Chapter 102: Leaving Home (Part 2)

  The eleventh daughter-in-law greeted the old lady and brought up her idea of selecting a few people from Yuan's side to work in her own house: "...if you agree, I'll temporarily decide on a few people these next few days. At that time, please help me make a decision."

  The old lady's gaze on her was very gentle, and she smiled: "It was originally left to you to dispose of. You can make your own decisions."

  Zheng Jie and Yun Ge got up while they were talking.

  Two children paid their respects to their elders.

  "Are we still going to Second Aunt's place today?" asked Brother Jun to Lady Tai.

  Eleventh Sister was somewhat surprised and didn't know how her brother could say such a thing.

  The old lady smiled and asked him: "Do you like to go?"

  "Uncle Ge smiled and nodded with his eyes narrowed: "There are sweet buns to eat at Second Aunt's place."

  The old lady smiled: "You just think about eating."

  Brother Jun stood there smiling.

  Madam Tai said to Eleventh Sister, "Yi Zhen's learning is really good. Before the three brothers, Qin Ge, Yu Ge and Jian Ge, started their studies, they all followed her to learn and recognized a few characters. Previously, the weather was too hot, and later on, we were busy with your wedding, so we left Rong Ge at home. Yesterday, Yi Zhen tested Qin Ge's learning, this child also remembered about going to school!" Her tone revealed her relief that Rong Ge understood things.

  No wonder the three children were so respectful to the second wife yesterday.

  Eleventh girl secretly ate a surprise, her face revealed a few points of surprise: "I've heard that Second Aunt's knowledge is good, but I didn't expect to be able to guide the children to enlightenment." She smiled and looked at Zhen sister again, "Zhen sister's knowledge must have followed Second Madam's learning too!"

  Madam smiled and nodded: "Yi is really good at everything. She said that Zhen's fingers were long, so she specially taught her music. Now she can also play a few tunes."

  The eleventh girl's gaze fell on Zhen Jie's hand.

  As expected, her ten fingers were slender and articulated, unlike the soft and boneless ladies who were usually raised in the inner chambers, but instead exuded a few strands of vigor.

  Zhenji saw Shiyi Niang staring at her and felt a bit embarrassed, clenching her fists: "My hands don't look good..."

  The eleventh girl smiled and said, "A sincere hand is the most beautiful."

  Zhen Jie'er was taken aback.

  "Unless you practice regularly, how can your fingers be strong? And unless they are strong, how can you play a good tune?"

  Zhen Jie's faint smile, her cheeks had a light pink color, very beautiful.

  The corners of Xiāng Niáng's mouth slightly curled up.

  Zhenji wasn't a traditional beauty with a slender figure and delicate features, but she had clear eyes, a calm demeanor, and the elegant bearing of a noblewoman. Speaking of which, she was somewhat similar to Second Mistress...and was far superior to Wen Yiniang!

  Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a wave of relief.

  It's better that Old Mistress Wang keeps Jing'er by her side; if she followed Madame Wen, she might become another Huasangzi...

  Old Lady Tai called Wei Zi to prepare some food and take it over, then smiled at Eleventh Sister and said: "We'll go there too and disturb her."

  Madam Tai's wife, Eleventh Sister naturally couldn't refuse. She had just smiled and agreed when Third Madam arrived. Grabbing Eleventh Sister: "I went to your room to look for you, saying you came to Madam Tai's place. Just about to discuss kitchen matters with you."

  Eleventh Girl pretended to be unaware: "Kitchen affairs? I don't understand. What does Third Aunt want me to do?" With a fully cooperative look.

  The three ladies started talking about how difficult it was to manage a household and the large expenses involved.

  The old lady looked at them for a moment and couldn't help but smile, then took Brother Yun's hand and said to the third lady and Eleventh Lady: "I'll take them to Yizhen's place. You two chat slowly."

  Eleventh daughter was thinking about the news from Luo's family, smiled and responded, sent Mrs. Tai and the children out of the door, then went to her own room: "…Third sister came to my place for a chat, we had a good talk."

  The three madams hurriedly got things done and smiled as they went with Eleven to her place.

  "...you make a list of the dishes you like to eat, and let the kitchen help you come up with a menu...I couldn't find fourth brother's wife, so I went to fifth brother's wife's place first and told her about it. She repeatedly praised me and asked me to ask fourth brother's wife. She just said that if you agree, we can start changing the old rules from tomorrow."

  Eleventh Sister smiled and said, "Now it's Third Aunt who is in charge at home. Whatever the situation is at home, no one knows better than Third Aunt. Since Third Aunt thinks this is a good idea, there must be some benefits to it. I don't have any opinions on this matter. When the time comes, you can just instruct Wu Mama, who's in charge of the kitchen in my courtyard."

  The process went more smoothly than Mrs. San's expectation, and she was slightly stunned.

  Just then a little maid came in and reported: "Fourth Mistress, Tao Mama has arrived."

  Eleventh Young Mistress exchanged a few pleasantries with Third Madame and saw her out the door.

  Back in the house, Mother Tao handed a list to Shiyi and then introduced the people on it: "....Do you like them?"

  Tao's mother chose these people for her, they were all from humble backgrounds and used to be maids in Yuan Niang's house.

  The eleventh girl nodded in satisfaction: "That's exactly what I wanted."

  Although older and more experienced, they also like to rely on their experience in doing things. The clever ones have already become senior maids, while the not-so-clever ones have been eliminated early on. These young maids are young, have undergone a certain amount of training, and have a lower status, so when they come to one's own house, they can quickly become second or third-grade maids. They should cherish such an opportunity!

