The Jiang family set up several large pots in the open space in front of the ancestral hall, cooked pork and added vegetables, and enjoyed a delicious meaty meal.
Everyone thought the pork was delicious and didn't have that strange smell. Families with many members and surplus labor were already planning to raise one or two pigs.
Mu Yi'an's Jiangji Vegetable Shop has recently become more famous because of its pork.
Some families with better financial means would send their housekeepers to discuss with Manager Tong about ordering a certain amount of meat and some vegetables every day.
Jiang Shuwen's Jiangji Food Shop is thriving. Every day, they boil two large pig heads, two sets of pig offal, and sell hundreds of bowls of hot pot dishes.
Because there were many customers, Jiang Shuwen also hired two young boys from Jiangjia Village as waiters.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, the Ghost Festival has passed, and Jiang Lan's wedding day is just around the corner.
Jiang Shuyun has not yet returned from her study abroad trip, so Mu Yi'an is representing their branch of the family to attend the wedding banquet.
Butler Li led people back to tidy up the house in advance. Mu Yi'an and Jiang Qi, along with their three children, Sister Fang, Sister Lin, Wei Yunduo, Song Xiaolan, Jiang Mo, and Li Qiang, returned to Jiangjia Village.
After a period of training, the newly purchased servants have become familiar with the Jiang family's rules and have adapted well.
Now, Butler Li is in charge of the outer courtyard.
Sister-in-law Fang was in charge of the affairs of the inner courtyard, including the rules for the maids and old women.
Song, the accountant, also took up his post, managing the household accounts, the accounts of the estate, the vegetable shop, and Jiang's restaurant. After all the accounts were collected, Mu Yi'an would take a final look at them.
Once things at home are sorted out and everything is in order, and the rules are set and followed, everything will be fine.
Without rules, nothing can be accomplished; at any time, those who do not follow the rules will not last long.
"Madam, we've arrived."
Wei San's voice brought Mu Yi'an back to her senses, and she got off the carriage.
"Shuyun's family is back?"
"Yes, I just arrived."
"Is this a trip back to see Jiang Lan off at her wedding? Let me tell you, your aunt is back too."
This was something Mu Yi'an hadn't expected. She hadn't made a point of finding out whether Aunt Jiang knew about or what she thought about the Fan family's incident last time.
"Really? Auntie arrived quite early!"
"Hmph, if she hadn't come back sooner, would she have wanted to go back to Jiangjia Village in the future?"
The aunt passing by looked down on Aunt Jiang, thinking that she had no regard for her clansmen and was too snobbish.
Mu Yi'an had no answer to this, just then Chu Yue called out to her from the courtyard.
"Auntie, I'll go in first. I just got back and still need to tidy up a bit."
"Go on with your work, I'm going back to feed the pigs too."
The aunt carried a basket of pig feed and talked with Mu Yi'an for a long time.
"Mother, when are we going to see the bride?"
The little girl had no concept of her aunt, but wanted to join in the fun.
"We still have two days to see the bride, no rush, let's go see Grandpa and Grandma first, okay?"
"Oh well."
After listening to her mother's words, Chuyue didn't pester her any further and went to play with Song Xiaolan.
Chuyue was overjoyed after getting her own maid. She didn't understand what a maid was, only that she was a little sister who played with her.
After getting ready, Mu Yi'an and Jiang Qi took the child to the Jiang family's old house.
Jiang Lan will be getting married the day after tomorrow, and her relatives and friends will be adding to her bridal makeup tomorrow night. Mu Yi'an plans to just follow the crowd and go with Jiang's sister-in-law.
"Father, Mother, we've arrived."
Because Jiang Lan got married, the school has been closed for the past few days. Jiang's father is at home, and Jiang's older brother, who attends the county school, has also returned.
"You're here, Shao Ming. Is the schoolwork difficult?"
“Grandpa, I can understand everything the Master said.”
"That's good. Take your younger siblings to play with your older brothers."
Jiang's father knew that Shao Ming was a diligent student and could endure hardship, much like Shu Yun.
Mu Yi'an and Jiang Qi went inside together to ask Jiang's mother if there was anything else they could help with.
"Mother, is there anything else I need to do?"
"There's nothing else to prepare, everything is almost ready."
Jiang's mother took one last look at Jiang Lan's dowry.
They didn't keep the betrothal gifts sent by the Zhou family; they took them all back with her as part of her dowry.
As parents, they also put a lot of effort into preparing the dowry. Although it couldn't compare to that of wealthy families, they had prepared everything they needed to.
Bed, table, chairs, bedding, ancestral chamber pot, and silver ingots...
However, due to limited resources, they didn't have jewelry or anything like that, and Jiang Qi didn't have any at that time either.
"Second sister-in-law, I heard that you bought a family of servants for your eldest sister-in-law, is that true?"
Jiang's sister-in-law, dressed in new clothes, came in from outside and mysteriously pulled Mu Yi'an aside to talk.
"Is it true? Does your sister-in-law also want to buy one for her younger sister?"
"How could I possibly have that ability? Now, you and your third sister-in-law are running a shop and making a fortune, but you haven't mentioned taking me along."
Jiang's sister-in-law had witnessed Mu Yi'an's prowess at the Fan family's door last time, and she was a little intimidated.
However, the thought that Li Qiuniang had made money with Mu Yi'an, bought a house in the county town, opened a shop, and even hired servants made her feel uncomfortable.
"If you open a shop with your third brother and sister-in-law, they can provide the house and manpower. What can you, sister-in-law, contribute?"
"I, I..."
Jiang's wife was stumped. She had neither money nor manpower. What could she offer?
Mu Yi'an didn't want to talk to Sister-in-law Jiang; she couldn't even start an argument, so she was unhappy.
"Second sister-in-law, is your eldest sister-in-law causing you trouble again?"
Jiang Lan got married, and Jiang Shuwen and the others also returned. The shop was closed for a few days.
"Not really. They always want benefits but can't offer anything in return. They're always hoping for a windfall; how is that possible?"
Mu Yi'an had come to understand Jiang Dasao quite well. She didn't work hard or want to make any effort, and always wanted to rely on her status as the eldest daughter-in-law to get things done.
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