A few days later, Auntie Qin suddenly discovered something: she hadn't seen Qin Si Ya and Qin Shou Cheng for several days. After dinner, the family sat under the eaves to rest. Although they had separated, the yard was still shared. Auntie Qin raised her doubts: "Sister-in-law, I haven't seen Si Ya and Shou Cheng for several days. Where did they go?" Mother
Qin had no place to show off, but Auntie Qin asked her something: "Si Ya and Shou Cheng went to the border with A Fang and his wife."
"What?" This was an answer that Auntie Qin could never think of.
Even the other people in the yard looked at Mother Qin.
As an insider, Grandma Qin also sighed. A Fang and his wife took Si Ya and Shou Cheng with them for their own good. Si Ya can learn to read and write with A Fang's wife, and can also teach her needlework, and then learn some of the rules and etiquette of A Fang's wife's wealthy family, which is good in the end. As for Shou Cheng, according to his daughter-in-law, A Fang's wife plans to let him go to school. It must be said that this kind of eldest sister-in-law who takes care of her younger sister-in-law and brother-in-law is really good.
Grandma Qin also knows the reason why they did not reveal it in advance. A Fang's wife takes care of Si Ya and Shou Cheng, which is originally a favor. If the second room knows about it, it may be that Niu Dan will also go to school with her, or if the third room is included, Er Ya and San Ya will also go with them. But the money of the eldest grandson and his wife is not blown by the wind, and they have to support their younger brothers and sisters in the next room, especially Uncle Qin Er and Uncle Qin San are still alive.
Although she said so, Grandma Qin also knew that the gap between the first room and the second and third rooms is getting bigger and bigger.
Mother Qin said, "It's because of those two little brats, Si Ya and Shou Cheng, who refused to get off the carriage after taking it for a ride, and insisted on staying in it. As a result, Fang and his wife had no choice but to take them to the border."
Aunt Qin was not a fool, and she knew what Mother Qin said. Si Ya and Shou Cheng followed Fang and his wife to the border to enjoy life. Although the border was dangerous, Fang's wife was a golden child who could afford three acres of wasteland, a horse, and a carriage, so how could she not enjoy life with them?
Aunt Qin was so stupid, what could she say? Even if Fang and his wife were there, she couldn't force her niece-in-law to raise Er Ya and Niu Dan, not to mention that they were gone.
Qin's father called Uncle Qin and Uncle Qin to the side and said, "I have finished the work in the past few days. I plan to build a house on the wasteland of Afang's wife. Would you like to come and help? Meals are not included, and the wages are ten cents a day."
Uncle Qin and Uncle Qin were stunned, and then Uncle Qin said, "No wages." Why should they, as uncles, ask for wages for helping their nephew build a house?
Aunt Qin heard this and thought her husband was a fool. The first wife was willing to pay him, but he didn't know to ask for it. But the man had already said it, what could she say?
Qin's father said, "Yes, the house is not small, and it will take some time. Otherwise, you will get paid for working in town. How can I let you work for nothing? It's okay for one or two days, but it's better to pay you for the long term."
Aunt Qin took the opportunity to say, "That's right, brother."
Qin's father: "I'll get the drawings out for you to see. Before building a house, the wood, bricks, etc. must be prepared first."
After Qin's father took out the drawings and told Uncle Qin and Uncle Qin the scale, Uncle Qin and Uncle Qin also knew that this would indeed take time, so they didn't refuse the wages.
Aunt Qin listened to this and asked, "Brother, do you still need people? My brothers are capable too."
Mother Qin said, "No need. Just call a few people from the clan and my brothers from my mother's side." If she had money to earn, she would of course rely on her brothers.
According to her husband's estimate, it would cost about fifty taels of silver to build the house this time, but her daughter-in-law generously gave her one hundred taels of silver. Even if the money was enough, they couldn't spend it recklessly. They had to return the money to their son and daughter-in-law when they came back.
