After the housewarming party, Mu Yi rested for several days before feeling alive again.
The boys have all been arranged, so Mu Yi'an doesn't need to worry too much.
Chu Yue now has her own courtyard, and Mu Yi'an has arranged two maids for her, Song Xiaolan and Fang Xiaoyu.
Song Xiaolan is one year older than Chuyue, and Fang Xiaoyu is one year younger than Chuyue. As expected, they are both Chuyue's dowry maids.
Song Xiaolan has been following Chuyue for several years. She can read, do arithmetic, and do simple needlework.
Fang Xiaoyu is a skilled cook and has great strength. She has been practicing martial arts for the past few years and is quite good at it.
In Chuyue Courtyard, there are two maids and Granny Hai. For now, we'll add more people gradually.
With no expansion of family businesses and a relatively stable income, Mu Yi'an felt that she could save a considerable amount of money each year after expenses.
"Madam, Granny Hai is here."
"Please let her in."
Mu Yi'an organized the gift list from the past few days to make a record, to understand what gifts each family had given, so that she could reciprocate in the future.
"Good morning, madam."
"Granny Hai, please sit down and serve tea."
Mu Yi'an had a maid serve tea and gestured for Granny Hai to sit down and speak.
“Madam, I was thinking, do you have any suitable young wives in the family who can come and learn some things about the household from me?”
I fear that when I get too old, I won't be able to help my daughter get married.
Granny Hai has been living in the Jiang family for several years and really loves the atmosphere there.
I also like Miss, who is innocent and naive, yet not completely ignorant.
She also thought that she should stay with the young lady.
But you know your own body best. Those decades spent living in the palace were decades of exhausting effort and mental strain.
"Granny Hai, are you feeling unwell?"
"Madam, I'm in good health. It's just that I've worked myself to the bone over the past few decades, and I'm worried that my energy won't be up to par."
After thinking about it, Mu Yi'an understood a little.
To emerge from the palace unscathed requires an extraordinary amount of effort.
"Okay, I understand. Quite a few people have gotten married in the family in the last two years. I'll pick a few, and Granny Hai can help me see which one is more suitable."
After Granny Hai left, Mu Yi'an called Fang's wife over, and the two of them thought together about which house would be more suitable.
"Madam, Miss is only ten years old. It would be better to choose someone who has just gotten married, as they are the right age."
By the time the young lady got married, the steward's wife was in her twenties, and her child was old enough to run errands. The couple were both quite capable.
Fang's wife watched her daughter grow up and truly loved her.
"Yes, you make a good point. The husband and wife each manage things outside, while the wife takes care of things inside the house."
Anyone in the family who got married or engaged in the last two years is welcome.
"Sister Fang, could you put together a list these next couple of days? We'll start by making some selections."
"Understood, madam."
After Aunt Fang went downstairs to get busy, Mu Yi'an thought about what she needed to do next.
This year, we don't need to go back to Xinyuan County. Jiang's parents will spend the Spring Festival here, while his elder brother will go back to pay respects to our ancestors.
When Mu Lin and Shao Kun returned, they asked Steward Li to send someone to accompany them and deliver New Year's gifts.
...
In November, Mu Ziyi and Zhou Zilin prepared to head to the capital.
Mu Yi'an had some things packed, and Jiang Shuyun wrote a flowchart for them to refer to.
The two packed their luggage, took Xiao Si with them, and joined the caravan arranged by Manager Wei to travel to the capital.
Before they left, Jiang's father repeatedly told the two to be careful in the capital and not to act impulsively. He said that they were unfamiliar with the place and that if something happened to them, no one could save them.
After seeing off the two who were heading to the capital for the imperial examinations, Mu Yi'an began to take stock of the accounts. It was an annual event, nothing different.
This year, when Mu Yi'an was taking stock of the accounts, he brought Chu Yue with him.
No matter which family she marries into, being able to read account books is a skill that Chuyue must master.
Mu Yi'an will prepare a dowry for Chu Yue, and she needs to learn how to manage her dowry, as it will be a guarantee for her future life.
An Ran also went home; she was going to help Jiang Qi take stock of the family's accounts.
As for Chu Qing and Zhou Yunxi, they are still young and cannot understand complicated accounts. They are still taking classes with Shao Rong and the others.
This year, they received a generous New Year's gift from the Gu family. Not long after Ziyi and the others left, the Gu family's butler arrived.
"Aunt Jiang, my mother has a letter for you."
Gu Zheng hasn't been to school for the past two days. He's going back to the capital for his elder brother's wedding, and he needs to go back to attend the ceremony.
"Gu Zheng, is that letter from your mother for me?"
Mu Yi'an was a little confused. What did Madam Gu have to say to her?
"Yes, my mother sent her steward over to deliver New Year's gifts to you and to take me back to the capital."
The housekeeper said there was a letter from my mother for you, so I brought it over first.
Gu Zheng handed over his mother's letter with both hands, also wanting to know what his mother had to do.
Mu Yi'an took the letter, opened it, and found the elegant yet dignified handwriting to be a pleasure to look at.
Thinking about my own handwriting, I feel somewhat ashamed.
Mrs. Gu was quite polite. She greeted me in the letter, chatted about everyday things, and finally got to the point: she wanted to buy some wine.
Mu Yi'an breathed a sigh of relief. Buying wine? That's easy, we have plenty at home.
Otherwise, receiving a letter from the wife of a general would still put her under some pressure.
"Auntie?"
"Mrs. Gu wants to buy some wine."
Mu Yi'an shook the letter in her hand to satisfy Gu Zheng's curiosity.
Similarly, Gu Zheng also breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that his mother might have some thoughts or use inappropriate wording in the letter, which would make him too ashamed to stay.
"Auntie, please raise the price a bit more. My mother has plenty of money."
Gu Zheng started laughing and joking again, siding with outsiders.
"Aren't you afraid your mother will punish you if she finds out how filial you are?"
“I’m telling the truth. Besides, my aunt’s wine is much better than the wine in Beijing. My mother got a good deal.”
Mu Yi'an smiled. This child is really endearing.
Manager Wei is in charge of the wine business; all the wines in her shop are of the same price, regardless of age or gender.
Mrs. Gu asked for a lot, so she gave her a discount. One thing at a time; business and personal favors shouldn't be mixed up.
The headmaster did not return, and even when his grandson got married, he did not leave the academy.
Mu Yi'an learned that the headmaster had not returned to the capital after Gu Zheng left.
She didn't know if there was some special reason why the headmaster had stayed at the academy day after day for ten years.
Mu Yi'an asked Jiang Shuyun, but he didn't know either; the matter was beyond their comprehension.
The Imperial Tutor, the Headmaster was once the Imperial Tutor.
Jiang Shuyun didn't know, and Mu Yi'an didn't want to think about it anymore; knowing these secrets wouldn't do any good.
In the blink of an eye, another year has passed.
Jiang's father led them to pay respects to their ancestors and have a reunion dinner. The children went out to set off fireworks, while Mu Yi'an and Jiang Shuyun chatted with Jiang's father and mother.
If you're on night duty and just sitting there, you'll easily get sleepy.
This year marks ten years since they last visited.
Outside the window, fireworks blazed brightly.
Inside, the air was filled with the aroma of fruit.
Life is still beautiful!
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