In the afternoon, Mei Niang and Rulan took a small carriage to patrol around the mansion. Wherever they went, the maids in charge were all very nervous and ran around, diligently and carefully describing and reporting the affairs they were in charge of. Mei Niang and Rulan inspected the scene and praised those who were satisfied. If they were careless and disliked them, they would naturally scold them and order them to correct their mistakes immediately and not do it again.
Rulan told Mei Niang that half of the housekeepers in the mansion were born slaves who had worked in the mansion for a long time, and the other half were maids who served the old lady, the first wife and the second wife. Maids like them were not qualified to be housekeepers, except for Jingyu and Mei Niang who had really managed the household. They would use people around them to give orders, and the housekeepers might listen to them or not, and they couldn't do anything about them. As the saying goes, when beating a dog, look at its owner; the juniors dared not touch those who had served the old lady and the wives.
Mei Niang laughed: "I know, even if they break the rules and commit crimes, they have to report to the old lady and the wives before they can do anything about it, right? To do it or not, it's all up to the elders. Doesn't this make us feel that the mistakes made by the stewards were first approved by the old lady and the wives?"
Rulan looked at her and sighed, "You dare to do and say what you want now! The matter of the garment workshop is not that simple. The second wife's companion, Madam Qiao, is in charge, and Jingyu is in her hands. Jingyu has an embroidery shop with good business. Do you think the first wife doesn't know? The old lady favors the eldest house on the surface, but how can she not love the second master in her heart? For so many years, she didn't allow the second house to be separated, and asked for a family reunion. In fact, she didn't want the second house to leave the first house and lose that honor. I heard from the third master that the second master's talent was mediocre. He was diligent in studying but made no progress. He barely passed the examination and became a tribute student. The old lady pressured the first master to find someone to arrange it. He didn't dare to take the spring exam. Later, he became an official, and it was still the first master who asked for grace in front of the emperor... The second house has three sons, legitimate and illegitimate. Only the second master entered the government and was recently transferred to a better position, the head of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance, from the sixth rank to the fifth rank, all thanks to the eldest master. There are also the third and fifth masters, two unmarried girls, who all rely on the eldest master to bear the glory of the mansion. How can the old lady allow the family to be in chaos? If the first and second wives have any problems, she will just suppress them. So you just need to understand it in your heart, and you don’t have to touch that thorn. ”
Mei Niang smiled and said, "Are you doing this for my own good, or to help your mother-in-law and sisters-in-law?"
Rulan slapped her in anger, "Of course I'm doing this for your own good! The first wife didn't tell you this, obviously she wanted you to give it a try. She saved her reputation, but she also embarrassed the second wife. What will you do then? If you expose the matter and offend the second wife and Jingyu, the old lady may punish them, but she will definitely not be happy. Besides, how are you going to punish them during the New Year? What will happen after the punishment? We are still family, we will see each other every day. Why bother being polite on the surface but hating them in the heart?"
Mei Niang looked at Ru Lan and said, "You are the only one in this mansion who is willing to do this for me sincerely. I understand. Thank you, my good sister, my good sister-in-law!"
Rulan laughed: "You can't yell at me like that in front of others. I am your sister-in-law, and I should be polite to you. This is also a heart-to-heart exchange. I will accept your kindness to me and enjoy it endlessly!"
The old woman led the small carriage slowly, and the two sat in the warm carriage and talked and laughed in low voices. Rulan pointed out to Mei Niang the famous sights in the mansion and the locations of each room and courtyard. By dusk, the entire mansion had gradually formed a floor plan in Mei Niang's mind that she thought was relatively complete.
Just as he was planning to go directly to Jinhua Hall to greet the old lady and serve dinner, he heard Cui Xi report that Cui Lian had come from Qinghua Courtyard and said that six sets of new clothes for the eldest lady had been delivered, and the maids in the courtyard would deliver them later.
Mei Niang smiled at Ru Lan and said, "You didn't tell me how she treated me in the past. Even if she is sincere in changing her ways this time, I will listen to you and ignore her for now!"
Rulan nodded: "A harmonious family brings prosperity. No matter what you want, now is not the time!"
