The snowstorm was getting stronger and stronger, and the roofs and treetops were buried in the vast white snow. Only the big red lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed in the wind, reflecting the red light on the snow, just like the laughter coming from the house, exuding a cheerful atmosphere.

"… He was dancing with the master's ruler in his hand, chanting 'Come to the battle with heroic spirit'. When the master came in, the third brother was so frightened that the ruler fell down on him."

The lady pointed at Xu Sijian and laughed: "This child is really naughty."

"Grandma, don't listen to my eldest brother." Xu Sijian climbed onto the kang and got into the arms of the old lady. "The ruler didn't fall down. I put it down because I saw the teacher coming. It didn't fall down. I put it down..." He was entangled with "falling down" and "putting down".

The three brothers came to greet the Madam and the elders, only Eleventh Lady was serving beside them, not as reserved as before, joking with each other to make the Madam happy. Seeing the lively atmosphere, the Madam naturally let them have fun. And Zhun'er saw that his position, which had always been his, was now occupied by Xu Sijian, and he pouted and threw himself on the Madam's back, his little face nudging against her neck and acting like a spoiled child.

Xu Siyu, who was sitting on the kang, just smiled faintly when he saw this. Xu Siqin went to pull his brother Xu Sijian: "How old are you? You still try to get into grandma's arms. Be careful not to tire grandma out!"

The lady hugged Xu Sijian and said, "It's okay, it's okay. Grandmother likes it very much!"

Xu Sijian had also grown sensible and knew when to stop. After staying in the madam's arms for a while, he smiled and sat down beside her and asked Zhen Jie'er, "What did you do today?"

Zhun Ge rushed ahead of Zhen Jie Er and said, "We are skipping rope today."

"Why do you play with girls' stuff every day?" Xu Sijian pinched Zhun'er's face. "Follow me one day, and we'll go riding on big horses."

Zhun Ge's black jade eyes were full of surprise: "Really? Third brother really wants to take me to ride a horse?"

Xu Siqin laughed and touched Zhunge's head: "He himself just holds a stick and rides it as a horse..."

"Brother!" Xu Sijian became angry and glared at Xu Siqin.

Xu Siqin tried hard to hold back his laughter: "Okay, okay, okay. I won't say anything."

The lady laughed and asked Wei Zi, "Why haven't the Third Master and the Third Madam come yet?"

It is now the beginning of the You period, and usually everyone is here at this time.

Wei Zi hurriedly smiled and said, "I've sent someone to urge them!" Then she added, "I'll go check again!"

Zhun Ge, however, went around Xu Sijian and asked, "Third brother, when are we going to go riding?"

Sister Zhen smiled with her lips pursed.

Xu Sijian's face turned red like silk, and he said vaguely: "I will call you when the time comes!"

Eleventh Lady was looking at the children with a smile, but she was thinking about the porridge shed.

I wonder if Xu Lingyi has arrived at Fuchengmen? With such a heavy snowstorm, I wonder how the disaster victims are doing? Since everyone below knows that the moldy rice has been replaced, I wonder if it has spread out... I hope this matter can be resolved quickly without alarming others! At least it saves face. As for other matters, they are the internal affairs of the Xu family, and they can be discussed behind closed doors!

While he was thinking, he saw Wei Zi walking in with the third lady, smiling.

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

Normally, the Third Master and the Third Madam go out together.

The lady was also surprised: "Where's the third brother? Why didn't he come with you?"

The Third Lady smiled and stepped forward to pay respect to the Grand Lady, saying, "These days, Third Master was afraid that something might happen at the porridge stall, so he has been watching over at Fucheng Gate. Today, the snow and wind are too strong, and I'm afraid he will be late on his way back. I have sent someone to check." She added, "Don't worry, I saw that the weather was not good, so I specially asked Third Master to go there in a sedan chair today."

The lady nodded: "That's good."

Eleventh Lady smiled and walked forward to greet the Third Lady. Several children came forward to greet the Third Lady. When Xu Sijian met his mother, he chattered about things in the school. The atmosphere was very warm.

A servant came in and reported, "The Third Master said that the Madam and the other ladies should eat first and don't have to wait. He met the Marquis, and the two brothers are going on patrol together."

What a coincidence?

Eleventh Lady was in a trance for a moment.

The lady laughed and said, "If that's the case, then we won't wait any longer!"

When the maids and old women heard the news, they all laid out chopsticks and placed bowls.

The third lady helped the old lady to sit in the seat of honor.

"I don't know when the snow will stop!" The lady looked very worried. "I don't know if it will affect next year's farming."

"Heavy snow means a good harvest." The third lady laughed and said, "I don't think so!" Then she wrapped the chopsticks in a handkerchief and handed them to the old lady.

The lady took the chopsticks and said, "We are going to have hot pot today. Adults and children, please sit around."

As one gets older, one just wants to have some fun. Everyone knows this, and since the Xu brothers are not here, everyone sits around the old lady with a smile.

The first-class mutton hotpot, in addition to chicken, duck, fish and meat, also comes with a plate of golden sprouts, a plate of juicy carrots, a plate of green cabbage and a plate of crisp cucumbers.

In weather like this, it takes some thought to have a few dishes like this on the table.

The children were all happy when they saw this, and even Xu Siyu, who always seemed a little mature, started laughing.

