Chapter 108: Family Matters (Below) (Pink Tickets 960)

  The fifth lady took over the menu and smiled: "Just follow San's meaning!"

  The three ladies smiled and their faces lit up.

  The fifth lady came over and took Eleventh Sister's hand: "Fourth sister has some free time to make a few needlework for her nephew!"

  The eleventh girl smiled and glanced at her abdomen: "As long as you don't mind that I'm not very skilled."

  The fifth lady smiled brightly: "Even someone as worldly and knowledgeable as Lian Niang thinks that Fourth Sister's needlework is good, let alone me."

  The third lady smiled and asked: "What has the fourth brother's wife made for mother again? Why don't you show it to me so I can have a look!"

  The concubine's undergarments, even if they were made well, it's impossible to take them out and show off.

  "The young girl smiled and said: 'Some small things, not worth mentioning.'"

  Third Madame was about to ask further when Wei Zi lifted the curtain and came out from the inner room. Smiling, she made a curtsy: "Third Madame invites all the madames to enter!"

  The three of them stopped laughing and followed in a line to pay their respects to Old Mistress.

  The old lady asked about the third lady's sacrifice on October 1st.

  "Don't worry, mother." The third madam smiled and said, "Everything is ready. On the sixth day of the first month, I will distribute winter clothes to all the maids." She also apologetically told the eleventh lady, "There are many people in our household, so we started making winter clothes as early as July. We didn't know how many people would come with your fourth brother's wife at that time, so we didn't make any for your wing of the house. However, I will give you two silver coins to make up for it."

  What does she want the silver for? Can't she give clothes to those maids and servant girls in her house? Besides, when she looks at the maids in Xu's house, except for the top maids of each room and decent mothers like Du Mama, they all wear uniform clothes. Why should her maids be an exception?

  The eleventh girl smiled: "They always have to wear clothes. San Shu doesn't need to give me silver to make up for it, just let the needlework room give them clothes to make up for it."

  The old lady nodded slightly after hearing this: "As long as it's done before the New Year, that's fine."

  "Yes." The three madams nodded hastily.

  Back in her own room, Shiyi called for Tao Mama to ask: "When I was at my natal home, the senior maids and the more dignified mothers each had four sets of clothes per year, while the others had two sets per year. What is the rule like in the Xu household?"

  "Big sisters and mothers who are a bit more dignified get eight sets of clothes every year, while others get four. Because there are so many people, spring shirts are made in winter and summer clothes are made in spring. On the sixth day of March, they change into spring clothes; on the sixth day of May, they change into summer clothes; on the sixth day of September, they start changing into autumn clothes; and on the sixth day of October, they change into winter clothes. It's all according to the rules of the palace, just two days later than in the palace."

  Eleventh girl nodded, but in her heart she was grateful to Madam Tai for not letting herself host the banquet as soon as she entered the door. Otherwise, all these trivial things would have been a headache.

  Tao's mother told her about the many rules of the Xu family, saying that they were basically similar to those in the palace, only less grand and with simpler etiquette. She also laughed and said: "......So our Empress Dowager is in charge of the six palaces, it's really not a big deal."

  Two people chatted while Eleven Girl did needlework.

  The aunt looked at the color which was somewhat gaudy and unlike what Eleventh Sister would wear, and smiled: "Madam, for whom are you doing needlework?"

  The eleventh girl smiled and said, "Help me with something small."

  Mother Tao's gaze was very complicated.

  Sent off Tao's mother, Shiyi Niang called Dongqing over.

  “…Let's move tomorrow. If there's anything wrong, just live in it for now.” And let Amber give her the last fifty taels of silver, “Save some money.” People have hope in adversity and are more motivated, and she said to her: “Hou Ye sent General Manager Jia and Wan Yizong to take care of our fields, and after this period of time, it will be fine!”

  Dong Qing smiled with tears in her eyes: "This fifty taels of silver can be used for several months. Don't forget, we once spent a month on just two taels of silver."

