Chapter 29: Housekeeper
?From the morning till noon, I met with the internal and external managers, listened to the responses from the housekeepers, checked the accounts, and asked about some related matters. All matters were handled in a busy but not chaotic manner, and the morning passed quickly. ?
The eldest wife was there to teach. The eldest grandmother said she would learn first, but she handled matters in a reasonable way. She always asked questions directly to the root of the matter and grasped the key points. On the surface, she was demure and elegant, as delicate as a canna that could not withstand the wind. But when she talked about things, her face was solemn, her tone was crisp and clear, and her beautiful eyes were as bright as stars. One glance at her could make people bow their heads and dare not look at her. Her momentum was even more intimidating than that of the second grandmother Bai Jingyu who sat in the seat in the past. ?
Looking at the eldest wife sitting in the first seat drinking tea peacefully, nodding from time to time, with admiration in her eyes, how could the housekeepers not understand? After the eldest wife recovered from her illness, she loved her eldest grandson and raised Heng Ge'er by her side. The eldest grandmother was the eldest daughter-in-law. Although the eldest master was not her biological son, she now had lost her biological seventh master. Who else could she rely on if not the eldest grandfather? The smartest thing was that she, as a mother-in-law, took Heng Ge'er away. The eldest grandfather and the eldest grandmother dared to say a word of disapproval? Heng Ge'er was only half a year old and didn't know anything. Whoever had milk was his mother. When the eldest wife raised him, he would be her dear grandson. For Heng Ge'er, the eldest grandfather and the eldest grandmother only respected the eldest wife wholeheartedly. This family is still a family! ?
Now the eldest wife supports the eldest grandmother as the housekeeper. Not to mention that the eldest grandmother does not look like a weak and ignorant daughter-in-law, she is just a piece of mud that can't be helped. With the eldest wife behind her, who dares to fool her? Unless she doesn't want to stay in this mansion. She just needs to be alert and do her job honestly, and don't even think about playing tricks! ?
Mei Niang sent Madam Zheng back to her Qiuhua Courtyard. Chunyue served her tea. Madam Zheng took a sip and said, "You are quite clever and smart. You understand everything very quickly. You are more insightful than Jingyu... Oh, by the way, there is still some floating money that is openly traded. The account books are in Jingyu's hands. There are also five or six thousand taels of silver. Let her return it to you later."
Mei Niang sighed and said, "I didn't expect the affairs of the Hou Mansion to be so complicated. This morning, my wife has been concentrating on this, and she hasn't figured it out yet. It's the end of the year, and the accounts of the outer courtyard have to be settled with us, right? Oh my God, I really admire mother, how did she do it before! Why not let Jingyu come to manage things with me? I'm afraid I can't take care of so many things!"?
Madam Zheng put down the tea bowl, glanced at her, and said slowly: "A family can only have one person in charge of the household. You can let them help, but you must not give up power! In my opinion, it is better to trust the maids than the sisters-in-law. I have been familiar with these maids in charge for 10 to 20 years. With me here, they dare not bully you... I didn't know you were so smart before, but I am relieved to see you are so smart. Now the country is peaceful and there is nothing wrong with the border. The master probably won't leave Beijing in the next two years. You also have concubines in your courtyard, so you don't have to worry too much about serving the master... You gave birth to Heng'er, the eldest son and grandson, and he will be the prince in the future. That's enough! It's useless for those concubines to give birth to more children. Look at the second room, they are still the second sons, so what? You just need to manage this family well, and when Heng'er grows up, hand over this property to him. It will be a great merit, and your glory will not be possessed by others!"?
Mei Niang lowered her head and replied vaguely: "Wife, I'll remember it!"
Madam Zheng said, "I am raising Heng'er for you so that you can concentrate on your work. I will not care if you have children in the future. Just remember: Heng'er is the eldest son, and he should be the first priority in everything. As a mother, you must make a clear distinction. When you are old, you will still rely on him, understand?"
"Yes, my wife understands!"?
Mrs. Zheng didn't say anything, Mei Niang didn't dare to sit down, she just stood in front of the couch and answered, with her hands on her belly, lowering her eyebrows and looking docile, like a well-behaved young wife. ?
Mrs. Zheng looked very satisfied, and suddenly she thought of something, her eyes suddenly turned red - a lively and clear voice answered in her ears:
"I just like her, so what? She is gentle and well-behaved, kind and pure. Such a good woman, he married her and then abandoned her, leaving her alone in the cold and lonely empty room, being looked down upon by these people, anyone can step on her... Let's see who dares to do that today? She is my woman, my..."?
She covered her mouth with her hands as she spoke the rest of the words. She was so frightened that she tried her best to press the ignorant child down on the couch. ?
