Chapter 185

Chapter 185

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Qiao Changshun embarked on a journey to Liaozhou with the civil official envoy to handle official matters. Xiao Mu and his descendants also began their official duties, leaving early and returning late each day.

It is said that the Xingping Emperor started his official duties as early as the second day of the lunar new year. As subjects, they could not afford to shirk their duties.

Tong Sui was enfeoffed as a first-rank Lady Anguo, a title of high honor and responsibility. In times of war, she could volunteer to lead troops into battle. In peacetime, she could enjoy the wealth and privileges like other titled ladies, but with a generous salary equivalent to that of Marquis Xiao.

However, the aristocratic titled ladies in Luoyang had been enjoying their wealth for decades, with loyal and reliable maids and nannies attending to them. They followed a routine, but Tong Sui was newly enfeoffed. Not to mention the many important tasks in the Duke's residence and the Marquis’s residence awaiting her attention.

The imperial bestowed servants—thirty for each residence, including young servants, maids, and nannies—seemed numerous, but the two estates were expansive, and there were many people to serve. The young servants and nannies were adequate, but ten maids were far from sufficient.

Tong Sui needed to purchase and properly train the servants so that when Madam He and the others arrived, they could quickly adapt to their new life rather than discovering a shortage of young maids in the courtyard.

Before the new year, Tong Sui had already familiarized herself with and understood the temperaments of the young servants, maids, and nannies in the Marquis’s residence.

These thirty people had previously served in wealthy households. Some were skilled in a particular craft, while others were meticulously trained by their former masters. They understood rules and etiquette. Assigning them to menial tasks like fetching water or sweeping the floor would be a waste of their talents.

In the Marquis’s residence, the young servants were mainly running errands in the front courtyard. Of the ten nannies, two were head chefs, two were master embroiderers, and three were skilled at preserving precious items. Each of the three main rooms in the residence had one nanny assigned to manage the storerooms. One nanny, skilled in gardening, was put in charge of the garden. The last two nannies, skilled in accounting, were assigned to assist Tong Sui with household management and accounting.

Of the ten maids, four with outstanding looks were assigned to serve Liu Chu and her daughter. The remaining six were distributed as follows: two were assigned to the front courtyard to serve tea to guests, one was assigned to organize Tong Sui's study, and the three most capable were assigned as her personal maids. When A Fu arrived, they would complete a team of four senior maids.

The nannies in the Duke's residence were similarly allocated. As for the maids, Tong Sui first assessed their temperaments before assigning them to Madam He, Xiao Yuchan, and Lin Ningfang's courtyards according to the old master's instructions. The old master would assign them according to the ladies' personalities. If they were dissatisfied, they would have to confront the old master, not Tong Sui.

Now, Tong Sui needed to procure another batch of young maids for both residences. For example, the kitchen needed more than just head chefs; it also required young maids to handle firewood, washing vegetables, and cleaning pots. The embroidery room masters needed help measuring sizes, cutting fabric, and inheriting their craft. The garden needed young maids to sweep the floor and trim the plants. Each courtyard required enough maids for cleaning and laundry.

With so many people needed, Tong Sui brought two female guards to the slave market to make the selections herself, avoiding the spectacle of the market manager bringing double the number of people to Qinghua Fang.

Tong Sui visited four slave markets, carefully selecting until she purchased a total of fifty young maids for both residences. Their prices varied based on their age, appearance, and skills, and Tong Sui spent over 350 taels of silver just on their purchase prices.

In the evening, she brought the fifty young maids to the old master, letting him select the ones for the Duke's residence.

Xiao Mu said, "When buying, you can only initially evaluate their external conditions and gain a basic understanding of their temperaments. Whether they are reliable can only be ascertained after a long period of interaction. Let's choose the left half for now. The nannies can train them, and when they arrive, the ladies can observe and decide. Shouyi, do you agree?"

If anyone were to find fault with Aman's selections, it would likely be Madam He and her daughter, Xiao Yuchan. The old master first consulted his son.

Xiao Shouyi understood his father's intentions and first agreed with him before saying to Tong Sui, "Ever since we moved in, you've been taking care of all the household affairs, big and small. Second Uncle remembers your hard work, and later, he will ask your aunt to thank you properly."

Tong Sui smiled, "Second Uncle, why are you being so distant? My aunt hasn't arrived yet, and I'm the only lady in the household. These tasks are my responsibility. I'm just worried that my selection of maids might be clumsy, and my aunt will find them unsatisfactory."

Xiao Yan said, "Second Sister-in-law, don't worry. You've saved us a great deal of trouble. If my mother dares to complain, I'll let her pick the maids herself."

Tong Sui smiled.

