"Times are tough economically these days. With so many people unemployed or struggling to find work, my friend’s place got broken into not long ago."
Wang Xia looked up just as the electric scooter sped away, catching only the back of an old man. She chimed in, "We’ll have to be more careful from now on."
...
Lost in the villa’s winding paths, Jiang Mo circled around a few times with Liu Guochuan in tow, scratching her head. "Grandpa Liu, are you sure it’s this way?"
Liu Guochuan chuckled from the back seat. "Yes, yes, this is the right path. I just misremembered earlier."
On the road, Liu Guochuan had already managed to brag to several elderly neighbors about his bountiful fishing haul that day.
Jiang Mo didn’t call him out on his little fib. If you’re this disoriented after a modest catch, you’d be lost for three days if you reeled in something bigger.
After a couple more loops, she finally dropped him off at home. The Liu family’s servant rushed out to help with the fishing gear.
"Xiao Jiang, why not stay for lunch?" Liu Guochuan warmly invited.
"No, no, I’ve got work to do back home," Jiang Mo waved off politely. "Grandpa Liu, I’ll head off now!"
"Alright, alright. Come visit whenever you’re free," Liu Guochuan said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
The servant hefted the tackle box, surprised by its unusual weight. Peeking inside, they exclaimed, "Wow, Old Master, you actually caught fish today!"
Liu Guochuan huffed. "Just a casual haul. Make some fish soup for lunch."
"Got it!" the servant replied, then curiously asked, "Who was that young lady who brought you back?"
Liu Guochuan strode inside. "That’s my new young friend."
Meanwhile, Jiang Mo returned to the Gu residence, carrying a bucket of fish to the kitchen. She called for Chef Li. "Let’s add these to the menu."
"These are quite plump. Where’d you get them?" Chef Li asked.
"Fished them from Moonbridge Lake," Jiang Mo said cheerfully, already planning the dishes. "One for boiled fish, one for soup, and one braised."
Wang Xia returned from gathering intel outside and spotted the electric scooter parked in the courtyard corner. She warned Jiang Mo, "We just saw someone riding around the villas—probably a thief. With the economy so bad, petty theft’s on the rise. Be extra cautious around strangers."
Jiang Mo nodded, thinking, How bold—stealing in a villa district packed with high-def cameras.
After lunch, Su Yunjin summoned Jiang Mo upstairs to change and accessorize. "Xiao Mo, you’re coming with me to a banquet."
Still savoring the boiled fish, Jiang Mo blinked. "Me? To a banquet?"
"Yes! A friend’s father is celebrating his birthday. Don’t stress—it’s just eating, drinking, and maybe some mahjong."
Su Yunjin’s mahjong skills relied mostly on luck. Bringing Jiang Mo along was her backup plan in case her luck ran out.
Once dressed, Su Yunjin eyed Jiang Mo’s oversized shirt, baggy jeans, and sneakers.
Is this what young kids wear these days?
"But this outfit won’t do for a banquet," Su Yunjin shook her head. The taste was questionable.
Jiang Mo looked down. She thought the outfit was comfy and practical—good quality, and the whole set cost less than a hundred on Pinduoduo.
Su Yunjin sighed. If only I had a daughter. With three sons, there were no ready-made gowns at home.
But clothes weren’t a problem—just a matter of time.
She drove straight to a luxury boutique and declared, "Bring out all your youthful, playful dresses in her size."
"Madam, there’s no need to spend so much. I have a dress at home—I could go fetch it."
"No. You’re representing the Gu family. If you don’t dress well, people might think we’ve gone bankrupt."
Under the shop assistant's guidance, Jiang Mo tried on over a dozen dresses, twirling for Su Yunjin's approval.
Seated on the sofa, Su Yunjin nodded or shook her head until finally settling on a purple halter-neck gown.
“How much is this dress?” Jiang Mo whispered to the sales clerk.
The shop assistant, who vaguely remembered her, smiled. "This one’s quite affordable—just over twenty thousand."
"Can I rent it?"
So little fabric for twenty grand? That’s enough for a feast!
The shop assistant blinked. "...We only sell, not rent."
To the wealthy, twenty thousand was pocket change—barely a meal’s cost.
"Pair it with low heels," Su Yunjin instructed. "No need for makeup—her skin’s already glowing with youth. Just some lipstick will do."
In heels, Jiang Mo asked for a box to store her clothes and sneakers.
My three-hundred-yuan sneakers can’t go missing.
Su Yunjin paid without hesitation, reassuring her, "You helped me win big at mahjong last time. Consider this dress a gift."
"Thank you, Madam! It’s gorgeous—I love it," Jiang Mo beamed, admiring herself in the mirror. "This is the most expensive dress I’ve ever worn."
Su Yunjin smiled, comparing the girl’s delight to her own sons’ indifference.
This is why daughters are better. Boys can’t compete when it comes to emotional satisfaction.
Though Jiang Mo had never attended a banquet, she’d seen plenty on TV.
Her takeaway? Wealth doesn’t matter—just master the art of speaking less, poise, and pretending.
While Su Yunjin socialized with the ladies, Jiang Mo played her role as a background fixture: smiling, nodding, and speaking only when prompted.
This time, her status had upgraded—Su Yunjin introduced her as a relative’s daughter.
Makes sense. Who brings a maid to a banquet?
She spotted a familiar face: Jiang Rou.
Jiang Rou snorted and turned away to greet others.
Before dinner, the host organized mahjong to pass the time. Unfortunately, Su Yunjin and Jiang Rou were seated at the same table.
Jiang Rou sneered, "Yunjin, why do you drag this little maid everywhere? What, can’t function without a caretaker now?"
"Little maid? Your eyesight’s failing in your old age. This is my newly adopted goddaughter," Su Yunjin retorted.
The tension prompted others to mediate. "Where’d you find such a lovely goddaughter...?"
Jiang Mo stayed quiet, nibbling on petits fours, ready to step in when needed.
Su Yunjin played a couple of rounds before patting Jiang Mo's shoulder and saying, "Mo, take over for me for a bit."
Jiang Mo rolled up her sleeves in preparation, only to realize she was wearing an evening gown—no sleeves to be found.
So she settled for cracking her wrists instead, ready to dive in!
