Upon hearing this, Madam Lu saw that Madam Ning was already instructing Xu Mian to take her sisters to accompany her granddaughter Xu Li for a stroll in the garden, and was also telling her sisters-in-law that she wanted to take her daughters-in-law outside for tea and conversation. She smiled and said to Madam Ning, "I'll have to trouble you a lot, Madam."

Ning said with a smile, "Auntie, you're making me feel embarrassed by what you're saying. We're from the same clan, so your arrival is like coming home."

The old lady smiled and said, "In our family, she's the one in charge; this is all she should do."

Everyone had heard that the Marquis's daughter-in-law was in charge of the household. Some people couldn't understand it, but when Madam Lu met Madam Ning, she understood. As a relative from the Marquis's hometown, Madam Lu actually understood many things about the Marquis's household. She knew that this Madam Ning must have been chosen by the old lady herself as her granddaughter-in-law so that she could take over the management of the household. Madam Lu had been to the Marquis's household several times, so she naturally knew what kind of person Madam Wu was. Madam Lu even knew about how the Marquis insisted on marrying Madam Wu back then.

Lu thanked Ning with a smile. Ning had arranged everything and then asked Xu Mian to take a group of girls out to play.

Xu Tong, holding Xu Zhi's hand, followed behind Xu Li and said, "My eighth sister is also named Xu Li. Her name is Li, the same as the character for oak. What about you, sister?"

Xu Li was actually very nervous. She had come to a place she had never imagined, and seen so many things she had never seen before. To be honest, all she wanted to do now was stay by her grandmother's side; she felt so insecure.

The young ladies of the Marquis's mansion all looked like figures in a painting. Even their clothes and makeup seemed identical. However, upon closer inspection, it became apparent that while the fabrics and cuts of their clothes were the same, the embroidered patterns on their garments were different. They walked gracefully, and even their smiles were characterized by pursed lips, making them truly beautiful.

When Xu Tong asked her a question, Xu Li softly replied, "I am the 'Li' in 'pear blossom'." Only after saying that did she realize that her speech was different from theirs; Xu Tong was speaking Mandarin to her.

Seeing Xu Li's face turn red again, Xu Tong smiled and said, "Sister, there's no need to be like this. We sisters will take you to see the garden. The garden isn't big, but there are quite a few flowers and plants. There's also a small pond, but the lotus flowers in the pond have already finished blooming. My father said that in a while we can dig out the lotus roots from the silt in the pond and eat them."

Xu Zhi smiled as she spoke to Xu Tong. This Xu Tong, despite being talkative, was actually a kind-hearted child. Because she wasn't Yao's eldest daughter, she wasn't raised as strictly as Xu Tao, and had always been lively. This was why Xu Zhi was willing to play with Xu Tong.

Apart from Xu Yao, none of the young ladies in the Marquis's mansion have flamboyant personalities. The old lady dislikes ostentation, and the children in the family are all raised according to her wishes, and they all have kind and gentle natures.

Perhaps because someone was speaking to her like that, Xu Li felt less nervous, smiled and nodded to Xu Tong, saying, "Thank you, little sister."

The twins Xu Gui and Xu Ju have always been inseparable. They wear the same clothes and jewelry and look at Xu Li with great curiosity.

Xu Li was dressed in a silk dress. The material wasn't particularly fine, but the workmanship looked exquisite, suggesting she had made it herself. She didn't wear any expensive jewelry, just a few silver hairpins and earrings typical of young girls, and a silver bracelet carved with intertwined flowers on her wrist.

Even dressed like this, she didn't look as presentable as the head maids in the mansion. Xu Li naturally noticed the attire of the maids serving the young ladies. One of them even wore a jade bracelet on her wrist. The jade wasn't of very high quality, and it wasn't something she could afford.

Thinking of what my grandmother said before I came, she said that I should not look down on myself just because my clothes and accessories are not as good as others'. Clothing is just something external, but the books I have read and the skills I have learned are real and have become part of me. They are the foundation of my confidence. No matter where I go, I should have plenty of confidence.

Thinking of this, Xu Li smiled at Xu Gui and Xu Ju, who were staring at her. Xu Gui was surprised to see Xu Li smile at her and paused for a moment before asking, "Sister, what do you usually do at home?"

Xu Li said with a smile, "When my father was at home, I studied with him. Later, my father went to another place to serve as an official, and I studied with my brother. I also helped my mother with housework, embroidery, and making clothes. I made the clothes for my brother and my father."

Hearing Xu Li's words, the other girls looked at her with admiration. Xu Zhi, however, didn't think much of it. Some of the girls in the border region worked tirelessly from morning till night at home. The local customs were open, and in some places, they would even hire women to do the work. However, these were all women who had been raised by their own mothers. Since their mothers went out to work and earn money, the girls had to do the housework.

Friendships between girls are actually quite simple to develop. The six girls from the Xu family are not domineering. Xu Li is a lively girl when she lets loose. In addition, Xu Li is two months older than the eldest Xu Mian. With Xu Li's care, it didn't take long for the seven girls to sit on the benches in the garden, eating the snacks brought by the maids and chattering away.

Lunch was served. The women were with the old lady, and the young girls, who had already gotten to know each other, enjoyed a happy meal.

The Xu family doesn't have a tradition of not speaking while eating, and there aren't many rules. Xu Li was originally worried that she wouldn't be polite enough at the table and would be laughed at. But when she looked around, everyone was eating and chatting at the same time. This person said this was delicious, that person said that was delicious, and a meal had actually fostered some camaraderie.

After the meal, and after settling the guests in the guest courtyard, Ning Shi rubbed her back and went back to her room to prepare for bed.

Just as Ning was about to lie down, she heard someone outside talking to Granny Li. Ning called out to Granny Li and asked, "What happened?"

Granny Li said with delight, "Madam, our uncle has arrived and has already gone to the front yard."

The maternal uncle that Granny Li mentioned was Wu Muyue, the younger brother of Wu's maternal family. He was not only the maternal uncle of the Xu family, but also the tutor of the heir Xu Wei. He was the tutor who had been teaching Xu Wei since he was a child.

Ning quickly sat up and said, "Really? Hurry up and help me wash up. I'll go wait for the old lady first."