Chapter 597: Pampering (Part 1)
By this calculation, each child would need a private property of nearly 12,000 taels of silver, plus the wedding expenses. Xu Siyi was still okay, but Xu Siyu was the eldest son, the first child of the fourth wife to get married, so it would cost at least 4,000 to 5,000 taels. Xu Sizhen was the crown prince, so I'm afraid the expenses would have to double, three children, at least 50,000 taels. And there's also Zhen Jie'er before, and Jiange'er later... It seems that this family is really worth some money!
Eleventh Lady complained in her heart and asked Zhu Xiang to list all the items needed for Xu Siyu's new house and handed them to the chief steward Bai. Chief steward Bai sent the steward to buy them, and by mid-June, the new house was ready. Thinking that it was still early for the wedding and the weather was hot, everyone was a little lazy, and she also discussed Xu Siyu's wedding with the steward mothers.
Jiange'er has been fascinated by rowing since March 3rd and would clamor to go every now and then.
As the weather got hotter, they could only go in the morning and evening. In June, it was still hot even in the morning and evening. Jianger was often sweating profusely, and his snow-white skin was red, but he was still very stubborn to go rowing. Shiyi Niang had an idea and asked Xu Lingyi to tell Jianger to swim.
Xu Lingyi readily agreed.
Eleventh Lady only left a few older maids to work in Liufangzhen to help with cleaning and other chores, while she herself served tea and fruits to the two masters.
The water blew across the Biyou Lake, bringing a slight coolness. She sat in the pavilion reading a book or doing some needlework.
In just three or four days, Jiang'er learned how to swim. When Xu Lingyi let go of his hand and let him swim on his own, he swam towards Lingqiong Villa, where trees and waves were crisscrossed.
Xu Lingyi was so frightened that he chased the man for half a cup of tea before he caught him.
After getting ashore, he shook his head at Shiyi Niang and said, "No, Jian'er is too daring. We need to find two servants to serve him in advance."
Eleventh Lady hurriedly wrapped up Qin'er with a large handkerchief and said with a smile, "It's not appropriate for an older person to stay in the inner courtyard, and I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of a younger one."
"I know what's going on with this matter." Xu Lingyi didn't take it seriously. Within a few days, he found two twelve or thirteen-year-old Chengyas to follow Jiang'er.
Shiyi Niang saw that the two children had dark skin, and their bodies were round and strong like calves, but their eyes were very pure, so she nodded secretly.
Chief Steward Bai, who brought the children in, knew that Eleventh Lady was very careful with Jian'er and taught him everything personally. He was afraid that she would dislike the two children for being rough, so he explained: "The Marquis said that they can only be accompanied by play, and when they are old enough to go to school, they will be replaced by those who know etiquette and know how to read. Although these two grew up on the farm, they are very flexible and honest. They have been working in the Xu family since their great-grandfather's generation, and their parents are honest people. They will definitely accompany the Sixth Young Master well."
Or maybe things will turn into the opposite when they reach their extremes. Shiyi Niang herself attended a special class at a very early age, and her childhood memories were all classrooms with spring-like weather and kind teachers. When it came to Jiange'er, she hoped that he could enjoy life without worries. Although she kept a close eye on him, she spent more time on cultivating good living habits.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Bai." Eleventh Lady accepted the two children with a smile. "When Mr. Jian is enlightened, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Mr. Bai to help me find two more servants."
Manager Bai breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it was the Marquis's order, the lady did not agree. This matter will most likely be repeated.
He smiled, said "yes", said some polite words, then stood up and said goodbye.
Eleventh Lady called the two children over to question them.
The two children were named Huang Damao and Liu Erwu. They were innocent yet childishly clever, unlike some servants who came to work in the palace. Although they were young, they had the calmness that only adults had.
She nodded secretly, called Jian'er in to introduce them to each other, and the three of them quickly started playing together, leaving Jian'er aside.
