Uncle Hong cheerfully replied, “You’re too polite, wet nurse. My name is Hong Xuexi, thirty-two years old. You can just call me Little Hong.”

Wet Nurse Lian smiled, not declining the familiarity. “Little Hong, just now the madam mentioned wanting to find servants who understand the rules and etiquette of noble families. Is our master from a noble household?”

Uncle Hong proudly stated, “Our master is a captain.”

Servants from families with second-rank officials, like Wet Nurse Lian, were naturally aware of the rank of a captain.

A seventh-rank official was considered to be at the very bottom of the official hierarchy, but Wet Nurse Lian breathed a sigh of relief.

Coming from a family of officials, she naturally wanted to serve in a respectable household.

However, she didn’t want to go to a family of too high a rank, as she had seen the internal strife and darkness within those households.

She felt that serving a seventh-rank official’s family would be just right.

Firstly, a noble family was better than a merchant or farmer’s household due to their different status.

Secondly, lower-ranked officials tended to have cleaner inner households.

Lastly, coming from a second-rank family and serving a seventh-rank official, she might still be a servant, but she would be among the top tier of servants.

Wet Nurse Lian had a plan in mind.

The horse rode swiftly, leaving the donkey cart far behind, so Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan arrived home first, while Uncle Hong and the others were still on their way.

Yang Haiyan gazed at the small courtyard, contemplating how to arrange the household servants.

The two-courtyard house for the captain was not yet ready, and there was no furniture, so they couldn’t move in temporarily.

Thus, she thought about the personnel arrangement.

“Yanyan, I’ll go buy some kitchen supplies and head over to the new house later,” Qin Fang said.

“Okay,” Yang Haiyan replied.

After Qin Fang left, Yang Haiyan was alone and decided to handle matters on the platform again.

From her experiences buying the jade bracelet and the horse, she realized she needed to prepare some silver in advance.

This time, buying the horse was manageable; they spent about one hundred taels of silver altogether, and she considered that as her cash on hand.

However, with the previous two thousand taels of silver, although she could buy it on the platform, she couldn’t withdraw it immediately because two thousand taels was a considerable amount, and she couldn’t hide that much on her person.

So, she had an idea.

She would buy silver on the platform and exchange it for silver notes at the money exchange, making it easier to hide.

Yang Haiyan sold thirty taels of gold on the platform and, after receiving the platform currency, used it to buy two thousand taels of silver.

She then took out two thousand taels of silver, preparing to wait for Uncle Hong’s return to go to the pawnshop together to exchange for silver notes.

The amount was substantial, and she needed someone to accompany her for security, especially since she couldn’t carry it alone.

Before Uncle Hong and the others returned, Aunt Fan came back from buying groceries. “Madam, are you back?”

“Yes, Aunt Fan, we have two new servants in the house today, so please cook a bit more food,” Yang Haiyan instructed.

“Got it,” Aunt Fan replied, her heart racing as she wondered what roles the two newcomers would fill.

Between herself and Wet Nurse Lian, Aunt Fan could tell the madam placed more importance on her, but with two more servants coming in, she understood that while they were all servants, the madam’s regard for them was crucial.

She had her thoughts but kept them to herself.

As Aunt Fan washed the vegetables and prepared lunch, Uncle Hong arrived with Wet Nurse Lian and Yu Zhaodi.

Wet Nurse Lian looked at the small courtyard without showing any reaction.

Having entered many similar family quarters before, she wasn’t surprised this time.

“Welcome! Come to the study so we can all get acquainted. Aunt Fan, Uncle Hong… please join us too,” Yang Haiyan called out.

From the kitchen, Aunt Fan replied, “Coming!”

Uncle Hong responded, “Here!”

The study, though small, could accommodate them all.

Once they were inside, Yang Haiyan spoke, “Our Qin family originally comes from a humble farming background, but fortunately, my husband has talent and earned some merit in the military, gaining the court’s recognition and becoming a captain.

Although he is just a captain, he has crossed the threshold of becoming a court official, which means the people he interacts with will be different, so we must pay attention to the rules and etiquette.

Currently, we have Wet Nurse Lian, Aunt Yu, Aunt Fan, Uncle Hong, and Uncle Hong’s wife, Aunt Hong, who works at the pastry shop.

At the end of the month, we will also have five soldiers who have completed their military service coming to help out, but they are all my husband’s personal soldiers.”

After a brief pause, Yang Haiyan continued, “I’m a very reasonable person and don’t like to interfere with others, but the premise is that you must not cross my bottom line.

I don’t mind if the people below me are a bit dull, as long as they are hardworking and loyal.

However, if they touch my bottom line, there won’t be a second chance.

Depending on my mood, I might sell them if I’m feeling good, or I might just beat them to death if I’m in a bad mood. As for the ones with contracts, they will be sold directly. Do you all understand?”

Yang Haiyan looked at each person in turn. When she saw Aunt Yu, she sighed internally.

She was not satisfied with her; she disliked her crying and pleading demeanor, yet she still bought her.

The reason was simple: a faint sense of sympathy.

In this era of women’s low status, her sympathy for Uncle Hong stemmed from his dedication to his wife, while her sympathy for Aunt Yu arose from the woman’s plight.

Of course, sympathy was one thing; it was the threshold for her to buy them, and it made her willing to give them a chance, but she was not a saint.

She gave opportunities, and if they failed to seize them, she would not keep them.

Wet Nurse Lian and the others responded, “Yes, we will remember the madam’s words.”

Yang Haiyan nodded. “Next, I will assign your duties. First, Wet Nurse Lian. Your previous master was a second-rank official, so you must be well-versed in rules and etiquette. From now on, you will be by my side and teach the servants the proper rules and etiquette.”

