For several days in a row, Fourth Aunt encountered constant troubles.
First, he was punished to kneel for two hours for spilling hot soup on his wife while serving her. Later, he had his monthly salary deducted for half a year for using the small kitchen for personal purposes.
There is a small kitchen in each courtyard, which is used to boil hot water and boil medicine for the masters or for emergencies when they cannot go out due to bad weather. Unless there are special circumstances, the big kitchen is responsible for preparing meals on weekdays.
Qingfeng Courtyard was too far from the main kitchen, so the food was never the freshest. Ever since the Fourth Concubine moved in, relying on the Marquis's favor, she cooked for herself in the courtyard all day long. At the end of a month, the supplies in her courtyard were three or four times more than those in other concubines' courtyards.
During the time when she had just returned, Qin thought that the novelty of the Marquis had not yet worn off, so she turned a blind eye and ignored it. Now that she suspected that she was plotting behind her back, she took the opportunity to punish her and fined her half a year's monthly salary.
Not only that, the day after she was fined her monthly salary, Su Mei was caught having a secret meeting with a servant in the front yard. The two were sold out, and the Fourth Aunt, her mistress, was also held accountable, saying that she failed to discipline her servants, indulged them, and ruined the atmosphere in the mansion. The entire courtyard was under house arrest for two months, and three meals a day had to be delivered to them.
The Fourth Aunt knew clearly that the Madam was trying to bully her. On the first day of her house arrest, she was not afraid at all because she had the support of the Marquis. The Madam could not put the Marquis under house arrest, but she could. As long as the Marquis came to find her, she would naturally find a way to get him to lift the house arrest.
But after one or two days, the Marquis did not come. After three or four days, the Marquis still did not come. Ten days passed and the Marquis still did not come.
The food became more and more unpalatable day by day, and finally Fourth Aunt could not sit still any longer. She had a premonition that the Marquis might not come at all.
She knew Qin's methods. Except for being confused about her niece, she was shrewd and ruthless in other matters. Since she was banned from coming, she would definitely find someone else to warm the Marquis' bed and trip him up to prevent him from coming to Qingfeng Courtyard.
In this case, she was helpless.
The Fourth Aunt was so angry that she not only smashed the food that was worse than pig food, but also scolded all the servants in the yard, saying that they were stupid and incompetent, who only knew how to eat but not how to help their master. When something happened, they would just hide in one place and complain about everything, without any idea at all.
She also said that all of you are no match for Xiu'er. Back then, I was almost killed in the manor and couldn't come back, but Xiu'er solved all the problems by herself. She accompanied me all the way from the manor to the capital, always alert and thoughtful, so I didn't have to worry about anything. The night I came back, the lady made things difficult for me. I thought I couldn't see the Marquis, but she found a way to make the Marquis come to see me...
As the Fourth Aunt was talking, she suddenly realized that she had made a big mistake. She should never have sent Xiu'er out.
Xiu'er has a lot of ideas. If she were here, she would definitely find a way to get me out of the confinement. No, if she were here, maybe I wouldn't be under house arrest at all. She would remind me of my words and actions at all times so that the lady wouldn't catch me.
The Fourth Aunt regretted deeply that she shouldn't have driven Xiu'er out because she was afraid that Xiu'er would hook up with the Marquis. Now that she thinks about it, driving Xiu'er away would be like cutting off her own arm. If she were given another chance to choose, she would rather marry Xiu'er to the Marquis than let her leave.
She decided to find a way to get her sleeves back.
She couldn't leave the yard, so she could only bribe the old woman who delivered meals with a large sum of money to ask her to help tell Xiu'er to come to Qingfeng Courtyard.
The old woman accepted the bribe, but when she came to deliver food next time, she told her that Xiu'er might not be able to come because she was no longer in the kitchen and had become the fourth young lady's maid.
Fourth Aunt was shocked. How could Xiu'er suddenly become Zhao Lanzhi's maid? Didn't she say that she liked cooking and wanted to show her talents in the kitchen? Why did she go to serve Zhao Lanzhi
If she really wanted to serve the young lady, with her ability, she could easily enter the courtyards of the eldest and second young ladies. Why did she choose the fourth young lady who had the lowest status and was the least favored
Could it be that after cooking a few meals for the Fourth Miss, he developed feelings for her
No, I don't believe it. She has been with me for so long, and she just left without any regrets. She has never come back to Qingfengyuan to take a look, so how could she have any feelings for the Fourth Miss
She was either crazy or stupid.
Xie Nanjia is neither crazy nor stupid. Every decision she makes has her own reasons.
Although the Fourth Miss was not favored and had no status, she was not stupid. She realized that the main reason why the Second Brother came to her courtyard every day was because of Xiu'er.
