Chapter 16 Chapter 16 (revised) Now that it’s in your hands, you decide…
In the flower hall, two people sat opposite each other, and from time to time the sound of bowls and chopsticks hitting each other could be heard.
I guess the chef had received instructions and prepared the breakfast to perfection, exactly according to Nan Xu's preferences.
Nan Xu was still confused, but she was eating happily. She occasionally glanced at the person opposite her, only to see the slender fingers.
Until they both put down their chopsticks and rinsed their mouths, Liu Hui came in and waited in the corridor with his hands tucked in. Duan Wenpei nodded at him.
Liu Hui clapped his hands outside, and several servants came in carrying a large box. When the box was opened, the account books and deeds of the farms and shops of the Bo's mansion were neatly stacked inside.
Duan Wenpei pointed and said, "I'm not good at managing accounts. Now that you're married, I'll have to trouble you with all the chores from now on."
Nan Xu was taking a sip of tea, puffing out her cheeks, her face full of disbelief.
He and she were only husband and wife in name only. If he handed over the huge fortune of the Bo Mansion to her, he would not be afraid that she would sell it all for him!
Duan Wenpei, as if he could read people's minds, nipped her fantasy in the bud. "Don't worry, most of these things are rewards from the palace. They're not really liquid assets, and the palace has assigned people to take care of them. You just need to check the accounts at the end of each year, or take a look at them in your free time to escape the heat and enjoy the scenery. It's perfect."
I see.
Nan Xu stood up and walked over, picking up the top two account books and roughly flipping through them. Seeing that the accounting method was ordinary and the accounts were clear, Fang smiled and nodded, "Since Master Bo trusts me, I will definitely help you manage these properties."
Before she got married, when her elder sister-in-law first married into the Marquis' Mansion, she helped her mother to manage the accounts. These were not difficult tasks for Nan Xu.
Since he had this intention and she was not the one to be shy, she asked Yu Ming to take people to put the things away.
Seeing the things being put away, Duan Wenpei was still sitting there steadily. Nan Xu was puzzled, "Uncle, is there anything else?" He had completely forgotten that today was only the second day of his wedding.
Nanny Jiang was standing behind, and her old face turned bitter when she heard this.
My dear, are you really going to drive your husband out?
Duan Wenpei ignored her question, put down the teacup, and waved his hand, "Let them in."
More than twenty servants crowded into the flower hall. Judging from the material of their clothes, they should be stewards of some status. Nan Xu was slightly stunned, then sat up straight and took out the money for the mistress of the house.
How could she forget that as a housekeeper, she had to meet with the managers in various places in the mansion and establish some rules.
Liu Hui smiled as he stepped forward and introduced them, "Madam, these are the stewards in charge of various affairs. They have been here since the Bo Mansion was established. Although they have only been here for two or three years, they can be considered old. I brought them here today for your review and I hope you will give me your instructions."
After she finished speaking, two old maids came out and led everyone in kneeling and bowing. "We greet the Madam. Master He and Madam are very happy."
This happened suddenly, but fortunately Nan Xu was preparing to reward the servants. She had prepared purses early and had them distributed.
A few smart people quietly weighed their purses and thanked loudly with a flattering look on their faces.
Nan Xu chuckled and nodded slowly. "I'm young, and this is my first time here. I'll have to rely on you all in the future. This is just a small meeting gift, so please keep it for your drinks."
"You are too polite, Madam. As long as you have any instructions, we will do our best."
"That's right, that's right, Madam, just watch me. You can rest assured that I, Old Liu, will do what I do. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west!"
"I'll do whatever Madam tells me to do. I'll obey Madam in everything!"
Despite hearing endless words of loyalty, Nan Xu still smiled faintly, neither showing any joy nor being shy or reserved.
Duan Wenpei glanced at her sideways, seeing how relaxed she was, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
Nan Xu naturally didn't notice the change in Duan Wenpei's expression. As she listened to the compliments, her eyes moved, but her smile did not reach her eyes.
She raised her hand slightly, signaling everyone to be quiet, "I appreciate your kindness, but there is one thing I need to explain clearly to everyone."
"I'm a stickler for rules, with clear rewards and punishments. You're all in charge of different areas, so you need to pay attention to everything. You can't overstep the boundaries, and you can't be lazy. If something goes wrong, I won't address the subordinates, but only the ones in charge. Do you understand?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the people who were grinning from ear to ear stopped talking.
There was no mistress in the mansion before, so these people couldn't have a very comfortable life.
Duan Wenpei rarely came to the backyard. No matter big or small matters were reported to him, it was Liu Hui who made the decision. Liu Hui had a very gentle temperament. If there were occasional problems, everyone would cover them up. If they really couldn't be covered up, his subordinates would take the blame.
This was the first time they were held directly responsible for something that went wrong during an assignment. Someone objected unconvincedly, "Madam, please forgive me for being so nosy. But if the subordinates were disobedient to begin with, or were relying on the master's favor, or had a grudge against us, the managers, and were deliberately causing trouble, wouldn't that be unfair to us?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the audience began to whisper.
Several managers even stood up and claimed yes.
