At noon, Mei Niang, surrounded by a group of old women and maids, walked into Ziyun Hall.
The sun only showed its face for a few days before the sky turned gray again. It was unusually cold even though it didn't snow. Her new clothes were not ready yet, so she still wore the crabapple red thin cotton gown with a waistband and a brass hand warmer in her sleeves. She wore the brocade cloak with a phoenix pattern that Xu Junying brought back from the old lady's room. She had her hair in a high bun and wore a golden phoenix hairpin with its wings spread and a pearl in its mouth. She walked proudly in front of the two rows of housekeepers who were waiting for her reply, with a solemn expression and elegant manners. The housekeepers looked at her with the same respect as they had looked at the eldest lady back then.
This eldest grandmother is really not a pushover. In the past, I only heard that she was weak and cowardly. Because she came from a small family, she was not liked by the old lady and the mistress. Less than three days after she married into the Xu Mansion, the master went to war. She lived in her own courtyard, never went out of the front door or the back door, lived a quiet life, and gave birth to Heng'er quietly. How many of the housekeepers had seen her? There was no reason to mention her. After surviving a serious illness, she was a different person, just like when she jumped out of the coffin and scared people to faint. She managed the household affairs, and her methods were impressive. In just two days, she had the housekeepers and the old women in charge obedient, and no one dared to say a word.
Not to mention that the eldest wife was in charge, the eldest young lady's intelligence and insight were enough to impress the housekeepers. She seemed to be born to be a housekeeper. She could understand everything after just one look at the accounts and the housekeeper's explanation. She could point out the connection between two seemingly unrelated matters and the pros and cons of combining them or handling them separately. If the pros outweigh the cons, why not think of a change? She insisted on following the old way, wasting manpower and financial resources, and even after taking a big detour, things were not done as expected... She was smart and intelligent, with a sharp and experienced vision. Some of her ways of issuing orders and handling things were so amazing that they were amazing. In terms of rewards and punishments, she was very clear-cut and fair.
In three days, Mei Niang made the managers go from contempt and distrust to complete admiration and respect for her.
It wasn't all luck, she had worked very hard. From the night Xu Junying threatened her not to let the housekeeper run, she mobilized every cell in her body and made her brain work at full capacity. She stayed up all night reading the account books, and during the day she went to Ziyun Hall to listen to the housekeepers' replies, paying attention to all the details they said. She sent Wang Mama and Cui Xi and others around her to observe and understand the truth from many aspects. After the meeting, she stuck to Madam Zheng, humbly asking for advice and learning from her, and discussing problems with Rulan... With diligence, wisdom and the support of senior leaders, her abilities will surely catch up. Who would be afraid of not being able to stabilize these people!
Just as Mei Niang sat down on the carved wooden chair in front of the hall, Ning Rulan came in and said with a smile:
"Sister-in-law is too punctual. She never wants to be late for even a moment. It makes me look like I was too lazy in the past!"
Mei Niang smiled and stood up to greet her. Ning Rulan hurried forward to help her and sent her back to her seat. Mei Niang said:
"If you want to do it, you have to show it. Otherwise, why not just ignore everything and fall asleep in your room? Wouldn't it be nice? I used to be the one who could sleep the most and loved to sleep in, but now I can't. I have something on my mind that's urging me to get up."
Ning Rulan took the tea bowl handed over by Cheng'er and said, "Sister-in-law is so cautious, she is someone who can do great things!"
Mei Niang took a sip of tea, pressed her lips with a handkerchief and said angrily, "Are you making fun of me? I am a miserable person!"
"If you complain about your miserable life, then I am willing to do the same!"
The two sisters-in-law chatted for a while, drank tea, and began to listen to the stewards' replies. They discussed and dealt with some matters. Madam Zheng came over, followed by the maids. Mei Niang saw Heng'er in the arms of the wet nurse, and couldn't help but stood up. Madam Zheng looked at her with a relaxed expression. Mei Niang hurriedly took a few steps and saluted Madam Zheng with Ning Rulan. Madam Zheng nodded, walked to the upper seat and sat down. She glanced at the remaining seven or eight stewards and smiled:
"Even if I don't come, you can still manage things on your own. Tomorrow is the winter solstice, and it will be even colder. I won't suffer this, so I'll just let you do what you want. If there's anything serious going on, just send someone to Qiuhua Courtyard to let me know!"
Mei Niang leaned forward and responded, "The wives obey the Madam's wishes!"
Heng'er in the nurse's arms called out to Mei Niang twice, and Madam Zheng looked at him lovingly:
"Oh, who did you see? Go and say hello to your mother!"
The nurse was almost dragged over by Heng'er's momentum and rushed to Mei Niang. Mei Niang hugged Heng'er and held him tightly in her arms. She suppressed the joy in her heart and let Heng'er face Madam Zheng and taught him:
"Heng'er should thank grandma. Heng'er is so naughty. I don't know how hard it must be for grandma to take care of him!"
Mrs. Zheng smiled with satisfaction: "Grandma is not tired, she is very happy to have Heng'er by her side!"
Ning Rulan came closer, touched Heng'er's soft and tender face, and stretched out her hand: "Auntie San, hug Heng'er, okay?"
