Chapter 88: Apology (1)

Xu Jun Ying took the tea cup offered by Zhuang Yu Lan, took a sip, and then put it down. He mentioned that he had official documents to read and excused himself from the elderly lady and the younger women, heading straight out. Staying longer would probably not yield any interesting results from the tea, so it was better to leave before it dampened everyone’s spirits.

“Everyone?” It seemed like only Meinang’s voice could be heard creating a ruckus, leading the elderly lady to speak, after which Meinang was the first to run away.

As Xu Jun Ying stepped out of the main room, leading his fine steed down the steps, Zheng Mei Yu ran out from inside, about to call out, “Cousin Ying, wait for me.” However, before she could speak, Zhuang Yu Lan jumped over and covered her mouth, pulling her back into the room. In a soft but firm voice, she said, “Why the hurry? I’ll arrange for someone to take you back to Qui Hua Courtyard. If Lord Hou takes you, he would have to make a huge detour and delay his own matters.”

Zheng Mei Yu lowered her head and replied, “I want to go back. I need to help Aunt take care of Heng Ge’er.”

Zhuang Yu Lan sneered, “If you don’t come, does that mean no one will help the First Lady take care of Heng Ge’er?”

She stared at Zheng Mei Yu for a long while before saying, “If you want to go back, then go ahead. I heard that when Meinang was sick, it was you who managed the Qing Hua Courtyard. Maybe Heng Ge’er likes being around you… wait here, I’ll go find Jima.”

Not long after, Jima came out and assigned three or four maids to escort Zheng Mei Yu back to Qui Hua Courtyard. As they were about to leave, several lanterns appeared in the distance it was the maids from Qui Hua Courtyard coming to meet her. Jima thought that this saved some trouble. Zheng Mei Yu politely bid farewell to Zhuang Yu Lan and left with the maids.

The siblings in the room had no interest left, and seeing that the tea-pourers had all left, they lost all desire to stay. After chatting with the elderly lady for a while, they all excused themselves and went to their respective rooms.

In Qing Hua Courtyard, Meinang had just finished her bath. She was wearing a pink inner robe with embroidered edges and a pair of matching pants. Cui Xi brought her a pale yellow silk cotton robe to wrap around her, and Cui Jian used a large cloth to dry her hair, combing it with a peach wood comb before letting it down as she sat on the soft couch. Cui Si had already arranged two stacks of account books on the low table one from Xu’s residence and the other from Xian Ke’s. Meinang smiled slightly, finding it amusing that business and personal matters were both kept together, but the workload was light enough to manage comfortably.

She had just opened one of the account books when Wang Mama entered, saying, “I sent Cheng’er and Ping’er to the kitchen, and Mama Cai is personally preparing dishes. They should be back soon.”

Meinang looked up at Wang Mama with a smile and said, “Mama, you’re too kind. I haven’t had enough to eat tonight. I only had a dumpling, a piece of chicken, and a small portion of rice. I didn’t even get any soup.”

Wang Mama affectionately tucked Meinang’s hair behind her ear, sighing, “Poor Lady, when have you ever returned from Jinhua Tang without looking for something to eat? You only serve the old lady when you visit, but we get to eat something hot and fresh at home… This is the duty of a younger generation, but your health isn’t like others. You always need extra nourishment when you come back.”

Cui Xi and Cui Jian brought over a basket of sewing materials, and Cui Si also took out some yarn she had been working on. Seeing that Wang Mama was still talking nonstop, Meinang lost interest in the account book, and Cui Si gently nudged Wang Mama.

“Did Cheng’er and Ping’er take someone with them? They still haven’t returned. Mama, why not go to the kitchen to check?”

Wang Mama playfully smacked her hand and laughed, scolding, “Lazy girl, who are you ordering around? What’s the use of me going? My old bones can’t handle much more walking. Mama Cai was planning to make some good dishes and soup, but if we hurry her, it will ruin the flavors.”

