Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Finally, she didn’t have to pay her respects, and even Shen Linfeng said before leaving that Yao Niang should sleep an extra hour before getting up. Yet, she was unexpectedly woken up by someone. Auntie Gu came in and said, "Madam, the people from the Third House’s Lady Qing came to the kitchen and scolded them, saying that the main kitchen didn’t send food to them."

Yao Niang rubbed her eyes, sat up, and said unhappily, "Who let them come in directly? We’ve already divided the households and kitchens. How dare they cause a scene here? Call the managers of the front gate and the second gate over; I need to give them a talking-to. Also, tell the kitchen that it now belongs to the Main House, not the Third House. If the Third House wants food, they should make it themselves."

The managers of the front gate and the second gate quickly arrived. Yao Niang looked at them and sat down, saying, "I heard that someone from the Third House came here to cause trouble. Who let them in?"

There were six old women guarding the second gate, and about six others from the front gate who were on duty. The second gate mainly guarded the current eastern and western side gates, while the front gate was the essential passage for visiting the elders of the Shen family.

None of these twelve people dared to speak.

Yao Niang glanced at them and said, "If you step forward today, I won’t punish you. If you don’t, I will find a way to ask. Then, it won’t just be a few words to finish the matter."

As soon as she finished speaking, Auntie Fang and Auntie Liu stepped forward, kneeling on the ground. "It was us who let her in today. In the past, they could always come in freely."

"You mention the past, which shows you clearly understand that our three households have already been separated. What if someone pretends to be from the Second or Third House and comes in, leading to theft in our home? My first priority as a manager is to ensure the security of the gates. If you can’t guard them well, there are plenty of others who can." Yao Niang snorted coldly.

Auntie Fang and Auntie Liu were seasoned old servants who had worked for the Shen family since the time of the old madam. Madam Shen also assigned them to guard the gates. Now, being scolded by Yao Niang, their faces turned red and pale alternately, and they stammered that they wouldn’t dare again.

Yao Niang then said, "Since you know better, don’t let anyone in casually next time, especially at the second gate, where you must report. Your livelihoods depend on Master, and with Father having resigned, Master’s future is paramount. If I hear that important documents or items in his study are stolen, I will have no choice but to hand the matter over to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments."

She deliberately spoke harshly to make them anxious, then softened her tone slightly, "Of course, things have been chaotic due to the division of the household. Everyone has worked hard, especially those guarding the second gate, who stay up all night. I discussed with Master, and we decided to increase your monthly allowance by half a string of coins. However, no gambling or causing trouble at night. If discovered, immediate dismissal without leniency."

In fact, separating the Second and Third Houses significantly reduced the expenses of the Main House. Madam Shen wouldn’t quarrel with the Second and Third Houses, but Yao Niang couldn’t afford to be lenient. It would be better to reward the capable and demote the incompetent with the saved money.

Hearing about the raise, Auntie Fang and Auntie Liu were delighted. Their monthly allowance was eight hundred coins, and they often gambled, saving little each month. Now, the new young madam increased their annual income by five hundred coins, which couldn’t help but make them happy.

The old women guarding the second gate were genuinely convinced.

Yao Niang continued, "If the masters from the Second or Third House come, don’t stop them, but at my courtyard gate, someone must report. No one from other households can enter without a clear reason, my command, or being led by someone from my side. Gentlemen, the peace of our home depends on you."

Using both carrot and stick, Yao Niang, inexperienced in managing, could only feel her way through.

Auntie Fang and Auntie Liu hurriedly pledged their loyalty, "Madam, we will follow your orders. But what should we say if Lady Jiang sends someone over again?"

"Let it go today, considering she is pregnant. If we upset her, we can’t be responsible for any consequences. But if she comes again tomorrow, I won’t tolerate it. Tell her servant that each household now eats from its own kitchen, as we have officially separated." Yao Niang narrowed her eyes.

Auntie Fang and Auntie Liu thought that if Madam Shen were here, she wouldn’t offend relatives and would take care of everyone properly.

But this new madam, with her thunderous authority, showed no fear of public opinion. Though young, she had a clear sense of order.

Lady Jiang, unaware of the tension, complained about the shrimp dumplings and crab roe buns brought to her, "Crab is cold in nature and shouldn’t be eaten too much. Forget, why did you bring this?"

Forget smiled apologetically, "I had a fight with them and randomly brought a few dishes. Now that Madam isn’t here, the Main House is in chaos."

"It’s not entirely true. The young madam is still young and might have overlooked things. By the way, in a couple of days, my cousin from my uncle’s family will visit. You must have the main kitchen prepare a high-class feast and send it over. Don’t skimp on money; give what is due." Lady Jiang was still generous.

Forget, feeling emboldened after the morning’s commotion and seeing only a young madam in charge, thought the Main House could still be manipulated and didn’t object.

At lunch, by chance, more dishes were prepared than ordered by the Second Madam, so she sent some soup and dishes to Lady Jiang, saying it was for her health. Lady Jiang, Lady Shao, ate them without going to the Main House.

In the evening, when Shen Linfeng returned, Yao Niang told him about the morning incident, "I was sleeping when a servant from the Third House woke me up and caused a ruckus in the kitchen. If she weren’t pregnant, I would have gone to scold her myself."

Shen Linfeng, who often saw his mother discipline servants but treat clan members kindly, quickly said, "Forget it, it’s not a big deal. If you need money, I’ll give it to you."