The reason why she suddenly received the care of her stepmother and her living environment improved was all because of her second brother. But then again, if it weren't for Xiu'er, her second brother wouldn't have come to see her, so in the final analysis, all this was thanks to Xiu'er.
Putting aside her achievements, she also liked Xiu'er's character. Although Xiu'er was a servant, she was well-mannered and generous. She did not look down on her because she was unpopular, nor did she try to please her because she was the master. Whether facing her or her second brother, she was always neither humble nor arrogant, and knew when to advance and retreat. Her calmness was what she lacked the most and envied the most.
She even felt that Xiu'er looked more like a rich lady than she did.
There were two maids in her courtyard, one was too cowardly, the other too aggressive. They lacked someone as careful and steady as Xiu'er, so after getting to know Xiu'er, she jokingly sighed, "It would be great if Xiu'er was my maid."
Unexpectedly, her joke was recognized by both Zhao Jingyu and Xie Nanjia.
Zhao Jingyu was drinking soup at the time. Hearing this, he put down the bowl and said without hesitation: "It's not difficult. If you want her, I can just tell the manager."
Zhao Lanzhi was very surprised, not sure if he was joking: "Really? Second brother, don't lie to me."
Zhao Jingyu smiled and said, "Of course it's true. Do you think that my second brother can't even handle such a small matter?"
Although it was a trivial matter in his eyes, Zhao Lanzhi was unwilling to force her and thought that Xiu'er's opinion should be sought on this matter.
Xie Nanjia agreed even more readily than Zhao Jingyu: "I am willing to serve the Fourth Young Lady."
Not to mention Zhao Lanzhi, even Zhao Jingyu was stunned: "Is this true? You took my words seriously?"
Xie Nanjia bowed and said, "Please help me, Second Young Master."
Zhao Jingyu stood up and walked around her twice: "Why? Give me a reason?"
Xie Nanjia said: "Because I find it is much easier to cook for one person than for a large group of people."
"Isn't that nonsense?" Zhao Jingyu laughed. "If that's the case, why didn't you want to go to my place in the first place?"
Xie Nanjia said: "Because you and I don't get along, but I do with the fourth young lady."
“…” Zhao Jingyu was choked to death, but he knew in his heart that these reasons were just misleading and Xiu’er must have other purposes.
That's good. It's easier to monitor here than in the big kitchen. He can also come and look around from time to time to keep track of this girl's movements.
This reason didn't fool him, but it really fooled Zhao Lanzhi, who begged him happily: "Second brother, since Xiu'er has agreed, please help me. I will definitely thank you greatly later."
Zhao Jingyu pretended to think about it for a while, then said seriously, "I have a condition."
"What conditions?" Zhao Lanzhi asked.
"You want to continue eating for free, right?" Xie Nanjia said.
Zhao Jingyu laughed loudly: "The one who understands me is Xiu'er."
Zhao Lanzhi also laughed: "How difficult is that? I wish my second brother would come every day!"
Zhao Jingyu did what he said and immediately asked Wei Jun to do it. After a while, Wei Jun came back and reported that it had been done.
Needless to say, Zhao Lanzhi was very happy. Xie Nanjia took his leave temporarily and went back to the kitchen to see Aunt Cai.
Aunt Cai had already received the letter, but the letter she received contained Wei Jun's words. Wei Jun said that it was the Fourth Miss who fell in love with Xiu'er and cried and begged the Second Young Master to keep her. The Second Young Master loved his sister, so he could only ask Aunt Cai to give up her with reluctance.
Aunt Cai was indeed in a bit of pain, but since the Second Young Master wanted the patient, she had to have the operation no matter how much it hurt. She gave Xie Nanjia some instructions and then let her go pack up.
Xie Nanjia knelt down to bid farewell to her: "Thank you very much for taking care of Xiu'er during this period. Xiu'er will remember it all in my heart and will repay you double in the future."
Aunt Cai said, "I don't need you to repay me. You just need to be safe and sound over there, don't make any mistakes, and don't embarrass me. After all, you came from me, and I don't want to be laughed at."
"Don't worry, Auntie, Xiu'er won't embarrass you." Xie Nanjia said, "Auntie, you want someone who is caring. I have a suitable candidate to recommend to you. I wonder if you are interested?"
"Tell me about it." Aunt Cai said with a smile, "Let me see if there is anyone else in this mansion who catches your eye."
Xie Nanjia said, "There is a maid named Su Ju in the Fourth Aunt's place in Qingfeng Courtyard. She is honest and kind, and she is also good at cooking. If you are interested, you can transfer her to your side to teach her."
She originally wanted to find an opportunity to transfer Su Ju to Hua Lou as an assistant, but later she thought that Su Ju and Hua Lou were the same kind of people, and there was no need for two people with the same temperament in the same courtyard, so it would be better to do Aunt Cai a favor.
