Xiao Yunying said softly, "It was indeed a bit unexpected, but that's your mother. It's only natural that she came looking for her son and grandson. But what's going on with that young lady from the Minister's mansion?"
What she really wanted to ask was whether that rich girl liked her.
After thinking about it, I didn't dare to ask so directly, lest I seem too gossipy.
"Her mother and my mother were good friends."
Luo Sheng's expression and tone remained unchanged, as if he were talking about a complete stranger.
Xiao Yunying nodded: "Oh...I understand."
This is the bond between childhood sweethearts.
Luo Sheng was somewhat confused: "What do you understand?"
"It's nothing." Xiao Yunying changed the subject and bluntly complained, "I came back late yesterday, and that Miss Zuo actually tried to take my room. She even let her maid hit Yunwan. I slapped her maid twice and also asked her for six hundred taels of silver for the room and food. Is that alright?"
Luo Sheng first frowned slightly, then relaxed.
He knew this girl wasn't one to suffer a loss.
"It's alright, her family has plenty of money. Just take it. If she's rude to you, you can refute her within reasonable limits. You are now the general's wife, so there's no need to be afraid of her."
After listening, Xiao Yunying suddenly spoke up: "Are you backing me up?"
Luo Sheng didn't speak for a few moments before saying, "Yun Ying, I have something I want to tell you later."
Seeing that he suddenly became serious, Xiao Yunying nodded and said, "Sure, it's almost noon now. Let me go cook first, and you can talk to me when you have time."
At this moment, the old woman beside Madam Luo came out and said, "Miss, my mistress will be staying here for a while. Do you have any accommodations arranged?"
Xiao Yunying replied, "The house has been cleaned. I'll have someone take you there."
After saying that, she said to Zheng Yunwan, "Yunwan, you take this person with you..."
She didn't know how to address the other person and was momentarily speechless.
Luo Sheng said from the side, "This is Granny Chang, who has served my mother since I was a child."
This sentence not only introduces Granny Chang's identity, but also reveals to her that this Granny is an old woman in the Luo family and has a special relationship with Madam Luo.
Xiao Yunying continued, "Yunwan, take Granny Chang to the room we just cleaned and help tidy it up. If it's not enough room, clean another one."
It seems that the two rooms she prepared are not enough for everyone. This Madam Luo brought a nanny and two maids with her, and it is unknown whether the nanny will live with the two maids.
Zheng Yunwan said softly, "Granny, come with me."
Granny Chang did not look down on them for their status as peasant women, and said with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Miss."
At this moment, the maid named Yinzhu suddenly came out and said, "Clean two more rooms, our young lady will also be staying here."
Xiao Yunying glanced at her: "Who gave you permission to stay here?"
Yinzhu seemed to have gained confidence: "My young lady has already spoken to Madam Luo, and Madam Luo has agreed."
Xiao Yunying was about to speak when Zheng Yunwan suddenly tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Sister Yunying, don't get into another conflict with her. I'm fine."
Regardless, Madam Luo was Yunying's mother-in-law, and she didn't want Yunying to leave a bad impression on her because of her.
If she angers Madam Luo, Yunying will be the one who suffers the most in the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conflict.
Xiao Yunying thought that the person inside was, after all, her mother-in-law, so she had to be considerate of her reputation and said, "You can stay, but please give me the six hundred taels of silver first."
Yinzhu raised her voice and said, "Aren't you trying to extort money from us? We only stayed one night and had breakfast, and you want six hundred taels of silver from us."
Xiao Yunying was displeased upon hearing this: "What, trying to renege on the debt? This was the price you set yourselves, it was agreed upon beforehand, it was clearly marked, and now you want to go back on your word?"
Madam Luo's voice came from the living room: "What's going on? What's all the noise outside?"
Yinzhu was about to complain when a clear, cold male voice interrupted her, saying, "It's alright, Mother. Yunying is arranging accommodations."
Yinzhu was so frightened by Luo Sheng's gaze that she gasped for breath, her previous arrogance vanished, and she whispered, "I'll go and inform our young lady."
Xiao Yunying was waiting at the door. She didn't know what the mistress and servant were talking about, but Yinzhu came out, glared at her, went out to the carriage, and came back with silver notes.
She forcefully slapped the silver note into Xiao Yunying's arms: "Here you go, is this alright?"
Out of consideration for the silver note, Xiao Yunying didn't argue with her. After checking that the amount on the silver note was correct, she folded it in half and handed it to Zheng Yunwan.
"Yunwan, this is for you. Keep it safe."
Zheng Yunwan had never seen so many silver notes before, and stammered, "Give...for me?"
"Yes, consider it compensation for Miss Zuo's rudeness towards the maid last night."
In front of outsiders, Zheng Yunwan did not refuse repeatedly, lest she and Sister Yunying appear petty. Instead, she pretended to be calm and said, "Thank you, Sister Yunying."
Xiao Yunying nodded in satisfaction: "Take Granny Chang there quickly, and come over to help me cook as soon as you're done cleaning up."
While still envious of Xiao Yunying for easily giving away six hundred taels of silver, Yinzhu interjected, "My young lady is very clean. Her place of residence must be kept spotless, understand?"
Before Xiao Yunying could retort, Luo Sheng spoke up.
“You are the maids of your young lady. Shouldn’t it be your job to serve her? What use are you if you have to delegate such matters to others? Besides, this is the countryside. If your young lady can’t stand the environment here, she should go back to her mansion as soon as possible. Don’t interfere in other people’s homes.”
Xiao Yunying secretly glanced at Luo Sheng; she swore it was the longest sentence she had heard him speak in a long time.
It seems like they're trying to protect themselves.
Luo Sheng didn't lower his voice when he spoke, and Zuo Lanzhi, who was in the living room, clutched her clothes tightly, feeling her face burning.
Upon seeing this, Yinyu bowed and said, "Miss, you have really spoiled Yinzhu. I'll go out and check on her."
Zuo Lanzhi tried her best to remain calm and said, "Go ahead, tell her not to be so rude. This is not the Minister's residence after all, and I am not someone who cannot endure hardship."
When Yinyu came out, he saw Yinzhu standing at the door with her head down, not daring to answer. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "General, it was Yinzhu who was impolite."
Then he said to Xiao Yunying, "Please trouble you to arrange two rooms. We can clean them ourselves. Madam Luo has had a long journey. We brought some fine tea. Please boil some water and make us a cup of hot tea."
Xiao Yunying found Zuo Lanzhi and her two maids to be quite interesting.
One appears reckless and impulsive, while the other is deep, steady, and quite shrewd.
When the impulsive one can't get anything done, the steady one will step in.
She didn't dwell on the matter: "It was my oversight. I'll go boil some water right away. Yunwan, arrange two more rooms for this Miss Yinyu."
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