"That’s not how it works. In this world, giving is giving, sending is sending, borrowing is borrowing. Now that we’ve separated, if you want to take anything from my house, you must ask me first. They dared to barge in like bandits and cause trouble. Today, they made a scene in the kitchen; who knows where they’ll go next. If she doesn’t come tomorrow, fine. But if she does, I will have her slapped, and I want you to support me." Yao Niang was looking for someone to establish her authority.

Shen Linfeng looked at her and said, "Aren't you afraid of retaliation?"

Yao Niang smiled and replied, "You're wrong. If I'm tough, only a few people with ill intentions will dare to retaliate against me. But if I'm weak, everyone will bully me. Have you heard of the saying 'eating the last fish'? No matter how kind and gentle you are, people won't hesitate to harm you for their own benefit."

Just like how her mother was always polite to Zhen Shi, giving her whatever she had. What did it achieve? They wouldn't spare her.

She thought more about it. Soon, they would consummate their marriage. Liu Fu Ren had told her that young couples often conceive on their first night. If she were pregnant and someone harmed her, it would be too late to regret.

She felt embarrassed to discuss this with Shen Linfeng, but as he listened to her, she found herself opening up.

Shen Linfeng had never really thought about having children. Looking at Yao Niang's slender waist, he felt a surge of excitement. "Yao Niang, I've forgotten all about having children."

"Idiot, you just married me, and now you're just staring. But it's better if we wait a bit. I want our household to be so well-managed that no one can poke a needle through or pour water in before I feel at ease," Yao Niang said, hugging his arm.

Shen Linfeng asked, puzzled, "Who would dare to harm you?"

"It's hard to say. We both have great wealth, and wealth invites envy," Yao Niang said, leaving it at that.

Shen Linfeng, who usually didn't think much about such things, stood up suddenly after hearing her words. His eyes clear, he analyzed, "What you said makes sense. I am the only son of the main branch of the Shen family. If I die, the family property will be confiscated. As for you, your dowry is substantial. If we have a son who becomes a scholar, who wouldn't be envious? Hmph, I plan to come home earlier each day and patrol our house."

"Eh, eh, eh, don't make too much noise," Yao Niang pulled him back.

This man was truly someone who acted on impulse. He usually didn't think much, but her casual comment had him jumping to conspiracy theories.

However, Yao Niang needed his protection, and he was reliable when it came to following orders.

The worst thing was dealing with someone who didn't listen.

That night, as the couple went to bed, Shen Linfeng placed his sword beside the bed. Yao Niang tickled him until he begged for mercy. The next morning, Lady Jiang from the second branch, unaware of the precautions taken by the main branch, sent Wang Gu to the west gate of the main branch. Fang Pozi and Liu Pozi, who had just been reprimanded, saw her and said, "Do you have any business here?"

"I have no special business. I'm just here to deliver breakfast as usual," Wang Gu replied.

Fang Pozi said, "Wang Gu, the third branch and the main branch have already separated. Each household eats its own meals. Why do you still come to our residence? Yesterday, when we let you in, our lady-in-chief scolded us, saying that since each household is independent, why should people from the third branch come to the main branch to cause trouble?"

"You old woman, hasn't it always been like this? It was the lady-in-chief who instructed the kitchen to take good care of our lady," Wang Gu remembered that just a few days ago, the lady-in-chief had ordered the kitchen to prepare whatever Lady Jiang wanted without restraint.

Seeing her persist, Fang Pozi said, "If you say this is your lady's wish, then I'll have someone take you to see our lady-in-chief."

Wang Gu thought to herself that this was indeed what the lady-in-chief had instructed. Just the other day, they were still fetching dishes from the main kitchen. The lady-in-chief had left early yesterday morning, and the lady-in-chief of the main branch had taken matters into her own hands.

She wasn't afraid. "I'll go. As long as I explain clearly to the lady-in-chief, she will surely agree."

Fang Pozi sneered and had someone lead her to see Yao Niang. Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng were having breakfast. She called out, "Let her in."

Wang Gu, who had been to the main branch with Lady Jiang before, remembered that the lady-in-chief had just married into the family at that time and was very polite. Now, as she entered, she saw the master and lady-in-chief dining together, with over a dozen dishes on the table.

"Servant Wang Gu pays respects to the lady-in-chief," Wang Gu hurriedly bowed.

Yao Niang glanced at her indifferently and said, "You caused a commotion in the kitchen yesterday, and I didn't punish you. Why are you here today?"

Wang Gu's heart tightened, and she forced a smile. "It was our second lady who sent me."

"Our second lady? If she doesn't know, then go back and tell her that if she sends someone to me and says she doesn't want to eat in the third branch and wants something from our main branch, I can accommodate her. But now that we've separated, my sending food doesn't mean she can send people to barge into my house and cause trouble. I've only heard that separation means separate kitchens, not that a sister-in-law from a separated branch can send servants to disrupt her sister-in-law's kitchen," Yao Niang said, looking at her.

Wang Gu quickly cried out, "Lady-in-chief, it wasn't our second lady who wanted to come. It was the lady-in-chief who insisted that our second lady eat here. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come. It's unjust, it's unjust."

Yao Niang stood up abruptly and pointed at her. "So, you dare to use the lady-in-chief's words to pressure me. Now that the lady-in-chief is away, the sister-in-law from the other branch thinks she can bully us because we are few in number? Bring her down and slap her face. If she resists, tie her up and take her to the stables."

No one expected her to react so strongly, and even Shen Linfeng was startled.