After dinner, Tong Sui returned to the Marquis’s residence with Xiao Zhen and Xiao Ye.

Before they reached the hall, the old master sent his steward to deliver the purchase silver for the twenty-five young maids. He insisted on giving it to Tong Sui.

Xiao Ye sighed, "Grandfather really keeps the accounts clear."

Xiao Zhen said, "He doesn't want any household to be at a disadvantage. Once or twice is fine, but if we were expected to pay every time, would you truly be willing?"

Xiao Ye laughed, "Why wouldn't I be? Second Sister-in-law manages the household. As long as she's happy to take on the burden, I won't stop her."

Tong Sui glared at him, "You're never serious."

It was getting late, and Xiao Ye wisely made his exit.

In addition to managing the affairs of the two estates, Tong Sui received numerous visiting cards and invitations from prominent families in Luoyang and relatives of former court officials.

Tong Sui declined all of them, citing that their new residence had not yet been fully organized.

Currently, the Xiao family’s descendants are only familiar with their fellow comrades-in-arms. If the opportunity arises in the future to make new acquaintances, or if the Xiao family descendants develop friendships with certain officials, then such interactions would be natural. For now, the Xiao family is unlikely to casually curry favor with the truly prestigious families or former officials in Luoyang. Those who hastily sought to establish connections were likely not from respectable families.

After hosting Tang Shi, the eldest son's wife of Lin Ningfang's eldest brother, Tong Sui only met with a few neighbors who lived in Qinghua Fang. Some of these neighbors were from prominent families, while others had family members in official positions, and some were from families that had fallen on hard times. As neighbors, it was customary to exchange cards, and Tong Sui did not wish to dismiss their goodwill.

However, not all neighbors were the same. For those who sought to curry favor using their neighborly status, Tong Sui would entertain them once or twice before distancing herself. For those who treated the Xiao family as genuine neighbors and shared similar temperaments, Tong Sui naturally formed friendships with them.

One such new friend was Zhu Shu, the eldest son’s wife of Minister Guo of the Ministry of Punishments, who lived on the back street of the two estates.

Minister Guo, Guo Qia, was only forty-five this year. In his youth, he was known for his integrity, which led to him being sidelined to a county magistrate position. Later, when a distant relative of Imperial Uncle Dou was murdered and the culprit remained at large, Minister Guo was transferred to that county and quickly solved the case. Pleased, Imperial Uncle Dou promoted Guo Qia to the capital and rewarded the Guo family with a residence in Qinghua Fang.

Imperial Uncle Dou recognized Guo Qia's great talent and sought to bring him into his fold. However, Guo Qia only cared about uncovering the truth in his cases, regardless of whether it benefited or harmed Imperial Uncle Dou. Thus, whenever Guo Qia offended someone, Imperial Uncle Dou would demote him to a minor official position. When Imperial Uncle Dou encountered cases that incompetent officials couldn't solve, he would temporarily promote Guo Qia, who would solve the case, adding to Imperial Uncle Dou's achievements.

This is how the Guo family came to settle in Luoyang permanently. They neither sought to curry favor nor were courted by others, maintaining a straightforward social network.

When the Xingping Emperor captured Luoyang, the previous Minister of Punishments was executed. After ascending the throne, the Xingping Emperor promoted Guo Qia to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Punishments.

Tong Sui remarked, "The Emperor values capable officials. Now, Minister Guo can serve the court with peace of mind."

Zhu Shu replied, "Indeed, my father-in-law has had a difficult journey. At one point, he was reduced to a ninth-rank official. Anyone from the Ministry of Punishments could bully him. Out of frustration, my mother-in-law advised him to resign and return to farming with the family, but my father-in-law insisted that even as a ninth-rank official, he was still an official who accomplished real work. If he left, his successor might not even do the minimal work he did."

How could Tong Sui not admire such a man?

Upon hearing that Minister Guo had compiled a set of books documenting the cases he had solved over twenty years, Tong Sui expressed her desire to purchase a set from a bookstore.

Zhu Shu said, "Why spend that money? I'll send someone to fetch a set from home. The bookstore gave my father-in-law twenty sets, and since we rarely have visitors, they haven’t all been given away yet. They're just lying idle at home."

Tong Sui said, "Shouldn't we ask Minister Guo for permission first?"

Zhu Shu replied, "No need. If he knew that Lady Anguo wanted to buy his book, he'd be thrilled. He's an old-fashioned scholar; he takes great pleasure in others appreciating his work."

Tong Sui insisted that Zhu Shu inform Minister Guo before sending the books.

Tong Sui also made a point to ask the elder for permission, fearing that her bibliophilic pursuit might be misconstrued as an attempt by the Xiao family to curry favor with Minister Guo.

