Chapter 112

Chapter 114: Discussion (Part 2)

Eleven Miss didn't even glance at the bundle on the table but smiled at Luo Zhenxing, "Elder Brother, this is Eldest Miss's estate, meant for Chun Ge in the future. I am not well-versed in these business matters. Please, Elder Brother, manage it for us."

Luo Zhenxing had intended to persuade Eleven Miss to let him review the accounts before coming. He didn't doubt her intentions but worried that her youth might make it hard for her to keep Lu Yonggui in check, fearing he might take advantage and embezzle funds. His wife, upon hearing from Amber that Lu Yonggui had returned and that Eleven Miss wanted them to discuss the estate left by Eldest Miss, sensed that Eleven Miss's intelligence would not merely involve them as witnesses. She was surprised that Eleven Miss would so readily entrust Luo Zhenxing with the management and so decisively relinquish control.

For a moment, both husband and wife were taken aback.

Madam Tao looked on with delight.

Nephews are naturally close to their uncles. Handing the estate over to Luo Zhenxing was far better than giving it to Eleven Miss!

Lu Yonggui's eyes gleamed.

He had returned by the end of August, planning to attend Lord Xu's wedding. But Madam Tao stopped him, "You know best the extent of Eldest Miss's estate. Few can resist the temptation of greed. Don't rush; lay low for now. Use this time to organize the accounts, one set for her to see, another for the Marquis to audit."

He had some private matters to attend to and, having helped Eldest Miss travel extensively over the years, had saved some money. Uncertain about the new master's temperament, he thought of leaving and thus agreed. To his surprise, at their first meeting, Eleven Miss handed the management of the estate to Luo Zhenxing, earning his respect.

Being a stepmother is challenging enough, especially when large assets are involved, which only complicates matters further.

He couldn't help but look up at Eleven Miss.

Only thirteen or fourteen years of age, dressed in a plain apricot-yellow jacket, with skin as white as snow, she was tall and slender, with large, clear, gentle eyes, looking serene and comfortable.

She pushed the bundle on the square table towards him and smiled, "Elder Brother, though it's an imposition, please accept it for Chun Ge's sake."

Luo Zhenxing hesitated, but his wife, sitting beside him, smiled, "How can this be? It should be you who manages it..."

"Sister-in-law," Eleven Miss smiled, "I really don't understand these business matters. If I manage it, I fear I might be ineffective and cause Chun Ge to suffer losses."

"Alright," Luo Zhenxing said firmly, "I will manage these estates. Eleven Miss will handle the accounts. This way, we can keep each other informed of any issues."

Eleven Miss felt greatly relieved.

Luo Zhenxing truly was a gentleman.

Thus, the matter was settled.

Luo Zhenxing and Lu Yonggui went over the accounts in front of everyone.

Eleven Miss watched as Lu Yonggui swiftly operated the abacus and listened as he reported the annual accounts, turning Eldest Miss's modest estate of twenty thousand taels into one hundred sixty thousand taels, with an annual income of twenty thousand taels. She couldn't help but nod in approval.

Just looking at the people Eldest Miss had left behind—Madam Tao inside and Lu Yonggui outside—was enough to inspire admiration.

After a busy afternoon, they finally had a rough outline.

Eleven Miss breathed a sigh of relief and had Amber serve tea again, smiling, "Thanks to Manager Lu's excellent abacus skills, otherwise, who knows how long this accounting would have taken."

Lu Yonggui quickly replied, "Madam flatters me, it's just a minor skill."

Just then, Lord Xu returned.

Everyone stood up to greet him.

Looking at the neatly arranged account books, he smiled faintly, "The accounts are settled!"

"Settled!" Luo Zhenxing, thinking this also concerned Chun Ge's welfare, smiled and told Lord Xu about Eleven Miss's decision, "I am rather careless. So, Eleven Miss will manage the accounts, and I will handle the external trivial matters."

Lord Xu listened, gave Eleven Miss a deep look, and made no further comment on the matter, only inviting Luo Zhenxing to stay for dinner. As elder madam also sent someone to invite them to dinner, Lu Yonggui and Madam Tao withdrew, while Luo Zhenxing and his wife followed Lord Xu to pay their respects to elder madam. The Xu brothers entertained Luo Zhenxing in the outer courtyard's flower hall, while his wife stayed to dine with elder madam.

At the dinner table, Third Lady kept eyeing Eleven Miss. Thinking of Third Lady's involvement in those businesses, Eleven Miss decided to declare publicly that she would manage the accounts while Luo Zhenxing would handle the properties, to keep Third Lady from eyeing those assets: "...I am young, and with my elder brother's help, I believe nothing major will go wrong." Elder Madam nodded slightly in agreement.

Fifth Miss looked at Eleven Miss with a new sense of respect.

Only Third Lady slightly curled her lips, clearly showing disdain.

After the meal, Elder Sister-in-law spent some time playing with Chun Ge. When Luo Zhenxing finished his meal and came to pay respects to Elder Madam, the couple said their goodbyes together.

Eleven Miss and Lord Xu escorted Luo Zhenxing and Elder Sister-in-law.

She intentionally lagged behind a few steps, whispering privately to Elder Sister-in-law: "...Opening a dried fruit shop is a great idea. But I think, doing business inevitably involves money, and being relatives, it would be a loss if we had a falling out over this. If I speak openly with Fifth Miss, I fear it might offend her. I want you to mediate. If Fifth Miss needs any help from me, I will not refuse, but as for investing, let's forget it!"

