Seeing the maid getting anxious, Jiang Changning, who had expected Old Madam Zhuang to do this, smiled and said, "If you want to bully them, do so, but be careful not to overdo it."
Old Mrs. Zhuang was a person with a strong desire for control, and her obedience led to her misjudgment.
After today's incident, Old Madam Zhuang saw her true face and immediately sent people over.
"I understand. I will force them to stick to the wall." Fu Cui went out with a smile on her face.
"Girl, look at this frivolous girl. She's almost floating in the air." Fangju said with a smile.
Xiulan smiled and said, "It's great to have her here so we don't have to argue with the two old women."
In the afternoon, Jiang Changning took a short nap and continued to paint the image of Guanyin.
"Where are you going, you blind girl?" The sharp and sarcastic voice of Mrs. Qin came from outside the house.
Jiang Changning frowned. If her hand wasn't steady, this stroke would have been wrong.
If she made a mistake in drawing a single stroke, the painting would be ruined. She would have to start over again, but she would not be able to finish it in time for Mrs. Zhuang's birthday next month.
Just as Fang Ju was about to leave, Fu Cui's voice rang out, "Mother Qin, why are you yelling? Don't you know that the girl likes quietness? Can you bear the consequences of disturbing the girl?"
"Oh, the little girl doesn't know the rules. As her mother, can't I give her a lesson?" Mrs. Qin shouted even louder.
"Are you trying to teach her a lesson? Look at how you beat this girl. Her face is all red and swollen. Do you have a grudge against her? Or do you want to beat the servant and humiliate the master?" Fu Cui hit the nail on the head.
"You stupid girl who is always spewing shit, don't accuse a good person. I came from the old lady's yard." Mrs. Qin emphasized the word "old lady".
"I know that one has to consider the owner before beating the dog. Okay, okay, okay, you just watch the door carefully and don't make the whole yard hear your dog barking." Fu Cui took the little girl away.
Mrs. Qin didn't realize that Fu Cui was scolding her for a while. When she realized it, she jumped up and scolded angrily: "Little whore..."
"Oh my, my old sister." Mrs. Lin arrived in time and covered her mouth with her hands. "Don't scold me like that, or you will be kicked out. Even the old lady can't protect you."
"I was so mad at that damn girl." Mrs. Qin said hatefully.
"Go back to the room and let's talk it over." Mrs. Lin dragged Mrs. Qin away, and the yard became quiet again.
In the evening, Jiang Changning went out as usual and went to Old Lady Zhuang's yard to have dinner with her.
The little girl came and said, "The old lady is tired and still resting. She asked the girls to eat in their respective courtyards."
Jiang Changning smiled and turned back to the small hall.
The old lady didn't want to see her, and she didn't want to see the old lady either.
"Chunyan, Qiulu, take a few people to the kitchen and bring back dinner for everyone." Xiulan ordered two little girls.
According to the rules of the Zhuang family, the standard meal for the master Jiang Changning is three dishes and one soup, which is not too luxurious.
But rules are just rules, and the dealer has broken them long ago.
Old Mrs. Zhuang eats alone and has at least ten dishes.
Mrs. Wu made the excuse that she did not dare to compete with her mother-in-law, but she also had eight dishes, all of which were delicacies.
The banker lives a very luxurious life.
Jiang Changning watched coldly from the sidelines, having long seen that the banker was spending more than he earned and his descendants were useless.
As an outsider, she wanted to help solve the problem, but she couldn't. She could only hope that the people from the banker could wake up as soon as possible.
The next day, after washing up, Jiang Changning took Fu Cui and four little maids to pay their respects to Old Madam Zhuang.
"Cousin." Mrs. Qin ran out from some corner.
Jiang Changning glanced at her and said, "Xiu Lan, after Madam Zhou left the house, you have been in charge of this courtyard. You have worked hard. Now the old lady has sent two madams to share the burden for you. You should take good care of the two madams."
