Yangzhou gardens have long been famous, and the Song Family's garden is an exquisite gem among them, named Shouzhi Garden. Ruan Susu had barely taken a few steps when she was already enveloped in poetic and picturesque scenery.
Susu dared not look too much, and after only a quick glance, she lowered her head and followed Mrs. Zhao. Unlike the multi-courtyard mansions in the Capital, with their numerous ceremonial gates, second gates, and countless halls and corridors, Yangzhou gardens feature winding stone paths that create a novel sense of hidden beauty.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the young servant leading the way pointed to a round archway and said, "That's the inner courtyard. I'm stopping here; Mrs. Zhao, you go on. But these little girls need to wait here to hear instructions."
Mrs. Zhao instructed the young girls once more, then entered the round archway. After a while, the young girls began to chatter.
Daya, pulling Susu and Tao Hua aside, said, "No wonder Mrs. Zhao said the Song Family is wealthy. The residence seems even larger and more beautiful than the richest landlord's home!" Tao Hua nodded in agreement.
Susu chuckled to herself, thinking a landlord's wealth cannot compare to that of a salt merchant!
"Stop talking if you don't want Mrs. Zhao to scold us when she returns," whispered Susu, and the girls quieted down. After glimpsing such wealth, no one wanted to be dismissed before even meeting the master. The journey here had already made the girls recognize reality.
Soon, Mrs. Zhao returned with a well-dressed woman in her thirties, a stewardess. Seeing the young girls quiet and orderly, a flash of approval passed through the stewardess's eyes, and a smile appeared on her face. "Sister Zhao's work is impeccable as always," she said.
Mrs. Zhao smiled, "Your household's standards for selecting people are high, so we brought the best." She then introduced the group of young girls, "This is Mrs. Xue, who manages the maids and women for the eldest Madam of the Song Family."
Everyone greeted Mrs. Xue, who noted their good manners and said, "According to the house rules, all new maids and women are first chosen by the Old Madam, followed by the three madams. The young ladies and young masters do not accept new maids. Whether you can enter the Song Family depends on your fortune."
The young girls were fortunate to enter the inner courtyard, witnessing rockeries, clear streams, waterside pavilions, with splendid flowers and lush trees. People moved about busily through winding corridors!
The senior and junior maids were dressed in red and green, with even the simplest fabric being fine cloth.
In Duke Li's Mansion, there are fixed rules on the attire according to rank, as is common among noble and official families in the Capital. However, the Song Mansion was clearly different, revealing why Mrs. Zhao said the Song Family treated their servants kindly, evident from the maids' attire.
And their rules were not overly strict, indicating that although the Song Family had wealth, they were newly risen only two generations ago. Such a household was good news for Susu.
Following Mrs. Zhao and Mrs. Xue, they walked a winding path, taking about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, eventually stopping in front of a courtyard. Ruan Susu recalled some of her host's knowledge, naturally recognizing written characters.
A plaque outside the courtyard bore the name Sui'an Hall in large characters. Entering the courtyard, unlike the grand and majestic northern architecture, the houses were exquisite and charming—Susu was momentarily at a loss for words. In her previous life, she had only heard of the beauty of Su Yang Gardens, but today her eyes were opened.
Inside the courtyard stood ten or so girls aged seven to twelve, all household-born. Some were dressed nicely, adorned with bracelets and pearl flowers, appearing like young misses, indicating the Song Mansion was rather wealthy.
Which of the household-born would enter which courtyard was pre-arranged; the Old Madam did not handle such matters. Rough-handling maids never came before her, with only personal maids and housekeepers selecting people.
It was the same for those from outside. As soon as Ruan Susu and the others stood straight, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old maid emerged from the house and announced to the two who were surveying the young girls, "Sister Zhen Zhu, Mrs. Qin, the Old Madam has mentioned she hasn't seen Mrs. Zhao for a long while and asks to come inside and chat. Bring along the young maids as well."
Mrs. Zhao understood that Old Mrs. Song wanted to hear news from the Capital.
Mrs. Zhao entered the house, paid her respects to Old Mrs. Song, and a junior maid promptly brought an embroidered stool for Mrs. Zhao to sit on.
Old Mrs. Song was not yet fifty, but had suffered hardships in her youth that left her health somewhat aged. Nevertheless, she maintained kind and pleasant features.
The brothel-keepers' intelligence was sharp, so Mrs. Zhao shared select interesting tales from the Capital with Old Mrs. Song, garnering her attention for quite some time before calling in the young maids.
With the young girls standing properly, Mrs. Zhao spoke to Old Mrs. Song, "I know that you, Old Madam, are the kindest and most benevolent, distributing porridge and clothes every year. I've heard many families have established altars for your long-life blessings. If these girls can stay at the Song Mansion with you, it would truly be their immense good fortune." Old Mrs. Song beamed at the flattery.
Mrs. Zhao then instructed the young girls to pay their respects to the Old Madam one by one.
Old Mrs. Song's gaze immediately fell upon Susu, and she called her over for a closer look before saying, "She truly is lovely; such looks do not resemble a village girl."
Mrs. Zhao promptly responded, "The Old Madam has sharp eyes. This girl's father was a scholar, and she has learned a few words. She's also quite pitiable." She then recounted the story of the girl's deceased mother and father, her self-sale, painting a narrative of filial piety that touched the heavens and the earth.
Ruan Susu thought of her own situation—having lost both her mother and father—and felt overwhelmingly unfortunate, her eyes reddening. Yet she held her back straight, refusing to let tears fall, evoking sympathy in onlookers.
Old Mrs. Song, hearing this story and pondering something unknown, felt moved and said, "This girl indeed suits my liking. Her character is commendable. Let her stay; it's rare she knows some words. She can fill a third-class position. Amber, keep an eye on her." Amber was the senior maid who had invited them inside.
Mrs. Zhao hadn't expected Susu to bypass the rank of a rough-handling maid to fill a third-class position and quickly said, "Old Madam, truly your heart is compassionate. This girl has surely fallen into a den of happiness."
Susu, perceptive enough, knelt and kowtowed to the Old Madam, acknowledging her new master. The Old Madam, then disinterested in further viewings, had Mrs. Zhao lead the other young girls away.