In October, Shangjing officially entered winter, approaching the year’s end, and the Song Mansion was busy with both external and internal affairs.
Since giving birth, Madam had been recuperating for nearly half a year. Her health had improved greatly, and she gradually took back the managent of household affairs, but also enlisted the help of her two sisters-in-law. After all, the year’s end is the busiest ti of the year, with accounts to settle for the estates and shops, and various courtesies and gifts to handle. It’s only natural to use everyone who can help.
Even Song Ruwei, who was still a young girl, was roped in. But her main role was to learn household managent. This was also due to Madam’s years of hard work in managing household affairs for the Lu clan, and since the family had no other unmarried girls to help entertain guests, it was both an elevation and a cultivation.
Couldn’t have a family gathering without even a young girl from the clan to entertain the noble ladies.
Seizing this rare opportunity, Song Ruwei was sensible enough to ask questions when uncertain and handled matters systematically. If she continued to be grood this way, she would be no lesser than the noble ladies of other great families.
With winter arriving, Song Ci began to feel chillier. The brazier and charcoal stove were lit early in her room, and when walking in the courtyard, she had to wrap herself in a thick cloak to keep warm.
Song Ci had a cheerful smile on her face, but inwardly she knew her body felt more aged this year than in previous years.
In the middle of the month, Song Ci was surrounded by Madam and the others in the room, chatting idly about family matters.
"Has the eldest been very busy lately?" Song Ci asked Madam.
Madam was watching Dang’er flip around nimbly, reaching for the yarn ball Yuanyuan handed him. Hearing the question, she turned to answer, "The discussion hall over there doesn’t turn off the lights until well into the night. I’ve heard that in the winter, there are so skirmishes in both the Northeast and the Northwest."
Jiang, who was peeling an orange, trembled and looked up nervously, "In the Northwest too?"
Madam nodded, "Don’t worry too much. With winter here, it’s customary for border tribes and foreigners to stir up trouble and raid."
Jiang forced a smile.
Song Ci also said, "Your sister-in-law is right. Besides, Zhao’er just enlisted recently. Being a new recruit, he might still be a cook or in training. Even if there is a battle, it’s not the new recruits’ turn yet."
New recruits are always backup. Only when there’s a major battle and not enough manpower would they be called up. For small skirmishes, military rits are too few for them to involve a new recruit. They don’t want soone dragging behind or just becoming cannon fodder.
Don’t think that new recruits aren’t valuable. Right now, except for certain areas, the country doesn’t conscript everywhere. Many who co to enlist do so voluntarily, making them a precious reserve.
Do you think generals can’t calculate risks? In a campaign, the fewer the casualties, the greater the credit. Otherwise, if you lead a hundred n and only one returns, no matter the rit, you would lose points.
Only by properly training new recruits can sacrifices and casualties be minimized. Without the need, they won’t dispatch them to the frontline.
Jiang was sowhat relieved but sighed, "Mother, I know this too, but Zhao’er can’t sit still. I’m not afraid of anything but him being misled into going or being too eager, sneaking into the front lines."
Well, that’s just the kind of headstrong thing Song Lingzhao would do!
Song Ci said, "Forget it, just pretend you don’t know about it. Out of sight, out of mind."
Jiang was silent. How is that comforting?
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