Mei Niang reached out and stroked the thin cotton jacket on her body: "This dress is actually very close-fitting and comfortable to wear, but it's a little thin. If I sit in it and do nothing, I'll feel cold if I walk outside. I want to go back to my room to try on the new clothes. Do you want to come with me?"
Rulan smiled and said, "You are such a child. Can't you try on your new clothes when you come back tonight? But the one you are wearing is too thin. It's going to snow soon. You should go back and change into something thicker. I..."
Her face was slightly red. "I want to go back to my room to check. The Third Master went out this morning and he should be back. I have to tell him before I go to the old lady."
Mei Niang looked at her shy look, envious and amused, and joked: "Isn't it easy to just say it? Just send a maid, it's you who misses the Third Master, right?"
Rulan's face flushed red now, and she slapped Mei Niang: "Even if you are my sister-in-law, you are not allowed to make fun of me!"
The two of them played around in the carriage for a while, and when they arrived at the gate of Tsinghua University, Mei Niang and Rulan said they would see each other later, Cui Xi lifted the curtain, and Cui Si and Cui Lian helped them get out of the car.
With the help of three maids, she tried on six new clothes in a row. It felt like shopping in the previous life. She tried on everything she liked. Who cared whether she bought it or not? To be honest, the embroiderer in Xu's clothing workshop was really skilled. She chose the colors of the six outer robes herself. The styles were not repeated. The embroidery was exquisite and elegant. All the embroidery was done with invisible seams. There was not a single stitch on the whole robe. The person who measured the size must have been a master. The fit of each piece of clothing was such that one more point was too wide and one less point was too narrow. Mei Niang wore the new clothes and turned around in front of the mirror. Mother Wang and Cui Xi were watching from the side, smiling happily. The master and servant were in a good mood.
Cheng'er shouted outside the door: "Master is back!"
Mei Niang just remembered something and looked at Wang Mama and Cui Xi and the others: "Teach them to call me Lord Hou from now on, and I will call him that too... You guys go down first!"
Xu Junying came in, and Mother Wang, Cui Xi and others bowed to him and walked out.
Mei Niang bowed to Xu Junying and greeted him. Xu Junying nodded and continued to sit at the round table. After a while, Ping'er brought in tea, bowed and left. Mei Niang came over and sat opposite Xu Junying. The couple looked at each other, but no one was in a hurry to speak.
Mei Niang pointed to the new clothes on the hangers and said with a smile, "Master, can you take a look at the new clothes I made?"
Xu Junying glanced over and said, "I heard that you made more clothes. They only had four, but why did you make six? The clothing factory was busy making clothes for Tsinghua Academy, so it missed other things. Is that the case?"
Mei Niang looked at him and said, "Mr. Hou, you didn't come here just for this, did you? News spreads fast. I made six pieces because I was short of clothes. Mr. Hou, you can ask around and see which lady in the mansion doesn't have a dozen or twenty cotton-padded jackets? I even added some money myself! As for the delay, you'll have to ask Second Madam. I also want to know how it happened!"
Xu Junying opened the lid of the tea bowl, gently brushed away the tea leaves floating on it, and said lightly: "You are diligent and have some ability to manage things, but you are not very sensible... The clothing workshop has rushed to make your new clothes and has done what it should do. That's it, don't ask anymore!"
Mei Niang asked knowingly, "Why?"
"It's enough for you to understand it in your heart. How can I have the leisure time to come here and talk to you? Think more about what you do in the future. Rulan Ken can help you the best. She comes from a rich family. There are some things you don't understand, but she will understand! Are you ready? Let's go to the old lady together. She just sent someone to shout. We're still eating that kind of food tonight!"
What kind of dish is that? It's just hot pot!
Mei Niang was very depressed. She could accept Rulan's explanation of the family situation. Xu Junying was just a warlord. He wanted you to do whatever he wanted. He cared about the brotherhood so much that he was unwilling to destroy the unity and friendship of the big family for such a thing. He didn't even allow her to ask. Was he afraid of offending Bai Jingyu? But before she asked for the housekeeper, he said bluntly: If you dare to be greedy, I will do this and that! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian. to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)