Chapter 90

Chapter 90

After Lady Ning returned from entertaining guests with Nurse Zheng, she looked at the young maidens being led in by the housekeepers and felt a headache coming on. "What are you all thinking? Didn't I make it clear this morning that Second Lady is looking for servants, just plain servants?"

The first to speak from the Mu family was, "Sister-in-law, I heard from Sister Li'er that it wasn't Xue Qing and Xing Huang who left? Li'er and Mei'er went with them too. Why would they need to choose servants for the rough work?"

Nurse Zheng was speechless. "Tao'er and Ying'er have taken the places of Xue Qing and Xing Huang. As for the vacancies left by Mei'er and the others, doesn't Second Lady's courtyard still have four servants for rough work? They've served in Second Lady's courtyard for years and have learned quite a few characters along the way, becoming much more astute. Miss Lu Wei also mentioned that even if they haven't made great contributions, they've certainly put in effort, so she allowed them to fill the gaps left by Mei'er and the rest."

All the housekeepers exchanged glances. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect it to be like this.

Nanny Zheng: "Have you all thought this through? I'll speak frankly. Lady Second is looking for maids to do rough work. The tasks there are certainly no easy feat. I know your daughters well, many of them have never done a hard day's work. It's uncertain if they can adapt to such a life. Don't let them go today and return in tears tomorrow, for that would save none of us from embarrassment."

The household managers in the noble manor receive generous monthly stipends, and they generally come from well-to-do backgrounds. The senior managers even have their own servants and maids. Though their daughters might not lead the life of true ladies, they are educated in accounting and needlework, not suited for menial tasks!

Upon hearing Mrs. Zheng's words, many of the household managers immediately lost their courage and retreated.

Mrs. Mu let out a long sigh, "In that case, I shall take my daughter back first." Originally, she had thought that with Xing Huang absent, her daughter's skills in making delicate pastries would come in handy, filling the void left by Xing Huang.

With the Fu family taking the initiative to make an exit, the others followed suit, bidding their farewells one after another. Surprisingly, more people gathered in the garden instead. Nurse Zheng insisted that it was a position for a lowly maid, and upon hearing this news, those who initially held no hope now flocked over in droves. They were not afraid of hard work, for Second Aunt's courtyard was known for generous rewards – it was undoubtedly a lucrative assignment.

The senior supervisors had all left. A few lesser supervisors, who usually didn't have much influence, were still hesitating. Their daughters were either silent or pouting in reluctance. Madam Zheng didn't seem to be in a hurry to make a selection.

In the end, only five supervisors were left, three of whom oversaw departments with little profit. The other two had previously had good relations with Manager Wang's village head; when his entire family was expelled from the marquis estate, they lost their influence and have recently endured much ostracism. If not for their diligent work, without any mishaps, and the stable position of Chief Manager Wang, who had also shown them some favor, their supervisory roles would have long been taken over by others.

Nanny Zheng surveyed the five girls and pointed at one of them, "The residence has a rule that serving maidens must be at least twelve years old. She can't be more than ten, can she?"

The housekeeper lady paused and smiled bitterly. "I overlooked that. It seems my girl isn't suitable then." Her family used to have a good relationship with the head of Village Wang; how could her daughter possibly be fit for menial servant work?

Nanny Zheng turned her gaze to the other four families. "Have you all made up your minds? It's best to discuss it with your girls and ask if they're truly willing. Don't have them sulking in anger later on. Do they usually help with chores?"

One of the women smiled ingratiatingly. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. Our child would be honored to enter Second Madam's courtyard. She's always helping out with chores at home, managing many things efficiently."

Another woman chimed in, "She works hard, she does. She's been taking care of herself since she was little."

The other two also offered their assurances. Nurse Zheng couldn't refuse any longer and reluctantly agreed. But she emphasized, "Second Madam's quarters are short-handed right now, so they'll have to work. There won't be a shortage of tasks, so they must be diligent."

The four families pledged their commitment once more. Nurse Zheng, resigned, took the four young maidens to Meng Die's courtyard.

In Meng Die's residence, Lu Wei led the original four servants into the room. "Second Madam spent the whole day painting, but now she has some free time. Let's give these girls names too."

Meng Die glanced at the four maids who had served her for years, a gentle smile appearing on her face. "Since Mei'er and the others have blossomed, you shall be called Liu'er, Zhuo'er, Feng'er, and Hua'er."

The four maids beamed with joy and replied in unison, "Thank you, Second Lady."

Just then, Nurse Zheng arrived to deliver the new servants. Lu Wei received them and, after a quick assessment of the new quartet, formed an understanding.

