Yang Haiyan followed her gaze and saw several women looking their way from the distance.

She chose not to ask more at the moment and instead called, “Siya, Shoucheng, come here. Granny Lian, this is Qin Siyah, and this is Qin Shoucheng. Please call them Miss Siyah and Master Shoucheng. Arrange for them to stay in the east wing. Tomorrow, go to the hiring agency and bring back a maid to help look after them.”

Granny Lian replied, “Yes, madam.”

Yang Haiyan then addressed Qin Siya and Shoucheng. “Siyah, Shoucheng, this is Granny Lian. She will teach you proper manners and etiquette. If you can’t find me or have any issues, you can go to her.”

Qin Siya and Qin Shoucheng responded, “Understood, Big Sister-in-law.”

“Madam… Madam, you’re finally back!” Aunt Fan ran over, calling out as she approached. “Madam, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

Yang Haiyan smiled warmly at Aunt Fan, feeling a sense of familiarity.

She had grown accustomed to Aunt Fan’s cooking and had missed it during her time at the Qin family’s house. “Not yet. Can you prepare something for us? Oh, and by the way, Captain Kun has returned with his wife and their ten-year-old son. Be sure to prepare enough food to send some over to them as well.”

Aunt Fan nodded. “Yes, Madam.”

Yang Haiyan turned to Grabny Lian. ” Granny Lian, please go and prepare rooms for Siyah and Shoucheng. I’ll take them to the main courtyard for now.”

Granny Lian quickly responded, “Yes, Madam.”

By the time Granny Lian had finished preparing the east wing rooms, Aunt Fan had also finished making dinner.

Since they didn’t know exactly when the family would return, the kitchen didn’t have anything particularly fancy prepared.

Aunt Fan had made noodles, but unlike the simple vegetable and poached egg noodles they had eaten on the road, she had prepared noodles with pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, and cured meat.

The sour flavor was both refreshing and satisfying.

After dinner, Aunt Fan took Qin Siya and Qin Shoucheng to the east wing to wash up and sleep, while Yang Haiyan and Granny Lian returned to the study.

Yang Haiyan spoke first, “Granny Lian, sit down and tell me what’s been happening at home these past few days.”

Granny Lian sat down and began reporting, “Everything at home has been normal. Aunt Fan, Uncle Hong, Aunt Hong, and Aunt Yu have been doing the same work they were doing before you left. The main change has been in the servants’ quarters, where two families have moved in—one is Meng Ping’s family, and the other is Huang Huzi’s family.”

Qin Fang had five private guards, but only three of them had families—Kun Shi, Huang Huzi, and Meng Ping.

Yang Haiyan nodded. “Go on.”

Lian Nanny continued, “Meng Ping’s family was the first to arrive. They returned on the third day after you and Master left.

You mentioned before that, aside from their monthly stipend, the private guards’ meals would be provided by the household: one vegetable dish, one meat dish, and one soup, totaling three dishes per meal.

The portions are based on the number of people in each household.

However, the guards’ family members aren’t covered by the household’s meals—they’re only allowed to live in the servants’ quarters with the guards.”

Yang Haiyan agreed, “That’s right.”

She wasn’t running a charity.

It was generous enough to give the guards a monthly stipend without also feeding their families.

After all, feeding one more person costs about ten coins a day, which would add up to three hundred coins a month—about the same as a guard’s monthly stipend.

Of course, this calculation was based on their current food, and if they ate only sweet potatoes and taro, it would be much cheaper.

Lian Nanny continued, “Meng Ping’s family consists of three people—his wife, his daughter, and his sister.”

Yang Haiyan raised an eyebrow. “His sister came too?”

Although the servants’ quarters were small, Yang Haiyan had designed them to be like modern apartments, so there was enough space.

Each unit had two bedrooms and a common living area, with a shared kitchen for all the families in the servants’ quarters.

But why had Meng Ping’s sister come along?

Lian Nanny explained, “Yes, according to Meng Ping, his sister had an arranged marriage in the village, but the man ended up becoming a live-in son-in-law in another household and broke off the engagement.

Although it was the man’s fault, his sister’s reputation was damaged, and the villagers constantly gossiped about her. Meng Ping couldn’t bear to see his sister suffer, so he brought her here.”

Yang Haiyan frowned slightly.

In principle, she wasn’t against the guards bringing their families, even their parents if necessary—after all, she couldn’t expect them to completely neglect their families just because they worked for the Qin family.

But bringing a sister?

Even though the servants’ quarters were separate from the main house, it still didn’t sit well with her.

In truth, Yang Haiyan didn’t mind people who took initiative, but it had to be in the right context.

Like Uncle Hong—he had returned home once and brought his wife and children back with him, but at least he had come to her first to ask for permission before moving them into the servants’ quarters.

Meng Ping’s situation, though… left her feeling uneasy.

Yang Haiyan looked at Granny Lian and asked, “Is that all, or is there more?”

Granny Lian hesitated, then added, “There’s more. On the first day they arrived, Meng Ping’s wife came to ask me what her monthly stipend would be and what work she was supposed to do. I was completely caught off guard because you never mentioned giving the guards’ family members a stipend.”

Yang Haiyan: “Indeed, I didn’t mention it, but my husband only hired personal guards, not their wives as well. So where did this idea of providing monthly stipends for the guards’ wives come from? Isn’t this just common sense?”

