Chapter 95: Accompanying Room (Part 2)
Mother Tao walked in with a smile on her face, holding a pile of account books in her hands. She knelt down and saluted Shiyi Niang: "Madam!" Her expression was very calm.
Eleventh Lady nodded and asked the maid to bring her a small stool. Mother Tao sat down and the maid served tea. She handed the account book in her hand to Eleventh Lady: "This is the account book that the lady gave me after the eldest aunt passed away. Now that you are here, I will naturally give it to you. Please take a look."
Eleventh Lady did not take the account and said with a smile: "Since the Madam has given it to you, you can help manage it for the time being!"
Mother Tao was startled, and then she understood what Eleventh Lady meant.
She didn't want to get involved in her brother's affairs.
Mother Tao was so angry that her face turned red and her whole body was shaking. However, she did not dare to quarrel with her, so she just said in a nice way: "Fourth Madam, I am a servant after all. It is not right for me to manage the things left by my eldest aunt. I am not like you, but the master. One word from you is better than ten words from us..."
Yuanniang had passed away for more than a year, and she had married again. Shiyi Niang had always suspected that Tao Mama could no longer control the people below her. Now hearing her tone, she was even more certain.
She simply smiled and said, "But is there anyone gossiping? Or is there anyone who is dissatisfied?"
Mother Tao was startled and looked at Eleventh Lady.
Didn't the first wife say that she was young and didn't know anything, and that she could just coax her with nice words? Why did she seem to know everything? Or was there someone teaching her? This wasn't right either. The first wife didn't arrange a dowry mother to prevent those ignorant women from taking advantage of their age and knowledge to instigate Shiyi Niang... Could it be that the first wife made a mistake?
Her heart was in turmoil, but she saw Shiyi Niang pick up the teacup and take a sip slowly.
Although her posture was very graceful and her expression was very comfortable, Mother Tao felt even more anxious when she saw her.
It was obvious that Eleventh Lady wanted to fight a time war with her - it seemed that she knew something!
But the current situation was beyond her control. Eleventh Lady could take over the stall left by Yuanniang at any time. After all, the things were in her hands, and if something went wrong, it would be her own business. But she couldn't wait... Wanxiang, that stinky girl, was pressing forward step by step, and the people below followed suit. If it dragged on, it would be a small matter to alarm the Dowager Lady, but if the Third Lady knew about it, it would be a small matter to be laughed at by her, but she was afraid that she would use this incident to attack the people who followed the eldest aunt.
No matter what, there is still a big wife behind Eleventh Lady...
The thought only flashed through Mother Tao's mind before she made up her mind.
"Madam really has a keen eye."
Her smile was a bit flattering. "You just came in. Logically, I shouldn't bother you with these trivial matters so early. But I was forced by that little bitch Wanxiang and I really had no choice. I had to come and beg you."
That's more like it.
Eleventh Lady nodded secretly in her heart.
Before getting married, she had inquired about it. When Yuanniang got married, she had four big maids, two mothers, four maids, two courtyards, and two farms. The four maids had married long ago. One of them was called Wanxiang, who was Yuanniang's favorite. She married Chenxu, a fatherless servant of the Xu family. The couple took charge of the kitchen - Chenxu was in charge of purchasing, and Wanxiang was in charge of the housework. One of the two mothers was Tao Mama, who was Yuanniang's wet nurse, and the other died of illness ten years ago. Both courtyards have three entrances, one is in Si Tiao Hutong, and the other is in Shibei Hutong. They are all around Liubu, and the annual rent can be collected more than 200 taels. The two farms are both in Daxing County, one has 6,000 mu and the other has 2,000 mu. The 6,000 mu piece was managed by Tao Mama's son Tao Cheng, and the 2,000 mu piece was managed by another companion Gao Nian.
It seems that Wanxiang and Gao Nian are dissatisfied with the fact that the Tao mother and son control Yuanniang's things but cannot help them make profits!
She said calmly, "Tell me what it is."
Mother Tao told Shiyi Niang what had happened in detail.
It was just as Shiyi Niang guessed. Since the Third Lady took charge, she first replaced Chen Xu with the excuse of the sturgeon incident, and then dismissed Gao Pan, the eldest son of Gao Nian who worked in the purchasing office, because there were not enough candles during Yuan Niang's funeral. As for the others, such as the gatekeepers, night watchmen, and gardeners, even more were dismissed...but Tao's mother and son were not touched at all. Wanxiang got involved with these people and clamored to see Shiyi Niang every day.
Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Since they want to see me, let them come!"
Mother Tao smiled and said, "In theory, they should come to greet you. But there are a few things I need to tell you first, so that you don't feel embarrassed."
"Mom, please speak." Eleventh Lady said with a smile.
"I think Wanxiang and Gaopan are determined to ask you to help them find a job. You should grit your teeth and not agree to it."
Mother Tao's words surprised Shiyi Niang a little. She thought Mother Tao would try to persuade her to help these people.
"Most of the income from the eldest aunt's dowry is in the farm managed by Tao Cheng. No matter how noisy those people are, they can't do anything. Now that you have just entered the house, and the lady has not given any instructions, you go to compete with the third lady for those things. If you win, others will think it is your due, because you are the wife of the marquis, but if you lose, it will be a big joke." After saying this, she felt that she had said something wrong, and laughed, "I'm not saying that you will lose, I'm saying that without the support of the marquis and the nod of the lady, you have little chance of winning."