"Okay, since you recommended me, I'll give it a try," said Aunt Cai. "And the Marquis's midnight snack. Although you've been transferred, I'm afraid it won't be easy to find a suitable person to replace you. So before the Madam gives the order, this is still your job and you can't neglect it."
"Yes, I noted it down." Xie Nanjia said.
She knew in her heart that as long as the Marquis still liked her cooking, nothing the Madam said would be of any use, so she didn't worry about it.
After bidding farewell to Aunt Cai, she went to say goodbye to everyone in the kitchen.
Everyone thought she was crazy. She had gone to great lengths to snatch someone else's position as a cook, and before she had worked there for long, she had to run off to serve the Fourth Young Miss. Did she want to take on all the positions in the mansion
Some people also said that she had no choice and that the second young master forced her to be transferred to the fourth young lady.
So everyone began to speculate whether the second young master was doing this for the fourth young lady or for himself.
Only Jiu'er didn't guess anything and cried loudly while hugging Xie Nanjia.
Xie Nanjia comforted her, told her not to cry, and said they would see each other often in the future.
Jiuer said that since they were no longer working together, it might not be that convenient to see each other again.
Xie Nanjia said, it will be convenient as long as you are willing.
Jiuer didn't understand what she meant and sent her out crying.
Qin heard about this when she woke up from a nap. She got very angry and asked the manager why he didn't ask for her opinion.
Madam Cao replied, "The steward did come here, but you were taking a nap at the time, so I didn't let him disturb you. I thought it wasn't a big deal. The Second Young Master has transferred the people away, and Xiu'er has lost contact with the Fourth Aunt, so this is also a good thing."
Qin asked, "How do you know they can make it?"
Madam Cao said, "Madam, think about it. Xiu'er listened to the Fourth Aunt before because she was her master. Later, although she went to the kitchen, there was no master in the kitchen, so she still listened to the Fourth Aunt. Now she has been transferred to the Fourth Miss, and the Fourth Miss is her master. People with masters are different from those without masters. Her heart will naturally lean towards her own master. What's more, this master was arranged for her by the Second Young Master. There is no reason for her not to care. In this way, won't she gradually become estranged from the Fourth Aunt?"
Qin thought it made sense. If nothing else, at least that bitch Lin Manluo would have one less helper, and it would be easier for her to deal with her.
"Even so, future personnel transfers must still go through me. Pass the message on. From today on, no one can transfer the positions of my subordinates without my permission."
"Yes." Madam Cao knew that the Madam was blaming her for acting on her own initiative, so she quickly responded respectfully and changed the subject, "Should someone else make the Marquis's midnight snack, or should Xiu'er continue to make it?"
Qin Shi pondered for a moment and said, "Wait for me to ask the Marquis what he thinks."
At dinner time, Qin sent someone to invite Marquis Dingyuan to her courtyard for dinner. She told him about the matter at the dinner table and asked him if he wanted to change someone.
Dingyuan Hou did not change: "I didn't have the habit of eating midnight snacks before, but you took the initiative to show your courtesy and insisted that Xiu'er make midnight snacks for me. Now I have just gotten used to it, but you want to change people again. I am not used to what others cook. The fourth girl doesn't have much to do, so just ask Xiu'er to continue to cook."
“…” Qin had good intentions, but was blamed for no reason. She was so angry that she was speechless.
Dingyuan Hou said again: "Don't worry about trivial things all day long. Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. If you have time, you should worry more about the sacrificial ceremony!"
Qin felt so depressed that her heart ached, and she agreed with a smile.
After dinner, Yunyan was asked to prepare bath water for the Marquis.
Although the couple did not have much affection for each other, as Qin was the principal wife, Marquis Dingyuan still had to stay with him on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Today happened to be the first day, so Marquis Dingyuan had no choice but to stay.
The Fourth Aunt was unable to wait for the Marquis to come, and she learned that Xiu'er had gone to the Fourth Young Lady's place. She felt extremely sad and could only discuss other solutions with Yunxia.
Yunxia said, "There is no good solution now. Auntie, you might as well be patient for a while. Mid-Autumn Festival is in half a month. At that time, the whole family will have to offer sacrifices to the Moon God. Madam can't keep you locked up."
The fourth concubine said angrily, "Half a month, do you want me to eat pig food for another half a month? I will say that you are all fools, not even as good as Xiu'er's hair. Tomorrow, give some money to the old woman who delivers the food and tell her to bring Xiu'er to see me no matter what. As long as she can see Xiu'er, I will reward her handsomely."
Yunxia was so angry that she was about to die, but she had to do what the Fourth Aunt said. The Fourth Aunt moved her sleeves left and right. She wanted to see how powerful the sleeves were and whether they could save the Fourth Aunt from the water and fire.
(End of this chapter)