Nurse Zheng exchanged a few words with Meng Die before departing to report back. Lu Wei entered, lifting the curtain and remarking, "It seems Nurse Zheng didn't decline this time. These new maidens all have such delicate hands – they're likely unused to any strenuous work, not even touching water for daily chores, let alone sewing or handling needles."

Meng Die responded, "She's been in the household for many years, so she must have built close ties. It's impossible for her not to show favoritism towards those in charge. It doesn't matter as long as they can do their tasks."

Lu Wei was less optimistic. "I'm afraid they might not be able to work effectively, and I'm worried that they might use their parents' influence to bully Liu'er and the others. I plan to separate them."

Meng Die nodded in agreement.

Lu Wei turned around and called all the maids in the courtyard together. "There will be some changes in our personnel. With new arrivals, I'll redistribute the tasks. Ying'er, you've always been skilled with sewing, and you've learned a lot from Xue Qing these past few years. You'll be in charge of Second Madam's clothes and shoes, making less important garments for her, while Xue Qing will take care of the delicate pieces when she has time. If you struggle with dressing and styling, Meihong will temporarily assist, and you can learn from her. Second Madam doesn't prefer extravagance or showiness, so it should be easy to adapt."

Ying'er promptly agreed.

Lu Wei continued, "Tao'er, you enjoy eating and have learned from your sister Xing Huang. You're familiar with Second Madam's tastes. You'll be responsible for sending someone to the kitchen daily to fetch meals and snacks, as well as brewing tea for her."

"Ai."

Lu Wei glanced at Liu'er and Zhuo'er. "Liu'er and Zhuo'er, you'll be in charge of the melon seedlings in the greenhouse. Usually, Mei'er and the others tend to them, but since they've just left, to prevent any mishaps, both of you will reside in the annex room nearby. Put all your focus on nurturing the melon seedlings for now, and don't attend to other matters."

Liu'er and Zhuo'er replied in unison.

"Maple and Birch, you two will also stay in the annex room for the time being and concentrate on tending to the mycelium in that chamber. Those have always been used for cultivating mushrooms," Lu Wei instructed.

" Ai."

Lu Wei glanced at the newcomers and said, "You newcomers divide yourselves into two shifts. You must fetch two buckets of water every morning and evening for watering the melons and mushrooms. Apart from that, your tasks are similar to those in other courtyards – sweeping the yard and such. When it snows, make sure to clear the paths promptly so as not to hinder Second Lady's movements."

"Yes, we understand."

Noticing a girl pouting, Lu Wei secretly shook her head. Slacking off was absolutely not allowed in their Second Lady's courtyard; they didn't accommodate idlers.

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the pastry shop officially opened its doors. Apart from a corner allocated for soap sales, the entire shop had been renovated, now showcasing an array of beautifully crafted desserts and cakes.

Thanks to the swift actions of the thirteen merchants, thirteen bakeries had simultaneously opened in the capital a month prior. Strategically scattered across the city, they all launched on the same day with identical pricing. It was rumored that the entire city was enveloped in the aroma of freshly baked bread that opening day.

Buoyed by the tremendous success of the bread, Meng Die's shop immediately garnered attention when it launched its dessert offerings. However, upon seeing the prices, most people were discouraged. Bread was affordable for ordinary families with a bit of disposable income, while the wealthy and officials could indulge without restraint. Meng Die's cream cakes, on the other hand, were exclusive to the elite and the affluent.

A cake as small as the palm of one's hand could cost a staggering dozen or twenty taels of silver – enough to sustain a typical family of four for an entire year. It wasn't just eating a cake; it was consuming silver.

Yet, in the capital, power and wealth were abundant. The first person to purchase a cake was none other than Prince Qi himself. Known for his love of food, he had enjoyed soups, bread, and held a peculiar faith in Meng Die. Upon hearing that her cosmetic shop had transformed into a confectionery, he promptly rushed over and lavishly bought various desserts.

The following day, he returned, and then again on the third and fourth day. By the fifth day, Manager Rong had no choice but to intervene. "Esteemed guest, you cannot make any more purchases today."

Prince Qi's displeasure was immediate. "Do you have purchasing limits here, or is this an example of a big establishment taking advantage of its customers?"

Clerk Rong waved his hands repeatedly, "Oh no, oh no. Our Second Lady mentioned that this item is an excess tonic; consuming it daily would not be good for one's health."

Prince Qi responded, "How can something that nourishes the body be bad for it?"

Clerk Rong smiled apologetically, "Your Highness, think about it. Ginseng is considered a precious ingredient, but too much of it can cause internal heat."

