Chapter One Hundred and Eleven: Western Mountain

  The eleventh girl finished washing up and came out, Xu Lingyi had already gone to bed, and the two of them leaned against the headboard talking.

  "Wu Di Mei moved to the garden house, Er Sao went to the villa in Xishan. I called back all the servants who were serving each room. Otherwise, the household would definitely be in disarray...". Xu Lingyi told Shi Yi Niang about what had happened at home over the past few days, "Niang is getting older, and Er Sao is not by her side, you should help take care of her more!"

  The eleventh girl hastily responded. Thinking of Mrs. Ta and Xu Lingyi's courtesy to the second lady, she consulted with Xu Lingyi: "Do you want to send someone to ask about her well-being? See if Second Aunt wants anything, and we can also bring some things over."

  Xu Lingyi smiled and nodded, seeing that she was so understanding. Her gaze softened: "It's good that you think this way. She is alone, we siblings should take care of her more. You can also go to her place and visit her." He mentioned the land of the 11th daughter, "The Ministry of Works has a chief named Chen Ping, although he is a scholar, but he has a lot of experience in water management. I heard that he planted some fruit trees in Daxing. Let's ask him about it. Originally, I wanted to invite him to take a look at your field, but he was interested when he heard that I had 500 mu of sloping land. He wants to rent it for 100 taels of silver per year. The price is reasonable, what do you think?"

  Eleventh didn't expect Xu Lingyi to act so quickly. Her mind was racing: "Master Hou is knowledgeable and experienced, if he says this price is acceptable, it's probably correct. However, I've already rented the land to Lord Chen, and our family's dependent house will be idle. They'll just be loafing around every day, who knows what kind of trouble they might get into? I heard that Manager Jia said that planting fruit trees on that slope is the best option. I wonder if he discussed the rental terms with Master Hou in detail? Fruit trees aren't something that generates income within a year or two, it's definitely a long-term lease. Can Master Hou please ask Lord Chen how many years he plans to rent for? Is this rent fixed, or will it be adjusted according to changes in land prices around here?"

  Her voice was as clear as a silver bell, she said a lot, but it was logical and concise, every sentence hit the point.

  Xu Lingyi's eyes lit up as she listened, and she sat up straight, saying: "Chen Ping wants to rent it for ten years, with a fixed annual rent of one hundred taels of silver. He will pay the rent for the first three years in advance. If he wants to renew the lease after ten years, he will have priority."

  Eleventh Sister heard some more news.

  That land costs five taels of silver per mu, 500 mu is 2,500 taels of silver, but Chen Ping paid 300 taels in one breath...

  She murmured: "Around Yanjing, there shouldn't be many slopes like mine with 500 mu of land in one breath?"

  Xu Lingyi couldn't help but laugh: "That's right. Otherwise, he wouldn't have paid three years' rent in one go."

  The eleventh girl had even more confidence in her heart.

  Although it's a bit bitter, with these three hundred taels of silver, she can do something else. Including developing those three hundred mu of sandy land. Fortunately, Xu Lingyi has a wide network and immediately found her a way out.

  "Let Master Hou send someone to talk to Lord Chen!" Eleventh Sister said with a smile, "The land rental is easy to discuss, but I'll have to use my people to help him manage the garden!"

  Xu Lingyi smiled and said: "You want to secretly learn from the master, ten years is a bit too long, isn't it? Why not take someone out to do something else?"

  "It's not like they're stealing our skills." Eleventh Sister smiled and said, "It's just that opportunities are rare, let them learn a trade, so they'll have something to eat in the future. Giving someone fish is not as good as teaching them how to fish."

  Xu Lingyi's gaze flashed with a hint of appreciation as she looked at her.

  "Let White take care of it tomorrow!" he said with a smile. "But you don't have to rush, after all, the winter is almost here, and renting will be next year's business."

  "Let's settle the rent for these few days!" thought Eleventh Sister, thinking of the three hundred taels of rent, "I can also arrange the rooms and annexes early. It looks like winter is approaching."