Nanny Lian said, “That’s correct, so when Meng Ping’s wife asked about it, I found it quite strange too. But I told her that I wasn’t clear about this matter, and we should wait until Madam returned to discuss it.”

Yang Haiyan understood Granny Lian’s position.

After all, as a servant, it’s natural that she wouldn’t dare make decisions about things she didn’t know.

Yang Haiyan nodded, “And then? I suspect there’s more to this, or else you wouldn’t be so troubled over such a small matter.”

Nanny Lian took the opportunity to say something flattering: “Madam, you’re so wise. Afterward, Meng Ping’s wife stopped asking about the monthly allowance and left. But after Aunt Yu delivered food to Meng Ping twice, Meng Ping’s wife came back again.

She said that while the food we sent was sufficient for Meng Ping alone, there are now four people in her household, and the food is not enough.

She wondered if the kitchen was withholding their rations. Oh, my! I’ve never encountered such a person in my life, truly…”

Yang Haiyan poured her a cup of tea, “Nanny Lian, calm down.”

Granny Lian: “Thank you, Madam. Meng Ping’s wife made her complaint at the dining hall, which Aunt Fan manages. Aunt Fan told her that Madam had instructed to prepare food based on the number of personal guards, not for their families. We don’t provide meals for the guards’ families.”

Yang Haiyan: “Yes, I told you all that myself.”

Granny Lian: “But Meng Ping’s wife didn’t believe Aunt Fan. She accused Aunt Fan of withholding their food, so Aunt Fan brought Meng Ping’s wife to me. I testified that this was indeed Madam’s rule. Hearing this, Meng Ping’s wife didn’t argue further. I suspect she’ll come looking for you tomorrow.”

Yang Haiyan chuckled, “And what about Huang Huzi’s wife?”

Nanny Lian: “Huang Huzi’s family arrived five days ago, but only his wife came. They don’t have children yet. According to her, they married just two days before Huang Huzi joined the army. After their wedding night, Huang Huzi left to serve, and she didn’t conceive.”

Yang Haiyan: “Is that so?”

Granny Lian: “Yes. In her village, it’s common for men to marry just before enlisting, hoping to leave behind offspring.

Some succeed, others don’t. In her case, she didn’t conceive, but she considers herself lucky that her husband returned alive after five years.

Men like her husband, who can find work upon returning, are considered fortunate.

Living with the support of their employers, earning a monthly stipend of 300 coins, they can save more than three taels of silver a year.

Though some jobs, like managing an inn or handling accounts for merchants, may offer higher pay, working for an official family carries more prestige.

Take the example of a seventh-rank official at a prime minister’s residence—that carries a certain status.

Managing an inn or accounting for a merchant can’t compare to being a personal guard for a government official.

After all, Qin Fang is a seventh-rank official with official documents from the court.

It’s like in modern times: some men working in sales might earn tens of thousands a year, more than civil servants.

Yet, many women still prefer to marry civil servants, even though they earn less, because the status is different.”

Yang Haiyan listened carefully and began to understand: “It seems you have a rather favorable impression of Huang Huzi’s wife.”

Granny Lian was startled, worried that Madam might think she was forming factions.

She quickly explained, “Compared to Meng Ping’s wife, I do think Huang Huzi’s wife is more genuine. I’ve lived long enough to be able to judge people.”

Yang Haiyan thought for a moment, “How old is Huang Huzi’s wife?”

Nanny Lian: “Twenty-four, three years older than Huang Huzi. He’s twenty-one this year. When they married, Huang Huzi was fifteen, and his wife was eighteen. The reason she married him was because, at eighteen, she was considered an old maid, and no one in her family cared about her. Otherwise, who would be willing to marry their daughter to a man about to serve in the army? It’s almost like preparing to become a widow.”

Yang Haiyan: “Granny, how about this: let’s observe Huang Huzi’s wife for now. If her character proves to be good, we can have her work in the household later. We’ll decide on her duties when the time comes. Anyway, we’re short on staff. Oh, and for now, there’s no need to hire any more outside women. If the wives of the personal guards are capable, we’ll use them instead. It’s more fitting since the guards may follow my husband, and having their wives work here is more appropriate.”

Nanny Lian: “Yes, Madam.”

Yang Haiyan: “Also, unmarried girls shouldn’t wander around the household, especially not near the outer and main courtyards.”

Although Qin Fang rarely goes to the outer courtyard, and his study is in the main courtyard, it’s better to avoid any potential encounters.

A flash of determination appeared in Granny Lian’s eyes: “Understood, Madam.”

She was even more vigilant about these matters than Yang Haiyan.

Some girls are born with scheming thoughts, too eager to chase after being concubines rather than being proper wives. Isn’t that just shameless?

Yang Haiyan stood up: “I’m going to take a bath. Traveling these past few days has exhausted me. I’ll sleep in tomorrow, so don’t wake me. Also, don’t wake the children either.”

Granny Lian: “Understood. Shall I prepare sweet rice balls with fermented rice for you tomorrow?”

Yang Haiyan was pleasantly surprised: “Do we have fermented rice at home?”

Granny Lian: “I made some a few days ago, anticipating your return. It should be ready to eat tomorrow.”

Yang Haiyan: “That’s wonderful! I’ve been craving that taste recently.”