William Carter's home was a three-section siheyuan courtyard, with brick-and-tile east and west wing rooms, three main rooms and four side rooms, covered walkways, a mountain-facing screen wall... all of this spoke of the former wealth and prosperity of the The Carter Family.

However, now the buildings leaned, the red-painted mud walls were peeling, revealing the current decline.

The cross-shaped corridor paved with blue bricks, and what once seemed a refined courtyard, had now become a vegetable garden and a place to raise chickens and ducks, with chicken and duck droppings scattered everywhere.

William Carter lived in the east wing. When he came out, a young woman in a coarse cloth long skirt, with regular and delicate features, a graceful figure, but sallow skin and an obviously malnourished look, was feeding the chickens and ducks.

"Young master, you're up. I'll fetch you some water to wash your face," Eleanor Bennett said quickly when she saw William Carter push open the door.

"No need, I'll do it myself." William Carter waved his hand, then strode over to the well to draw water and wash up.

Watching William Carter draw water and wash by himself, Eleanor Bennett looked a little puzzled.

She was a pitiful orphan, once nearly starving to death by the roadside, when Mrs. Carter took pity on her and brought her home.

At that time, the The Carter Family had not yet truly fallen, and still had considerable assets—not only good farmland outside the city, but also shops in town, and several servants, maids, and tenant farmers at home.

But the good times didn't last. First, the shop caught fire and all the goods were reduced to ashes. Then The Carter Family's Old Master passed away, and then Mr. Carter, that is, William Carter's father, fell seriously ill. To pay for treatment, the The Carter Family pawned off their good fields and oxen, and all the servants and maids were dismissed and left.

Only Eleanor Bennett, who was just ten at the time, clever and obedient, was much loved by Mrs. Carter, and also pitied, so she was kept on.

But in the end, Mr. Carter still died of illness, making the The Carter Family's days even more impoverished.

However, William Carter, used to being a young master since childhood, also knew that Eleanor Bennett was a maid the family had taken in, and always took her service for granted. Sometimes, when in a bad mood, he would even scold her, which was a common occurrence.

But ever since he had a serious illness ten days ago, Eleanor Bennett clearly felt that William Carter no longer had the airs of a young master toward her, and even spoke to her quite gently.

"Could it be that the young master is starting to have thoughts of men and women?" Eleanor Bennett looked at William Carter, a blush rising on her obviously malnourished face, then hurried to the kitchen to bring out the already prepared breakfast to the wooden table in the main hall.

She had served William Carter since childhood; in a wealthy household, she would be a personal maid who would not be married off. Besides, with the The Carter Family's current situation, it was unlikely they could afford a grand wedding for William Carter. The most likely outcome was that she, the maid, would directly become the The Carter Family's daughter-in-law, saving on the bride price.

So in her heart, Eleanor Bennett had long regarded herself as William Carter's woman—the only question was whether as wife or concubine.

Now, because William Carter had thoughts from a modern civilized world, he naturally showed much more care and respect toward women, which surprised and delighted Eleanor Bennett, filling her with wild imaginings, but mostly with joy and happiness.

Seeing Eleanor Bennett go to the kitchen to bring breakfast, William Carter went into the inner room, where his mother Bennett had already risen early to weave cloth.

Bennett was a renowned weaver in the village, and her cloth was very popular. It was now, besides the ten or so mu of poor farmland, the main source of income for the The Carter Family.

Bennett was just over forty, but from years of hard work, her hair was already half white and the wrinkles on her face were obvious. However, her hair was always neatly combed, and though her clothes were old, they were clean and tidy, and her bearing was good—she didn't look like an ordinary village woman at all.

When William Carter was a child, he had heard people mention that his mother came from the prestigious Bennett clan in neighboring Qinghe County.

But ever since William Carter could remember, Bennett never spoke of her family, and there had never been any contact between the two families.

"Mother, you've worked hard. Let's have breakfast first," William Carter said softly, looking at Bennett with a gaze full of filial respect.

Coming from modern society, he had not only merged with this life's William Carter's memories, but also his feelings.

Of course, since he had accidentally taken over this body, both emotionally and morally, he should fulfill his filial duties for the original owner.

"In the blink of an eye, it's already daylight," Bennett put down her work and said with a smile, then got up and went with William Carter to the main hall.

On the dining table in the main hall were several black steamed buns and baked flatbreads, a plate of scrambled eggs with scallions, a plate of greens, and a pot of thin porridge.

Seeing Bennett and William Carter come in, Eleanor Bennett quickly served each of them a bowl of porridge, and even pulled out a chair for Bennett.

Bennett and William Carter each sat down, but Eleanor Bennett remained standing at the side.

"Ranyue, sit down and eat with us. From now on, do this every day—no need for me to call you each time," William Carter looked up at Eleanor Bennett and said.

"Mm!" Eleanor Bennett replied, her face slightly red, and then sat down.

Bennett said nothing, but looked at William Carter with a hint of comfort in her eyes.

Once the family was seated, Bennett and Eleanor Bennett each took a black steamed bun and ate it with greens and porridge, not touching the scrambled eggs with scallions.

"Mother, Ranyue, you should have some scrambled eggs too," William Carter said, reaching to serve them some scrambled eggs with scallions.