Mother Gu was afraid that Huang Damao and Liu Erwu didn't know the rules, so she stayed by their side all the time.
Jiang'er was having more and more fun. He was swimming, rowing, picking lotus stalks, climbing trees, playing with spinning tops, digging for bugs, playing in the mud... He either tore his clothes or was covered in mud. But Shiyi Niang said nothing except carefully washing Jiang'er's hands every time. Gu Mama was so anxious that she was sweating all over. Seeing that Jin'er was having fun, she hurriedly called Jin'er's wet nurse and said, "Our young master was approved by Madam. As for the seventh young master, I'm afraid we have to ask the fifth lady to do it. Otherwise, we will be covered in mud and sweat, and it will be difficult to report back."
Qian'er's wet nurse smiled bitterly.
Xu Lingyi taught Jin Ge'er how to swim, and Jin Ge'er also wanted to learn after returning home. But Xu Lingyi couldn't take care of two children by himself, and Xu Lingkuan lost his temper and gave up after teaching twice. The Fifth Lady had no choice but to send the child to Hongdeng Hutong, where Grand Marquis Sun personally came to guard the place, and the Prince of Dingnan personally taught Jin Ge'er how to swim. Jin Ge'er had so much fun there that he didn't want to leave. The Fifth Lady missed her son, so she took Cheng Ge'er there to live for half a month, and just brought Jin Ge'er back home.
The two children often played together, so the two wet nurses naturally had more contact with each other, and since they all signed a contract, they were naturally closer than ordinary people. The wet nurse of the son of the Duke of Xi told Gu Mama: "That time, the Seventh Young Master followed the Sixth Young Master and called the Fourth Madam 'mother', and the Fifth Madam felt a little unhappy. Later, because of learning to swim, the Fifth Madam blamed the Fifth Master a few words. Knowing that the Marquis had specially found two servants for the Sixth Young Master to play with, she also had the idea to find two for the Seventh Young Master. This time, It also prevents the Seventh Young Master from following the Sixth Young Master around every day. For this matter, I specially asked Shi Ma to go back to Hongdeng Hutong. But it is hard to find such a person. If he is funny, I am afraid that he will mess with the maids and break the rules. If he is honest, I am afraid that he does not have the ability to please the Seventh Young Master. The old marquis is also in a dilemma. If you ask me to go and talk, isn't that just pouring fuel on the fire? "
Mother Gu was stunned when she heard this. She pointed at Qian, who was lying under a tree with Qian to look for insects for birds and said, "What are you going to say when you get home?"
"Fifth Madam knows that Seventh Young Master has been messing around with Sixth Young Master these days. She just didn't know they were playing so crazy." The nurse of Qian'er said helplessly, "As long as Seventh Young Master cleans up before paying respects to Fifth Madam, Fifth Madam's mind is now on Eighth Young Master and she won't notice for a while." She added, "I just hope that the old marquis will find two servants for Seventh Young Master as soon as possible, so that I don't have to worry every day."
As they were talking, Xu Sizhen and Xu Siqi walked in, talking and laughing.
The two wet nurses hurried forward and saluted.
Xu Sizhen nodded and squatted down beside Jiange'er with a smile: "Are you digging insects for your bird again?"
When the boy picked up his head, there were two black marks on his face, one horizontal and one vertical.
"Fourth brother," he grinned, glanced at Xu Sicheng, called out "Fifth brother", then stood up, holding a fleshy earthworm in his hand, and stretched out his dirty hand to pull Xu Sizhen.
Qian'er's wet nurse cried out in surprise and looked hurriedly towards Gu's mother, motioning her to hold Qian'er.
But Mother Gu shook her head gently.
She saw Xu Sizhen taking Jian'er with him without caring about it.
Jiang'er pulled Xu Sizhen under the eaves paved with bluestone bricks.
