Each family's well is usually located next to the kitchen, in the backyard.
A man jumped into a well?
Shiyi Niang stared at Lu Yonggui and asked: "The nephew of Chief Steward Niu jumped into the well?"
Although Lu Yonggui was not often in the mansion, he always paid attention to all the affairs of the mansion. When he saw Amber in Ciyuan Temple that day, he knew that the matter could not be concealed. When he returned to the mansion, he heard his brother bragging in front of him, saying that the lady had called him to do this and that, and he was still dreaming that his luck had turned, and he might be as successful as Yang Huizu. When he thought about the joyful departure of the Third Master's family and the fact that Eleventh Lady took over the household affairs of the Marquis' Mansion without any resistance or disturbance, he knew that the Fourth Lady was not a simple person. What's more, she was in charge of the property left by Yuanniang. That was a lot of money. Although she readily handed over the management rights to Luo Zhenxing at the beginning, who knew what she was thinking in her heart?
He didn't know the person in front of him well enough to judge what she knew.
Even if he wanted to withdraw, he had to make peace with the person in front of him and make her happy - if the manager of a wealthy family wanted to start his own business, it would be impossible without the support of the old boss, and if he offended the old boss, it would be even more difficult to move forward.
If the other party is a pebble, then you are just an egg. No, maybe not even an egg, but just a quail egg.
Lu Yonggui didn't dare to gamble. He didn't dare to gamble on his own future or his brother's future.
Therefore, he chose to calmly narrate the facts: "People were fished out of the well, so naturally they jumped into the well."
Eleventh Lady was secretly startled.
Things were more complicated than she had imagined, but it only made her more determined to find out Lu Yonggui's position.
"What about the accounts of the shop in Hangzhou?" she asked Lu Yonggui indifferently.
Then I saw Lu Yonggui clench his hanging hands, then slowly loosen them.
"It was said that a sum of money was missing. Because the person who handled it was Brother Damao, Chief Steward Niu resigned."
"Was it before or after Da Mao's death?"
"What?" Lu Yonggui looked up at Shiyi Niang.
"The money disappeared. Was it before or after Da Mao's death?"
"After death?"
What a coincidence.
First, the wife who had not yet married was killed by the master... Then Da Mao jumped into the well, and Niu Da Zongguan resigned...
She remembered when she first arrived at the Luo family. The three branches of the Luo family were all in mourning in Yuhang. Although the second and third wives had complaints about some of the first wife's practices, the first wife was married into the family when Mrs. Luo was paralyzed in bed and unable to manage the household affairs. She became the head of the family within two years of her marriage. Secondly, Mrs. Luo had been ill for seven or eight years, and the first wife had been taking care of her by her bedside during this period. When Mr. Luo passed away, the three sons were in office, and it was the first wife who saw him off. Not to mention the two sisters-in-law, even the second and third masters had to be respectful in front of this eldest sister-in-law.
Now hearing what Manager Lu said, this must involve the replacement of the old and new forces in the Luo family.
"Then Wu Xiaoquan's family took over the job of Chief Butler Niu?"
"No!" Hearing the words, Lu Yonggui knew that Shiyi Niang had completely understood what he had not said. A trace of fear flashed in his eyes.
The wife of Marquis Yongping has not yet reached the age of marriage this year!
He simply said, "First, a steward who had served the deceased old master took charge for a while, but he didn't do a good job, so a steward who had served the eldest master was replaced. He messed up several tasks. The eldest wife recommended Xu Deping to the old lady. Unexpectedly, he fell off his horse and died before he took over. The old lady called the chief steward Niu and asked him to help recommend someone. Steward Niu recommended the chief steward Wu. After the chief steward Wu took over, he made some small mistakes at the beginning, but fortunately he was not vague about the big things. The old lady decided on the chief steward Wu. In addition, the eldest master spent money like water when he was in office, so the chief steward Wu was always able to balance the accounts. The position of the chief steward Wu was finally secured."
Eleventh Lady thought about when she came to Yanjing from Yuhang, Wu Xiaoquan's family asked her to bring food to Lu Yonggui.
"Manager Lu and Wu Xiaoquan have a good relationship, right?" she asked tactfully.
"Although Chief Steward Wu was the first wife's chambermaid, the first wife's favorite was Xu Deping, the head of the Xu family who died early." Lu Yonggui said, "When Chief Steward Wu first came to the Luo family, he followed my father to learn accounting. Although we were not master and apprentice in name, we were master and apprentice in reality. Therefore, he was very close to my two brothers. Later, my two brothers were able to follow my eldest aunt to the Yongping Marquis' Mansion, thanks to Chief Steward Niu's recommendation and recommendation to Wu Xiaoquan."
So that's why the Second Aunt said that it was all thanks to Chief Steward Niu that the Lu brothers were able to come to the Yongping Marquis' Mansion?
Eleventh Lady asked, "Does Wu Xiaoquan know that the two concubines came to Yanjing to look for Manager Lu?"
Lu Yonggui said: "I don't know."
The answer was crisp and clear.
There are usually two situations where people use this tone: one is to hide something, and the other is that they are fearless and at peace.
Lu Yonggui, which one is it?
Eleventh Lady smiled slightly and said, "I think Manager Lu thinks it's a good idea for the two ladies to settle down in Ciyuan Temple?"
Lu Yonggui lowered his head even more: "Compared to other temples, the abbot of Ciyuan Temple, Master Jining, has some real knowledge. I just hope that the two concubines will have a place to settle down in their later years."
In other words, it was Manager Lu who made a contribution to the two concubines being accepted by Jining.
"I heard that the two concubines donated five thousand taels of silver to the Ciyuan Temple. Does Chief Steward Lu know about this?"