After all, these people did not take the new wife Nan Xu seriously. They just looked at Duan Wenpei sitting aside and restrained their words.
Nan Xu was neither anxious nor annoyed, and listened quietly to their chatter.
Seeing Nan Xu leisurely taking the round fan handed over by Yuxiang and gently waving it, the managers gradually became timid.
As the old saying goes, I'm not afraid of those who quarrel, fight and scold, but I'm afraid of those who are gentle and kill without bloodshed.
"Now that you have finished speaking, it's time to listen to me." She smiled softly, and the hearts of several elderly managers standing in the front trembled, and they involuntarily took a few steps back.
"What you just said makes sense. So, to prevent this kind of thing from happening, please register with Yu Ming and record everyone's detailed information. Not only your own, but also the details of the people under your charge."
"Of course, you can't record randomly or haphazardly. After you finish recording, I will arrange for someone to make a separate list for everyone under you. If the information doesn't match after comparison, or if there are major discrepancies, or if it's proven that someone deliberately concealed the information, the lighter punishment will be a monthly fine, and the heavier punishment will be 10 taels of silver and expulsion from the mansion."
She spoke without hesitation, as if she already knew these words and procedures by heart.
Duan Wenpei stroked the jade pendant around his waist and looked at his wife intently.
His eyes were warm, and Nan Xu noticed it. She turned her head and their eyes met. The approval in Duan Wenpei's eyes caught her eye.
Nan Xu smiled confidently, pointed at the booklet Yu Ming held out, and asked him, "What do you think, Master?"
The indignant stewards below also looked over.
After all, the master is the one who calls the shots in this mansion. Even if these people have made some contributions, they have also worked hard. Although they know that "a new official has to start with three things", they still have to save face.
If a quarrel really breaks out, it will be the new wife who will be embarrassed.
Seeing Duan Wenpei was silent for a long time, he felt like stepping forward to ease the atmosphere, "Master, I think the Madam doesn't know the situation in the mansion yet. Let us slowly tell her..."
"Since it's in your hands, you decide." He opened his thin lips slightly, not even glancing at the manager who came forward to speak, but staring at the booklet in Nan Xu's hand. "Let me take a look."
Nan Xu didn't show it on his face, but he was very satisfied in his heart. He thought to himself that this man was a man of his words, so he handed the booklet over.
"In that case, Yuming, take the stewards with you."
Some people were not convinced and wanted to step forward to argue, but were stopped by people on both sides.
Previously, everyone saw that the new wife was arranged to live in such a remote residence in Jingyuan, and thought that she was not favored by the uncle.
In addition, Nan Xu is young and comes from a marquis's family, so she is inevitably embarrassed to show her face. Even if she is not satisfied with something, she will not give them problems on the first meeting.
Who would have thought that Nan Xu was not afraid at all? Besides, Duan Wenpei had also spoken. If he bumped into him at this time, wouldn't he be asking Nan Xu to catch him and make an example of him?
There is still a long way to go, so let’s wait and see.
There were not many literate servants, so Nan Xu asked Yuxiang and Nanny Jiang to go over and help, leaving only Nan Xu and Duan Wenpei in the flower hall.
After a brief silence, Duan Wenpei pushed the booklet in front of Nan Xu and asked, "Whose idea was this?"
The booklet is very simple, just collecting basic information such as the servants' names and hometowns. What is worth reading carefully is the last two columns which record the past of the person in the mansion, whether there are any mistakes he has made or any rewards he has received, any punishments he has received, what he is good at, as well as the evaluation of himself by people who are close to him.
These seemingly insignificant things are actually the quickest way to understand a person's character and habits.
Seeing him ask, Nan Xu did not hide it, "This is what my mother taught me."
The miscellaneous affairs of the huge marquis' mansion were carried out in an orderly manner under the control of A Niang.
When Nan Xu mentioned her mother, the pride in her words made Duan Wenpei's expression change slightly.
His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he finally calmed down.
After a while, he just said, "Your mother is fine."
*
Duan Wenpei originally planned to take Nan Xu to visit the Bo Mansion, but unexpectedly, as soon as they left Jingyuan, Yu Rong came over and said he had something important to report.
He had no choice but to give the important task of taking Nan Xu to familiarize herself with the Bo Mansion to Liu Hui.
Looking at his back as he walked away, Nan Xu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't know why, but since she came back from the palace with him yesterday, she had been a little afraid to stay with him.
I always feel very tormented and never feel comfortable being alone.
She shook her head, thinking that she was not familiar with him.
Climbing up the rockery to the viewing tower, the entire Bo Mansion came into view. Every time Nan Xu looked at a place, Liu Hui pointed out and explained it in detail. Within half a day, Nan Xu had a general understanding of the layout of the entire Bo Mansion.
Looking forward along a row of willow trees, Nan Xu pointed to a corner of green bricks and green tiles hidden under the trees and asked where it was. If it weren't for her good eyesight, she almost didn't see it.
Liu Hui hesitated for a moment before saying, "This is where the uncle usually lives, Guangwen Pavilion."
Um?
The distance from Guangwen Pavilion to Jingyuan is really far.
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