"Look, look!" With excitement on his face, he placed the ground dragon on the bluestone brick, then ran to Huang Xiaomao, took half a pair of scissors, and cut the ground dragon in the middle.
The earth dragon rolled and shrank into a ball on the bluestone bricks.
Xu Sizhe and Chu Sizhe both uttered "Ah" at the same time, and their faces turned pale.
"Liu Erwu said that earth dragons are not afraid of death. I'll tell you later. I can even turn into two." Jiangeer looked at his two brothers proudly, "I'm going to turn all the earth dragons into many and keep them in cages, so I don't have to catch insects to feed the birds every day."
"Really?" Xu Sizhen couldn't bear to look at the dragon on the ground, so he turned his head away. "Jian'er is really smart!"
Xu Siyi was confused and asked Liu Erwu: "Is it true?"
Liu Erwu nodded and said, "How dare I lie to you, young master? It was Goudan from our village who said that. I even tried it once. They really can survive. That's why I told the Sixth Young Master."
Madam specifically told us that if the Sixth Young Master asks us something, we should say no if we don’t know the answer, and yes if we do. If we say something we don’t know the answer to, and fool the Sixth Young Master, and Madam finds out, she will kick both of us out of the house.”
As he was speaking, the autumn rain came out through the curtains.
"Fourth Young Master, Fifth Young Master," she smiled and bowed, "Madam knows you are coming. Please come in and have some iced green bean soup."
They both hurriedly straightened their lapels.
Jiang'er rushed in holding the two pieces of insects.
Xu Sizhen laughed, bowed to Qiuyu, said with a smile, "Thank you, sister Lao", and then he and Xu Sizhen entered the hall one after another.
Eleventh Lady was sitting on the Luohan bed in the hall, with a little maid standing beside her fanning her.
Jianger had already nestled in her arms, holding two pieces of insects and talking to her: "You can have a lot, a lot."
Eleventh Lady took the maid's fan and fanned Qin'er. Not only did she not show any disgust or anger, she also said to him with a smile: "You can't be kept in a cage, right?
Do you see anyone keeping earthworms in cages? They should be kept in flower pots, right? Don’t they grow in soil?”
Xu Sizhen looked a little surprised.
Jiange'er tilted his head, looked at his mother, then looked at the twisted fleshworm in his hand, and ran out: "I'll go ask Erwu!"
Eleventh Lady looked at her son's back, the smile in her eyes full of tolerance.
She smiled and greeted Xu Sizhen and Xu Siyi: "You are here!" She was surprised and asked, "Why are you here at this time? Is there something wrong?"
They usually went into the inner courtyard after dinner to greet their parents and the lady-in-waiting.
Xu Sizhen and Xu Siyi sat on the armchairs beside them and said with a smile: "A few days ago, Han Jian invited us to go fishing in their newly built yard. I saw that the lotus flowers in Biyou Lake were in full bloom, so I wanted to invite them to our house to appreciate the lotus..."
Before he finished speaking, Shiyi Niang understood.
To admire the lotus at Biyou Lake, one must go to the back garden. The back garden is in the inner courtyard, so the maids and old women need to avoid it. Eleventh Lady is the mistress of the Xu family, so this matter must be approved by her.
Eleventh Lady was very pleased when she saw Xu Sizhen sitting opposite her in a graceful manner.
He immediately said, "Okay! When do you want to hold the banquet? What do you need? Ask Ge Jin to write a list and I will ask the mothers to arrange it!"
Xu Sizhen knew that his mother would support him unconditionally.
He showed a happy smile on his face, stood up and saluted to Eleventh Lady: "Mother, thank you for your trouble!"
Looks a bit like a little adult.
Shiyi Niang smiled and said, "You don't have to be so polite to your mother!" Then she asked him, "Did Mr. Zhao tell you?"
Xu Sizhen touched his head and smiled a little embarrassedly.
His expression showed his former shyness again.
The update is a little late, please get up tomorrow morning and watch it!