"Yes, girl," Xiulan responded by kneeling down.
"Fu Cui, you have a lot of things to do, so just hand over some of them." Jiang Changning was afraid that Xiulan would suffer a loss, so he deliberately kept the eloquent Fu Cui as well.
"Yes, girl." Fu Cui responded, and Fang Ju followed.
Jiang Changning stopped and turned around to see that it was the fifth daughter of the second branch of the Zhuang family, Zhuang Qingmei. The corners of his lips slightly raised, "Fifth sister."
Although Zhuang Qingmei’s name contains the word “Mei”, she is not charming and her appearance is rather rather heroic.
With thick eyebrows, big eyes, a straight nose and a wide mouth, she can go out dressed as a man without arousing suspicion from others.
"Sister Ning, I heard that the Queen Mother of Runan Prince came yesterday." Zhuang Qingmei walked to Jiang Changning and asked directly.
Jiang Changning's eyes flickered. Zhuang Qingmei seemed careless and spoke directly, but she had never acted like this in front of the old lady and the two ladies.
Is it still straightforwardness, which varies from person to person
"Yes, I'm here." Jiang Changning said with a faint smile.
"Have you met the Queen Mother of Runan King?" Zhuang Qingmei asked again.
"seen."
"What did you say?"
Jiang Changning glanced at her and said, "I'm not familiar with the Queen Mother of Runan. What can I say? She asked the question and I answered it."
"Third sister has met the Dowager Consort of Runan several times. Why doesn't the old lady let Third sister accompany the Dowager Consort of Runan?"
"Fifth sister, you can ask the old lady about this later." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
Zhuang Qingmei choked and opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
After a moment of silence, he said, "The old lady has her own considerations when doing things. As the younger generation, we just need to obey her. It's better not to ask too many questions."
Jiang Changning smiled, "Fifth sister is right."
After walking a distance, Zhuang Qingmei said, "By the way, Sister Yue is going to hold a birthday party, and she said she would send us an invitation to come over."
Zhuang Juyue is the granddaughter of the late Zhuang Laoye's cousin, and studies in the girls' school set up by the Zhuang family.
According to the clan rules of the Zhuang family, girls in the Zhuang family start their education at the age of four and go to school at the age of six. They don't have to go after they reach the age of 15.
Now, only the fifth-ranked Zhuang Qingmei and the fourth-ranked Zhuang Qingchan are still studying in school.
In addition to the two of them, there were also some clansmen from the Zhuang family and some girls of low-ranking officials who were dependent on the Zhuang family.
After hosting this fourteen-year-old birthday party, Zhuang Juyue will no longer go to school, but stay at home to learn how to be a housekeeper.
After the coming-of-age ceremony, a girl will be engaged and get married on a chosen day. For example, the marriage of Zhuang Qingyu, the second daughter of the Zhuang family's eldest son, has already been arranged.
"Sister Juyue is so polite. She even sent an invitation." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
"Sister Ning, what birthday gift have you prepared for Sister Yue?" Zhuang Qingmei said, and reached out to hold Jiang Changning's arm.
Jiang Changning avoided her hand under the pretense of holding the Ruyi hairpin on her bun, "I haven't decided yet, what gift are you going to give to Sister Yue?"
"I haven't thought about it yet." Zhuang Qingmei refused to disclose.
The answer was expected, Jiang Changning smiled.
When the two sisters reached Xifang Pavilion, they met the second daughter of the Zhuang family, Zhuang Qingyu, and the fourth daughter, Zhuang Qingchan, who came from another road.
Both of them are illegitimate daughters of the eldest wife, and both look like their biological mothers.
She has an oval face, willow-shaped eyebrows, almond eyes and a charming figure.
Master Zhuang's preferences have not changed for decades, and the concubine he took in half a year ago was also like this.
They greeted each other and went together to Mrs. Zhuang's yard.
(End of this chapter)