"Granny Hua, just say what you have to say."
Li Lanzhen noticed that Granny Hua had been looking worried these past two days, and seemed hesitant to speak when she saw her.
She didn't say anything even after I waited for two days.
So I just told her to speak.
Granny Hua quickly poured tea for Li Lanzhen, then stood in front of her, bowed, and raised her head to speak.
"Madam, this old servant has seen that the Third Young Master is already a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examinations), and it is not a problem for him to pass the provincial-level imperial examinations in the future."
They will likely be heading to the capital city in the future.
The eldest son learned how to do business from Manager Hua.
The old servant believed that the lady's family business would surely grow big.
So this old servant was thinking, could I perhaps advise the ladies on some etiquette and manners to observe in social interactions?
Li Lanzhen paused in her teacup; Granny Hua was indeed a woman of eloquence.
He first praised himself before criticizing him, then uttered the final sentence.
But thinking about it, she's right. In the future, whether it's Han Mingxiang, Han Minghai, or Han Mingjiang, they will definitely leave Peach Blossom Spring.
Not to mention that when his grandsons grow up, they will definitely be able to go out and make their own way in the world.
Once you leave Peach Blossom Spring, you'll have to interact with people from all walks of life.
Learning etiquette and rules can protect you from attacks and ridicule, and it can also be considered as learning a skill or ability.
"Alright, Granny Hua, could you take on the task of teaching them?"
Granny Hua was initially uneasy, but she felt that Li Lanzhen was a good mistress and that her children were all pure, simple and kind people.
Having been here for so long, I have never treated her like a servant, nor have I ever beaten or scolded them for any reason, or deducted their monthly wages.
Looking at the young mistresses and young ladies, although their manners and behavior were proper and polite, they could probably do even better.
So today she dared to tell Li Lanzhen these things.
She knew the consequences; at worst, she would anger Li Lanzhen, who would then sell her off again or beat her out.
Unexpectedly, Li Lanzhen adopted her suggestion, and she was so happy that she quickly bowed.
"Madam, this old servant is currently able to teach the young ladies and ladies basic etiquette."
However, this old servant is not skilled in the arts of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting.
"Madam, you can ask Manager Hua to find a female tutor to teach the young mistress and young lady."
"What did you mainly do in the master's house?"
After Li Lanzhen bought them back, she didn't inquire in detail about what they did at their previous master's house.
So I asked that question out of curiosity.
"Replying to Madam, this old servant was originally a nanny in the palace."
Later, she was implicated in a palace affair and sold off, ending up in her previous master's household as a head maidservant serving the eldest daughter.
Upon hearing this, Li Lanzhen thought, "The palace maids must have a more comprehensive understanding of the rules."
"Alright, starting tomorrow they'll be under your supervision."
Standing behind Li Lanzhen, Han Yuemei listened to their conversation with a mixture of excitement and curiosity.
After the school in Peach Blossom Spring opened, she continued to study there and practice writing at home.
She has memorized the "Hundred Family Surnames" and the "Thousand Character Classic" perfectly.
She also mastered the numerical calculation formulas that Li Lanzhen taught her.
Now that Granny Hua said she would teach them manners, she was overjoyed.
He glanced at Han Yuemei, who was standing behind him with a happy and excited expression.
Li Lanzhen patted her hand gently and said.
"Within the month, go and tell your three sisters-in-law, as well as Miaomiao, to come to your mother's place."
After everyone had arrived, Li Lanzhen met their puzzled and nervous gazes.
He chuckled.
"Don't be nervous, here's what happened."
So she recounted her conversation with Granny Hua.
Xue Nizi was the first to jump out.
"What? Mother, how old am I? Do I still have to learn these rules?"
"I can't learn that, Mom. Can you please let me not learn? I just love wielding a big ladle and cooking."
Li Lanzhen looked at her and pretended to have a sullen face.
“If you don’t study, what if one day your husband, Han Mingjiang, becomes successful and goes to the capital?”
What will you do? When you're at a gathering with other ladies, you can't do anything, yet you tell them you just love wielding a big ladle to cook.
Don't you feel ashamed or uncomfortable?
Xue Nizi stamped her foot, "I'm not upset. Whether my husband is an official or a farmer, as long as he treats me well, that's all that matters."
If he dares to divorce me, humph, I'll let him taste my fists!
As he spoke, he raised his fist and swung it around.
Li Lanzhen was amused by her daughter-in-law's impulsive personality.
"No, you have to learn even if you don't like it. You have to wash. This is a task given by your mother!"
If you can't learn it, then don't go to the cafeteria and start cooking with a big ladle!
Mother found a few more people who could cook.
Xue Nizi stared at Li Lanzhen's serious face, her tone slowing down.
"Mom, that won't do. I'll learn, I'll learn, okay? You can't kick me out of the main kitchen."
Once this troublemaker is silenced, the others, whether they like it or not, will all keep quiet.
"Alright, that's settled then. Starting tomorrow, you will begin your studies under Granny Hua's guidance."
Granny Hua teaches in my courtyard every day.
You can arrange the time with them yourself, but of course, they shouldn't have to study here all day; it's boring, and they can't stand it.
Granny Hua nodded with a smile, "I know, Madam. I will discuss it with the young mistresses and ladies at a time."
Li Lanzhen looked at the people present.
"Granny Hua, you can teach any girl who is willing to learn."
Yuemei, when you're eating, talk to the girls and your uncles and aunts about it.
If you'd like, you can send your daughter here to study together.
After settling the matter and entrusting it to Granny Hua and Han Yuemei, Li Lanzhen picked up her basket and went out of the courtyard to find Han Zhaoxiong.
Li Lianzhen wanted to build three earthen kilns for baking steamed buns.
Considering the large number of people in Peach Blossom Spring, the oven for baking steamed buns was built higher, with two or three layers inside.
She took the blueprints and went to find Han Zhaoxiong.
"Auntie, you're here? Is there something you need? Just tell me, and I'll make sure you get it done!"
Han Zhaoxiong saw Li Lanzhen coming over and knew that she had come to see him again. He especially liked it when Li Lanzhen asked him to do things for her.
Because every time Li Lanzhen came to him for help, he would learn a lot of skills from her.
So he was very happy!
Sure enough, Li Lanzhen took out a blueprint from her bosom.
"Zhaoxiong, come here, take a look at this blueprint. My aunt wants to build a clay oven for baking steamed buns. What do you think we should do?"
Han Zhaoxiong took the blueprints and looked at them for a while.
"Auntie can fix it."
The only problem is that it's hard to find a metal tray for baking bread, especially one that's so big.
Li Lanzhen had this in mind when she drew the blueprint.
Han Zhaoxiong stared at the blueprints for a long time, then suddenly came up with a solution.
"Auntie, do you think this will work?"
This baked bun is shaped like a brick kiln.
"It's a dome-shaped kiln with a fire in the center. There are layers of protruding bricks on the kiln walls. You place the dough pieces on those bricks, and the fire in the center ensures even heating. That should work."
Li Lanzhen suddenly realized that it was true. In her time, there was a type of flatbread that was baked in a kiln by sticking the dough directly to the wall of the kiln.
"Okay, take your time to figure it out."
"Auntie, where is it being repaired?"
Li Lanzhen, who had taken two steps, was stopped by Han Zhaoxiong.
"It'll be built right next to the cafeteria. Just find a spot yourself."
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