Chapter 9 Cleverness

The old women and maids brought by the Lin family are cleaning everywhere.

Although Rongyue Courtyard is renovated every year, it is not inhabited for long periods of time, so it still needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

Yuan Hongqu didn't need to worry about any of these things. She didn't even need to assign tasks, as the Lin family members all knew what they needed to do.

They were all veterans trained by Jia Min when she was in charge of housekeeping.

Everyone has their own responsibilities and works in their own group.

There was one group specifically in charge of daily dusting, cleaning, and garbage removal; another group managed luggage, belongings, and indoor furnishings; two more people were in charge of sewing and clothing; two more were in charge of jewelry and medicine; and yet another group managed daily meals. This group was led by Yuan Hongqu herself. In addition to Xiangtao, there was a cook and two rough-and-ready women who did manual labor...

Besides these people, there were also the maids and nannies who served Daiyu daily, forming another group.

After Yuan Hongqu arrived at the Lin residence, she took over the duties of managing the inner courtyard.

Jia Min had already created an excellent model, with no loopholes in any aspect.

Yuan Hongqu had no experience in this area. After learning about the Lin family's original housekeeping model, she thought it was very good and continued to use it.

However, she added some more humane rules:

For example, when on night duty, two people work in shifts, and during the second half of the night, as long as they are not on patrol, they can take turns to rest.

For example, the monthly rest day was changed to a rest day every ten days. If there was an emergency in the government office on the rest day and someone needed to be on duty, their daily wage would be tripled.

For example, the servants of the Lin family who came to the capital with them received a monthly allowance based on their position...

These things can increase the loyalty of the servants, and the Lin family isn't short of money.

Yuan Hongqu still prepared a report for her boss, Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai readily agreed, saying that these were minor matters and that Yuan Hongqu could make the decision herself.

Actually, there's one thing Yuan Hongqu really wanted to add:

Those who have worked continuously in the Lin family's inner courtyard for more than 20 years will receive a pension from the Lin family after they turn 45.

However, if she brought this up, Yuan Hongqu was afraid that she would be assassinated, and that it might also implicate Lin Ruhai, so she didn't dare to mention it.

Even though it was just those few, the Lin family servants cheered with joy.

Some clients who were about to terminate their contracts and were not planning to continue working with the company even took the initiative to come and ask to renew their contracts for a few more years.

Because of these new regulations, Yuan Hongqu established a good reputation and prestige among the servants of the Lin family.

In her previous life, Yuan Hongqu had worked as a wage slave for many years, so she naturally understood the needs of wage slaves.

Although she's still a wage slave in this life, compared to her previous life, she could be considered a high-level wage slave in this life, right?

After Jia Min's death, the Lin family servants, who had become somewhat disorganized, were brought together again by Yuan Hongqu. They became united and devoted themselves to serving Lin Daiyu.

The Lin family only arrived at Rongguo Mansion yesterday. Their living quarters are very cramped. Moreover, they came from Yangzhou. The maids and servants in this mansion are all snobbish. Do they think they can't see through them?

They also said that Yangzhou is a small place and cannot compare to the capital.

They're so condescending! Do they even earn as much as them? And they still dare to yell at them!

If it weren't for Granny Yuan telling them to keep a low profile, they wouldn't have put up with this!

They had originally planned to tell Yuan Hongqu today that if they weren't needed here, they could go work at the Lin family's old residence in the capital, or they could go back to Yangzhou.

Unexpectedly, after breakfast this morning, Ping'er, the maidservant of the Second Madam, came and asked them to clean this courtyard, saying that from now on, this courtyard would be theirs to live in.

Their spirits immediately lifted, and without any instructions from others, they busied themselves sweeping, dusting, arranging luggage, and decorating the room according to the girl's preferences.

As soon as Yuan Hongqu stepped into Rongyue Courtyard, she saw this busy scene.

She walked around inside and out.

It's a place that hasn't been inhabited for many years, and although it's well-maintained, it still lacks a sense of warmth.

The room was empty; there used to be a lot of furniture, but I don't know where it went.

Yuan Hongqu was pondering whether it would be better to simply display the things she had brought, or wait for someone from the Jia family to come and make arrangements.

