In the next two days, Xu Lingyi went to see Chief Steward Bai to discuss building a house. Xu Lingkuan was very interested and took the initiative to design the house. Although the New Year was over, the clan school had not yet started, and the whereabouts of the Third Master were unknown, so the Lady Dowager was vague and did not let Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu move back to the house in the outer courtyard. The two were so happy that they ran around behind Xu Lingkuan and participated in building the house. Eleventh Lady led Zhen Jie'er to do needlework. Xu Sijie followed Eleventh Lady all day. Zhun Ge and Zhen Jie'er have always been very good to each other, and they like Xu Sijie and hang around them. Xu Sijian was interested in building a house, but he also wanted to play with Zhen Jie'er and Zhun Ge, running around here and there, and every day was as happy as the New Year.

Wan Yizong and Chang Jiuhe also came to see Shiyi Niang. The former came to resign, and he and his two sons would be employed by Chen Ping to help Chen Ping plant fruit trees. The latter came to ask Shiyi Niang for money - the house collapsed by the snow had been repaired, and he and his son were plowing the fields, waiting to buy seeds for spring sowing.

Eleventh Lady took out her New Year's money and gave ten taels of silver to Wan Yizon as a subsidy, and gave forty taels of silver to Chang Jiuhe for spring ploughing.

Liu Ruichun's family came to the mansion and said that they were asked by Wan Yi Zong's family to ask Shiyi Niang to be a matchmaker. Shiyi Niang wrote Dong Qing's birth date on a red gold-sprinkled paper and asked Tao Mama to give it to Liu Ruichun's family.

For the Gengtie, the horoscopes must be calculated. Only when the horoscopes match, can the next step be discussed. If the horoscopes do not match, the man will tear off two feet of cloth and then ask the matchmaker to return the Gengtie. So although everyone knows about this, no one publicizes it. However, Shiyi Niang has already started to rummage through boxes and cabinets to help Dongqing prepare clothes for her wedding. Dongqing was embarrassed and avoided her sisters, often doing needlework in Nan Yong's wife's room.

Nan Yong's wife moved into the courtyard behind Aunt Qin on the eleventh day of the first lunar month with Shuangyu. One time, their daughter cried very hard. Nan Yong couldn't bear it, so he secretly brought the child to see his wife. Yu'er, who was beside Aunt Wen, told Luyun when she saw it, and Luyun told Amber, and Amber told Shiyi Niang. Shiyi Niang thought for a moment, and simply let Nan Yong's wife take daughter-in-law with her: "One cow can be released, and two cows can also be raised. It's better for her to help me take care of Jiege peacefully. What's more, daughter-in-law and Jiege are about the same age, and it will be good for Jiege to keep each other company."

Nan Yong's wife was very grateful and kowtowed to Shiyi Niang several times. She was never arrogant and usually let Niu'er play in the small side room or the garden. Fortunately, the child grew up in a large courtyard and was not afraid of strangers. At a young age, she knew how to pass things to the maids in the courtyard. Everyone liked her. You took care of her when you were free, and she took care of her when she was free. Niu'er loved to laugh more and more, which attracted Zhenjie'er and Yuge to coax her with candies when they saw her. The laughter in the courtyard attracted the attention of people in other houses.

After a few days of such bustling atmosphere, Grandma Luo arrived.

Zhun Ge held her hand and kept shouting, "Aunt, why didn't you bring Brother Xiu here? We have brothers and sisters, and Brother Xiu is so pitiful to be alone at home."

Grandma Luo forced a smile and said, "Bring Brother Xiu here next time." She took out some silver ingots and rewarded the children, then went to the warm room to talk with Eleventh Lady.

"I'm so angry that I can't do anything. I came to your place to drink a cup of tea and calm down before I leave." She looked angry, "Otherwise I won't be in a good mood when I return home. I'll make your elder brother worry for nothing."