The elder laughed and said, "This is a refined matter; it's fine. If a book could sway Minister Guo, Imperial Uncle Dou would have bought all of Minister Guo's books from the bookstores by now."

Tong Sui smiled.

The next day, Zhu Shu sent over a set of books that Minister Guo had reportedly annotated extensively the previous night to help Tong Sui with any obscure terms she might encounter.

Delighted, Tong Sui showed the books to Xiao Zhen in the evening.

Xiao Zhen said, "You really do love reading all kinds of books."

Tong Sui replied, "I didn't have the opportunity to study much when I was young. Unlike you, who had a whole room of books at home, I cherish every opportunity to read."

Xiao Zhen hugged her and said, "Then I'll talk to our grandfather. When our family’s books are moved here, we can keep them on our side. After all, the third and fifth younger brothers don't read them."

Tong Sui poked him, "Their lack of care for books doesn't mean grandfather doesn't understand their value. He's the fairest and might only allocate us half. Besides, for the sake of the third and fifth younger brothers' future children, you, as their elder brother, shouldn't be so scheming."

Xiao Zhen said, "Scheming? Our family’s collection is considered a treasure in our village. But once the third younger brother's wife moves the Lin family’s collection to the Duke's residence, you'll no longer find ours appealing and might not even want to stay with me, preferring to live there instead."

Tong Sui said, "...The house hasn't even been reclaimed yet, and you're already eyeing the Lin family's collection. Isn't that what scheming is?"

Xiao Zhen replied, "This isn't coveting. It's just reality. Unless the third younger brother's wife wants to part ways with him, if she reclaims the house, the ancestral collection of books will have to be moved back to be of use to their children. The third younger brother is a man of rough ways, but his wife will never raise their children to be uncouth. The books need to be moved back to serve their purpose."

Tong Sui looked at him and finally lamented, "Third Brother hasn't even realized the relationship between Lord Lin and his wife, yet you've already thought so far ahead for his sake."

Xiao Zhen smiled, his phoenix eyes revealing a trace of rare arrogance rarely seen by outsiders. "That's why I'm Second Younger Brother, and he can only be my brother."

——

Xiao Yan had actually wanted to inquire about the Lin family's affairs, such as what Lord and Lady Lin usually enjoyed, so he could present appropriate gifts when paying respects.

But Xiao Yan had to serve at the Southern Camp, leaving early in the morning and only returning in the evening. Dinner was served in the dark. Where could he find the opportunity to ask around?

Finally, on a day off, on the 10th of the first lunar month, Fourth and Fifth Younger Brothers invited him to go riding outside the city. They only returned when the day was nearly over. On the 20th, the family elder gave him a task, sending him to visit wounded soldiers' homes near Luoyang to see how they were faring. By the 30th, the Empress and her entourage had arrived from Jizhou, and the civil and military officials had been waiting outside the city gates since early morning, keeping them busy for most of the day.

With the Xingping Emperor and the Empress entering the palace, Xiao Yan thought his family members would also arrive soon; how could he think of asking about anything else?

On the 2nd of the second lunar month, Zhou Xian sent someone to deliver a letter, saying that the group had reached the Yellow River and should be able to enter Luoyang by the evening of the 4th if they pushed a bit.

The family elder sent a message back, telling them to stay at the inn for one more night and enter the city leisurely on the morning of the 5th.

Xiao Yan said, "Then I'll go to the inn to meet them on the evening of the 4th and accompany them back together on the 5th."

Xiao Ye asked, "Are you that eager to see Second Aunt?"

Xiao Yan glared at him.

Xiao Mu said, "No one is allowed to go. Everyone should continue their duties. We haven't seen each other for almost a year, but waiting another day or two won't matter."

Xiao Yan said, "If I can't go, can I at least take a day off on the 5th? When the Qi family's relatives came, Qi Ling and Qi Yun both took leave. Sun Dian, Sun Wei, and Wen Gong also said they would ask for a day off."

Xiao Mu looked at his youngest grandson and asked, "Do you want to take a day off?"

Xiao She nodded. "I miss my mother. Everyone misses their mothers."

Xiao Ye said, "Fifth Younger Brother is truly filial."

Xiao Mu looked at everyone and said, "Alright, Fourth and Fifth Younger Brothers can take leave that day to go out of the city with Second Aunt to meet them."

Xiao Yan asked, "Why not me? He doesn't even have a wife!"

Xiao Mu said, "Ningfang has just returned to her homeland, everything has changed. Do you think she'll be in the mood for a happy reunion?"

Xiao Yan was taken aback and fell silent.