Then they saw Wang Xifeng leading a group of people, some carrying chests and others carrying bedding and other items, crossing the bluestone slabs and heading this way.

"Sister Yuan, I've come to bring you my belongings!"

Wang Xifeng smiled and handed over the list she was holding.

“You’re a teacher, and you’re very literate, so I’ll give this list to you.”

Yuan Hongqu did not go to accept the gift, but instead smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work today, Second Madam. It's such a trouble for you to make this trip. The place isn't even ready yet, and there's not even a cup of hot water. I'll thank you properly tomorrow."

"Why are you being so formal with me? We don't need to talk like this!" Wang Xifeng scolded. "Just take this list with you!"

Seeing that Yuan Hongqu still looked puzzled, he explained:

"These boxes behind are all the original furnishings from Rongyue Courtyard. The lost or broken items were borrowed, and they're all clearly listed on the list. The rest are here. The old lady told me to bring them all over. Please check them."

Yuan Hongqu didn't want to take this order. She figured that all these items were probably antiques or porcelain, and that having been stored away for so many years without seeing the light of day, the magnetic field of them wouldn't be good for the child.

This isn't a museum; it's a place for children to stay.

But she couldn't refuse. That's how it is in ancient times. At worst, she could move them all to her space at night, disinfect them with ultraviolet light, and then move them out!

She took the list, but didn't rush to check it.

"If Second Madam isn't busy, shall we go to the pavilion over there for a chat?"

From the moment Wang Xifeng suddenly appeared with her to see the Old Madam in the morning, and then suggested to the Old Madam that Lin Daiyu stay in Rongyue Courtyard, everything surprised her.

Something's not right. Is this still the Wang Xifeng from the book, whose "face was like a spring breeze, yet her power was not revealed, and whose laughter could be heard before her lips parted"?

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Wang Xifeng took the lead and walked over, while Yuan Hongqu handed the list in her hand to Xiangtao and followed.

“I know what Sister Yuan wants to ask me, I’m just going with the flow and taking advantage of the situation. Otherwise, if such a courtyard were in the mansion and no one were allowed to live there, so many people would be green with envy and fight over it like scrambled eggs. Now that it’s for Sister Lin to live in, it’s the most suitable thing to do, and it also shuts up their mouths.” Wang Xifeng said before Yuan Hongqu could speak.

It turns out that over the years, although the old lady favored the second branch of the family and gave the main house, Rongxi Hall, to Jia Zheng's family to live in, and although Jia Zheng had said several times that he wanted Rongyue Courtyard, the old lady had never agreed to give Rongyue Courtyard to the second branch of the family.

On the one hand, this was because Grandmother Jia wanted to balance the precarious relationship between her two sons.

On the other hand, Jia Daishan built this courtyard for his daughter and named it Rongyue Courtyard. At that time, he said that the name Rongyue Courtyard came from Rongxi Hall. The male members of Rongguo Mansion had Rongxi Hall, and the girls had Rongyue Courtyard.

His daughter, Jia Daishan, was no less capable than his son, and the Rongyue Courtyard belonged solely to his daughter, Jia Min.

Grandmother Jia has used these words to deal with her two sons over the years.

However, as time went on, although when Jia Min first got married, Grandmother Jia did indeed want to leave herself a place to remember her. She thought that in such a large Rongguo Mansion, it was only right to leave a courtyard for her beloved daughter, especially since the master had said those words.

However, after Jia Baoyu was born, Grandmother Jia's heart gradually turned to Jia Baoyu, and she also planned to let Baoyu live in Rongyue Courtyard after he came of age.

However, with Jia Min's death, Grandmother Jia's thoughts changed again.

She had always thought that her Min'er had simply married out, not that she would never come back. As long as this place existed, her Min'er would eventually return. Even if she considered letting Bao Yu live there, that would have to wait until after Bao Yu's marriage, which was at least ten years away!

She never imagined, never again, that their parting years ago would be forever, and she would never see her Min'er again in this lifetime...

Fortunately, Heaven took pity on her and sent Daiyu back to her side.

Now that Min'er's daughter is living in Rongyue Courtyard, just like Min'er herself, she is overjoyed and would never disagree.