good news.