There was some truth to this logic, and Prince Qi acknowledged it. However, his eyes were fixated on those delightful desserts, and he truly desired to taste them. In the end, he didn't manage to buy any as Clerk Rong stubbornly refused to sell. He couldn't very well use his princely status to force the issue just for a bite to eat!

Prince Qi inquired, "How often can one consume these without any adverse effects?"

Clerk Rong hastened to say, "If you practice martial arts, it's harmless to consume a small palm-sized cake each day. But if you don't, it's best to have cream cakes or puddings every few days."

Prince Qi rubbed his slightly protruding abdomen and vowed inwardly: He would resume his martial arts training when he returned home.

Meng Die's dessert shop had become a sensation in the capital, usually selling out by the afternoon. Everyone who tasted them sang their praises. Some began to doubt: Could such delectable treats truly be made of cream?

Especially those merchants acquainted with the sea traders, they racked their brains, "When Meng assigned Lu Wei to learn the cream-making technique, I thought she wanted to bathe in milk! Oh, how wrong I was."

Those around him echoed, "Indeed, one can't judge Meng as an ordinary woman. But tell me, how does she manage this? Cream is usually runny, yet hers is different. Is it really cream?"

"Could it be that she's deliberately misleading us, pretending that this isn't cream? She intentionally said so?"

"I had a Mongolian try it, and he confirmed it has the authentic dairy flavor."

"I even secretly sent someone to inquire at her estate. She keeps a large number of cattle and sheep, milking them daily. After making the cream, she distributes the remaining milk among the people on her estate. I've heard that many of them have gained weight recently."

"What kind of mind does this Lady Meng have?"

"Stop guessing, all of you. If we could figure it out, we'd make a fortune in any venture. Look, whatever Lady Meng does seems to bring profit, doesn't it?"

Everyone's faces fell: That's very true, but please don't say it again! It hurts our hearts!

The dessert shop's business was indeed flourishing. In just ten days, the ledger was delivered, and Meng Die couldn't help but curve her lips as she flipped through it. The daily revenue kept setting new records, with piles of silver flowing into her coffers – a truly delightful feeling.

Xue Qing entered with a box in her arms, lifting the curtain. Seeing Meng Die's smile, she asked, "Did I time my return perfectly? Is there some good news today?"

Meng Die put down the ledger. "Why are you back so soon? Did you manage to dye the colors? That fast?"

Xue Qing opened the box and took out two strands of silk thread. "Supervisor Fan found an apprentice named Da Shan. He comes from a village in Shandong Province and has a decent family background. As the eldest son, he was sent to apprentice at a dye workshop in the county town. He's been learning for over four years and has mastered the techniques for black and dark blue dyes."

"In the past two years, there was a severe drought, and their family's situation gradually worsened. His sister would dig wild vegetables and gather miscellaneous items to sell in the city with him daily, earning a few copper coins to supplement their livelihood. Once, her goods sold quickly, so she went to wait for him at the dye workshop. The owner of the dye workshop took a liking to her and proposed to take her as his concubine, but her family refused."

Xue Qing didn't continue, but Meng Die could guess the rest – how could they escape the consequences of offending the dye workshop owner?

Thus, Da Shan not only lost his apprenticeship but also faced hostility that forced his family to sell their home and land. Ultimately, they were compelled to flee to the capital, seeking a living there.

Lu Wei leaned in. "What about his family?"

Xue Qing smiled gently, "When he agreed to come, Manager Fan promised that his entire family could work on the estate, but they had to be honest and diligent. No special privileges would be granted. He consented to these terms."

Meng Die inspected the evenly dyed black and deep indigo threads. "The colors look uniform. Have they been washed? Did they fade significantly?"

Xue Qing replied, "They have been washed, and I even soaked them overnight. Only a bit of surface color came off."

Meng Die glanced at the box. "Why is there a brown one as well?"

Xue Qing took out the brown thread and handed it to Meng Die. "He only learned the basics of this color. When he left, his master, feeling sorry for him, secretly told him the process. As he hasn't had much practice, the color he's produced now is uneven."

Meng Die examined the brown thread carefully. Indeed, some areas were darker, while others were lighter, and it had a dull quality to it, unlike the lustrous sheen of the black and deep indigo threads. "He does need more practice."

Meng Die and Xue Qing were in conversation when Ying'er suddenly peeked through the corner of the curtain, her gaze landing on Lu Wei. Noticing this, Lu Wei subtly withdrew from the room and whispered, "What's the matter?"

Ying'er also spoke softly, "Lotus from Eldest Lady's courtyard has just arrived. She says Sister Ruixue has invited Sister Lu Wei to meet under the second flower tree in the alleyway between our two courtyards in an hour's time."

