Mother Tao walked in with a smile on her face, holding a pile of account books in her hands.

She bent her knees and saluted to Eleventh Lady: "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 brought tea. She handed the account book in her hand to Shiyi Niang: "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 stunned for a moment, then she understood what Eleventh Lady meant.

She didn't want to interfere in Zhun Ge's affairs.

Mother Tao was so angry that her face turned red and her whole body was shaking. But she didn't 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..."

It had been more than a year since Yuanniang passed away, 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 just needed to coax her with nice words? Why did she act as if she knew everything? Or was there someone teaching her? This wasn't right either. The first wife didn't arrange for the mother to be a dowry in order to prevent those ignorant women from taking advantage of their age and knowledge to instigate Shiyi Niang... Did the first wife make a mistake?

She was feeling nervous, but she saw Eleventh Lady 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 it.

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 business left by Yuanniang at any time. After all, the business was in her hands, and if something went wrong, it would be her own business. But she couldn't wait... Wanxiang, that stinky girl, pressed on step by step, and the people below followed suit. If it dragged on, it would be a small matter to alarm the Madam Tai, but if the Third Lady knew about it, she would laugh at 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 a big wife behind Eleventh Lady...

The thought only flashed through her mind, and Mother Tao had already made up her mind.

"Madam, you really have a keen eye." Her smile was filled with flattery. "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 had no choice but to come and beg you."

That's about right.

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 concubines, two courtyards, and two farms. The four maids had married early. One of them was called Wanxiang, who was Yuanniang's favorite. She married Chen Xu, a fatherless servant of the Xu family. The couple was in charge of the kitchen - Chen Xu was responsible for purchasing, and Wanxiang was in charge. Among the two mothers, one 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 acres, and the other has 2,000 acres. The one with 6,000 acres is managed by Tao Mama's son Tao Cheng, and the one with 2,000 acres is managed by another concubine Gao Nian.

From this point of view, Wanxiang and Gao Nian are dissatisfied with the fact that Tao mother and son are in charge of Yuanniang's things and cannot bring them any profit!

She said calmly, "Tell me, what are they?"

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 shad incident, and then removed Gao Pan, Gao Nian's eldest son, who worked at the comprador's 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 removed...but Tao's mother and son were not touched at all. Wanxiang got mixed up 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 that Wanxiang, Gaopan and the others 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 much trouble those people make, they can't do anything. Now that you have just entered the house, and the lady has not given any order, 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 realized 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."

"What mom said makes sense."

"So, your top priority 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!

There was a glimmer of appreciation in Eleventh Lady's eyes: "Just do as mom says!"

She noticed that Mother Tao had relaxed completely: "Then I'll let Wanxiang and the others kowtow to you!"

Eleventh Lady agreed.

Mother Tao left the account book and said, "This is the account of my great aunt's people and the accounts I helped to manage 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 it is obvious that it was copied again.

Just then, Amber came in. She handed the account book to Amber 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 been doing very well in the past few years. Her concubines have all married into the families of some of the more senior housekeepers of the Xu family. The most lucrative compradors are all her people. She even put two people in the accounting office... Even if I were to replace her, I might not 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 sharp eyes: "This is from Chen Xu's family. Her maiden 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 work in the comprador's office, specializing in incense, candles, and charcoal fire."

In other words, there is no more work to do now!

Eleventh Lady was thinking about it.

Mother Tao introduced several other people to her. They were all in charge of local affairs, but now they are all unemployed at home.

After paying respect 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 for our entire lives. To be replaced by the Third House like this is not only an insult to our deceased eldest aunt, but also an insult to your face."

Several other people also agreed, and the crowd was excited.

Shiyi Niang found that the man named Yang Huizu and the woman called Wei Lu's wife were silent. According to what Mother Tao had just introduced, Yang Huizu had followed Yuan Niang to the Xu family when he was a teenager. He used to work in the comprador's office, specializing in the rouge and powder, and clothes for the four seasons for the maids, while Wei Lu's wife was in charge of the night watch at the gates of the inner courtyard.

Eleventh Lady comforted those people, saying that she had just come in and some things were still unclear to her. 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 and Mother Tao went to Yuanniang's yard.

Everyone acted 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: "Please help find a good family to release the older Yanhong children! And keep a few smart and capable ones to help take care of the yard, so as not to let it go to waste."

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 intimately on the kang with the lady.

Seeing Eleventh Lady coming in, the two of them greeted her one after another, and the lady pointed to the kang opposite: "I heard you have been busy all morning, you must be tired? Take a rest."

I heard... from whom?

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 plan: "... People like Yanhong and Lu'e are not young anymore. I came to ask for your advice. See if it is feasible?"

"That's a good thing!" The lady smiled, "It's done!"

Eleventh Lady replied "yes", and the Third Lady had already placed the chopsticks.

The lady didn't want her daughter-in-law to set the rules, so she asked Yao Huang to call Zhun Ge and Zhen Jie'er out. 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 the Eleventh Lady's arm and said, "Shall we come to the Madam's place this afternoon to draw cards?"

The Madam had mentioned playing cards together in the morning. It seemed that the Madam often found someone to play cards in the afternoon...

Eleventh Lady pondered and said with a smile: "I just can't do it."

The third wife politely declined: "I don't have such luck. I have a lot of 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 instructed Amber: "When you have nothing to do, walk around with Mother Tao more and see what those people are doing. This is a good opportunity to see what kind of people they are. In particular, find out what Yang Huizu and Wei Lu's wife did after they left our place."

Amber nodded and made note of it.

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