Lin Mianmian’s takeaway from being a maid who came as part of her mistress’s dowry was this: Working is hard, and working for a married couple is even harder.
As her young mistress’s personal maid, she had to play peacemaker between her mistress and her husband, help her mistress play the bad cop, and come up with strategies whenever other women came calling.
Work was tough, but outside the mansion there was nothing but famine and bullies, so she had no choice but to stick it out at the Marquis’s estate.
The estate was home to a huge household and a maze of rules. From the Marquis down to the lowest-ranking servant, everyone had their own little schemes.
And her mistress had taken over the household accounts as soon as she married in.
Day to day...
“Mianmian, what do we do? We’ve gone over budget again this month.”
“Mianmian, what do we do? We can’t collect this year’s rent.”
“Mianmian, you have to work hard. The young master keeps asking for you every few days. I only manage to fend him off by telling him you’re indispensable.”
Lin Mianmian, who had been a senior manager at a major corporation, racked her brains and was forced to step in.
She managed the staff, cut costs and found new sources of income, handled social engagements, and took charge of crisis communications.
Her talent for managing the household finally won recognition, and the dowry maid was promoted to become the estate’s most capable head steward.
She thought she could finally take a breather, but then she was saddled with distant relatives who had come to mooch off the Marquis’s family.
Li Chengsi was smooth and handsome, and had landed himself a good position at the estate by sucking up to everyone.
Lin Mianmian thought he was the most irritating kind of person in any company. She couldn’t stand him.
But after the spring examinations, Li Chengsi came out top and set up his own household.
Lin Mianmian wailed, “When do I get to be the boss for once?!”
Li Chengsi leaned in close. “Oh? My household still needs a mistress. Want the job?”
The theme: Break through obstacles and press ahead.