Wet Nurse Lian bowed, saying, “Madam, you can rest assured, I will do my utmost.” At the same time, she was shocked.

The master came from a farming background, but the madam didn’t seem like it.

Just looking at her posture, it was evident she came from a wealthy family, and her knowledge of rules and etiquette was not inferior to that of the daughters from her former master’s household, perhaps even more outstanding.

She wondered about the madam’s background.

Yang Haiyan continued, “Previously, our household was small, and Aunt Fan had to manage the shop, wash clothes, buy vegetables, and cook. Aunt Fan, you’ve worked hard.”

Aunt Fan hurriedly replied, “It’s not hard at all; this is what I should do.”

Yang Haiyan smiled, “I see your hard work, and I appreciate it. I also enjoy the dishes you make.”

“Thank you for the praise, madam,” Aunt Fan said, feeling a bit pleased.

Yang Haiyan said, “From now on, Aunt Fan will be responsible for three things: cooking the three meals a day and buying groceries, and during the rest of the time, you can work at the shop.”

Aunt Fan bowed, “Yes.”

Yang Haiyan continued, “As for Aunt Yu, you will take care of cleaning the house, washing clothes, and all other rough chores.”

Aunt Yu breathed a sigh of relief, “Yes, madam.”

She wasn’t sure how to bow, so she imitated Aunt Fan and lowered her head.

She didn’t ask for anything else, just to be able to stay here and have work.

Wet Nurse Lian observed and could tell that Aunt Fan had learned some etiquette, though not perfectly.

It was enough for a small household.

Yang Haiyan said, “Lastly, for Uncle Hong and Aunt Hong, Uncle Hong’s tasks will remain as they are, while Aunt Hong will mainly be responsible for the shop. It’s essential to keep the shop and the household clean and tidy, so Uncle Hong, please inform Aunt Hong.”

Recently, Aunt Fan had been busier than Aunt Hong, shuttling between the shop and the family quarters, but that was unavoidable since Aunt Hong had a child and found it inconvenient.

However, Aunt Hong was diligent at the shop, maintaining cleanliness both in the shop and the courtyard, so Yang Haiyan was currently satisfied with her.

Uncle Hong replied, “Yes, madam.”

Yang Haiyan looked towards Wet Nurse Lian, “Wet Nurse, can you braid hair?”

Wet Nurse Lian understood, “Yes, I can braid hair and know several styles. I can also cook.”

Hearing this, Yang Haiyan felt a bit happy. “Then from now on, Wet Nurse Lian and Aunt Fan can alternate in cooking to give me some variety.”

She knew Wet Nurse Lian must be good in the kitchen if she said so.

Wet Nurse Lian responded, “Yes.”

Yang Haiyan concluded, “For now, that’s all. The courtyard is a bit small, so for the time being, Wet Nurse Lian and Aunt Yu will stay here, while Aunt Fan will stay in the courtyard in the bustling market. Once the captain’s residence is ready, we will move over and rearrange things.”

“Yes.”

Yang Haiyan stood up, “Aunt Fan and Aunt Yu, you can go about your work. Uncle Hong and Wet Nurse Lian, please come with me for a bit.”

Aunt Fan and Aunt Yu replied, “Yes.”

The two of them left.

Yang Haiyan picked up a bag from the ground, inside which were two hundred silver ingots, each weighing ten taels, totaling two thousand taels.

Two thousand taels of silver weighed about two hundred pounds, which was too heavy for her to carry, so she asked Uncle Hong to load it onto the cart, and they took the donkey cart to the money exchange.

Upon arriving at the money exchange, Yang Haiyan instructed Uncle Hong to carry the silver inside and told Uncle Hong and Wet Nurse Lian, “You both wait outside.”

She didn’t mention that the bag contained silver; whether Uncle Hong and Wet Nurse Lian figured it out was uncertain.

Uncle Hong and Wet Nurse Lian replied, “Yes.”

Yang Haiyan entered alone.

The shopkeeper, seeing a customer, greeted her warmly, “Are you here to deposit or withdraw money, madam?”

Yang Haiyan pointed to the bag on the ground. “I want to exchange these silver ingots for silver notes: one thousand taels for ten hundred-tael notes, five hundred taels for ten fifty-tael notes, and the remaining five hundred taels for fifty tael notes, totaling two thousand taels.”

The money exchange would not ask about the source of the money, but upon seeing the silver, the shopkeeper couldn’t help but pause and then scrutinized Yang Haiyan. “Madam, the purity of your silver is very high. Generally, the silver we use has a purity between seventy to eighty percent, and only official silver exceeds eighty-five percent. Your silver, I estimate, is more than eighty-five percent, right?”

If it weren’t for the fact that this lady appeared dignified, he wouldn’t have dared to accept the silver.

Although they wouldn’t inquire about its source, he feared running into official silver, which could lead an ordinary person to jail.

Yang Haiyan felt a sudden panic.

She had been careful, not buying any vegetables from the market, but this was her first time navigating this world, and she lacked experience.

Some things just slipped her mind.

The issue of silver money hadn’t occurred to her at all until the shopkeeper pointed it out.

Previously, she had used smaller amounts of scattered silver, so no one paid attention to its purity.

But now, with a sudden two thousand taels, its purity became noticeable.

She remembered that the two thousand taels given to the Zhenbao Pavilion were of the same high purity, which made her worry.

However, she composed herself. “The shopkeeper has a keen eye. My husband was recently promoted, and this is a reward from the court. I thought carrying silver was inconvenient, so I came to exchange it for a silver note.”

The shopkeeper, hearing it was a court reward, didn’t question further.

Only the court issued such pure silver, so he accepted it after verifying it wasn’t official silver.