Lu Wei glanced at the sky, realizing that it would be when the masters would begin their dinner. As major maids like her and Ruixue were not needed for serving, they would indeed have some leisure time. "Did she mention any particular reason?"

Ying'er shook her head. "I couldn't tell if Lotus knew either."

Lu Wei acknowledged, "Understood."

Meng Die's meals were now under Tao'er's supervision. Lu Wei arrived at the flower tree a step ahead of time, waiting for the appointed hour when Ruixue would hurriedly join her.

As she walked, she kept an eye on her surroundings, her demeanor so stealthy that no one would doubt she was up to no good if they saw her.

Spotting the figure swaying by the flower tree, Ruixue softly called out, "Lu Wei."

Lu Wei promptly responded, "It's me. What happened?"

Ruixue visibly relaxed, but then let out a deep sigh, "There is something."

Lu Wei waited for Ruixue to come close before noticing the tears welling up in her eyes. "What happened?" she asked softly.

Ruixue clenched her teeth. "Our Grandmatriarch's family's elder grandfather plans to give their Eighth Miss as a concubine to Hong Jishi, the Chief of the Censorate's Personnel Department."

"!" Lu Wei's eyes widened in disbelief. "H-How can this be? Is she Elder Sister's cousin?"

Ruixue nodded. "Because of this, our Eldest Sister has been weeping lately. She barely eats or sleeps, and she's become thinner. Her complexion is terrible, so I have to use lots of rouge every day to conceal it."

Lu Wei felt somewhat at a loss, mainly because the situation was too absurd. "Eldest Sister is the lawful wife, yet her cousin will become someone's concubine. If they encounter anyone with sharp tongues or even the Hong family, Eldest Sister would automatically be placed in an inferior position. How could she socialize and entertain in the future?"

Ruixue nodded vigorously. "That's precisely the situation. Our Eldest Master and Eldest Madam are trying to persuade Grandfather, but it seems he isn't listening at all. Our Eldest Master wishes to split the family, so that the girls who leave will be either wives or concubines, and it won't really concern our Eldest Lady anymore. But Grandfather insists that he's still alive and adamantly refuses to divide the family. Yet, where does this leave our Eldest Lady?"

Lu Wei's expression was somber. "It's not just about Elder Madam. What position does this put the Marquis Manor in? Elder Madam is the marquis's eldest daughter-in-law. If her sister becomes a concubine, it will also bring disgrace upon our manor."

With tears welling up, Ruixue continued, "Otherwise, our Eldest Lady wouldn't be so worried. I know that Second Lady has always been a person with sound judgment, so I was hoping you could speak to her on my behalf. I understand that such a major issue is not easy to resolve, but even if Second Lady doesn't have a solution, her subtle reassurances would greatly comfort our Eldest Lady. Our Eldest Lady hasn't been able to finish half a bowl of rice in a day lately."

Lu Wei: "I'll find an opportune moment to speak with Second Lady. Now more than ever, you must remain calm. You need to take care of Lady Grand and young Master Xi, as well as Miss Can."

Ruixue: "I know, I'll be able to hold on for this period of time. I sneaked out, so I should return first."

Lu Wei: "Mm."

They parted ways, and Lu Wei returned to Qixia Courtyard with a darkened face. Her impression of the Wen family plummeted to an all-time low. What kind of situation was this?

What was a concubine? It was a servant. If her cousin was a servant, how could her elder cousin have any dignity? And they hadn't even officially separated households yet—it was utterly humiliating.

In the evening, when everyone had gone to rest, Lu Wei attended to Meng Die as she got into bed, her face still grim as she recounted the incident. Meng Die was also bewildered. "H-her brain must have been kicked by a donkey. How could she come up with such a ridiculous scheme?"

Lu Wei: "I don't understand either. What kind of mind would devise such a foolish plan? Doesn't she fear offending our Marquis household?"

Meng Die leaned against the headboard, pondering for a moment. "Perhaps he thinks that by doing this, he hasn't offended the Marquis House, and even owes me a favor."

"?" Lu Wei became even more puzzled. "Where does that come from?"

Meng Die sneered. "Grandfather Wen made this decision clearly to abandon Eldest Sister-in-law. With the Marquis House on an upward trajectory, why would he abandon her? He must be in cahoots with certain servants in the house."

The Second Madam's people—this incident had just occurred, so Lu Wei naturally thought of it right away. "How could he think like that? Doesn't he know who really runs the household? Even the servants in the house shouldn't be spreading rumors now!"

Meng Die replied, "Eldest Sister-in-law is from the First Branch. He probably believes that everyone in the household is lying just to make things sound better."