The lady looked at the third lady and a look of satisfaction appeared on her face: "Thank you for your trouble."

The Third Lady smiled calmly, but a hint of pride flashed in her eyes: "It's just to provide you with food and clothing. I can do such a small thing." As she said that, she glanced at Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady smiled at her, but she didn't agree with it in her heart.

She wanted to do her best, even if she became the head of the household one day, there would be a comparison between the predecessor and the successor. If she did well, it was her duty, if she did not do well, it was because she was incapable... Even Mother Tao had talked to her about this. She said that in the past few months when the Third Madam was the housekeeper, a lot of people were reduced, and the expenses were also less than when Yuanniang was the head of the household. At first, the mothers of the housekeepers only did it for the sake of the Madam's face, but now they all praised her for her shrewdness and virtue, and some even said, "The Third Madam suffered a loss because she was not a legitimate daughter."

Eleventh Lady was not very worried.

Whether it is reducing the number of employees or reducing expenses, it is all about replacing the old with the new. As long as it is a replacement of the old with the new, there will be changes, and as long as there are changes, there will be people who are dissatisfied... For example, Wang Anshi's reform. Although everyone knows that this thing is good, when it harms their own interests, I am afraid that the word "good" will not be praised so happily.

The lady was asking the maids to serve food to the children, and she didn't notice the situation between the two. She just asked, "Has it been delivered to Danyang?"

The third lady immediately smiled and said, "These water radishes and cucumbers are cold food. We were afraid that she would feel uncomfortable after eating them, so we only sent a little of each."

The lady nodded with satisfaction again.

Xu Siyu, Zhunge'er and Zhenjie'er were all in mourning, so they picked up some dishes and sat separately.

After dinner, the lady personally escorted Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu to the door, repeatedly telling the maid: "Be careful, don't slip!"

None of the maids dared to be careless, and they all answered "yes" timidly. However, Xu Siqin smiled and said, "Don't worry, grandma. We are all adults now. It's not a big deal even if we fall on the snow."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" The Third Lady immediately said angrily, "It would not be fun if it bumped into someone!"

As if Xu Siqin was afraid of his mother's nagging, he pulled Xu Siyu and hurried out: "Grandma, we are leaving. We will come to greet you tomorrow morning!"

"This brat..." The third lady stomped her feet in anger.

"That's how half-grown boys are!" The lady smiled as she watched the two brothers walking away at the red light. "Back then, the fourth brother would run as far as he could when he heard me nagging. I think Qin'er's personality is not like the third brother, but more like the fourth brother!"

Eleventh Lady's heart moved, and she looked up at the Third Lady. Surprise indeed flashed in her eyes.

"It's good to be like the Marquis!" Her face was full of smiles. "Like the Marquis, I can be both civil and military, and I can have food to eat!"

The lady laughed and was helped back to the house by the maid.

The Third Lady whispered to the Lady Dowager, "I have something I want to discuss with you?" As she spoke, she glanced at Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady heard the voice and said with a smile, "Mom, I'll go make you a cup of tea." After saying that, she and Wei Zi went to the side room.

How could Wei Zi let Shiyi Niang make tea? She was asked to sit on the armchair beside her. The maids hurriedly brought the brazier over. Wei Zi first made a cup of tea for Shiyi Niang, and then began to make tea for the lady.

There was a little maid peeking at the door of the ear room.

Wei Zi frowned as she looked at it, then continued making tea as if nothing had happened.

Although they are maids, they also have their own social circles.

Eleventh Lady pretended not to see it, took the tea and went to the lady's room.

All the servants in the room retreated. The Third Madam seemed to have finished her words and was massaging the Madam's legs with a beauty's hammer.

Seeing Shiyi Niang coming in, the lady said, "You should discuss this matter with Shiyi Niang! After all, she is the child's mother!"

Eleventh Lady was shocked when she heard this.

The Third Madam's smile was somewhat forced, and she said, "It's like this. I see that the maids in Brother Qin and Brother Yu's rooms are getting quite old, and I'm afraid something might happen, so I want to let them go as soon as possible..."

What is this all about?

Eleventh Lady brought the tea to the Dowager Lady and said with a smile, "Brother Yu and Brother Qin usually live in the outer courtyard, so I pay less attention to them and don't think about this. I'm sorry to trouble Third Sister-in-law." She first made it clear what her responsibilities were, "Since Third Sister-in-law feels it is necessary, it must be an important matter. Our Brother Yu will follow Brother Qin." She then pushed the responsibility for the replacement onto Third Lady's son Xu Siqin.

As she spoke, she looked at the Dowager: "If this matter is settled, I will start to help Yu Ge find a few obedient maids tomorrow, right?" No matter what the Third Madam meant, she could not let the maids and old women around him lead Yu Ge astray - after all, he was Xu Lingyi's son, the eldest son of the fourth room, and he had to set an example for his brothers. "When the time comes, I'll send her to you to nurse her, and then put her by Yu Ge's side to serve her." Let the Dowager be the head of the household for Yu Ge, so that if the Third Madam really took advantage of something unexpected, her own responsibility would be less.

The third lady's face changed from gloomy to uncertain as she listened.

The lady nodded: "Since Eleventh Lady agrees, then let's do it this way. Let's get it done before the New Year."

The two of them responded respectfully, "Yes."