Chapter Fifty Help Out

  Things came too suddenly, Yu Dajing barely made up for the account with some jewelry of his wife. Yawen spoke emotionally.

  Dou Xiuchang arranged for the Dou Mansion's financial house to be audited, and upon finding everything in order, had Yu Daqing draw up a receipt. Aunt sent over two hundred taels of silver as a parting gift, along with some porcelain, screens, and other rewards, and chose an auspicious day to host a farewell banquet for the Yu family.

  In Zhen Ding County, it was rumored that Diao Jia Qi Ye was going to marry a widow. Previously, the widow's mother-in-law, Rong Yang, had taken care of her and been rewarded with a lot of silver by the Diao family for her old-age support.

  Yu's carriage had just left the city gate when someone secretly measured the impression made by the wheels of the carriage.

  Later, someone in the Dugu family heard that Yu's family encountered robbers on their way back. Not only were their belongings looted, but Yu also suffered a shock and passed away soon after. Yu Daqing was injured and although he survived, he became disabled and could no longer take care of himself...

  Her aunt saw that things had been handled, and bid farewell to the ladies of the Duan manor: "…Shougu's uncle is still waiting for me to return home for New Year's, so I'll entrust Shougu to you."

  Whether it was the second lady or several ladies, they all happily agreed.

  After seeing off his aunt, the Duan family began preparing for the New Year.

  After Zhao Guqiu's death, all the annual affairs on the west side were handled by Duan Shoubang and his wife. This year, due to Duan Zhao's matter in between, they invited Duan Dang over for dumplings on Winter Solstice Festival, but Duan Dang declined citing cold weather and physical discomfort. Duan Shoubang was uncertain about it, so he specially asked the Second Madam to give her opinion.

  The second lady went to the Western Mansion: "...Although we have obtained the consent letter, no ceremony was held. After all, Wang's name is not correct and his words are not smooth. I think it's better to let her follow Old Three's daughter-in-law to help out this year. It's also a way for her to learn how to host the Mid-Autumn Festival. Next year during Chinese New Year, our two families will celebrate separately!"

  Dong Dong replied faintly.

  Wang Yingshuai was called over by Third Madam to help out.

  She was overjoyed, thinking that she had never experienced this before. She couldn't be too shabby or too luxurious, so she neatly combed her hair into a round bun. Wearing a half-new and half-old crimson embroidered jacket with plum blossoms, she only hung a pair of earrings made of red gold on her ears and went to the East Mansion in a neat, tidy, and modest manner.

  Third Sister-in-law was settling accounts with the housekeeper's mother, and when she came in, she merely raised her head to say "you're here", then had a maid bring over an embroidery stool for her: "You just sit on the side and watch first, if there's anything you don't understand, ask me again later." As they spoke, the housekeeper's mother and the dignified senior maid came and went, going out and coming back in, the small room was bustling with activity.

  Wang Yingshuo spent some time in Kyoto when she was a child and also followed her mother to visit some high-ranking families. She didn't think it was awkward, and said softly, "Third Madam, you're busy with your own things, don't bother with me." Then she sat down on the embroidered stool, watching Third Madam with an air of observing all directions.

  There was a mother who managed the household accounts, and she argued with San Tai Tai: "When Zhao's wife from the Western Mansion came over, we had to hold banquets one after another at home, so the expenses for tea and wine were also more than usual..."

  Wang Yingshu heard the two words "Xi Fu" and immediately perked up her ears.

  "It's more than usual." said Third Madame, "But if it's 30% more than usual, isn't that a bit too much?" Third Madame said as she flipped through the account book, "Look, this is the household expenses when Sixth Master passed the imperial examination. And look at Zhao family's maternal aunt's...

  "It was still early autumn when Liu Ye left, but Zhao's aunt didn't leave until after the Winter Solstice. After the Winter Solstice, the prices of chicken, duck, fish and meat all went up..."

  "Didn't each of your farms have things sent over before the Winter Solstice?" Third Aunt was unmoved, "Why are you still going out to buy them?"

  "Zhao's aunt stayed from the Mid-Autumn Festival to the Small Snow." The mother of the housekeeper was anxious, her mouth foaming at the corners. Seeing Wang Yinxue wearing a half-new and half-old dress, she looked unfamiliar and thought she was one of the housekeepers' wives. While talking to San Tai Tai, she pointed at Wang Yinxue: "Go, pour me a cup of tea!"

  "Me?" Wang Yingshuang was shocked and looked at Mrs. San.

  The third wife glared at the managing mother like a fighting cock.

  Wang Yingshu looked at the three wives' maids and old women, none of whom made a sound, so she slowly got up to pour a cup of tea for the housekeeper.

  "What does this housekeeper do?" she whispered to the little maid.

  "You're talking about Aunt Du," said the little maid, following her gaze and smiling. "She's the wife of our steward, Du, and is extremely straightforward. In the past, she was a personal maid to the lady of the house, and even the masters of the house would show her some respect." Then, curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, "Which household are you from? I've never seen you before. Are you one of the new steward's wives?"

  Wang Yingshu regretted that she was too plain the day before, so on the second day, she styled her hair in a low bun, wore a jade flower, and put on a bright green embroidered jacket with floral patterns, shining brightly.

  Those who came in to report matters all smiled and nodded towards her, asking what kind of person Third Madam was.

  "It's Wang Yiniang of the East Mansion."

  Those people looked at her again, with a few more curious and exploratory gazes, and even a hint of disdain. When eating, those maidservants would glance over at her in twos and threes, and when she turned around, they would burst into an ambiguous and flirtatious laughter.

