After Mu Ziyi's wedding, the Mu family took a stroll around the manor outside Mu Yi'an City.
Brother Mu mainly wanted to see how Yi'an was planting on his estate. He also wanted to learn how to tidy up his newly purchased estate and make good use of it.
Mr. and Mrs. Mu wanted to know more about their daughter's life so they could be at ease knowing she was doing well.
Jiang Shuyun also took her in-laws to a barbecue stall in the north of the city.
After Mu Ziyi accompanied his newlywed wife back to her parents' home, the Mu family prepared to return to the county town.
"Yi'an, I'll come over and stay with you after the New Year."
Mu's mother and the others are going back tomorrow, so they came today to say goodbye to Yi'an.
"Yes, after the New Year, my mother and my parents-in-law will come over together, so they'll have company."
Mu Yi'an knew that her parents couldn't stay at her house for extended periods like her in-laws. This was ancient times, where raising children was considered a way to provide for one's parents in old age; it was uncommon for the bride's parents to live with their married daughter for long periods, even if the family didn't have any sons.
"Yes, I'll come with my in-laws then. Now that your belly is getting bigger, don't think about anything else. Just listen to the doctor, take good care of yourself, and making sure you have a smooth delivery is the most important thing."
"I know, Mother, don't worry."
Mu Yi'an asked Sister Fang to prepare a lot of things for her parents to take back.
Brother Mu and the others said goodbye to Mu Yi'an and the others with reluctance. Fortunately, they were not too far apart, and they could see each other at least once a year.
After seeing the Mu family off, time seemed to fly by.
This year, Mu Yi'an didn't have to worry about the New Year's goods. He asked Sister Fang, Sister Li, and Sister Wei to prepare the list, and Butler Li sent people to make the purchases.
Regarding matters at the estate, Accountant Song was in charge of calculating wages, while Manager Li's representative, Mu Yi'an, distributed wages to each household.
Manager Wei had to work a bit harder, making a trip to the county town and delivering New Year's gifts to various households along the way.
People from Jiangjia Village and the county town, people who have visited in previous years, must not be left out this year.
Mu Yi'an asked Sister Fang to calculate the money from the previous sale of old clothes, go to the cloth shop, buy cotton cloth, and distribute it to the tenants on the estate.
The long-term laborers' wages were settled, but the goods were not distributed. They were given different red envelopes based on their positions and performance.
Apart from the farm staff, the other long-term workers can go home for the holidays and will come back after the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
The farmhands, though they don't get holidays, are happy to receive double pay. Especially those with wives and children, not going home doesn't have much of an impact.
The barbecue stalls will close a few days later so they can catch the last passenger ship.
Jiang Shuyun and her classmates' academy is about to have a holiday. Mu Yi'an also prepared some New Year's gifts and asked Wei Dong to take them to the academy to give to the headmaster, hall master, and dormitory head.
The New Year's gifts weren't expensive; they were mostly homemade food, side dishes, tea, and alcohol.
In short, there's so much to do before the New Year, I'm so busy I'm practically running around like crazy.
The one with the most free time was Mu Yi'an. She only needed to say a few words, and the rest would be taken care of by her subordinates.
At home, Fang Mianhua, along with her maids Yunduo, was making new clothes for the New Year.
For the other servants who were married, Mu Yi'an provided them with fabric and let them arrange their own supplies.
For unmarried guards like Zhao Wu, Mianhua and her team were tasked with making them.
"Sister Fang, if you and Sister Li have time, go and ask Master Zhao and the others if they have any suitable partners. They're not young anymore, it's time for them to settle down."
"Madam, I've asked Master Zhao several times, and he always says he doesn't want to get married. None of the other men are suitable either."
They were all sold into slavery, and if they wanted to marry, they would usually be paired with maids of marriageable age in their households. Our family doesn't have any suitable girls; they're all too young.
Fang's wife had no choice. In wealthy families, there are many servants. When the young men and maids reach a certain age, they can propose marriage on their own if they like each other.
However, there weren't many servants in the household, and the maids and servants of similar age were not yet old enough.
"That's true, there aren't many people in our family. It's not easy for them to get married."
After the New Year, go to the villages near the village and ask if there are any girls who don't mind their social status. If there are suitable ones, try to arrange a marriage; they can't all stay single!
"Understood, Madam. After you give birth and finish your postpartum confinement, Sister Wei and I will make the arrangements together. There's no rush. Right now, your health is the most important thing; nothing else matters."
Fang's wife hoped her wife would have a smooth delivery and didn't want anything to happen to her.
There are very few mistresses like Madam; those who are fortunate enough to meet one are truly blessed.
"Okay, no rush. I feel like I can't remember things right now. I wanted to say something before, but I forgot."
Cotton will be sixteen years old after the New Year, and Sister Fang should start paying attention to it.
If she wants to marry outside the family, I will remove her from the status of a slave.
Mu Yi'an knew that many people who sold themselves into slavery longed for freedom. However, removing one's status as a slave was not an easy task.
“Madam, we don’t want to be freed from slavery. Life outside is not easy. We are an orphan and a mother with no one to rely on. Even if we regain our freedom, life will not be easy.”
Fang's wife understood clearly that it was not an easy thing for her descendants to change their fate after being a slave all her life.
"Okay, it's your decision. If you don't want to go out, there are girls at home who are about the same age as Mianhua. Let them get to know each other, and if they find someone they like, I have no objection."
"Hmm, no rush. No maids or servants can get married at fifteen or sixteen. They have to be at least seventeen or eighteen."
Sister-in-law Fang knew that her mother-in-law was kind-hearted, but they couldn't be without self-awareness.
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