The Virtuous Wife

Chapter 32: Intimidating Aunt San

The next morning, Jingyi woke up slowly after Haitang called her many times.

Jingyi glanced at Haitang standing beside her bed and said angrily, "Sister Haitang, let me sleep a little longer."

Haitang grinned, "Miss, I didn't expect you to be so naughty."

Nanny He came in and said with a smile, "Miss, get up quickly. You have to go to the old master's yard to pay your respects later."

Jingyi got up reluctantly and let Liu Xing'er and Haitang toss around.

After she finished washing, the lady also sent someone to urge her.

Today is the first day of the new year, and all the younger generations have to pay their respects to the old master.

Jingyi and Gu went to Heshou Hall together. Before they entered the house, they heard bursts of laughter coming from the house.

Gu paused and looked at Jingyi: "Yiyi, your third uncle's family has moved in. You should get along well with your cousins ​​and don't argue."

Jingyi nodded, "Don't worry, mother. Yiyi understands what mother means and will not conflict with the people of the third uncle's family for no reason."

Seeing Jingyi so sensible, Gu nodded with satisfaction, took Jingyi's hand and went into the house.

The two of them saluted, and Jingyi ran to the old man and called sweetly: "Grandfather!"

The old man responded with a smile on his face, and then hugged Jingyi and sat on his lap.

Su Wei and Gu didn't think anything of it. After all, it was known to the whole mansion that the old man loved Jingyi. But Su Cheng and Liu looked unhappy.

Liu looked at Jingmei standing beside her and said, "Mei'er, look at your sister. She was born in the same year as you, but she is much more sensible than you and knows how to please your father!"

This sounded a bit wrong!

Gu's face froze. After glancing at Liu, she turned to look at Jingyi.

The old man seemed not to hear it. Instead, he picked up a piece of cake from the table and stuffed it into Jingyi's mouth.

Jingyi ate it happily. After eating, she pulled the old man's sleeve and said, "Grandpa, I want more!"

When the old man heard Jingyi call her grandpa instead of grandfather, his face was full of smiles. He smiled and said, "Okay, okay, let's have another piece. Yiyi hasn't acted like a spoiled child with grandpa for a long time. Grandpa thought Yiyi had grown up and disliked grandpa."

Jingyi held the cake in her mouth and squinted at the old man. After swallowing the cake in her mouth, the old man had already handed her a cup of tea.

After drinking two sips, Jingyi said with satisfaction: "Grandpa's cakes are delicious. Mother must have sent all the best cakes in the mansion to you."

The old man laughed, "You girl, you only know how to think about these foods of grandpa. That's it! My daughter-in-law, from now on, every time you send food to me, prepare a portion for Yiyi. So that she won't say you are partial."

Gu smiled and said, "Father, don't pay attention to this girl. She is so presumptuous just because you spoil her! Yiyi, don't come down!"

Jingyi heard it, slid down from the old man's knees, turned around and went behind the old man, climbed onto a soft stool, knelt on it, and gently patted the old man's shoulders.

Su Cheng and Liu saw that Jingyi's movements were so skillful, it seemed that she did it often. Originally, they were wondering why the old man put a soft stool behind him, but now they understood that it was specially prepared for Jingyi.

Liu coughed lightly and said, "I didn't expect Yiyi to have such a talent. No wonder the old master was so happy!"

The sourness in her words was even stronger. The old lady pretended not to hear it. Gu took up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

Seeing that no one paid attention to her, Liu picked up the handkerchief and pretended to wipe the sweat from her forehead to cover up her embarrassment.

Su Cheng said loudly: "I see that Yiyi has a lot of people serving her. Sister-in-law, when we returned to Beijing, we dismissed some local servants. I wonder if you can transfer some people from the mansion? What do you think?"

Gu chuckled and said: "If my third brother hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten. Yesterday, I sent someone to find a human trafficker. She said that this afternoon, she would bring some little girls to let my sister-in-law take a look. If she likes them, she will stay. If not, we will find another one."

The old lady said: "That's good. Third daughter-in-law, take your Jingmei to take a look later."