While the Qin family was talking enthusiastically about building the house, Qin Fang and his party had been on the road for several days and now arrived at a village. This was the village where they had stayed when they returned home at the beginning of the month. It's not that they didn't look for an inn, but they didn't have enough time to find one in the next town, so they had to travel at night. If they stayed in an inn in the previous town, they would have to waste half a day, mainly because the two towns on this road were far apart.
The carriage stopped in front of the house where they had stayed. Because Qin was in the front, he got off the horse and knocked on the door: "Excuse me, is anyone there?"
After knocking a few times, the door opened. It was a young girl, the daughter of this family, whose surname was Ren. Miss Ren remembered Qin Fang, because about 20 days ago, they stayed at her house and paid a considerable amount of money. When she saw them, she asked enthusiastically: "Military officer, are you staying overnight?" The last time they stayed overnight, Qin Fang said that they were from the Yongzhou military camp, and they were returning to their hometown after completing their military service. They stayed overnight when they passed by here. They also heard Kunshi call Qin Fang "Master", so the Ren family called Qin Fang "Military Officer".
Qin Fang said: "Yes."
Miss Ren: "Please come in. You are back from your hometown. Are you going back to the military camp?"
Qin Fang: "Yes." It was not a military secret, so it was okay to tell it. Besides, they came to disturb other people's homes, and it was not appropriate to hide their identities. Besides, they were not people of great status.
Yang Haiyan, Kun Zhang and others also got off the carriage. Miss Ren found that there were more people this time than last time, but the extra people seemed to be family members.
"My dear, who is here?" Ren's father and mother also came out of the house. When they came out, they saw Yang Haiyan and others. "Oh, it's the military officer and his wife."
Yang Haiyan: "Old man, I'm bothering you again."
Ren's mother: "Where, where, please come in quickly. You haven't had dinner yet?"
Yang Haiyan: "I haven't eaten yet. We brought flour. Please prepare it for us. Old man, do you have vegetables and eggs at home?"
Ren's mother: "Yes, yes, I'll prepare it for you now." She took the flour. It was the same as last time. They gave the noodles, and the vegetables and eggs were from their family. However, they paid for them, so this time, Ren's mother did not ask too many questions. "Miss, take the guests to the room."
Miss Ren: "Hey, sir, madam, you guys, please, can we stay in the two rooms we stayed in last time?"
Last time, Yang Haiyan and Qin Fang stayed in one room, and Kun Shi stayed in another. But this time it won't work. The women have to stay in one room, and the men have to stay in one room.
Yang Haiyan: "Okay... Si Ya and Kun's wife stay in one room with me, and my husband, Shou Cheng, and Captain Kun and his son stay in one room."
Qin Fang: "Yes." It can only be like this.
When Miss Ren made the bed for them, Ren's mother had also cooked the green vegetable and egg noodles. Knowing that these people were generous, Ren's mother fried eggs before cooking. In this way, the noodle soup with oil and water tasted even better.
While Yang Haiyan and the others were eating noodles, Ren's mother took Miss Ren to boil some hot water for the guests to wash up. And Ren's father had not appeared since the beginning, because there were female guests and he had to avoid them.
Kun Zhang gave the poached egg in her bowl to Kun Daying. She had been following him all the way here, and she had adapted to the new environment from being reserved at first. Especially when they first ate together, they ordered several dishes in the inn. The dishes were better than what they had during the Chinese New Year, so Kun Zhang didn't know how to pick up her chopsticks. Even if the lady asked her to eat, she was too embarrassed to pick up her chopsticks.
Seeing her like this, Yang Haiyan didn't eat together anymore. Either everyone had a bowl of noodles, or the food was ordered at two tables.
After eating the noodles and washing up, everyone went to rest.
The next day, everyone had breakfast, gave the Ren family fifty coins, and then set off. In the evening of the next day, they finally returned to the family's house.
Looking at the family house, Kunshi said, "We are finally here."
Yang Haiyan opened the carriage window curtain and they were indeed here. Perhaps it was because she was here when she first entered the book, so she was more accustomed to this place than the old Qin's house, and felt that this place was like home.
