"Okay, go back. I don't need you to serve me here anymore."
"My daughter-in-law takes her leave." Han agreed readily. After all, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been together for more than 20 years, and they knew each other's tempers well, so there was no need to pretend.
As for breakfast, the Wenren family did not set a rule to eat together. Everyone ate separately, so there was a big difference in time. Han agreed to eat with Xiaocao, so when Wenren Taibo ate, he just drank two mouthfuls of porridge.
Xiaocao has a good memory and is not bad at finding her way. She knows the roads near the main courtyard very well and doesn't need a maid to lead the way.
Before I even stepped into the main courtyard, I saw Wen Renying coming from the opposite side.
When Wen Renying saw Xiaocao, her eyes were as bright as twinkling stars. With a bright smile, she quickened her pace to greet her like a child, "Fourth sister." She took Xiaocao's arm with familiar movements.
Xiaocao smiled, "Seventh sister." Xiaocao was indifferent to Wen Renying's intimate attitude, as if they grew up together and had a very good relationship. No matter if this enthusiasm had a reason or this sister's personality was just like that, it was better than being weird and making trouble right away.
The two sisters walked in hand in hand. The maid lifted the curtain. When Han saw them, she immediately smiled and pulled each of them to her side. Han was in a very good mood, looking contented, and she seemed a lot younger.
"Has Ying'er had breakfast?"
"No, I knew that mom would definitely share it with Fourth Sister, so I came over to share it with you. It's more delicious when we share it together."
"Yes, yes, you little devil."
Han led them to sit down.
Xiaocao turned her head and saw two or three women dressing up. Two of them were older, estimated to be in their thirties, and one was probably in her early twenties. What they had in common was that they were all pretty, with good hair and smooth figures. Their clothes were neither too gaudy nor too old-fashioned, and their complexions looked good too.
Meeting Xiao Cao's gaze, the three of them hurriedly knelt down to greet her, "Fourth Miss, Seventh Miss."
Xiaocao guessed that this should be her father's aunt, so she quickly moved away and only accepted half of the greeting.
Han smiled when she saw this, "These are your father's three concubines. One is a daughter of the Wen family, one was bought by mother from outside, and one is a good girl from an honest family. They are considered our family members."
Xiaocao nodded as a return gesture.
Two are lowly concubines and one is a good concubine, but a concubine is a concubine. Even if she is a noble concubine, she is at most half a master.
In the Qi Dynasty, as a concubine, you have to show courtesy before facing your husband's children. For legitimate children, if you meet a good-natured and reasonable one, you usually receive half courtesy like Xiao Cao, and no need to return the courtesy. If you meet a domineering one, you receive full courtesy and there is nothing wrong with it. As for illegitimate children, you have to return half courtesy, and for biological children, you can only return full courtesy in private. If you meet one who despises his biological mother for being a concubine and thinks he is inferior to others, you usually have to endure the anger.
Qi Chao's concubines had a very low status.
Of course, concubines who are favored by their husbands, or whose parents’ families are powerful, or those whose family rules are chaotic are not included in this list.
Later, during breakfast, three aunts were serving breakfast to the mother and daughter. They were very quick and you could just glance at them and then they would bring the food to you. The youngest one was serving Xiaocao. She would occasionally say something softly and with a smile on her face. She was very considerate and attentive, but Xiaocao felt a little uncomfortable.
The few years I spent with Tingyu were only at the beginning. Someone would serve the food to me. After I became completely familiar with Tingyu, most of the time it was just the two of them eating. Sometimes Mr. Che would also join them, and the servants would just stand by and watch.
Besides being uncomfortable, there was also the identity of the person who served the dishes. After all, she was her father's woman, a woman with a formal status. Moreover, even though she knew that legal third parties were common in this world, she had never come into contact with them. For Xiaocao, even if she saw them, she would never be able to adapt to them.
But seeing that Wen Renying seemed to be used to it, and as a mother, she only had her daughter in her eyes, Xiaocao tried her best to avoid Hu Lue's discomfort, thinking that this might be the norm.
But aren't the wife and the concubine natural enemies? Her mother was setting rules for the concubines, but the three concubines seemed to be living a good life. Was it really good or fake? The human body could directly reflect things that could not deceive Xiaocao's eyes, so they really had not been treated harshly or oppressed.
Xiao Cao had no interest in knowing how this scene of "harmony between wife and concubine" came about. As matters between parents were just matters, and as long as there were no major problems, it was best for children not to interfere.
After breakfast, the mother, daughter and three daughters sat together to chat and digest the food.
Han told the two sisters what Madam Wenren had said before, "I had the same idea originally, but I still had some concerns. Now that your grandmother has spoken, it's naturally the best thing to do."
Wen Renying also clapped her hands in agreement, "Fourth sister has finally returned home, we should solemnly introduce her to our relatives and friends." With a smile on her face and bright eyes, it seemed that she couldn't be more satisfied with this decision.
Wen Renying naturally had no opinion on the matter itself, but what surprised her was the person who brought it up. She knew very well what kind of person their grandmother was. The old lady was serious, even a little rigid, and was basically not close to the younger generations. In fact, it was probably only her eldest brother, as the eldest grandson and the first grandchild, who could make her a little more friendly, but that was all. Especially after her grandfather passed away, it seemed that everyone was treated equally.
Even when her nephew was born, as the fourth generation of the Wen family, the grandmother only hugged him for the sake of politeness, with no intention of holding the child closer to her and kissing him.
In other people's grandmothers, there will always be one or two favored children in a large family. In the eyes of the grandmother, they are the apple of her eye. Their grandmother... To put it bluntly, she doesn't care about things and is not easy to please - there is no way to start.
It was quite surprising that the fourth sister, who had just returned home halfway, seemed to have won the favor of her grandmother.
Wenren Ying wanted to find out the reason, but Han had already told Xiaocao to go to Old Madam Wenren later. She didn't say much, but just asked Xiaocao if Old Madam Wenren's illness could be cured.
Madam Wenren's illnesses would have been... in her past life, not to mention the current medical situation. "Grandma has many illnesses, some of which can be cured, but the rest are not so easy. I try not to affect her daily life."
Han nodded and said, "This is already very good." Now Han was quite convinced of Xiaocao's medical skills. After all, the role played by those people in the Imperial Hospital was very limited and far inferior to that of her own daughter.
"Fourth sister knows medicine? It sounds pretty good." Wen Renying looked curious.