  Wang Yingshu was both ashamed and annoyed, regretting that she had dressed too eye-catchingly, and the whole day passed by like a needle on a thorn.

  Back at the Qixia Courtyard, Hu's nanny told her: "The second madam had sent Liu's nanny to take Ming'er away. She said that with Chinese New Year approaching soon, you should follow Third Madam to learn about managing the household, and since Ming'er has no one to care for her, it's just as well to send her over to keep Fourth Miss company."

  Dou Ming had never left Wang Yingxue since she was a child, and now that Wang Yingxue was gone, it was too late to go back to the East House to bring her back. She blamed Hu Niangniang: "Why didn't you send someone to tell me? I could have brought Ming's sister back with me when I came back."

  Hu's wife thought to herself, Who would have known that no one in the East Mansion knows how to deal with you!

  But he didn't dare say this and could only sincerely admit his mistake with a fearful heart.

  Wang Yingshu was worried that Du Ming had left her and wasn't used to it, making a racket in the middle of the night; she was worried that the people in Er Taifu's house were arrogant and didn't take good care of Du Ming; then she was worried that Du Zhao would bully Du Ming, turning over and over again, not sleeping all night, and after washing up, she went to Du Dang's place.

  "I'm going to the East Mansion." She respectfully informed Du Dang of her whereabouts, then smiled casually and said, "The second lady has taken Ming'er away, saying that she wants her to keep Shou'ge company. What do you think? When should we bring Shou'ge and Ming'er back?"

  The second lady had already given Du Dang a heads up about this matter, and he knew that the so-called "busyness" was just an excuse. The second lady looked down on Wang Shi and was afraid she would teach the children bad things, while he didn't want to see those two girls - one who took half of his family's property and the other who was a bastard child, neither of whom were good things! Just seeing them made him annoyed. He also thought that if Wang Shi hadn't caused such a commotion, she would have been properly married into the family, given birth to a grandson, and with a father-in-law like Wang Xingyi, he wouldn't be embarrassed wherever he went. But unfortunately, things didn't go as planned... He was even annoyed by Wang Yingxue's presence, and spoke in an unfriendly tone: "You should focus on your own affairs first, don't just worry about useless things. With the family in such a mess, where do you want the two children to stand?"

  Wang Yingshuai's words did not work and instead she was scolded, feeling very wronged in her heart, biting her lip as she went to the East Mansion.

  At noon, Mrs. Samsa invited her to have lunch together and asked her: "Is there anything you don't understand?"

  She had originally wanted to go see Dou Ming at the second wife's place, but the third wife kept her there. How could she refuse? As a junior, she stood by and served the third wife lunch, seeing the third wife ask her, she smiled and said: "I think that household matters are all old precedents, looking for the original accounts from before, it should be twice as effective." Then humbly said, "Don't know if what I said is right or wrong, please correct me, Third Wife."

  "After all, it's the family of officials," said the third lady with a smile. "At a glance, you understand, and at a touch, you penetrate. Unlike my husband, who doesn't understand anything, and even after looking for half a day, he still can't remember. Later, it was Third Master who told me, and only then did I get some idea..." She spoke very amiably to him.

  Wang Yingshu accompanied Third Madame in conversation and later that afternoon, she also accompanied Third Madame to the warehouse to check on the New Year's storage.

  It's already late at night.

  Qiong Fang, her maid, came over and replied: "The second mistress's place has just dropped the key."

  Wang Yingshu returned to Xifeng's residence in exhaustion and followed Third Madame to several temples the next day to offer incense money for the coming year.

  She had been busy with this and that for several days, when she suddenly realized that it had been seven or eight days since she last saw Dou Ming, and no one had told her how he was doing. She became anxious, feeling vaguely that the people of the Eastern Mansion were intentionally keeping things from her, so she left the warehouse where she had only finished counting half of the goods and went to see the Second Lady.

  The maids and old ladies didn't stop her, but instead welcomed her in with smiling faces.

  Ji and Dou Zhao were both present.

  When she came in, Ji smiled and nodded, but Dou Zhao warmly called out "Aunt Wang".

  Wang Yingshu went forward and paid her respects to the second mistress.

  The second lady wore a grey squirrel fur stole, slanting on the large pillow of the heated kang by the window, holding a box with a foreign lotus pattern and carved silk enamel, smiling and asking her: "How is it? Has Lao San gone to sleep?"

  Not to mention that Third Madame was busy at the moment, even if she had nothing to do and was resting at home, Wang Yinxue wouldn't dare say it in front of Second Madame.

  "Third Madame is busy to the point of having no time to spare," she said hastily, "I was thinking that it's been several days since I've seen Shougu and Ming'er, so I specially came over to take a look."

  The second lady listened, nodded in satisfaction and said: "Wu's family came over to send New Year's gifts. Wu's fifth young master and seventh young lady also came over. I asked them to take Ming sister with them to visit relatives."

  Wu's family refers to Yu Erniang's natal family.

  Wang Yingshu heard this and felt slightly relieved.

  Yu Er Nai Nai also came from an official family, her grandfather had been a county magistrate, and her uncle Wu Songnian was currently a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. The fifth young master and seventh young lady of the Wu family referred to Wu Songnian's eldest son Wu Shan and eldest daughter Wu Ya.

  A thought flashed through her mind, and Wang Yingshuo was filled with doubts again.

  Wu Shan is seven years old this year, Wu Ya is four years old, and Dou Zhao's age is about the same. Why did Ming Jie go to Dou Zhao but not to them?

  ※

  Sisters, today I'm going back to my mother-in-law's house for the New Year. There is no internet installation over there and the wireless network card doesn't work very well. My updates will be a bit delayed, please forgive me... Hehe...

  ※RQ