Qin Siya squeezed her head out to look outside: "Sister-in-law, this place is the same as the town."
Yang Haiyan said, "This is the town. Look at the rows of neat courtyards over there. Those are the military camp family houses. Many soldiers and their families live there."
Qin Siya: "Wow, it's different from the town over there."
Yang Haiyan: "We will be at our house soon." They were
indeed here soon. Because the owner was not at home, the door of Qianfu's house was closed. When Uncle Hong heard someone knocking on the door, he opened the door and saw Qin Fang and the others, and he was a little excited: "My lord, you are finally back." Then, he shouted to the inside of the house, "My lord is back."
The house was so small that when Uncle Hong shouted, Nanny Lian and the others in the inner courtyard also heard it and hurried out.
Nanny Lian bowed as soon as she saw them: "Madam, you are finally back."
Yang Haiyan went over and helped her up: "You have worked hard this month. How is your family? Did anything happen?"
Nanny Lian said: "Everything is fine in the shop and at home, but..." As she said that, she glanced towards the servants' yard.
Yang Haiyan also looked over there, and saw several female relatives looking over there. Yang Haiyan did not ask any more questions: "Si Ya, Shou Cheng, come here. Mammy, this is Qin Si Ya, Si means missing, Ya means sprouting. This is Qin Shou Cheng, Shou means punctual, Cheng means achievement. From now on, call them Miss Ya and Brother Cheng, and arrange them to the east chamber. Tomorrow, go to the pawnshop and buy a maid to look after Si Ya and Shou Cheng."
Mammy Lian: "Yes."
Yang Haiyan said to Qin Si Ya and Qin Shou Cheng: "Si Ya, Shou Cheng, this is Mammy Lian. Mammy Lian will teach you etiquette in the future. If you can't find your sister-in-law and encounter some problems, please find Mammy Lian." Qin
Si Ya and Qin Shou Cheng: "Okay, sister-in-law."
"Madam... Madam, you are finally back." Aunt Fan said as she ran, "Madam, you haven't eaten yet, have you?"
Yang Haiyan saw Aunt Fan and followed her in a friendly manner. She was used to the food made by Aunt Fan and missed it when she was at the Qin family: "Not yet, you can make some. By the way, Captain Kun is back with his wife and ten-year-old son. Send them some food after it is ready."
Aunt Fan: "Yes."
Yang Haiyan: "Madam Lian, go prepare Si Ya and Shou Cheng's room first, I will take them back to the main courtyard first."
Aunt Lian: "Yes."
When Aunt Lian prepared the east room, Aunt Fan's dinner was also ready. Because they didn't know when the host would come back, there was definitely no good food in the kitchen, so Aunt Fan also prepared noodles. Unlike the green vegetable and egg noodles they had on the road, Aunt Fan prepared sauerkraut, kimchi and bacon noodles.
The taste was slightly sour and refreshing.
After dinner, Aunt Fan took Qin Si Ya and Qin Shou Cheng to the east room to wash up and sleep, while Yang Hai Yan and Aunt Lian returned to the study.
Yang Haiyan: "Madame Lian, please sit down and tell me about the situation at home these days."
Madame Lian: "Yes." After sitting down, she talked about the situation at home, "Everything is normal at home, Aunt Fan, Uncle Hong, Aunt Hong, and Aunt Yu, their daily work is the same as before you left. Mainly, two female families came to the servants' yard, one from Meng Ping's family and the other from Huang Huzi's family."
Qin Fang has five private guards, of whom only three are married, Kunshi, Huang Huzi and Meng Ping.
Yang Haiyan nodded: "Go on."
Nanny Lian continued: "Meng Ping's family was the first to come. They came back on the third day after you and the master left. Before you left, you said that in addition to the monthly allowance, the private guards all eat food from the mansion, one vegetable, one meat dish, and one soup every day, a total of three dishes, and the amount depends on the number of people. The mansion is not responsible for the meals of the private guards' families, and they are only allowed to live with the private guards in the servants' yard."