Eleventh Lady knew that Grandma Luo had returned from the Duke of Mao's mansion. She poured tea herself and asked the maid to serve dessert: "You are so angry here that you feel heartbroken, but you might find it funny over there. You should think positively, otherwise you will get sick from anger. It's not worth it."

"Everyone understands the truth." Grandma Luo took a few sips of hot tea before speaking, "But when it comes to yourself, you may not be able to control it."

Eleventh Lady smiled and moved the plate of pea yellow toward Grandma Luo, motioning her to eat some.

Grandma Luo shook her head and said, "Those Wang family relatives are really bad. They even said behind our family's Shi Niang that she is unlucky. They also said that they want Shi Niang to move to the temple. But their eldest aunt didn't stop them. I think it's impossible to sit down and discuss this matter with the Wang family!" As she said this, she let out a long sigh, revealing a bit of sadness, "Shi Niang is really unlucky!"

Eleventh Lady remained silent.

This is just the beginning, I’m afraid there will be even more unpleasant words said in the future.

Just as I was thinking about it, a little maid came in and said, "Madam, the mother next door to the grandmother of Weibei Hou Lin came to greet you."

"Please come in!" Eleventh Lady hurriedly said. Then she turned to explain to Grandma Luo, "Sister Zhen came back from West Mountain and brought some homemade food, fragrant dew, incense, etc. She sent someone to send some to Sister Hui of the Lin family. I think she came to thank Sister Zhen."

When Mrs. Luo saw that she had a guest, she stood up to say goodbye.

Eleventh Lady kept her: "She is not a stranger. I also have something to say to my sister-in-law."

Seeing this, Grandma Luo still sat down.

The mother next to Grandma Lin brought some cloth and said it was the perfume sent by Xie Zhenjie. She also said, "Our sister Hui hasn't seen Zhenjie for a while and wants to come visit." Then she took the invitation and gave it to Shiyi Niang.

Eleventh Lady agreed with a smile, and asked Amber to ask Zhen Jieer to take the invitation, and discussed a gathering on the 28th of the first lunar month. Then she asked Mother Tao to send the two mothers of the Lin family out.

She asked Zhen Jie'er to write a note: "Invite Aunt Twelve to come over to liven things up! She's bored at home alone."

Zhen Jieer smiled and went to write the post. Eleventh Lady continued to talk to Grandma Luo: "How is the situation at the Wang family?"

"It's a mess." Grandma Luo shook her head. "The Duke sits in the study every day, while the old lady covers her face and cries, and doesn't care about the family affairs at all. As for the tenth aunt, she was a careless person to begin with, and now she doesn't care even more. She just locks herself in the room. Fortunately, Jinlian and Yinping take good care of her, and her food, clothing and expenses are not without rules. The family affairs are all decided by the eldest aunt. But the eldest aunt has to run around for the tenth aunt's affairs, and doesn't pay much attention to the family affairs. Those relatives from the side branches are all thicker-skinned than the city walls. They find courtyards to live in on their own, eat and drink in the mansion, and refuse to leave. Then men and women are divided into several groups, The men guarded the Duke, and the women guarded the old lady, never leaving their side, fearing that they would be left alone and any benefits would be snatched away by others. They acted in a vulgar manner and spoke in a sarcastic manner. They looked like little people who had never seen the world. The stewards were so upset that they dared not step forward. They hid if they could, avoided if they could, and pushed if they could. They all shrank back and dared not come forward. "As she spoke, she lowered her voice, "I heard from Yinping that some of the furnishings in the old lady's room were missing. Someone also broke into the tenth aunt's room. If Jinlian and Yinping hadn't driven the person away, the tenth aunt's room would not have been spared." As she spoke, she paused, revealing some uneasiness, "I came here to discuss this matter with you."

Grandma Luo is knowledgeable and not a reckless person. Since she has come to her for help, it must be something she can do.

