Chapter 21 Since she wanted to: Back in the East Courtyard, the meal was already prepared. It was the food Shen Wanqing had ordered before leaving that morning, one…
Back in the East Courtyard, the meal was already prepared. It was the dish Shen Wanqing had ordered before leaving that morning: ginger duck and tea oil chicken, both of which were Ningxiang's specialties.
Tell her to make several more portions in the kitchen, and send one to each of Niohuru, the main courtyard, and the west courtyard. Things that need to be distinguished must be distinguished, and those who should be sold must not be neglected.
There was also stir-fried pork with chive blossoms and steamed assorted preserved meats, which were Xu Shi's and the original owner's, as well as Shen Wanqing's, private menu, so we won't share them with outsiders.
The ingredients in the Steamed Assorted Cured Meats were all brought back from the Shen family. The already tender cured fish became segmented after smoking, and the pork belly, which was three parts lean and seven parts fat, was smoked until the lean meat was firm and the fat was translucent.
The cured pork was sliced thinly, the fat turning yellowish and translucent from the fruitwood smoke, losing its original greasiness and retaining only a rich, smoky aroma. Such fine ingredients were too precious for Shen Wanqing to offer as a token of her affection.
"Girl, you must be tired."
"Oh dear, I'm so tired."
"How about we don't go tomorrow? In my opinion, this isn't just a matter for you, Miss. Maybe we should wait for your husband to come back before we talk about it. Or we could go and talk to the First Madam. After all, this isn't just your business, Miss. Why should we be the only ones to care?"
The speaker was Granny Feng, the original owner's wet nurse, who had been by the original owner's side since the day the original owner was born.
Her husband was in charge of the carriages and horses for the Shen family, and was a minor steward in charge of the masters' comings and goings. Her son traveled back and forth between the capital, Shengjing, and Fujian with the shopkeeper. Last year, the shopkeeper said that in a few years he would be able to manage a shop independently, even if the shop was not in the capital. This made Granny Feng boast about it for almost a month.
Shen Wanqing was initially most afraid of her. The original owner of this body had been raised on her milk, and such a relationship was sometimes only separated from blood ties by a very blurry line. Any changes in the original owner of this body would certainly not escape her notice.
So she kept telling the old nanny that she had been tired during this time and kept her to rest in the back room, while she herself used Chunxian and Qiuwen more often.
"Granny, I'm married." But hiding isn't a solution. After hiding for a few days, it's about time. "Some things are mine if I fight for them myself. If I rely on others, when it's our turn, we'll only get scraps."
Fortunately, the original owner of this body was a girl who didn't talk much when she was at home. Although she usually followed the crowd, she actually had a sense of justice when it mattered. So, she didn't find it abrupt that Shen Wanqing was holding Feng Mama's hand and saying these words.
With tears welling in his eyes, he held Shen Wanqing's hand tightly and stroked it gently. He felt that his daughter, now that she was married and a wife, had to grow up and become sensible, even able to say such things as striving for excellence.
“Good girl, I know you are ambitious and strong-willed. I just feel sorry for you. When we were at home, things were so much better. You didn’t have to worry about these things.”
“Granny, but I have to get married sooner or later, don’t I? If I don’t get married and stay at home for too long, the good days will turn into bad days. At that time, even if I want to worry about these things, I won’t have anything to worry about. My mother and sister-in-law are still at home, how can it be my place to interfere, right?”
If we're talking about the original owner's heart, this wet nurse would be number one in the entire Shen family. But Shen Wanqing didn't want to hear that. She wasn't going to kill or commit arson, nor was she going to steal or rob. She'd even slept with that little wolf cub Yu Lang, so why should someone else control what's rightfully hers? It was so disheartening for her to keep talking like that.
"Granny, we are one. If I ever complain to you about being tired or overworked, I'll be happy if you feel sorry for me. But it's not time for me to complain yet, so please don't always feel sorry for me, okay?"
"Yes, yes, I understand. I won't say anymore. It's a good thing that the young lady has ambition; we should all be happy."
While talking happily, when Granny Feng came out of Shen Wanqing's room, she walked along the corridor to the back room, and when she turned the corner and saw that no one was around, she lowered her head and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Chunxian, go and see her. You know what to say, don't you?"
"Don't worry, Madam. Granny Feng's heart is only so big, and it's all about you. She's upset right now, but she'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Go on, go on, stop arguing with me. I need to sleep for a while, I have things to do this afternoon."
Being a leader is no easy job. After playing the subservient role outside, you still have to come back and work hard to keep your subordinates together, afraid that someone will let you down or become disloyal.
When I was a kid, I watched TV dramas and always thought it was so easy to be a leader or a master. Anyone who disobeyed would be punished and beaten. If it were ancient times, they could be kicked out and then a new servant would be chosen.
Once you actually start working and managing things, you realize it's not that simple. Whether you're a subordinate or a lackey, you're still human, and humans have emotions and desires. High-pressure punishments might work in the short term, but they'll have endless consequences in the long run.
When people are pushed to the limit, they will find their own way out. Later employees were able to transfer to other positions, use connections to go to other projects or other regions, or simply resign and find other jobs.
Although the servants of today have contracts of servitude held by their masters and are not free, to them, each different master in this household is like a different company; if you are harsh, don't blame me for finding another way to make a living in private.
Perhaps the consequences of being discovered by one's master will not be good, but that's human nature. Everyone wants to rise higher, everyone wants to be valued, and no one wants to follow a heartless and ungrateful person.