Lu Wei chuckled with sarcasm. "He's being far too clever for his own good. Does he think that by restricting Lady Senior from social engagements, Lady Junior would then have the rightful place to represent the marquis household? We'll end up having to thank him eventually."

Meng Die: "It's likely that he's thinking this way. That's only one aspect. In his eyes, Sister-in-law has lost her influence now and can no longer provide any aid to her family. Wouldn't he have to immediately seek another alliance to rely on?"

Lu Wei sneered disdainfully, "Let alone the fact that Elder Lady has not lost her influence in the estate, even if she did, shouldn't her maiden family be her stronghold? Just look at this, what kind of people and matters are we dealing with here!"

Meng Die lay down promptly. "I'll inquire from Elder Sister-in-law tomorrow about the specifics. This matter must not unfold as Old Master Wen desires."

The following morning, when Meng Die went to the main chamber to pay her respects, she paid extra attention to Madam Wen. Her face was indeed heavily layered with rouge, and she seemed much more subdued, a clear indication of the torment she had endured in recent days.

Returning from breakfast and her assignment at the Jingmei Pavilion, Meng Die approached Wen Shi with a bright smile. "I thought I'd drop by your place for a visit."

Wen Shi mustered up some energy. "Why do you feel like visiting me today?"

Meng Die replied, "The dessert shop has created a new confection. Could you help me taste it and give me your opinion? If it's good, I plan to start selling it at my little shop."

Wen Shi agreed. "Sure."

Meng Die couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If this were any other day, Eldest Sister-in-law would have caught the flaw in her words. Whenever she developed a new dessert, she always sent samples to both Wen Shi's place and Jin Shi's. It was unlikely that she would only seek one person's opinion.

Arriving at the courtyard where the Wen family resided, Meng Die followed Wen Shi into her inner chambers. Ruixue, ever perceptive, had already dismissed the other maids, leaving only Lu Wei to stand guard at the entrance with her.

Wen Shi sat down and composed herself before speaking, "Where's your dessert?"

Meng Die was momentarily speechless, "What dessert? How long do you plan on keeping this from me?"

Wen Shi paused, scanning the room, "Disloyal creatures, I'll eventually show them the door."

Meng Die scoffed without restraint, "If everyone were as disloyal as Ruixue, the masters would probably wake up laughing from their dreams."

Lady Wen couldn't help but laugh, but then a worried expression crept back onto her face. "Since you're here, she must have told you about the situation. My parents are currently trying their best to stop it, but my grandfather is stubborn. I'm thinking of going back home these two days to persuade him as well, either to drop the matter or split the family assets. If Grandfather absolutely refuses, then I'll have no choice but to use the influence of the Marquis House to put pressure on him."

Meng Die pondered, "Relying on the power of the Marquis House isn't a good strategy. Secrets can't be kept forever, and if word gets out, people will undoubtedly gossip. It's not just idle talk; they might lose respect for you as the Eldest Lady. Most importantly, we must avoid displeasing Lord Marquis, Lady Marquis, the heir, and even Madam Ning."

Lady Wen fell silent. How could she not know this? Gossip was one thing, but it would also decrease the respect shown to her as the senior wife. Most in-laws wouldn't be pleased if their son's marriage brought chaos into the family.

Meng Die considered her words carefully. "Eldest Sister, I recall that your dowry lands are within Zhijiang territory?"

Lady Wen was unsure why Meng Die had suddenly asked this, but she nodded. "My ancestral roots are in Zhijiang. Aside from the salt trading business, most of our smaller ventures are located within its borders."

Meng Die immediately chuckled, "That simplifies matters considerably. Elder Sister, proceed with the original plan and return home to reason with Old Master. If he truly refuses to listen, then show him your means. There's no need to rely on the influence of the Marquis Manor; I have alternative avenues here."

Wen Shi wondered, "Do you know someone over there?"

Meng Die: "I've never been there, so how could I know anyone? But my elder brother's in-laws happen to be the Zhejiang Provincial Censor. If I ask him to write a letter, interfering with your family's business wouldn't be a difficult task at all."

The Governor of a province, the top official in charge of domestic affairs within its jurisdiction, is a person whose word holds great weight. Wen: "But it would still trouble your elder brother... this..."

Meng Die interrupted her, "It's not anything illegal, just a matter of a few words."

With tears in her eyes, Wen Shi said, "Thank you so much."

Meng Die replied, "Between us, there's no need for such formalities. Could the affection we've shared over these past few years be mere pretense?"

Wen Shi's sobs turned into a smile, and the darkness that had shrouded her days for so long dissipated significantly.