Chapter Fifteen: Everything is done with meticulous care (double update)

  Zhiyuan stood behind the table and handed several papers to Daiyu.

  "Brother, what's this?" Daiyu saw that it was a list of gifts, including: a longevity star made of jade, a five-colored glazed porcelain vase of Guanyin, a pair of bottles with the characters for good fortune and longevity, a string of green jade Buddhist beads, twenty pieces of silk fabric, twenty pieces of brocade, Bi Luo Chun tea from Suzhou, meat floss from Taicang, silver fish from Taihu Lake, ten pairs of bear paws, twenty catties of deer meat, twenty catties of sea cucumber, fifty pairs of large shrimp, an unspecified number of gold and silver ingots, embroidered purses made by Suzhou's skilled needlewomen, and four sets of the Four Treasures of the Study produced by a century-old shop in Suzhou.

  Zhiyuan smiled: "These days we've been too busy, I almost forgot that the New Year is approaching. I prepared some gifts and sent them to Rongguo Mansion in Beijing under your name, they should have arrived by now. Every year during festivals, Second Uncle also sends things over, can't be careless just because it's just us two this year."

  Daiyu listened to Zhiyuan's words and carefully looked at this very thin but heavy gift list.

  Suzhou to Beijing is a journey that takes more than half a month by waterway, and that's only when the weather is good. Brother said he has already arrived in Beijing, so he must have arranged for the funeral rites during the few days after Father passed away.

  Daiyu felt warm in her heart, her brother was so busy and tense but still thought of her. She knew that some people in her grandmother's house were good at currying favor, when Daiyu went to the capital, her father gave her some silver, and the Jia Mansion also gave her monthly money like the other three girls every month. The old lady often gave some loose silver to the maids in her room. Even so, the money in Daiyu's hand was getting less and less. Over the years, this money was like flowing water, but even with such scattered money, there were still some people in the Jia Mansion who had minor criticisms of her.

  While her mother was alive, Daiyu never asked about these things and didn't need to worry about them herself. Later, after she went to live with her maternal grandmother, her father would send a steward with generous gifts to the capital city whenever it was time for Chinese New Year or other festivals.

  This year, if it weren't for Brother's meticulousness, I'm afraid I would have forgotten long ago. At that time, some people in the Jia Mansion couldn't help but say some unpleasant words.

  Daiyu solemnly bowed to Zhiyuan: "Brother, Daiyu will never forget your kindness."

  Zhiyuan smiled and accepted his sister's thanks, he knew that all his efforts had been recognized by Daiyu, Daiyu had truly begun to regard him as her own closest relative.

  Zhiyuan suddenly remembered something, so he turned around and took another piece of paper from the table to give to Daiyu: "These are the families that our family is close with in Suzhou and Yangzhou. Every year's gift list is written by me, but starting this year, I'll have you take care of these things."

  "But, brother, I've never done these things before..." Daiyu was somewhat at a loss. After all, Daiyu was only in her teens this year and still just a young girl, suddenly having to take on such a big responsibility was really beyond her abilities.

  Zhiyuan also knew this principle, but he had long thought of a solution.

  "Sister, don't worry, I've thought about it long ago. Our family has a small population, so we should work together even more. You're not young anymore, although you haven't reached the age of pinning up your hair, but you should start learning how to manage household chores. I heard Xueyan say that when you were in Beijing, you and your sisters only talked about poetry and literature with the elder sister-in-law of the Jia family every day, is that right?"

  Daiyu nodded in agreement, it was indeed so, and seemingly all young ladies from respectable families in the capital lived their days in this manner.

  Zhiyuan took one look at Daiyu's bewildered expression and knew that no one had ever taught her these things. "It's normal for girls to discuss poetry and literature among themselves, but when they grow up and get married, it will be unseemly to continue doing so. No matter how high-minded a girl is, she can't escape this fate. That's why I hope you'll start learning about managing the household now."

  Daiyu seemed to have grown up overnight after her father left, and she understood Zhiyuan's kindness. "I know that brothers are all for Daiyu's own good, I will work hard to take care of this family, and absolutely not add trouble to my brother."

  "We siblings don't care about what's troublesome or not, brother just hopes you can grow up and be worthy of your own family in the future!"

  Daiyu's face turned red at Zhiyuan's words.

  Zhiyuan continued, "When the Seventh Princess married into the Jiangnan region, she brought with her a palace maid named YaYa. Zhiyuan smiled slightly, seemingly with a hint of mockery, "The imperial palace is the most intense battleground for women in the world, and the maids who come out of there are not to be underestimated. Although the Seventh Princess was not favored, she still had some capable people by her side. Many wealthy families in Jiangnan hoped to invite such instructing maids to teach their daughters. I requested the princess's presence, and she lent us a strict maid named YaYa, specifically to instruct you on these matters. However, don't worry, she won't take up too much of your time; before your sister's hairpinning ceremony, you should still enjoy your life!"

  At this moment, Mu Rui came in to report: "Young Master, Luo Guan is seeking an audience outside."

  Daiyu hastily got up, wanting to withdraw, but Zhiyuan said: "Sister, don't bother, Luo Guan has followed me for over a decade, I trust him very much. In the future, if I'm not at home and you have something on your mind, you can also look for him."

  Mu Dui listened to Young Master's words and smiled before turning around to call someone.

  Before long, the sound of footsteps was heard from outside, and a middle-aged man walked in. At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary person, but Daiyu found that Luo Guan's eyes were very sharp, and at a glance, he was a capable person.

