Xiqiu sighed. If things were truly this way, she indeed didn’t know how to handle it. Should she talk to Xiao Yanyi about it?
That wasn’t realistic. Not to ntion that in their deep courtyard, they had the relationship of an uncle and sister-in-law, even as ordinary people, she couldn’t just go and tell the other person... and what would she say? Don’t love , we both have families, for the sake of our future stability and happiness, please stay away from ...
Xiqiu shook her head helplessly.
"It’s nothing." Xiqiu felt as if all her energy had been drained. She thought about how Teng Qiuniang wanted to tell the Second Madam. She couldn’t be sure if the Second Madam would believe it, but she didn’t want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
But so things she really couldn’t intervene in!
The next day, after seeing off Fourth Master Xiao, Nanny Li brought all the stewards and wives from the mansion, about forty people in total. Xiqiu’s courtyard had only a small side hall, and there wasn’t even enough standing room for so many people. She thought for a mont and then said to Nanny Li: "Lead them to the passage hall for now. Since I’m only managing the household temporarily, everyone can just make do for a bit."
Nanny Li’s eyes flashed, and she nodded in agreent.
The passage hall was quite spacious, easily accommodating dozens of people. When Xiqiu arrived, Nanny Li led everyone in a curtsey to greet, calling out: "Greetings, Fourth Madam."
Xiqiu sat down at the main seat and nodded toward the crowd. Her gaze swept over the leading few in front, and with a smile, she said: "No need to be formal, everyone. The Second Madam is pregnant, and I’m just managing the household temporarily. Here, you don’t have to follow every rule strictly. If there’s sothing to discuss, we can talk about it. I’m young and don’t know as much as you, so I still need you all to guide ."
"We wouldn’t dare!" they replied in unison. Xiqiu’s gaze fell on their faces—so had their heads lowered in trepidation, others had their heads held high with disdain, and so were expressionless and businesslike...
She morized each face but then shifted the conversation: "Even though this is only temporary, we can be informal in private, but the necessary tasks must be perford. If tasks aren’t completed or duties neglected, appropriate punishnt will still be enforced." She paused and continued, "However, I hope that during this ti, we can work harmoniously. Later, when I return the household managent to my Second Sister-in-law, I hope not to leave her a ss to clean up!"
Her words were a blend of softness and firmness, leaving no room for error.
"Yes, we will rember," they responded.
Soone discreetly glanced at Xiqiu and saw that she wore a chestnut-colored silk overcoat with silver edges and patterns, and a light green pleated gauze skirt. Her hair was styled in a falling horse bun, adorned with a cat’s eye stone and coral phoenix hairpin set with pearl-sized beads, along with an orchid hairpin made of mutton fat jade. She appeared neither extravagantly flamboyant nor timidly small in stature, perfectly poised and smiling gently, causing no sense of vigilance in those who saw her.
They were secretly amazed. Yesterday, they had informally discussed the Fourth Madam’s role in managing the household, each having their own expectations. The Marquis Mansion was a large household, and the Fourth Madam was the daughter of a minor family. There were usually two possibilities when faced with such a situation: one, that she would seize the opportunity to plant her people in various positions to secure a foothold in the mansion and pocket more silver, since it wasn’t her household and she wouldn’t be responsible for its future; or two, that she would be incompetent, allowing herself to be manipulated...
Of course, they hoped for the latter. The Second Madam’s managent was too strict. Even if they wanted to profit, they were constantly on edge, fearing any slip-up could result in being stepped over and kicked out. If the Fourth Madam was incapable, they could seize this ti to do things they didn’t dare to do before, making their tenure worthwhile.
Naturally, this was only so people’s thoughts. People like Nanny Li, who had shown loyalty to the Second Madam, would stick to a businesslike approach, doing what had to be done for the Fourth Madam’s sake.
However, if the Fourth Madam perford well, they would turn a blind eye, but if she disrupted the Second Madam’s rules, they would certainly report it to the Second Madam.
As these thoughts whirled through their minds, Xiqiu looked at Nanny Li and asked, "With so many people, is there a list?" Nanny Li nodded, took a list from her bosom, and handed it to Xiqiu.
Xiqiu opened it, nodded, and said, "Let’s do this: I’ll read the nas from the list, and those whose nas are called can step forward to introduce themselves, so we can get to know each other. Those who are not called, please wait off to the side for now!" After saying this, she handed the list back to Nanny Li.
Nanny Li took the list, then stood to the side and announced: "Hu Hanrui’s wife."
As the words fell, a woman in parrot green, with two plum blossom tassel hairpins in her hair, stepped forward. She was thin, with slightly dark skin, and her fingers were large with deeply lined joints. She curtseyed to Xiqiu, who observed her closely.
"I am a household servant. My husband runs errands for Steward Liu in the outer courtyard and now works in the laundry room, managing the laundry for the servants," Hu Hanrui’s wife introduced herself with her head lowered. Xiqiu nodded as she listened and smiled, "Your husband runs errands for Steward Liu? Is it the Steward Liu from the Teaching Departnt?"
Hu Hanrui’s wife nodded imdiately, "Yes, Fourth Madam, it is Steward Liu from the Teaching Departnt." Xiqiu continued, "Have you always worked in the laundry room?"
"Yes!" she replied.
Xiqiu nodded, and Nanny Li frowned and said, "You may go down." Hu Hanrui’s wife retreated, and Nanny Li called the next na: "Nanny Zhang."
Nanny Zhang was plump and white-skinned, a sharp contrast to Hu Hanrui’s wife. She ca forward, bowed to Xiqiu, and said, "My family na is Zhang. My husband passed away two years ago, and I now manage the kitchen’s purchases."
This was undoubtedly the most profitable position among all the assignnts.
Xiqiu looked at Nanny Zhang deeply and asked, "When did you enter the household? Where did you work before?" Nanny Zhang’s eyes darted briefly to Nanny Li before answering, "I entered the household at the age of twelve, originally doing odd jobs in the kitchen."
Xiqiu was secretly surprised. In such an important position as the kitchen, she thought the Second Madam would have her personal maid or close nanny placed there, but she didn’t expect that Nanny Zhang was a mber of the household!
Xiqiu nodded slightly. It seed this Nanny Zhang was either very diligent or astutely observant and adept. Otherwise, how could she have attained such a position?
After Nanny Zhang stepped down, Nanny Li continued to call each na.
Xiqiu rembered a nanny with the surna Guan, who was responsible for the storeroom. Her voice was sharp, and unlike others, she didn’t even attempt to feign compliance. Xiqiu was puzzled until she introduced herself, and then she finally understood: this Nanny Guan was truly Second Madam’s personal attendant.
Very confident and not at all modest!
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