Heng'er looked at Ning Rulan with a pair of clear and bright eyes, and stretched out his chubby little hands to touch her hands. Everyone thought that he would lean over to let Rulan hold him, but he suddenly turned around, snuggled into Mei Niang's arms, and hugged Mei Niang's neck tightly with both hands, as if he was afraid that Ning Rulan would hold him away and never return to his mother's arms.
Mei Niang felt extremely heartbroken. She hugged her son and her eyes instantly turned red.
Ning Rulan sighed slightly. Madam Zheng sat above and watched, putting away her smile and said, "Well, don't just play around and delay the important things. Let's get the stewards to do their work quickly. Tomorrow is a big festival. Have all the affairs been arranged? The most important thing is the new clothes for the winter solstice. I heard that some servants in the front yard haven't received them yet. What's going on? Who is in charge of this? Come out and tell them!"
Mei Niang patted Heng Er lightly, glanced at the maids in charge, and said:
"Reporting to mother: Madam Cai, who is in charge of the kitchen and food storage, has already replied. All the dishes for the festival have been ordered. The livestock for the sacrifice tomorrow morning have been selected and will be kept in another courtyard. Some of the various sacrificial offerings have been prepared, and some are half-made, just waiting to be steamed and cooked at midnight tonight and served on the altar while hot. The ancestral hall was wiped clean two days ago... As for the new clothes, Madam Qiao, although it's not your turn, the eldest wife asked, so you should tell us!"
Mrs. Qiao, who was in charge of the clothing shop, stepped out of the line, buried her face, and didn't dare to raise her head: "To the first wife, the eldest grandmother, and the third grandmother: the clothing shop has been very busy these days. Most people in the mansion have received new clothes. The dozen or so servants who sweep the courtyard in the front yard could have received new clothes today, but... but..."
Mrs. Zheng was impatient: "Just what?"
Mother Qiao turned her head slightly and stole a glance at Mei Niang. "The other day, we suddenly added clothes for Qinghua Courtyard. Needless to say, the six sets of outer robes ordered by the eldest lady must be made with great care. Miss Cuixi is keeping a close eye on them every day and chasing the delivery. The maids and the old women also have two sets each. In the past two days, several of the quick embroiderers in the clothing workshop have fallen ill again. It's really... a bit hard!"
Madam Zheng looked at Madam Qiao and said, "You mean, because Qinghua Court suddenly needs to make clothes, we can't make new clothes for other people as scheduled? The Hou Mansion always attaches great importance to the Winter Solstice Festival. Everyone in the mansion will change into new clothes tomorrow. You are the second wife's servant and have been in charge of the mansion for many years. Have you ever seen a year when new clothes for servants were not made during the solar term?"
She looked at Mei Niang: "Kilometer made four new dresses for the grandmothers, but why do you want six? This matter concerns you, so you decide how to deal with it!"
Mei Niang held Heng'er and stood on the left side of Madam Zheng, saying calmly: "This is my fault. I have been ill for a long time and now I am wearing old winter clothes. Some are too narrow and some are too wide. I always worry about clothes when I go out every day. I ordered six pieces in a hurry. In addition to the four made by Jilu, I paid for the other two myself. They were all made according to the patterns of other grandmothers, and I didn't ask for them to be too exquisite... The new clothes for the winter solstice in the mansion were made a month ago. My daughter-in-law asked, in order to rush the work, in addition to the dozens of people in the clothing workshop, many servants who are good at sewing were drawn from various courtyards and assigned to work. How could they not make clothes for the whole family in a month? My daughter-in-law is sick and cannot measure the size, but the maids and old women in Qinghua Courtyard are not sick. They were missed at that time, so shouldn’t they be made up? Tomorrow is the festival, if the clothes really can’t be made, then it’s fine, Qinghua Courtyard doesn’t have to pay attention, just hurry to make new clothes for the servants in the front yard. There are many guests in the front yard, and the servants wear old clothes to celebrate the festival. If people see them, won’t they laugh at our shabby mansion!”
Madam Zheng kept silent with a gloomy face. Madam Qiao hung her head to her chest, standing there without daring to move. Ning Rulan looked at Madam Zheng, walked up to Madam Qiao, and said angrily:
"How did mother manage this? How did Qinghua Courtyard miss the time to make new clothes? The eldest lady is ill, and the maids and servants around her don't make clothes anymore? Mother also came to the mansion to accompany the concubine. How could you treat others like this? I remember that the new clothes in the mansion were sent to us late last winter. Why is the clothing workshop so slow? A month is enough time, and so many people have been added, so why can't they finish them in time? Let's not talk about mother's fault today, go back and tell them immediately: the eldest lady's new clothes must be made, not to mention only six pieces, even if there are sixteen pieces, they must be made and sent to Qinghua Courtyard before dinner, together with the maids and servants! As for the servants in the front yard, they must be driven out even if they don't sleep, and handed over to them before three o'clock in the morning!"
Mother Qiao lowered her head, took a step back, bowed deeply upwards, and hurried downstairs.
Madam Zheng frowned slightly and said to Ning Rulan, "Mother Qiao was originally your mother-in-law's personal maid. She was married to Zou Danian, who was in charge of the reception in the front yard. I thought she was quite steady, so I let her take charge of a few things. After Mrs. Chen fell ill the year before last, she offered to take charge of the clothing workshop. Since nothing went wrong, she was in charge of it, but it's getting worse every year!" (To be continued)