From Dropout to Housemaid-The Upper Crust’s Favorite

The Su Family elders, after hearing Butler Lu recount Jiang Xianyu’s family situation, couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pity for her.

Even Old Master Su, a man not prone to strong words, muttered that the Jiang Family parents were unworthy of being called parents.

“Such a good kid, Xiao Yu,” he said with a sigh. “What a shame.”

So, this was the real reason behind her resignation.

That afternoon, with nothing else to do, Old Master Su picked up his fishing gear and decided to head to the lakeside for some fishing. Spotting Jiang Xianyu airing out bedding in the yard, he called out, “Xiao Yu, do you know how to fish?”

Jiang Xianyu smoothed out the quilt and replied with a smile, “Of course I do.”

Old Master Su’s face lit up. “I’ve got an extra set of fishing gear. Bring it along and come fish with this old man.”

Without saying much, Jiang Xianyu agreed and went to grab the equipment. Before leaving, she thoughtfully packed some ointment for treating minor injuries-fishing, after all, had its risks.

Watching the pair head out, Grandma Su shook her head with a chuckle. “It’s good for Xiao Yu to get out and breathe some fresh air. She’s been cooped up too long.”

She herself had no interest in fishing. Old Master Su’s luck was, to put it mildly, abysmal. He’d fish with all the enthusiasm of a pro, only to end up with a grand total of zero catches. She’d much rather stay home and enjoy her latest binge-worthy family drama series.

Butler Lu stayed behind as well. It was always better to have someone around to look after the elderly.

On the way to the lake, Old Master Su joked, “Xiao Yu, I think your name is going to bring me some good fishing luck today. Just wait-Old Li won’t know what hit him when he sees my haul!”

Jiang Xianyu hadn’t expected her name to have such a “magical” effect. Laughing, she replied, “If that’s the case, we’ll have a full fish feast tonight.”

Old Master Su’s eyes sparkled at the thought. In all his years of fishing, his best record was two palm-sized fish in an afternoon. Occasionally, he’d manage to catch one decent enough to cook, but those moments were rare. The other fishing enthusiasts in the neighborhood often teased him, flaunting their own catches.

But this time, he felt hopeful.

As soon as the pair reached the lakeside, they were greeted by a few familiar faces. Fishing enthusiasts here all had their favorite spots, and Old Master Su was no exception. His chosen spot had even been recommended by an expert.

When they arrived, Old Li had already prepared the fishing ground for him.

Old Master Su nodded in acknowledgment to the group but didn’t say much. Jiang Xianyu, understanding the unspoken rules of fishing, also kept quiet. Too much noise would scare the fish away.

Old Master Su’s bait was store-bought and came with a hefty price tag. Jiang Xianyu, however, preferred a more natural approach. She pulled out a small trowel from her toolbox and began digging in a nearby patch of earth. Within minutes, she had a small box of wriggling earthworms.

Returning to Old Master Su’s side, she carefully hooked a worm onto her line using a coiling technique and cast her rod into the water.

Old Master Su pushed his box of bait toward her. “Here, use this. It’s more effective.”

He assumed Jiang Xianyu was too polite to use his expensive bait.

But Jiang Xianyu shook her head with a knowing smile. In a low voice, she explained, “Grandpa Su, wild fish develop specific tastes over time. Natural bait works better for catching them.”

Old Master Su paused for a moment, determined to defend the reputation of his usual bait. “This bait works just fine! If I can’t catch anything, it’s because of my technique, not the bait. Plenty of folks around here use it and reel in big fish.”

Jiang Xianyu didn’t want to reject his goodwill. “Alright, let me try a couple of casts with the worms first. If they don’t work, I’ll give your bait a shot.”

Old Master Su nodded and went back to watching his fishing rod intently.

It didn’t take long before Jiang Xianyu felt a tug on her line. Standing up, she reeled in the rod, the pull from beneath the water signaling that this was no small catch. After carefully playing the fish for a moment, she finally lifted the rod.