  "I understand," said Xu Lingyi, and lay down.

  Knowing he was going to sleep, Eleventh Sister blew out the lamp.

  In the darkness, she listened to him turning over and over, wanting to ask Xu Lingyi if he still followed the old rules, resting in each aunt's house for five days or setting a new rule. But listening to his gradually calming breathing, she decided to find another opportunity to talk about this matter.

  The next morning, Xu Lingyi was sent to the early court, and Huopo and others were packing boxes at home. She took two second-class maidservants, Luyun and Hongxiu, to pay respects to Madame Tai.

  Old Mistress was instructing Du Mama: "...... charcoal is abundant, take some away. Send Ding Mama from our small kitchen over there, her hot pot cooking is the best. This weather is getting colder and colder, eating hot pot will warm us up a bit. Also bring that moon-white plum orchid bamboo embroidery silk that was awarded in the palace last year..."

  Eleventh daughter knew at once that this was about Second Madam's affair.

  Seeing her coming, Mrs. Tai waved at her: "We'll go see Yu Zhen together later!"

  The eleventh girl was very surprised.

  Yesterday evening, Empress Dowager didn't mention going to the Western Mountain Villa at all, it seems like a sudden decision... Xu Lingyi went to court early this morning and definitely doesn't know that Empress Dowager is going to the Western Mountain Villa.

  She smiled and greeted Madame Tai, saying: "Mother, should I tell the Marquis about it? It would be better to send a few more attendants..."

  "Don't worry!" said the old lady with a smile. "This is in Yanjing, not in Miao territory. Are you still afraid that someone will be kidnapped?"

  The eleventh girl naturally smiled and agreed, making an excuse to go back and change her clothes. She hastily sent Amber to the outer courtyard to find Director Bai and asked him to report to Xu Lingyi that Madame wanted to go to the Western Mountain Villa. Then she hurriedly changed into a green four-joy-patterned jacket and went to see Madame.

  As soon as I entered the house, I bumped into Third Madam.

  She held an account book in her hand and had just come out of Madame Wang's room.

  "It's still good that my younger siblings have the fortune to go out and play for a day. Unlike me, who is always busy with no free time." The tone was somewhat disapproving.

  No need to pretend to be strong for something that doesn't matter.

  The eleventh girl smiled and said: "Those who are capable have more work to do. We don't have a third sister-in-law, nor can we be so carefree."

  The three madams listened with great relish, a hint of pride flashing in their eyes. They chatted idly with Eleventh Sister for a few sentences before excusing themselves on the pretext of being busy.

  The eleventh daughter had just entered the wife's room when the fifth madam arrived.

  I heard they are going to Xishan Villa, and they also shouted that they want to go: "I want to see Er Sao."

  "Come on, we're going to deliver something to Yizhen, it's not a pleasure trip. You stay home and don't run around."

  She pulled the sleeve of Tai's wife and pouted.

  The old lady was determined this time and wouldn't let her go out: "Outside the Yanjing Road is not peaceful..." It seemed that she thought she was pregnant, fearing that she would stir up the fetal energy.

  The fifth lady's smile became very obedient, and her tone was also very sweet: "Then I'll let the maids accompany me to Lijing Xuan to pick flowers." A spoiled childlike appearance.

  "Alright, alright, alright." Retreating and seeking secondary options, the old lady hastily agreed, "But be careful not to get stung by any insects."

  The five ladies laughed and became a flower: "Won't work, won't work."

  Old Lady shook her head: "How can you be so naughty?" But her face and eyes were full of smiles.

  Although it was a light vehicle, more than a dozen black lacquered flat-top horse-drawn carriages were lined up in a row, with three layers of guards inside and out, which was already quite spectacular.

  Pedestrians on the road dodged one after another.

  A group of people went to the western mountain villa in a mighty and majestic manner.

  The eleventh girl and Tai Furen sat in a horse-drawn carriage, their expressions still somewhat dazed.