"Mother!"?
Mei Niang heard Madam Zheng not speaking for a long time, looked up, and saw that her eyes were red, staring at a certain place like an idiot, and she called out worriedly. ?
Mrs. Zheng came back to her senses, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and waved at her with her left hand: "Please sit down, have lunch here, and meet Heng'er by the way!"
"Why!"?
Mei Niang responded. This was what she wanted to hear the most. She turned around and went out, telling Cui Lian who was waiting in the corridor: "You and Wang Mama go back. Cheng'er just said that Dongyuan will hold a banquet to entertain guests. I think it's the master's close friend who is coming. Let Wang Mama go to Dongyuan to take a look. Ruizhu Ruibao is young after all, don't neglect the guests!"
Cui Lian bowed and was about to leave, but stopped again and finally couldn't help saying, "My cousin just passed by, and my cousin is helping to take care of her!"
Mei Niang was startled: "Which cousin?"
Cui Lian lowered her head and whispered, "Miss Yubiao!"
"Got it, go ahead!"?
Mei Niang returned to the room and saw Madam Zheng reaching for the tea bowl, so she walked over, picked it up, and said with a smile:
"This tea has been sitting for a while, it should be cold now, mother, wait a moment, and drink it after they bring some hotter tea!"?
Xia He, who was standing by, hurried over to take the tea bowl, and saw Chun Yue appear at the door with a new tea bowl. ?
Mrs. Zheng was slightly touched: "My dear, you have really become a different person now that you have recovered from your illness. You were not so careful before. Now remember that I cannot eat or drink cold things!"
Mei Niang said softly, "Mother is a grandmother, she must know how to cherish blessings better than us younger generations. With us daughters-in-law around, and maids and old women around, don't be afraid of trouble. Just tell us what to eat and cook. I thought about it last night. It's better for Heng'er to be with you than with me. First, mother has more experience than me. Second, the master and I have things to do and can't always be filial to mother. Heng'er is with mother, at least he can make her laugh a few times and be happy. It can also be regarded as filial piety for us... Anyway, I have to come here every day to talk and play with Heng'er, so that we won't be estranged!"?
Madam Zheng nodded and sighed, "Are you really old? You have a grandson now, and you're a grandmother... So good! It's rare that you have such a smart and understanding daughter-in-law who listens to you. Heng'er is here with me, you don't have to be distracted at all, just do what you have to do, I will take good care of him for you! You can watch him if you want, or not. If you have another child in the future, I'm afraid you won't pay so much attention to him..."?
Mei Niang said hurriedly: "Mother just said: The eldest son is the eldest son, how can a daughter-in-law not understand it?"
"I understand."?
Madam Zheng showed a satisfied look, holding the tea bowl but not opening the lid, and put it back on the low table. She glanced to both sides, and Chunyue and Xiahe bowed and retreated. ?
Madam Zheng looked at Mei Niang and said, "What do you think of my niece?"
Mei Niang pretended to be confused: "Cousin Yu? Cousin Yu is so beautiful, as pretty as a flower. Why? Mother asked, have you found a husband for Cousin Yu? What kind of family is it?"
Madam Zheng covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughed lightly, and said awkwardly: "Not really... it can be considered as such! How should I put it? This little girl's fate is like this. Do you know the Anyuan Marquis's Mansion? The other day, Madam Anyuan Marquis arranged a marriage for her, but Madam Anyuan's dear cousin was transferred to Beijing, but Yu'er refused and insisted on staying here... You know, she and Master are childhood sweethearts who have known each other since they were young and grew up together!"?
Mei Niang was thinking: What were they doing when they were childhood sweethearts? Why didn't they just arrange a marriage? Why are they clinging to each other now? Are they unable to get married or what? ?
She smiled gently and asked, "What does mother mean?"
Madam Zheng put the handkerchief to her lips and lowered her voice a little: "There is no one else here, let's talk about personal matters. You have also seen Miss Zhuang in the old lady's room. She seems to be more beautiful than our Yu'er. Their Zhuang Mansion was originally one of the most wealthy families in the Jiangnan area, and they are also distant relatives of the current Empress Dowager. Zhuang Yulan also lived in our Hou Mansion when she was young. She is a very smart and scheming woman. Although you are very good now, you are probably not as good as her! Ying'er has been around the old lady more since she was a child, so she dotes on this cousin. The old lady has always disliked your family for being poor and not worthy of Ying'er... I heard a while ago that Zhuang Yulan was brought here to give her to Ying'er. Do you think that with her family background, she would be willing to be your concubine?"
Mei Niang asked in surprise: "What is she going to do?"
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