A carp, about thirty centimeters long, flailed on the hook. Jiang Xianyu swung the fish onto the grassy bank, deftly removed it from the hook, and dropped it into the bucket.

Her catch immediately drew the attention of the surrounding anglers.

Old Master Su abandoned his own rod and hurried over to the bucket, clicking his tongue in amazement. “This carp must weigh over two jin¹. Wild ones this size are a rare sight.”

Indeed, wild carp of this size were uncommon.

Within moments, the other elderly fishermen had gathered around, inspecting Jiang Xianyu’s catch with great interest. Then, almost in unison, their gazes shifted to the box of worms she had dug up earlier.

Jiang Xianyu generously offered the worms to the group.

While the others didn’t notice much improvement after switching to the worms, Old Master Su seemed to be on a roll, pulling in fish after fish. His laughter echoed across the lake.

The crowd was stunned.

Was this really the same Old Su who couldn’t catch a thing no matter how much he upgraded his gear?

They were certain it wasn’t just the worms. After all, they had tried them too, and the results weren’t significantly better than their usual bait.

Old Master Su chuckled. “I told you, Xiao Yu, your name brings me good fishing luck. Tonight’s fish feast is practically guaranteed!”

Though he said it casually, the other fishermen took his words to heart. Their gazes toward Jiang Xianyu grew noticeably warmer.

Jiang Xianyu, who had once scoffed at superstition, now found herself reconsidering. After her rebirth, she had come to accept that the world was full of mysteries. Could she really have some sort of natural affinity for attracting fish?

At that moment, Old Li, who had been struggling to catch anything, waved her over. “Young girl, come sit over here by this old man. It’s shady and much more comfortable.”

Before Jiang Xianyu could respond, Su Yunyou interjected, “Old Li, Xiao Yu is part of our Su Family. You can’t just poach her like that!”

“Look at you, so stingy! I’m just asking her to rest here for a bit. Look at how sunburned her face is,” Old Li retorted, gesturing toward Jiang Xianyu.

Su Yunyou glanced at Jiang Xianyu’s fair complexion, then at the bucket brimming with fish. After a moment’s thought, he asked tentatively, “What do you think? Want to go take a break over there?”

Jiang Xianyu nodded. A break sounded nice.

Of course, she was only going to rest. She wouldn’t dare claim she could actually boost anyone’s fishing luck.

However…

“Fish on! Fish on!”

No sooner had Jiang Xianyu settled onto the small stool beside Old Li than he reeled in a large grass carp.

It was as if a switch had been flipped. In no time, Old Li was catching fish one after another, a stark contrast to the earlier lull.

The other anglers were now staring at Jiang Xianyu with even greater fervor.

Feeling the need to say something, Jiang Xianyu raised her hand and spoke up. “Is it possible that the staff in this residential area have been stocking the lake with fish more densely?”

Old Li was the first to object. “Impossible, absolutely impossible. I’ve been fishing here for ages, and it’s never been this easy. This artificial lake was only stocked with a few fish fry in the beginning. Since then, it’s been left to grow wild, no different from a natural lake.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Su Yunyou, noticing that his rod hadn’t moved since Jiang Xianyu left, quickly called her back to his side.

Sure enough, as soon as Jiang Xianyu sat down, Su Yunyou’s rod started twitching again.

Jiang Xianyu stared at the bucket full of fish, sinking into deep self-doubt. Could she really have some kind of “fish deity” buff?

Both Su Yunyou and Old Li were now convinced of Jiang Xianyu’s ability to enhance their fishing luck. They began competing to have her sit by their side.

“Half an hour, a thousand yuan,” they joked, half-serious.

Su Yunyou had initially brought Jiang Xianyu out to fish so she could relax and clear her mind. Seeing her earn some extra cash in the process, Old Master Su was more than happy to let her do as she pleased. After all, the fish they’d already caught were more than enough for dinner.

By the end of the afternoon, Jiang Xianyu had earned six thousand yuan.

She tried to decline, but these affluent anglers insisted, even having their housekeepers and staff deliver red envelopes to the lakeside. If she refused, they’d get upset.

Footnote: