Madam Bo and Pei Lingyu, mother and son, arrived together, but Jiang Yao was nowhere to be seen.
The old man is still not here. I heard that he has recently become fascinated with Taoism and has gone to stay at a Taoist temple outside the city.
Madam Pei said that the old man was being unreasonable, not even coming to the ancestral worship ceremony during the New Year, but she didn't punish him severely.
Ultimately, the Marquis's Mansion and the Earl's Mansion had separated, and the reason the old Earl didn't come was because the Marquis's Mansion didn't offer any help when he was in trouble, which made him angry.
Madam Pei thought he was a scoundrel, and since he wasn't coming, she couldn't be bothered with him.
He only asked Pei Lingyu to step forward and offer incense to the Pei family ancestors, and encouraged him to work hard and produce a scholar for the family in the autumn examination this year.
Pei Lingyu immediately felt distressed.
He hates hearing things like being ambitious, taking exams for fame and fortune.
He was impatient to listen, but given Madam Pei's seniority and status, he had no choice but to lower his head and pretend to listen obediently, while his eyes kept wandering around.
Jiang Shuwan immediately noticed that Pei Lingyu was looking at the pretty maids around them.
While offering incense to their ancestors, they were looking at pretty maids. How could the coffin lids of the Pei family's ancestors be covered?
Speechless!
Jiang Shuwan pretended not to see anything, acting as if she were a doll.
Kneel when you should kneel, and bow when you should bow.
The tedious formalities finally came to an end, and everyone moved to the tea room where the ladies drank tea together.
A woman from the clan looked around and, not seeing Jiang Yao, asked.
"Madam, where is your daughter-in-law?"
"She's learning manners at home..."
When the aunt said this, her eyes were full of smugness.
Ever since Pei Lingyu went into hiding and stopped supporting Jiang Yao, Jiang Yao has been no match for her at all.
Not only did she set rules for Jiang Yao every day, but this year she also forbade Jiang Yao from going out during the Spring Festival, and Jiang Yao had no choice but to accept it.
"Your wife really knows how to teach her daughter-in-law."
"As expected of Madam Bo."
“After this instruction, your wife will surely make some progress.”
After hearing what the lady of the house had to say, all the ladies praised her.
But the aunt sighed repeatedly.
She couldn't like her daughter-in-law Jiang Yao at all.
On the contrary, she liked Jiang Shuwan more and more as she looked at her, and she performed very well at the last clan banquet.
This time, the ancestral worship ceremony was conducted in perfect accordance with the rules and etiquette. She was poised, elegant, and refined, just like a beautiful woman.
How wonderful it would be if she were her daughter-in-law...
She wished she could switch her two daughters-in-law.
Seeing her intense yet strange gaze, Jiang Shuwan could basically guess what she was thinking, and she subtly moved towards Madam Pei's direction.
Whether it's a big boss or a small boss, she's been clinging to their coattails, and she has no intention of starting her own business.
Soon it was time to eat. After the family reunion dinner, everyone went home.
Jiang Shuwan also strolled leisurely towards her own courtyard.
Before we even arrived, we saw Brother Nai looking around at the second gate.
"Miss, this way."
As soon as Brother Nai saw her, he led her to the back door.
At this moment, three carts were parked at the back gate, piled high with New Year's gifts, including chicken, duck, fish, meat, fruits, pastries, mountain delicacies, and deer antlers.
"Where did this New Year's gift come from? Didn't we already send one?"
Qingxing curiously stretched her head out.
Yesterday, the two shopkeepers and Brother Nai came over, bringing not only account books but also some New Year's gifts, all of which were good products from the estate and shops.
Why send another New Year's gift when I've already given one?
"They weren't from our shop; they were given to us by the vendors in the West Market."
"West Market? Those shops that learned how to make milk tea and grilled skewers from us?"
"It was them. They said these things were for the young lady."
Milk Bro was speechless.
Given Jiang Shuwan's status, it's impossible for her to go out and do business, so he has always been the one managing the shops.
To avoid suspicion, he never revealed Jiang Shuwan's identity to outsiders, only saying that it was a business of the Marquis's residence.
It's unclear where these merchants got their information, but they somehow managed to find out that Jiang Shuwan is the owner behind the three shops.
They even prepared three truckloads of New Year's gifts overnight and asked him to deliver them.
Brother Nai sighed, "They certainly have a keen eye. Miss only came to the West Market twice before they started watching her."
"Who told you, the vice president, to personally receive me!" Jiang Shuwan was in a good mood and teased Brother Nai a couple of times.
The other maids also called the vice president "Brother Nai" repeatedly, making Brother Nai blush with embarrassment, wishing he could dig a hole and disappear.
"Miss, why are you teasing me? How I got this vice president position is something others might not know, but don't you know?"
He had only just started learning how to do business, and if it weren't for Jiang Shuwan's intervention, he wouldn't have even been able to get into the Chamber of Commerce.
Not to mention vice president!
"Alright, alright, I'm not going to say anymore."
Seeing that Brother Nai's face was flushed red, Jiang Shuwan didn't dare to continue teasing him.
She ordered people to move all the New Year's gifts inside, and put the dried goods that could be stored for a long time, such as mountain delicacies and deer antlers, into the warehouse.
The other live chickens and ducks, fish, meat, snacks, etc., were all distributed to the maids and servants in the courtyard.
We have to give out some New Year's gifts during the Chinese New Year!
There were also red envelopes prepared in advance, one for each person.
A group of maids and old women who came to wish Jiang Shuwan a Happy New Year were stunned.
When they were in the Jiang family, they would receive a reward of two copper coins when they paid New Year's greetings to their master.
But I've never experienced someone as generous as Jiang Shuwan, giving out red envelopes and chickens and ducks.
Chicken and duck meat are so expensive during the Lunar New Year!
They had also heard that these pastries and fruits were specially bought by merchants from the West Market to give to Jiang Shuwan.
Jiang Shuwan simply gave them these expensive pastries without any hesitation...
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss!"
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