Elder Sister-in-law agreed with a nod, taking Eleven Miss's hand: "You and I think alike. Fifth Miss has also invited me. I think the business is not big, and involving too many people might lead to trouble. My idea is, if she really wants to open this dried fruit shop, we each contribute fifty taels of silver, whether as a loan or a gift, to help her out."

Eleven Miss thought to herself with regret. This really confirmed what Amber had said.

Easy come, easy go!

But could she refuse?

Naturally, she had to nod: "Your idea is excellent. Please let me know after discussing it with Fifth Miss."

Elder Sister-in-law nodded, and Eleven Miss saw her off to the gate, watching the carriage leave before returning to the house with Lord Xu.

On the way, noticing her low spirits, Lord Xu asked: "Having you manage the accounts and Zhenxing manage the properties—was it your idea or his?"

Hearing his somewhat harsh tone, Eleven Miss looked at him in surprise and whispered: "It was my idea."

If it was her own idea, why did she seem so downcast?

Lord Xu thought of the harsh scolding from Elder Madam during the three-day return visit.

A woman follows her father at home and her husband after marriage. Originally a Luo family girl, now she is a Xu family woman.

Thinking of this, his brow furrowed slightly.

Eleven Miss was startled.

Did he not agree?

Surely not?

He was not a hypocrite; if he said he wouldn't interfere, he wouldn't. Why would he say such a thing now?

She patiently explained: "This is the property left by the elder sister for Chun Ge, and Chun Ge is still young. I know nothing about business. Although there is Lu Yonggui, he is after all just a steward. If I make a mistake, how could he dare to point it out to me? Now with my elder brother helping to manage, we can remind each other, and even if we make mistakes, it won't lead to an irreparable situation."

So it really was her idea!

Lord Xu stopped walking, his gaze becoming deep and distant.

He had only thought of her youth, not expecting such breadth of mind and insight!

Eleven Miss couldn't sense his mood and felt uneasy under his gaze, hurriedly saying: "Lord, rest assured, my elder brother is not someone who would forget righteousness for profit. Managing the accounts was his suggestion. Originally, I thought of entrusting everything to him..."

"I understand!" Lord Xu's lips curled slightly, "Why are you so anxious? I didn't say anything."

It's good he didn't say anything; if he had, it wouldn't have been so easily settled...

"Tomorrow, clean up the house," Lord Xu suddenly said, "I've asked Steward Bai to find a few older women to help you temporarily."

Although it was said lightly, it carried a commanding tone.

Tidying up the room? How should I tidy it up? Could it be that she was to put away the large red silk curtains and other decorations from the wedding?

She immediately responded, "I will tidy up tomorrow."

Lord Xu nodded slightly and said indifferently, "Among those older women, there is one named Auntie Xiang who is skilled in facial treatments and gua sha, and is familiar with the maids, wives, and older women of all rooms. Unfortunately, she talks too much, and my mother doesn’t care for her, so she has never been given a proper job."

Eleven Miss's eyes lit up.

Lord Xu is indeed formidable!

The staff in her room are all assigned, and if an extra person appears without reason, everyone would speculate and inquire endlessly. Like Lord Xu, using the excuse of needing help to bring in a few older women, and then engaging in casual conversation, some things would naturally be revealed without notice.

"...I will have Amber let it slip that I am not satisfied with two of the older women and want to replace them!"

Lord Xu knew she had understood his meaning, but her quick reaction... He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly and turned to enter the room.

Eleven Miss quickly followed. While Xiayi was helping him change, she took the opportunity to call Amber over and told her about the matter: "...When the time comes, you will inform Auntie Xiang that I want to replace some people. It's a good opportunity to tidy up the room." She explained in detail how to tidy up the room to Amber.

Amber nodded repeatedly, committing Eleven Miss's words to memory.

The next day, when Steward Bai brought the people, she had Lv Yun and Hong Xiu direct the maids to replace the large red silk curtains and chair covers in Eleven Miss's room with the customary dark blue curtains and chair covers of the Xu family's residence, directing several older women to move Eleven Miss's dowry from the east wing to the back room, where Binju checked them and locked them away...

The east room of the main room was set up as a resting area, and the east wing was arranged, moving her own and Dongqing, Binju, and Zhuxiang's belongings inside.

That Auntie Xiang indeed talked a lot.

Everyone worked in silence, only she and Amber chatted, and of course, she quickly learned about Eleven Miss wanting to replace two older women in her room.

During lunch, she sidled up to Amber: "...Do you think I am suitable?"

"Our room's matters need the lady's approval!" Amber replied evasively.

Auntie Xiang smiled ingratiatingly, "But wouldn't it be good to hear from the ladies who is good and who is bad?"

Amber just smiled and remained silent.

By evening, Auntie Xiang brought two roast chickens to find Amber: "...Please help put in a good word for me!"

Amber then confided in Auntie Xiang: "...It's not that our lady can't tolerate anyone, but we really encountered two who don't understand the rules. If we don't replace them, wouldn't it make people laugh at us for being ignorant?"

Auntie Xiang quickly said, "Don't worry, miss, no one understands household matters better than me!"