  Luo Guan's family saw Daiyu standing inside the house and didn't show any surprise, as if it was normal to see her here. "Young master, young lady."

  Zhiyuan asked Murui to show Luo Guanjia a seat. After some polite refusals, Luo Guanjia sat down beside the chair.

  "Young master, young lady, I've come this time to discuss the New Year's arrangements with you both." He pulled out two lists from his sleeve and handed them to Daiyu instead of Zhiyuan, leaving Daiyu somewhat perplexed. "Miss, these are for you, as requested by the young master. One is a list of all 106 servants in our estate, and the other is a list of various New Year's gifts purchased by our estate this year."

  Daiyu carefully looked over the list of people's names, some of whom had come from Yangzhou, while most were originally servants in her brother's household. On it was clearly written what each person was currently doing and how much their monthly allowance was.

  "Master and Miss, our family's New Year gifts have been purchased, now we just need to deliver them according to the gift list."

  "This matter will be arranged by the young lady, and in a few days she will send someone to deliver it to you. There is also another thing." Zhiyuan said to Daiyu: "This year our family is mourning for my second uncle, so we are keeping the New Year simple. We won't set off any firecrackers or invite any theater troupes, just a simple meal between us siblings. I'm afraid even friends from Suzhou will know that our family is in mourning and won't send anyone to invite us to dinner."

  Lu Guanjia said, "That's just right, young master can stay at home and focus on his studies without having to worry about socializing. I've already invited the masters from Biyun Temple to come to our house to prepare a vegetarian banquet for young master and the young lady."

  Daiyu had been silent all along, she and her brother were to observe a mourning period of one year for their father, during which they would have to abstain from meat. This was what her brother had told her. At that time, she felt very uncomfortable when she heard this, not because of her brother's words, but because when she was in the capital, no one in her maternal grandparents' family had told her that she should observe a mourning period for her mother. Although she missed her mother in her heart, during the first year in the capital, she still spent every day eating and drinking with her sisters.

  When she first entered the Jia mansion, her sisters ate together. She was afraid of being underestimated and changed even her daily eating habits. The Lin family taught their daughters to be frugal and take care of themselves, always spending some time after meals before drinking tea, so as not to harm their spleen and stomach. Daiyu's body was originally not good, but seeing the many rules in the Jia mansion, unlike those at home, she had to adapt and change a bit.

  Nowadays Daiyu knows more and more that having someone to remind her is very important, knowing the rules and following them is what makes her a model of Lin's family women.

  Daiyu hastily said, "Thank you, Luo Guan's family, for thinking of this. Luo Guan is a trusted person by my brother's side, and I will have to trouble him from now on." Daiyu looked at her brother Zhiyuan again, "However, as we two siblings are in mourning, it's only suitable that our household servants live frugally. If we were to celebrate the festival with feasts, wouldn't that make our family seem stingy? In my opinion, on New Year's Eve, there's no need for grand celebrations at home. Just adding a couple of dishes for the servants would be a small gesture from me and brother."

  Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, it seemed that Daiyu had understood her good intentions. Hopefully she could really take on the many tasks at home and manage the household chores. "This is great, people at home have been working hard all year round, some of them are also celebrating Chinese New Year in Suzhou for the first time. Luo Guan Jia, according to what the young lady said, add a few more dishes on New Year's Eve, not limited to meat or vegetarian, just don't let them drink wine."

  Lu Guan's family hurriedly smiled and said: "This is natural, we all know that the young master hates drinking when doing things, gathering to gamble at night. These things will not be committed."

  "This is our first year in the old house, although it's a bit cold and quiet, we still have to celebrate properly. Everyone in the household will receive a new set of clothes, and each maid in the young lady's room will get two sets. Also, on New Year's Eve, everyone will receive an extra two months' worth of salary." Zhiyuan thought that since they weren't inviting any opera performances or hosting guests, it would be a quiet and uneventful new year, so he might as well give the servants some extra rewards to make it a more prosperous one.

  Lu Guan's eyes narrowed into a curved line as he smiled and said, "I'm going to thank the young master and miss on behalf of us old guys."

  Daiyu heard Luo's words and was delighted in her heart, this person is indeed a extraordinary figure, at first glance ordinary and unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, a clever and astute individual, now seemingly also someone who knows how to adapt to the times and doesn't rigidly follow established rules.

  Daiyu saw that her own affairs had been discussed more or less, and Nuo Guan's housekeeper still had something to report back to his brother, so he stood up: "Brother, Daiyu will go back first. I will take a good look at these two gift lists and won't disappoint you."

  Zhiyuan saw Daiyu off at the Lookout Tower, "Although it's urgent to use, you still need to take care of your body, otherwise wouldn't it be a loss? I just sent someone to deliver new bird's nest and snow fungus, let Zijuan serve you every day, don't skip meals! Today I have something to discuss with Housekeeper Luo, you just stay in the Visiting Plum Pavilion for dinner, I'll come see you later."

  Zhiyuan saw Daiyu off to the foot of the steps, the sky gradually darkened, and a cold wind rose in the garden. He called four old women to carry a small bamboo sedan chair, and Yan Rong Chun Lian lit the lanterns in front, only returning to the study after seeing Daiyu and others walk far away.

  P.S: Just took a look, and surprisingly, "Huang He" rushed into the new weekly potential ranking list on page one, ranked 40th, so happy~~~ So I've updated an extra chapter, please everyone continue voting~~~