Meinang said, “Mama Cai is very efficient. She doesn’t need urging oh, and those maids in the kitchen, they’re all about the rewards. Without the reward, they drag their feet and don’t put their heart into cooking. The servants in this house are all the same, they look at how much the reward is to judge their work. I thought this problem was just in Qing Hua Courtyard, but it seems it’s the same in Lord Hou’s house, with the two elder concubines and the second lady’s courtyard. I only found out when Madam Gan told me. So, this entire house is supported by Lord Hou’s salary, and yet the main house treats the second branch better? Is it because the second branch spends more money? They are generous, so they’re favored. Starting tomorrow, Mama, you should visit the kitchen more often, catch them red-handed, and after the New Year, we’ll clean up the kitchen. Whoever dares to accept rewards and slack off will be kicked out of the inner courtyard without a second thought.”

Wang Mama nodded, “Mama Cai told me that it wasn’t always like this in Lord Hou’s household. The servants never asked for extra rewards before. They only did their work and received their regular pay. It was only after Madam Ji entered that she started handing out rewards. Others saw it and followed suit, and over time, it became the norm. In the kitchen, the most senior is Mama Liang. She controls the rewards. She takes a cut before distributing them to the maids.”

Meinang said, “The rewards should be given at the right time. During the day, when the kitchen is divided into two shifts for cooking, no rewards should be accepted. Late at night, if someone asks for food to be made, Mama can secretly let Mama Cai know to prepare it. Starting in February, Mama Liang will be replaced.”

Wang Mama’s expression changed, and she quickly waved her hand, “Madam, you can clean up the kitchen, but please don’t touch Mama Liang. She was brought in by the old lady as a dowry servant.”

“And Mama Cai?”

“Mama Cai is from the Hou residence, married to Qi Dongsheng, who used to manage the stables in the front courtyard. Mama Liang married Liu Guan Jia.”

Meinang was amused by Wang Mama’s words, “Who cares who they married? I wouldn’t dare provoke the old lady, but Liu Guan Jia doesn’t mean anything to me.”

“Liu Guan Jia was once your father in law’s close servant. When Lord Hou sees him, he still has to call him ‘Uncle Liu.’”

Meinang paused, then asked, “My father in law? Who’s that?”

Wang Mama stared at her, “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about the old Lord Hou, the current Lord Hou’s father?”

Meinang closed the account book, lazily saying, “I’m hungry, I can’t be bothered with all this. This house isn’t my home, so why waste my energy? Even if I manage things well, no one will reward me for it.”

Cui Si quickly responded, “Just let it go, Madam. Let the house be chaotic. It’s not our business.”

Before Wang Mama could scold her, a voice from behind the curtain startled everyone.

“Not your business? Then whose business is it?”

Xu Jun Ying had lifted the curtain and entered. Cui Si quickly lowered her head, and as she stood up, the yarn she had been working on fell on top of the account book. Cui Xi, Cui Jian, and Wang Mama were so startled that they knelt down. Cui Si quickly slid off the couch, kneeling behind Wang Mama. No one paid attention to Meinang, so she had to put on her shoes and take a few steps forward, bowing.

“Lord Hou is back. Who’s standing at the door without announcing it?”

Xu Jun Ying looked at her with a calm expression and said, “There is no one at the door.”

Meinang was stunned. “Impossible.”

Xu Jun Ying smiled lightly, “I told them to leave. Isn’t the old lady dizzy? I didn’t want to disturb you, but it seems I overheard your bold conversation.”

He walked around Cui Xi and Cui Jian, sitting down at the edge of the couch. He reached for the account book Meinang had been looking at. “Aren’t you dizzy? How can you still go through accounts?”

Meinang quickly placed her hand on the book and said, “This is just a miscellaneous account of daily expenses. It’s too disorganized for Lord Hou to understand.”

Xu Jun Ying gave her a long look. Meinang quickly corrected herself, “Lord Hou doesn’t need to worry about this, you should focus on the official documents.”

Xu Jun Ying said, “I just want to take a quick look.”

Meinang felt she had acted overly nervous, so she withdrew her hand. Xu Jun Ying flipped through a few pages before closing the book without further examination.

Meinang smiled at him,

her eyes full of warmth. “You’re back.”