  Never thought I'd leave the Xu Manor in such an unprepared state...

  She carefully attended to the old lady, fearing that she might not be feeling well - after all, she was advanced in years and this carriage did not have any shock-absorbing devices, so it was uncertain whether she could withstand such a bumpy ride.

  The old lady smiled at her tension: "It's okay, it's okay." But the filial piety of the eleventh girl still made her feel very comfortable in her heart.

  After walking for about an hour and a half, they arrived at Xishan Villa.

  A young servant had already reported to the manager of the other courtyard and entered through the Wisteria Flower Gate, where the maids and old women were all kowtowing on the ground.

  The second lady came over with a look of guilt on her face: "Mother, it's all the fault of the daughter-in-law!" And also greeted the eleventh lady, "Letting Fourth Brother and Sister wait."

  The eleventh daughter-in-law hastily went forward and paid her respects to the second lady of the house.

  The old lady chuckled and said: "I'll take a look at how you're living!" She looked around.

  The ancient trees in the Xishan Villa are deep and serene, with powder walls and green bricks dotted among them, like a light and elegant watercolor painting. The courtyard has clean and tidy bluestone paths, black pillars that have been polished to shine, and newly opened chrysanthemums arranged on the stone railings.

  The old lady nodded in satisfaction and was supported by the second lady into the house.

  The table still had red and yellow ochre scattered on it, along with brushes, ink, and paper. It was clear that the second lady of the house had been painting before they arrived.

  The old lady walked up to the painting table.

  It is a picture of maple leaves in Xishan, just about to change color.

  The second lady smiled and said: "Don't worry about me, I'm fine here."

  The old lady took another glance at the moonlit white curtains, the blue and white porcelain incense burner with three elephant-shaped feet, and the wooden hibiscus in the Qinghua vase on the high table, and smiled: "You like it, that's good."

  "The scenery here is unique." The second lady helped the old lady sit on the large kang by the window in the eastern wing, and the maid served tea to everyone. "Every day, I get up and walk around in the woods, then return home to either paint or read books, it's very comfortable."

  The old lady listened with an even deeper smile.

  The second lady chatted with Eleventh Sister: "Just returned yesterday? Is the first lady well?"

  "Everything is fine." She exchanged a few pleasantries with Mrs. Two.

  Old Mistress asked Du's mother to bring in the things she had brought for Second Mistress.

  The maidservants came in and out one after another. Soft and light large pillows, crystal clear glass plates, cloisonné hand warmers, jade-like sheep horn palace lanterns, silver-plated gold hairpin warm inkstone boxes... all piled up on the kang, covering almost half of it.

  The second lady was uneasy: "Mother, I don't need so many things."

  "It's not as good as being at home, nothing is convenient here." The old lady disagreed, "If you lack anything, don't keep it in your heart and say nothing. Just tell me."

  The second lady hurriedly kneeled down and thanked the old lady, letting Jie Xiang put away the things, accompanying the old lady to drink tea, asking about the old lady's body, and a mother came in to ask: "Where is lunch set?" The second lady looked at the old lady.

  The old lady smiled and said: "Let's set it up here!"

  The old woman smiled and backed away with her knees bent, letting someone else carry the table, while the second lady personally arranged the chopsticks.

  Eleventh girl will also help with the chores.

  The newly arranged (room) was almost done, when a young servant ran in and reported: "Has the Master arrived?"

  So soon?

  The eleventh girl was slightly surprised.

  Then Xu Lingyi strode in with big steps.

  He wore a large red official uniform, with the lion on his badge standing proudly and majestically.

  I'd like to recommend a book to everyone:

  Book title: The Beauty on the Branch

  Book number: 1692369

  Content: Sang's daughter, Yu Yang, entered the British Consulate as a maid, thinking she would spend her life this way. Who knew things wouldn't go as she wished...

  Writing about two girls' friendship and love is so much fun! (*^__^*) Hehe......