  Tao's mother was very pleased with Eleven and smiled: "Then I'll bring the person over!"

  The eleventh girl saw that Dà Nǎi had not arrived yet and smiled in response.

  Before long, Mrs. Tao led six maids and four women here.

  The maidservant was between twelve and thirteen years old, with a smooth face, looking clean and tidy, and her appearance was also clever. The woman was in her forties, with an honest face, dressed very neatly.

  Several people bowed to the eleventh girl and stood aside with their hands clasped together.

  Tao's mother introduced them one by one to Eleven Girl.

  The husbands of the four wives, some helped in Yuan Niang's field, and some did chores in Xu Fu. The eight small maidservants were named Green Cloud, Red Embroidery, Double Jade, Fragrant Creek, Autumn Rain, Swan Container, Elegant Orchid, and Orchid Swallow. Among them, Green Cloud and Red Embroidery were preparing to become second-class maidservants, while the others were third-class maidservants.

  Eleventh Sister thought of the two maidservants beside Yuan Sister, one named Lü'è and the other Yān Hóng, and carefully sized them up.

  They all look ordinary, but their temperament is very steady.

  She quietly matched the people with their names, then briefly said a few words like "listen to your sisters in the future and get along" before letting Amber take them away.

  Then let Dong Qing grind ink and re-write a few names.

  Taoyan's mother watched her from the side, seeing that her handwriting was elegant and refined yet had a few strokes of boldness, with a bit of feminine subtlety and a bit of masculine flair, and her heart couldn't help but tremble.

  The elder lady said she was good at needlework but didn't like reading books...

  She couldn't help but feel a little resentful in her heart.

  Does Mrs. Dai know about Miss Eleven's true nature?

  Made up his mind to find some spare time to go to Luo's house and ask a few questions.

  Eleventh girl saw Mrs. Tao see her handwriting somewhat moved, a faint smile in her heart.

  She had been learning calligraphy since she was five years old, except for the three years in the Luo Mansion. Otherwise, knowing that ancient times emphasized "the character is like the person", how could she put all her energy into women's red? She must have written a good word!

  Eleventh girl handed over the list to Tao's mother: "Take a look if there are any mistakes."

  Mother Tao read it through and found no mistake.

  She knew that Shiyi had remembered everything in her heart, and was slightly surprised, but no longer felt the same astonishment - from Shiyi's attitude towards Sanfang Zhang to now having only listened twice and remembering all the names, she already had an impression of Shiyi being clever and capable in her mind, so the surprise was much reduced.

  Eleventh Sister called Binju and Zhuxiang over, letting everyone work together on the menu.

  Tao's mother now knows eleven dishes, some of which she has never even heard of.

  "What if it can't be done in the kitchen?"

  "Whether they can do it or not is their business, whether we make the order or not is our business!" Binju said disapprovingly, and added a dish "Buddha Jumps Over The Wall" to the menu, "...the most challenging ingredients, it could be abalone and sea cucumber, or five-flower pork and Chinese cabbage, I want to see how they deliver this!" with a tone of being deliberately difficult.

  Mother Tao was naturally delighted.

  Sanfang Zhuajia overturned Yuan Niang's previous rules, which was a disguised denial of Yuan Niang's merits.

  The eleventh girl smiled and instructed Tao's mother: "Try to find out what dishes are prepared in the fifth house."

  Mother Tao immediately understood.

  Wu Fang was still pregnant, and Si Fang happened to surpass Wu Fang at this time. Others couldn't help but think that Si Fang was secretly sabotaging Wu Fang.

  It's indeed a bit hasty to do so at this time.

  Mother Tao smiled and went along with it.

  Eleventh Sister followed Binju and Zhu Xiang there. When Amber returned to say that everyone was settled, she let Amber lead Binju and Zhu Xiang to choose people: "...... You each find your own helper. As for me, when I don't eat well, I only look for Zhu Xiang; when I have no clothes to wear, I only look for Binju."

  The two of them looked serious after hearing this and followed Amber to pick people.

  Dong Qing smiled and poured another cup of tea for Shiyi Niang.

  "What time is it now?" asked the eleventh daughter, holding a tea cup.

  Dong Qing went to see Zhong: "It's already past one o'clock."

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but feel anxious upon hearing this.

  At this time, Da Nai has not arrived yet, I wonder if something happened?

  Just then, a young maid came in and reported: "The eldest lady of the Luo family has arrived!"

  "Please come in quickly!" said Eleventh Sister as she went forward to welcome them.

  The door curtain was lifted, and a wet nurse wearing a golden phoenix hairpin and pearl earrings, dressed in a large red loose-sleeved shirt, hurried in.

  There was a hint of urgency between her eyebrows.

  Eleventh Sister looked at him and secretly felt that something was wrong, so she hurriedly took Big Nai's hand: "Why did you come at this time?"

  "Oh no!" Just as Grandma spoke, tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. "Mother heard that both aunts were going to become nuns at Ciyuan Temple and was so angry that she fainted."

  I knew Mrs. would get angry, but I didn't expect her to be so furious.

  "How is it now?"

  "Dr. Liu from Tai Hospital has already been invited." Da Nai took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her eye, "He hasn't woken up yet. I came when he was taking his pulse. Father is so anxious that he scolded people. I have sent someone to inform your elder brother's side and Wu Niangniang's side. It's just that I don't know what to do about Wu Yiniang's side... When Wu Xiaquan accompanied Fourth Uncle to live in Yanjing for over a year, no one mentioned Fourth Aunt..."