Yang Haiyan said: "Not bad." She is not running a charity, and she has to support their families without paying the monthly allowance for the private guards. You have to know that the cost of supporting one more person for three meals a day is about ten coins, which is three hundred coins a month, which is as much as the monthly allowance of a private guard. Of course, this calculation is based on their current food. If they eat sweet potatoes for three meals a day, it is of course cheap.
Lian Ma: "Meng Ping has three family members, one is his wife, one is his daughter, and one is his sister."
Yang Haiyan: "His sister is here too?" Although the servants' yard is small, Yang Haiyan built it based on modern suites, so people can live there, because it has two bedrooms and a living room, that is, two sleeping rooms and a dining room, and then there is a public small kitchen in the servants' yard, which can be used by everyone. But why did Meng Ping's sister come?
Lian Ma: "That's right. According to Meng Ping, his sister had originally agreed to marry in the countryside, but the man later became a live-in son-in-law of another family and broke off the engagement with her sister. Although it was the man's fault, his sister's reputation was also ruined. She was always pointed at by the villagers. He couldn't bear to see his sister get hurt, so he brought her here."
Yang Haiyan frowned. Theoretically, since a small courtyard with a private guard was prepared, she would not object to the private guard bringing his family, even if he brought his parents. After all, she couldn't let him ignore his family just because he became Qin Fang's private guard. But why did he bring his sister here without his parents? Even if the servants' courtyard was separated from this place, it would still make people think about it.
In fact, she didn't dislike people with their own ideas, but it depends on the situation. Just like Uncle Hong, he went back home before and brought his wife and children back directly, but at least he didn't live directly in the busy courtyard, but asked for her consent first. But as for Meng Ping... In short, she was a little unhappy in her heart.
Yang Haiyan: "Madam, this is not all you want to say, right?" Madam Lian seemed to be hesitant to speak just now, and it should be more than just this. Madam Lian
said: "That's right, on the first day they came, Meng Ping's wife came to ask me how much her monthly allowance was and what kind of work she did. I was confused at the time, because you didn't say anything about giving a monthly allowance to private family members before you left."
Yang Haiyan: "I did not say that, but my lord only hired a private guard, not a couple. So why should the private guard's wife have a monthly salary? Isn't this common sense?"
Nanny Lian said, "That's right. That's why I also found it very strange when Meng Ping's wife came to ask. But I have to say that I don't know about this matter. We'll talk about it after Madam comes back."
Yang Haiyan understood what Nanny Lian said. After all, as a slave, she didn't dare to make decisions about things she didn't know. Yang Haiyan nodded: "Then, I guess there is more to come, otherwise this matter would not have made our Lian Ma so embarrassed."
Lian Ma took the opportunity to say something nice: "Madam is wise. Later, Meng Ping's wife did not ask about the monthly allowance and went back. But after Yu Ma sent Meng Ping two meals, she came again. She said that the meal we sent was only for Meng Ping to eat, but there are four people in their family now, and the meal is not enough. Did our kitchen deduct their food? Oh, I have never seen such a thing in my life. People, really are..."
Yang Haiyan poured her a cup of tea: "Madame Lian, calm down."
Madame Lian: "Thank you, madam. Mrs. Mengping went to the cafeteria to say that. The cafeteria was managed by Aunt Fan. She said at the time that the madam had instructed that if several private guards were to eat, we should prepare food for them, and not for the families of the private guards. "
Yang Haiyan: "Yes, I said it with you."
Madame Lian: "But Mrs. Mengping didn't believe Aunt Fan's words, so she said that Aunt Fan withheld their food, and then Aunt Fan angrily brought Mrs. Mengping to find the old man. " I have heard this from you, and I can testify that this is what the Madam has stipulated. When Mrs. Meng Ping heard what the old slave said, she stopped talking. I am thinking that she will come to see you tomorrow."
