Xiqiu then said, "Take care of them with all your heart."
"I understand!" replied Zou Bochang, bowing his head and stepping aside.
Xiqiu then had Chunliu take the two of them to a nearby side room for tea.
Jin Dairui ca with his wife, and after Zou Bochang and Zhu Sancheng left, Nanny Jin took out an account book, held it in her hands, and said, "Madam sent fifty taels of silver earlier this year. Here are all the detailed expenses, we still have eight taels left, which I will give to Madam."
Chunyan glanced at Xiqiu, and Xiqiu nodded. Chunyan stepped forward to take the book, Xiqiu opened it, and was suddenly surprised. The account was ticulously kept, though largely in symbolic form, the writing was crooked, a clear sign of illiteracy. She raised her brows and looked at Nanny Jin.
Nanny Jin’s face flushed with embarrassnt, Jin Dairui stepped forward to explain, "Madam, she cannot read, so the accounts she keeps can only be understood by her. It might be best if she reads it for you."
Xiqiu smiled and nodded, handing the account book back to her. Nanny Jin, her face red, took the book and started to read page by page. From earlier this year, three households with eighteen people, the clothes made for each, how many inner garnts, how many jiaao, shoes and socks... Even the purchased vegetables, carbon, and the copper coins spent on the couplets for the door were all detailed in the account.
Not only careful, but also very frugal.
Xiqiu smiled and said, "Instead of staying in the mansion, why don’t you go to the manor? If you want to plant sothing or raise chicken and ducks, I won’t interfere with you, but rember one thing: do not disturb your neighbors or ruin the house."
Jin Dairui and his wife listened, their eyes brightening, both responding affirmatively.
Xiqiu asked again, "I heard you have two boys with you?"
Jin Dairui replied, "Yes, the older is fourteen, the younger is nine."
Xiqiu nodded and said, "Bring the children to the mansion this afternoon so I can see them."
Jin Dairui imdiately nodded in agreent. He had thought of staying in the Capital to have his children learn a trade. While having a skill is good, it still belongs to the lower ranks. Getting a position in the Marquis Mansion would be much better. He didn’t expect Madam to ntion this, and he felt grateful.
Xiqiu continued, "You may go now. If you have any issues, co to the mansion to find ."
Jin Dairui left with his wife.
Xiqiu sat in the room with a frown. Currently, matters in the Marquis Mansion are controlled by the Second Madam in the inner courtyard and Housekeeper Hu in the outer courtyard. If her personal maid wanted to enter the mansion to work, it would require careful consideration.
Chunyan asked, "Madam..." She stopped, evidently sharing the sa concern as Xiqiu.
"Treasure Bead was sent away, and the family needs another maid. Zhu Sancheng’s family has two maids. If they are suitable when I see them this afternoon, they could also co to the house." After talking, Xiqiu adjusted her clothing and stood up, saying, "Let’s go to the back courtyard."
The ground had been loosened, and seeds of Panax notoginseng had been bought. She thought of having the shelter built while the weather is good in these few days before sowing the seeds.
Chunyan followed Xiqiu to the back courtyard.
The flower racks had been dismantled, and the ground had been turned over, making it look much more open.
She turned to instruct Chunyan, "I’ll have Tianyi and Nanny Cen buy the oil paper. You don’t need to go out; just lend a hand here."
Chunyan nodded in agreent but pouted angrily, thinking of Tianyi.
Suddenly, a low sobbing sound ca from the courtyard, repressed, as if it carried endless despair and grievance.
Xiqiu paused, turning to look at Chunyan. Chunyan bent down, searching around, but couldn’t find the source after a long ti. She muttered, "The sound doesn’t seem to be from the maids in the house."
"From which side?" Xiqiu pointed to the other side of the wall, "It seems to be coming from over the wall."
Chunyan’s face changed and replied, "That side used to be the Second Madam’s courtyard."
Tong Xihua’s courtyard still had maids serving, and her dowry was managed by dedicated personnel. However, why would soone be crying so early in the morning?
Chunyan asked, "Should I go over and have a look?"
Xiqiu waved her hand, "No need." Since arriving at the mansion, she had not interacted with either side and did not want to ddle in Tong Xihua’s affairs!
The two turned around and returned to the room.
Fourth Master Xiao had returned, and Xiqiu asked in surprise, "Why are you back at noon?" He usually returned from court at night and never returned at noon like today.
"There wasn’t much to do, so I requested to co back." Fourth Master Xiao smiled and said, "The tutor invited this afternoon will visit the mansion; we should et him."
Only then did Xiqiu rember that Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi had asked soone to find a private tutor a few days ago. She had heard him ntion that the money Zhong’s mansion had a Mr. Huang resigning, a well-known teacher with decades of experience in the Capital. Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi had asked Qian Zhong to pass the ssage, "Did Lord Qian respond?"
Fourth Master Xiao stepped onto the stairs, paused to wait for Xiqiu, and the two entered the door side by side. He said, "Mr. Huang insisted on returning ho, saying he’s old and wants to retire."
Xiqiu was surprised, asking, "Then who’s the tutor coming today?"
Fourth Master Xiao sat down by the table, Chunliu served tea, and he said, "Mr. Huang recomnded him, with the surna Song, from Changzhou, and Mr. Huang said he was a fellow scholar. Mr. Huang spoke highly of his knowledge, and he happened to be visiting friends in the Capital recently, so I had Mr. Huang send the ssage and invited him to the mansion."
Xiqiu listened thoughtfully, asking, "If the tutor is settled, will he live in the mansion? Has there been any discussion with Second Sister-in-law? How much is the tutor’s annual salary? Will it co from the public expenses, or should we contribute half?"
"Salary and other details can be discussed after eting him. However, Dongchang Bo Mansion paid Mr. Huang twenty taels of silver each year, provided a set of clothes for each season, and arranged for a servant. If this Mr. Song cos, we can follow the sa arrangent. As for Second Sister-in-law’s side, if she doesn’t provide from the public expenses, we can cover it!" He paused and added, "About the courtyard’s arrangent, you can discuss it with Second Sister-in-law later."
Xiqiu frowned and thought for a mont, saying, "Hmm, I’ll talk to Second Sister-in-law when I see her." She thought again and added, "Min is only four years old after the New Year, starting education at this age compared to others isn’t too late, but considering his young age, the tutor shouldn’t be arranged too far away, making commuting convenient."
These are minor details, and Fourth Master Xiao did not think as thoroughly as Xiqiu, so he roughly nodded in agreent.
Bihuai ca in and asked, "Where should the al be served?" Xiqiu turned to ask Fourth Master Xiao, "Will Fourth Master dine at ho?"
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