Lu Yonggui raised his head, his face full of surprise.
There was a hint of disdain in Eleventh Lady's eyes.
Without money to knock on the door, how could Lu Yonggui, a small steward of the Marquis's Mansion, have a chance to talk to Jining? If he said he didn't know, she didn't believe it.
Seeing this, Lu Yonggui couldn't help but smile bitterly. He said, "At that time, the two concubines brought me three thousand taels of silver notes, saying that three people wanted to stay in Ciyuan Temple. Master Jining agreed at first. Later, when he learned about the situation, he returned the silver. The two concubines went to see Master Jining in person. I waited outside the door. The two concubines and Master Jining talked in the side room for more than half an hour, and then Master Jining agreed that the two concubines could stay in the temple."
Three?
Now it was Eleventh Lady's turn to feel shocked.
Her mind raced.
Aunt Yang knew that she was going to die soon, and she wanted to repair the relationship between Shi Niang and the first wife, but the first wife didn't appreciate it at all. Aunt Yang had no choice but to take out her savings and let the two concubines take Shi Niang away from the Luo family. The two concubines thought of Lu Yonggui, and then brought Shi Niang to Yanjing.
What happened next? Did Shi Niang want to go back to the Luo family? Or did the two concubines instigate Shi Niang to go back?
I'm afraid I can only ask Shi Niang myself this question!
Eleventh Lady saw the door curtain sway slightly.
Thinking that she would have to go to the Duke Zhongqin's residence with the Madam later, she served tea: "I am just curious about some old things in the past. I will have to ask Mr. Lu about them in the future!"
Lu Yonggui knew from Shiyi Niang's tone that the matter was not over yet. But Shiyi Niang was curious about the past, so he had to tell her. He murmured a reply, bowed and retreated.
Eleventh Lady ordered Amber: "Call Liu Yuanrui's son Liu Taiping to me."
Amber responded and she then began to meet the mothers in charge.
After the matter was settled, Eleventh Lady met Liu Taiping who had been standing on the eaves waiting for her.
"Do you know that there is a man named Lu Yonggui in the Fourth Young Master's House?"
"I know!" Liu Taiping said, "We are all from the Luo family. People often mention him in front of me. They say he is very capable and good at making money."
"Do you know him, then?"
"I don't know him!" Liu Taiping said honestly, "But I know Brother Yongfu. He works in the stable. Last time my mother came back, he insisted on getting a carriage for her."
"Did your mother sit down?"
Liu Taiping's face turned red and he stammered for a long time without saying anything.
Liu Yuanrui, who was so eloquent, actually gave birth to such a naive son.
Eleventh Lady smiled and asked someone to grab a handful of candy for him. She said, "Lu Yongfu's brother Lu Yonggui is back. He is in charge of the business of the Fourth Young Master's house and is often away from home. I am afraid that he will not serve the Fourth Young Master well. During the days he is in Yanjing, you will temporarily follow him and help him serve tea and water, wash clothes and iron clothes. But where did he go? Who did he meet? What did he do when he was in the house? Tell me everything. Can you do it?"
"I can do it!" Liu Taiping nodded hurriedly, and then asked in confusion, "Then, what if he doesn't let me follow?"
"Just tell him this is what I meant."
Liu Taiping nodded repeatedly.
Eleventh Lady rewarded him with a handful of copper coins and asked Mother Song to send Liu Taiping to Lu Yonggui.
Amber said, "Madam, do you want to send someone to keep an eye on him?"
"No need!" said Eleventh Lady, "I just want to express my attitude. Lu Yonggui is a smart man. Once he figures it out, he will take the initiative to come see me again!"
Eleventh Lady returned to the courtyard and changed into a maroon silk wide-sleeved jacket embroidered with ginger-yellow peony flowers, combed her hair into a high bun, wore a South China pearl headband, and went to see the lady.
The lady changed into a dark black silk jacket with a golden gourd-shaped double happiness pattern all over it, combed her hair into a bun, inserted a jade hairpin, and wore an emerald bracelet.
Seeing that Shiyi Niang was only wearing a headband, she asked Mother Du to find her pair of South Pearl bracelets: "They are as big as the beads on your headband. They look like a set."
Eleventh Lady hurriedly declined.
The lady smiled and said, "I am young now and I like sparkling things. If I keep them, they will just sink to the bottom of the box. I might as well give them to you." As she spoke, she suddenly remembered and told Mother Du, "I remember I also have a pair of South Pearl earplugs. Find them and give them to the Fourth Lady." Then she looked at Eleventh Lady with a smile and said, "You are wearing a hairpin today and the same earplugs, which makes you look a bit dull. You can keep them and wear them when the time is right. Today I only wore the bracelet."
Seeing the good intentions of the elders, Eleventh Lady no longer insisted and thanked the lady with a smile.
Mother Du brought over a rectangular carved red lacquer box.
I opened it and saw that it was a bracelet, but it was about a foot long and could be worn as a necklace.
"Come, I'll put it on for you." The lady wrapped the South Pearl bracelet around Eleventh Lady's wrist in circles, about seven or eight times. It looked like a bracelet, and it was faintly visible when she raised her hands and feet through the wide sleeves of her jacket, giving her a reserved and elegant look.
Eleventh Lady liked it very much and thanked the lady again with a smile.
The lady was also very happy. She looked her up and down like a child, and her expression revealed the satisfaction she felt after changing the doll into beautiful clothes.
Eleventh Lady helped the lady into the carriage.
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Sisters, keep asking for red envelopes - pink tickets!
Keep adding more!
Thanks!
(*^__^*) Hehehe…
PS: Corrected the typo.