Yang Haiyan chuckled, "What about Huang Huzi's wife? How is she?"
Nanny Lian: "Huang Huzi's family arrived five days ago. Only Huang Huzi's wife came. They don't have any children yet. According to Huang Huzi's wife, they got married two days before Huang Huzi was going to serve in the army. After their wedding night, Huang Huzi came to join the army, and she was not pregnant at the time."
Yang Haiyan: "Really?"
Lian Mama: "That's right. According to Huang Huzi's wife, there are many people who get married before the man goes to the army, and then have a wedding night in the hope of leaving some blood for the man. Some succeed, some don't. Like her, although she didn't succeed in getting pregnant, but the man can come back alive after five years, so she is lucky. Like her man, she can find a job before going back, which is considered promising." Food, clothing and housing are all provided by the master, and the monthly salary is 300 coins, which means that more than 3 taels of silver can be saved in a year. If you go to find a job elsewhere, you may have a higher monthly salary, such as a wine shop manager or an accountant, but this is different from working in the government.
For example, the seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister is also the same. Being a shopkeeper in a restaurant or a cashier in a merchant's house is not as prestigious as being a private guard in an official's house. After all, Qin Fang is also a seventh-rank official and a clerk in the court. Just like in modern times, some men who work in sales earn hundreds of thousands a year, and their income is higher than that of civil servants, but why do some women still focus on civil servants with slightly lower incomes when looking for a partner? It's because of their different status.
Yang Haiyan listened carefully to what Nanny Lian said, and she understood a little: "You seem to have a good impression of Huang Huzi's wife."
Nanny Lian was startled, worried that the lady would think she was forming a clique, so she immediately explained: "Compared to Meng Ping's wife, I think Huang Huzi's wife is more real. I'm already this age, and I still have some sense of judging people." She did not deny it because it would make her feel too guilty, so she simply admitted that she had a good impression of Huang Huzi's wife.
Yang Haiyan thought for a moment: "How old is Huang Huzi's wife?"
Nanny Lian: "Twenty-four, three years older than Huang Huzi, who is twenty-one this year. When they got married, Huang Huzi was fifteen and his wife was eighteen. The reason why Huang Huzi's wife married Huang Huzi was because an eighteen-year-old girl would be unloved at home, otherwise who would be willing to let a daughter of the rich family marry him and become a widow?" If you marry a young man who is about to serve in the army, doesn't she have to be prepared to become a widow?
Yang Haiyan: "Mammy, how about this, let's take a look at the character of Huang Huzi's wife for the time being. If possible, let her work in the house at that time, and we will arrange what she will do later." Anyway, there are not enough people. "By the way, you don't need to buy maids from outside for the time being. If the wives of the private guards can be used, then use them. After all, the private guards may follow the master in the future, so it is more appropriate to use their wives."
Nanny Lian: "Yes."
Yang Haiyan: "Another point, unmarried girls should not walk around in the house, especially not in the outer courtyard and the main courtyard." Although Qin Fang doesn't like to go to the outer courtyard and the study is also in the main courtyard, it is inevitable to meet him. Nanny
Lian's eyes flashed with a ruthless light: "Yes, the old servant understands." She is more shrewd than Yang Haiyan in these matters. Some girls are specifically thinking about that. They are very mean in their bones. They don't want to be a good wife outside, but insist on being a concubine. What else is this if not mean in their bones?
Yang Haiyan stood up: "I'm going to take a shower. I'm exhausted from traveling these days. I'll get up late tomorrow, so don't call me. And the children, don't call them either."
Aunt Lian: "Yes. Then I'll make wine-fermented dumplings tomorrow? Wait for you to eat them when you get up?"
Yang Haiyan was very surprised: "Do we have wine-fermented dumplings at home?"
Aunt Lian: "Since you and the adults will be back in the next two days, the wine-fermented dumplings we made a few days ago can be eaten tomorrow."
Yang Haiyan: "That's great. I've been craving the taste of wine-fermented dumplings recently."
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