Eleventh Lady didn't even think about it and immediately said, "Sister-in-law, please tell me. As long as I can do it, I will do my best."

Grandma Luo nodded slightly, but still hesitated for a moment before saying, "I see that group of relatives do things without any dignity, and I am worried that they will set their sights on the dowry of the tenth aunt... I thought, if it really doesn't work, why not send a few tall and strong servants to move her dowry to the farm where you came as a dowry..." Although she said so, she also felt that this was not appropriate, but there was no other way, "We can't let those people get away with it. Moving to Gongxian Hutong is not very suitable either - the people of the Wang family might think that our Luo family is competing with them for the property," she said with a bitter smile, "and the farm where the tenth aunt came as a dowry is in the south... Only here, the marquis's family is big and powerful, and no one will believe that you would covet the dowry of your widowed aunt. They will only say that you are supporting the tenth aunt."

Wang's relatives said that Shi Niang was unlucky and asked her to move to the temple. They also broke in and tried to take Shi Niang's things... Grandma Luo's worries were not unreasonable. But in this case, the Xu family would definitely be involved. Do good things without expecting rewards, but don't let people feel resentment.

Eleventh Lady pondered and said, "Sister-in-law, I have an idea. Do you think it's appropriate?" Then she said, "Say that Tenth Sister took a letter to Gongxian Hutong, saying that she was not feeling well and there was no old man around to take care of her. She asked for a few people to guide Jinlian and Yinping. I will also help find a few suitable maids to go there. If anyone dares to mess around, just beat them up. I don't believe that I can't scare those people away."

"This is a good idea!" Grandma Luo praised.

She had thought of this idea, but firstly, the Luo family was not from here, and the people they brought were not enough to use, so how could they spare anyone for Shi Niang? Secondly, she couldn't find a suitable person for the time being. Such a woman had to be strong and fierce. If she didn't know the background of a poor family, she might steal from the house, which would be a waste of time. Thirdly, she thought that Shi Niang had a mother-in-law above her and sisters-in-law below her, and she was afraid that borrowing people from her would make it difficult for her. Now that Shi Niang took the initiative to propose it, she was naturally confident. She was naturally overjoyed that she could help Shi Niang without involving other people.

"Since the eldest sister-in-law agrees, you can decide how many people to send over." Eleventh Lady heaved a sigh of relief, "Let Mother Tao take them over tomorrow morning. As for the wages, I will pay for them."

"Why should I ask you to pay for Luo's work?" Grandma Luo said with a smile, "I'll pay for it!"

Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said, "That's fine! Taking money from others is like helping them get rid of their misfortunes. If the Luo family gives it to them, it will be more legitimate to use it."

But in his heart, he thought, if they don't have some sense of work, who would be willing to go when there is something to do in the future? It is better to let them accept the kindness of the Luo family and know that they will not suffer any loss if they follow him.

The two discussed some more details, and seeing that it was getting late, Grandma Luo stood up and said goodbye.

Eleventh Lady knew that she still had to worry about the family affairs, so she asked Amber to bring out some pieces of fabric: "These two red ones are for the eldest and fourth sisters-in-law, and these three blue ones are for the third, fifth, and sixth concubines. This apricot yellow one is for the fifth concubine to make small clothes."

Mrs. Luo didn't hesitate to ask Mrs. Hang to accept the gifts. She went to pay her respects to the lady dowager, and then went out of the Chuihua Gate accompanied by Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady immediately called Mother Tao over and asked her to arrange for six strong and sturdy maids to go to Gongxian Hutong early tomorrow morning and tell Third Lady that the Luo family had some matters and needed help for a few days. After meeting those maids, the first thing she did was to clarify their wages.

When everyone heard that the Xu family would continue to receive their monthly salary and the Luo family would give them extra wages, they all smiled happily and patted their chests to ensure that they would take good care of Shi Niang and would never let the Wang family bully her.

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Monday, one update.

(*^__^*) Hehehe…