  The eleventh girl smiled and said, "It's good that you can think this way."

  Dong Qing went back to pack her things, and the next day, Hu Po and a few others sent her out of the mansion without mentioning it.

  At noon, Shiyi went to Tai Furen's place for lunch. In the afternoon, Tai Furen would take Zhen Jie and Yun Ge to Er Furen's place. Shiyi had needlework to do and didn't go to Tai Furen's after her nap.

  Time flies when you're busy. If Xu Lingyi hadn't come back, she wouldn't have known it was already late at night.

  Eleventh girl called in Xia Yi to help Xu Lingyi change clothes, and she herself put away the needle and thread. After Xu Lingyi came out of the clean room, they went together to Madame Tai's place. They waited for Xu Sizong and others to finish their studies, and everyone gathered around to eat dinner together. Everyone then moved to the hall to drink tea and chatted about trivial matters for half a day before dispersing.

  On the road, Eleventh Sister was very silent. Back in the house, she poured tea for Xu Lingyi, made her bed, and then blew out the lamp to sleep.

  "Why don't you read books anymore?" He asked lightly, looking at Eleven who had wrapped herself in a blanket.

  "I've been sewing for a whole afternoon and I'm feeling a bit tired," said Eleventh Sister with a smile. "Let's give our eyes a rest."

  Xu Lingyi let out an "oh" and felt there was nothing more to say, closing her eyes.

  After a while, he felt the people around him breathing evenly.

  Xu Lingyi gazed into the distance under the moonlight and found that Eleventh Sister had already fallen asleep.

  "What a kid!" He couldn't help but curl up the corner of his mouth.

  Two days later, Jia Guanshi returned and Bai Guanshi accompanied him to see the Eleventh Lady. The Eleventh Lady had already called for Wan Yizong to wait on the side, and after introducing each other, Wan Yizong and Jia Guanshi went to Wanping.

  Big breasts have arrived.

  "Alright then, two aunts, twenty taels of silver each per year, tonsure and cultivate at Ci Yuan Temple."

  Eleventh Sister really wanted to ask about the whereabouts of those five thousand taels of silver. She also didn't know if Big Nai and the others knew about this silver... After thinking for a moment, she still didn't speak up.

  Dai Nai looked at Shiyi Niang, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated. She thought Shiyi Niang was worried about the annual silver offerings and smiled: "This time we have to thank Wu Gongye. That Jining Shitai opened her mouth and said each person would give one hundred taels every year. If it weren't for Wu Gongye haggling with her, each person wouldn't have given more than fifty taels."

  "Eldest Sister's husband has always been very astute and eloquent." said Eleventh Daughter with a smile.

  "Who says it isn't." Dà Nǎi picked up Qián Míng, who was indeed very appreciative. "Wǔ Niáng is also a lucky one. I only hope that in the future, Wǔ Gū Yé can top the imperial examination and make a name for himself."

  The eleventh daughter asked the madam: "Does mother know?"

  Still didn't tell her elderly family member.

  "That girl over there..."

  "Your elder brother said, we can't hide forever. Yesterday morning he went to the Wang's residence and told Shi Niang. Eldest sister sighed, "Shi Niang didn't cry or make a fuss, she actually looked like she already knew. She just stared at your elder brother with an extremely gloomy gaze. Your elder brother was still frightened after he came back. I'm afraid from now on she'll hate us..."

  The eleventh girl smiled and chatted with Da Nai about some family matters. Seeing that it was getting late, Da Nai stood up to bid farewell: "......Nowadays, someone has to stay at home."

  She and Da Nai went to pay their respects to Tai Fu, then personally escorted her to the Weeping Willow Gate: "Often bring Brother Rong home to play, also avoid them brothers growing apart."

  Dà nǎi lián lián diǎn tóu: "dé le kòng jiù dài tā guò lái wán!"

  Translation:

  Big breasts nodded repeatedly: "When you're free, bring him over to play!"

  After seeing off Da Nai, Shi Yi Niang wrapped up the finished undergarments in white silk and went to Tai Fu Ren's place.