Liu hurriedly agreed, and said to Gu: "Thank you sister-in-law for your thoughtful consideration."

The old lady glanced at the old man with a bright smile, and said softly: "Master, look. Cheng'er has been back for a few days. Should we find something for him to do?"

The old man frowned, glanced at Su Cheng, and snorted coldly: "Hmph! Reflect on yourself at home first. Don't walk around if you have nothing to do! Don't think I don't know what you have done after you came back!"

Su Cheng heard it and said anxiously: "Father, I also want to find a way out for myself. Can I just stay idle in the mansion all day?"

Su Wei lowered his head and thought for a moment and said: "Father, why don't I hand over the few shops under my name to my third brother to manage for a while. If the third brother does well, let him manage other shops slowly. If he doesn't do well, my son will take it back."

Su Cheng didn't wait for the old man to nod, and hurriedly agreed: "That's good! Thank you for your understanding of me."

Su Wei shook his head and smiled: "We are all brothers, why should we be so formal?"

The old man frowned and sighed: "Okay. But, Wei'er, you have to let someone watch him carefully. If he does something wrong, let him roll back immediately!"

Su Wei smiled and agreed.

The old lady was relieved.

In the afternoon, Jingyi was in Gu's room, and Gu taught her needlework in person. Jingyi thought to herself that her mother must have been stimulated by Liu yesterday. Otherwise, why would she think of teaching her needlework for no reason?

Jingyi was embroidering slowly, and heard a commotion outside. Jingyi put down her needlework and followed Gu to the hall.

Liu came into the hall angrily, and sat directly on the chair without any greeting. Jingmei was also angry, and when she saw Jingyi, she pouted at her with disdain.

Jingyi felt a little puzzled and looked at Gu on the side.

Gu was also dissatisfied, so she could only endure it, "Someone, serve tea." Liu turned to Gu and said, "Sister-in-law, this morning in front of the old master and the old lady, you said nicely that we should select some servants. But what happened? Oh, I just selected fourteen maids, and these servants around you are grumbling, what? What sister-in-law said this morning, it turns out that you said it to others?" Gu's face was obviously not good, this Liu was too much. They have at least three or four maids and seven or eight maids in their own courtyard. Now they have to add fourteen more! They really don't treat themselves as outsiders. Gu straightened up and said expressionlessly, "Your sister-in-law really wants too many people. The Hou Mansion has its own rules. What kind of master receives how much monthly salary, how many maids and how many nurses are assigned, all of these are rules. The old lady has the highest seniority, but she only has four nurses and four maids around her. Do you want to bypass the old lady?"

Liu's expression froze. Gu kept talking about the rules of the Hou Mansion. This was a warning to her that this was Pingnan Hou Mansion, not Su Mansion! And she also mentioned the old lady, which was to establish her authority!

Jingmei was young and impatient, and asked directly: "Aunt, why can sister Jingyi have so many maids in her yard? My niece can't? My niece is also a legitimate daughter, how is she different from her?"

Gu chuckled twice: "Jingmei, you are naturally different from Yiyi. You are the legitimate daughter of the third room of the Su family, and your status is naturally not low. But Yiyi is the legitimate daughter of the Pingnan Marquis's mansion! And she was personally commended by the emperor."

Jingmei's face changed, and she lowered her head, not daring to speak again.

Gu looked at Liu's mother and daughter for a while, then smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, the clothes you are wearing are bright. But, logically speaking, you are not from my Hou Mansion, and I can't control much. But since your family lives in the Hou Mansion, you must abide by the rules of the Hou Mansion. The people who come and go in the Hou Mansion are all nobles. I hope you will warn the people in your yard to be careful in their words and deeds. Don't let outsiders find faults, laugh at them, and lose the face of my Hou Mansion." Liu's face turned pale all of a sudden. Every word of Gu was a knock on her! She is just a commoner now, not a wife of an official, and she can't put on the airs of a wife of an official anymore! Just like the clothes she and Jingmei are wearing, they are all made of high-quality silk from the old lady after returning. But according to the rules of the Dayuan Dynasty, ordinary people are not allowed to wear clothes made of silk and silk. If someone finds out and reports to the government, they will be punished!