"Mom has a point."
"So, your most urgent task is to serve the Marquis and the Madam well. It won't be too late to plan other things later.
She is worthy of being the most capable mother in front of Yuanniang. She is very thoughtful and considerate!
A hint of admiration flashed across Eleventh Lady's eyes: "Then let's do as mom says!"
She noticed that Mother Tao had relaxed. "Then I'll let Wanxiang and the others kowtow to you!"
Eleventh Lady agreed.
Mother Tao left the account book: "This is the account of the people from my great aunt's side and the account I have managed for you over the past year."
Eleventh Lady asked the maid to call Amber over, and she looked through the account book herself.
The handwriting is the same, and you can tell it’s a new one at first glance.
Just then, Amber came in. She handed the account book to her and said, "Look carefully and remember all the names and their relationships. Then, see if there is anyone who can take on the important task."
Amber responded and took the account book.
Eleventh Lady leaned on her elbow and pondered.
To be fair, housekeeper Yuanniang has done very well in the past few years. The concubines have spread out and all of them have married into the families of some of the more senior housekeepers in the Xu family. The most lucrative business offices are all her people. She even put two people in the accounting office... Even if I were to take her place, I might not be able to do better than her!
After a while, Mother Tao came over with five or six women and two men.
She introduced one of the women with a sharp look in her eyes: "This is from Chen Xu's family. Her name is Wanxiang. She is now in charge of the kitchen." She pointed to a tall and thin man and said, "This is Gao Pan. He used to be in the purchasing office, specializing in candles and charcoal fires."
In other words, there is no work now!
Eleventh Lady was thinking about it.
Mother Tao introduced her to several other people, all of whom were originally in charge of local affairs but were now idle at home.
After paying respects to Eleventh Lady, Gao Pan could not wait to say, "Madam, you have to make the decision for us. We have been with the Luo family all our lives, and now we have been replaced by the Third Branch. This is not only an insult to the deceased Eldest Aunt, but also an insult to you."
Several other people also agreed, and the crowd was excited.
Shiyi Niang found that the man named Yang Huizu and a woman called Wei Lu's wife were silent. According to what Tao's mother had just introduced, Yang Huizu had followed Yuan Niang to the Xu family when they were a dozen years old. He was originally in charge of the maids' rouge and powder, and clothes for all seasons in the purchasing office, while Wei Lu's wife was in charge of the night watch at each gate of the inner courtyard.
Eleventh Lady comforted those people with a few words, saying that she had just entered the house and there were some things she was not clear about, and she would talk about it after she had figured out the situation, and then sent them away.
Those people couldn't help showing disappointment on their faces.
Eleventh Lady went to Yuanniang's yard with Mother Tao.
It was as if she was still there and everything remained the same.
I guess it’s all thanks to Mother Tao!
She asked Amber to select the people according to the booklet given by Mother Tao.
There were four senior maids, Yanhong, Lu'e, Jiangzi and Baolan; four second-class maids, Meiqin, Zhuxiu, Guifen and Shuizhi; and more than twenty third- and fourth-class maids, such as Fangfei and Taorui, and a dozen old women. In total, there were more than forty people.
Eleventh Lady discussed with Mother Tao: "Help find a good family to release the older Yanhong girls! And keep a few smart and capable ones to help take care of the yard, so that this place will not be abandoned."
Mother Tao nodded, and tears welled up in her eyes when she thought of the deceased Yuanniang.
Seeing that it was getting late, Eleventh Lady went to see the lady dowager.
The third and fifth wives are both here.
One was arranging chopsticks with the maids, and the other was talking affectionately on the kang with the lady.
Seeing Shiyi Niang coming in, the two of them greeted her one after another, and the lady pointed to the kang opposite and said, "I heard you've been busy all morning. Are you tired? Take a rest."
I heard...who told you that?
Eleventh Lady noticed that Third Lady had a smile on her face.
She smiled and bowed to the Madam, then sat on the kang and told her her plan: "...Yanhong and Lu'e are both not young anymore. I came to ask for your advice, is it feasible?"
"That's a good thing!" The lady said with a smile, "Let's do it this way!"
Eleventh Lady replied "yes", and Third Lady had already placed the chopsticks.
The lady did not want her daughter-in-law to set rules, so she asked Yao Huang to call out Brother Zhe and Sister Zhen. After the two of them paid their respects to the elders, they sat together and had lunch.
The lady and the children went to take a nap, and the three daughters-in-law left.
The Fifth Lady took Eleventh Lady's arm and said, "Shall we go downstairs and play cards with the Madam?"
The Madam had mentioned playing cards together this morning, and it looked like she had gone downstairs to find someone to play cards with...
Eleventh Lady thought about it and smiled, "I just can't do it."
The third wife politely declined: "I don't have the luck to do that. I have so many things to do!"
The Fifth Lady smiled and looked at Eleventh Lady: "Don't worry, I will teach you."
Eleventh Lady agreed with a smile, and everyone went their separate ways.
On the way, Eleventh Lady told Amber: "If you have nothing to do, go out with Mother Tao and see what those people are doing. This is a good opportunity to see what kind of character they have. In particular, find out what Yang Huizu and Wei Lu's wife did after leaving us."
Amber nodded and made note of it.