  The old lady looked at the dense needle corner and liked it very much. She asked Du's mother to put it away, and when Xu Lingyi returned, she ate dinner at the old lady's place before going back.

  Xu Lingyi asked Shier Niang: "Has Manager Jia returned?"

  The eleventh girl smiled and responded with a "yes".

  Since that night, Xu Lingyi felt down in the dumps.

  He let out a quiet sigh.

  Two days later, Wan Yizong replied to her: "... Manager Jia said that sandy land is best for growing melons and sloping land is best for growing fruit trees. Neither of the two Xu family's farms has a skilled hand. However, I can help find one. Let me reply to Madam, if found, whether to hire or send someone to learn."

  "What do you mean?" asked Eleventh Sister of Wan Yizong.

  "It's better to hire directly." His voice was somewhat despondent. "Sending someone to learn is afraid it will take some time to learn."

  The Zhou Dynasty's laws and regulations. Even a noble family like the Xu family only had twenty slaves, while the Luo family didn't even qualify. People like Wan Yi Zong, due to poverty and lack of land to farm, were hired by the Luo family for very low wages. However, when they encountered events such as weddings or funerals, or someone fell ill, their wages were insufficient to cover expenses, so they would borrow money from the landlord. As time went on, the borrowed money piled up, and the annual wages were not enough to repay the debt. After a long time, the landlord became the largest creditor, and with the saying "children pay off their parents' debts", these people became free citizens who were unable to be truly free.

  If Eleventh Young Master were to rehire someone to manage his estate, these people would not even have a mouthful of rice to eat; how could he not be disheartened?

  "Aren't you the one with three sons?" If even his own concubine couldn't be kept, how could those who followed Yuan Niang follow him? The eleventh daughter was already in a precarious situation. Moreover, she didn't want to abandon her own few concubines either. They had traveled thousands of miles from Yuhang to the capital, all for just one meal.

  "Rest assured, madam. If we can find a master who teaches the art of cultivating sweet melons and fruit trees, we will definitely learn from him with all our heart."

  "I'm afraid it's not that easy." Shí Yī Niáng smiled and said, "You're taking someone else's rice bowl, how can they possibly hand over the rice bowl to you obediently?"

  Wan Yizong smiled and said: "The master leads you in the door, but cultivation depends on each individual."

  This attitude is just about right!

  The eleventh girl smiled contentedly and then carefully instructed Wan Yizong: "You go to the market to ask about the prices of those melons and fruits. We also have a number in mind."

  Wan Yizong departed at the sound of his name being called.

  In the evening, Xu Lingyi returned and felt that Shiyi Niang's mood had improved a lot. She asked her: "Do you want to go back and stay for a few days?"

  The eleventh girl was stunned for a moment and didn't come back to her senses until half a day later.

  In two days it will be October 10th.

  Unconsciously, she has been married into the Xu family for a month already.

  To be honest, she didn't want to go back home at all.

  "I'll think about it and tell you tomorrow!" She was going to ask Auntie Tao, San Fu Ren, Yuan Niang and Wu Fu Ren had all gone back home for a few days.

  Xu Lingyi thought that she was always cautious in her actions, and knew that she must have gone to ask the likes of Tao Mama how many days it would be suitable for her to stay. She then said: "I'll go tell Madame."

  Absolutely not!

  The eleventh girl secretly thought in her heart.

  Which mother-in-law likes her son to stand up for his wife in front of her... at least not in the Luo family!

  She hastily smiled and said, "Mother has always been lenient, and I'm not afraid to say these things in front of her. It's just that I really haven't thought it through." Afraid that Xu Lingyi would press the matter further, she changed the subject with a smile: "Eldest sister-in-law came today. She said that Fifth Brother-in-law has already agreed with Mistress Jin'ning to provide twenty taels of silver each year for her support..."

  Xu Lingyi watched as she hastily changed the subject, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

  Is it really not thought out? Or is it simply not wanting to go back?

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