As for the maids and wet nurses that the original owner brought, their personalities could be dealt with gradually. But Shen Wanqing insisted on winning them over first, otherwise, if she needed to get something done, would she have to find someone else to help her?
"Granny, I told you so much this morning, but you forgot it all as soon as you saw the eldest mistress."
"I haven't forgotten, it's just that seeing the girl like that makes me feel uneasy."
Chunxian chased after her to the back room and saw Granny Feng sitting alone in the room, her back to the door and her head down, fiddling with the handkerchief in her hand.
The rear building of the East Courtyard was an extension. Apart from the central room which was converted into a small Buddhist shrine, the rows of rooms extending from both sides were not large and were spaced out to accommodate the maids and servants of the East Courtyard.
Granny Feng and Granny Zhou shared a room. Upon entering, their beds were placed on either side of the room, and all the necessities of life, such as tables, chairs, benches, mirrors, and dressing tables, were provided.
Shen Wanqing also asked them to get some coarse cloth from the public school so they could sew it into curtains and hang them up. At night, they could pull the curtains closed, and the small area next to the bed would become a private space.
Although it wasn't soundproof, it was at least enclosed, but Shen Wanqing always felt that everyone needs some time to be alone, otherwise it would be too oppressive.
Chunxian came in and glanced at Granny Zhou first. The curtain was drawn and there was no one else in the room. Then she sat down, took Granny Feng's hand, and said in a low voice, "Granny, how many times have I told you, you'll be the eldest mistress from now on. Why are you still calling me 'Miss'?"
"We've seen this house. It's not exactly a den of dragons and tigers, but it's not a place where we can live in peace either. Our eldest mistress has gone to such lengths, have you seen any complaints from the first wife? Not at all!"
What does this mean? It means she also wants our grandmother to stand up and take back the things in the east courtyard. If they can get them back, then our eldest grandmother will be in charge of the east courtyard from now on.”
"There are two mothers-in-law overseeing us in this mansion. Even if the eldest mistress gets back the power to manage the East Courtyard, it's not certain whether it will actually belong to her. Why do you immediately suggest that the eldest mistress go to the eldest madam?"
If the First Madam were truly willing to lend a hand, she could have at least sent someone to inquire about the eldest mistress's lingering time in the west courtyard this morning.
"I just said it on a whim, I'll remember it next time. Chunqian, stop harping on this and start lecturing me."
"I'm here on behalf of the eldest mistress. She was worried that you would be upset, so she specifically sent me to explain things to you clearly. This is the time when we should all work together and put in the effort, so please don't say anything discouraging, Granny."
"Okay, I won't say it again."
Of course, Granny Feng knew she wasn't a very capable person, and she also knew that the girl she had raised didn't intend to listen to what she had told her before, that she would wholeheartedly serve her mother-in-law and husband after marriage.
It would be best if she could get pregnant soon. If she could give birth to a son for the eldest son's family, then she wouldn't have to worry about anything in the future. Who cares whether the East Courtyard or the West Courtyard is in charge? Who would mistreat their own daughter?
This idea isn't necessarily right or wrong; at least from Granny Feng's perspective, it was the best path she could think of.
"Chunxian, don't you think that Grandma's thoughts have changed since she got married?"
"Of course! Before, when I was a girl at home, the madam always supported me in everything. Now that I'm the eldest mistress, I have to take charge of everything myself. If things were still the same as before, you would really have to worry about me, Granny."
That reasoning made sense, and Granny Feng wasn't stupid. Ultimately, one can't be certain of their own plans; since their master had already decided what to do, it didn't matter whether she thought it was good or not.
After composing herself and washing her face, she stepped out again and was once again the most refined, capable, and loyal Granny Feng in Granny Shen's presence.
The ginger duck and tea oil chicken were both delicious. He Yi returned home from the palace after finishing his shift in the morning, and the first thing he saw when he got home was these two dishes that he had never seen at home before.
He didn't ask any more questions, sat down and started eating. He ate three bowls of rice with just two dishes, and only when he was completely satisfied did he put down his chopsticks and look at his wife, who clearly had something to say: "What's wrong? Did the food at noon today not suit your taste?"
"The good family you set your sights on back then, you've now snatched it from my hands by force. You're even more unreasonable than bandits." Shumulu was furious at He Yi's expression and couldn't help but deliberately stab him with a sarcastic remark. He Yi, however, remained calm and composed, as if he was already used to his wife's behavior.
Shumulu had never been able to do anything about him. She was furious, but she still patiently told her husband everything that had happened yesterday and this morning.
"I sent someone to look for you yesterday, asking you to come back. Why didn't you return yesterday?"
“I am on duty. How can you and I leave the Emperor’s presence as we please? If this causes us to miss important business, neither of us can bear the consequences.”
It's always the same, always the same. He always has a point. Even when Shumulu talks about what happened at home, he frowns, but he can still maintain this calm and composed demeanor.
"Alright, alright, I won't talk to you about this. You're the head of the household, and you were the one who approved of Yulang's marriage. You also said that the Shen family is good in this way and that way. Now this good nephew's wife wants to take away the power of managing the East Courtyard. Second Master, what do you think we should do about this?"
"Then let her take it. They've already separated their households. Now that Alang is grown up, the affairs of the East Courtyard should be handled by him and his wife. As their second aunt, you shouldn't interfere."
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