CHAPTER 307: CHAPTER 307: ELDEST SISTER-IN-LAW (2)

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Xiqiu arranged for Nanny Qian to deliver gifts to various mansions!

A few days later, each mansion sent someone to return the gesture. Everyone knew that Lady in Tong Mansion was currently ill, the Second Lady was accompanying the Second Master and not in the capital, leaving a concubine to watch over the Second Household. The Eleventh Miss stayed behind, and the affairs of the entire Mansion were entrusted to the management of the young lady born of a concubine, the Sixth Miss.

Even though it wasn’t openly discussed, everyone, whether they knew the people or not, was secretly curious about how this young lady, who was simply born of a concubine, could understand family management at such a young age.

The management of the household, especially supervising the kitchen, is a complex task. How to assign and manage the servants, and observe the accounts for purchasing goods inside and out. If one blindly believes whatever the servants say, the household will eventually fall into ruin, yet if one scrutinizes every account too rigorously, over time the servants gain no benefits, and they will not put their heart into their duties. Imagine an unrewarding job without prospects — who would earnestly do it? They would merely muddle along every day, and soon chaos would arise in the household.

Thus, it is crucial to strike a balance: when to ask questions, how to investigate, and to what depth. If you pull up one thing, who will handle all the household matters once you’ve disrupted a large section? But if you look too superficially, there’s neither persuasion nor deterrence, and no one will respect your word in the future.

Therefore, when Madam Chen sent her close confidante, Nanny Hong, to return the gifts, she first paid her respects in Lady’s room, then was guided around the residence by Nanny Fang. On purpose, they made a round about the estate and saw the craftsmen coming and going quietly in the garden, speaking in hushed tones. The little maids, upon passing by in their hemp clothing, behaved with decorum, maintaining a respectful distance. In the kitchen, dishes identified for each room were neatly marked on paper labels stuck to the food boxes, and a checklist of supplies procured in recent days hung on the wall. Crosses indicated what had been used up, while remaining items were marked in red pen...

Nanny Hong couldn’t help but be astonished; such methods from a mere fourteen-year-old girl.

After seeing the Sixth Miss, Nanny Hong returned and recounted everything about the Tong Mansion, detail by detail, to Madam Chen. Madam Chen sighed and said, "...I didn’t see this coming back then."

Xiqiu saw off Nanny Hong and then went to visit Tong Minzhi in the Second Household, taking a moment to sit in the room of Eleventh Miss, Tong Xijia. Being that they were sisters, Xiqiu felt the need to look after her since the Second Household only had her left. However, she and Tong Xijia had little to talk about, so after half a cup of tea, she left with Chunyan and Chunliu.

Meanwhile, the Jiang family also sent a nanny with festival gifts. Introducing herself as Liu, Xiqiu smiled and said, "Please have a seat, Nanny Liu. How are Madam Jiang and Miss Jiang?"

Nanny Liu’s thoughts were much more complicated than those of Nanny Hong, for after the New Year, Miss Jiang was to marry into the family. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t be worried. Though First Madam Tong was formidable, she was nonetheless the biological mother, no matter the difficulties ahead she would ultimately think of her son and teach Miss Jiang well in matters of the household. But now with First Madam Tong ill, all household authority had fallen to this Sixth Miss, who was herself betrothed, to be married off next year. Upon Miss Jiang’s arrival, she might have to immediately take up the kitchen management!

Though the Sixth Miss was marrying into a prestigious family, she had a younger brother below her and a concubine in the household, so it was uncertain how much of the silver she controls would actually be expended here. These were not originally the Jiang family’s concerns, but since Miss Jiang was to marry in, if she were to inherit an empty shell of responsibilities, would they trouble her once she had married out?

Thus, Nanny Liu came on a preliminary probe, and she replied with a smile, "Everything’s well. Our Miss was just mentioning Sixth Miss, saying she was struggling to find Hangzhou silk, and then Sixth Miss sent two bolts over, just like a godsend. Sixth Miss is truly considerate!"

Xiqiu smiled and said, "I didn’t plan it either. It happened that our household was preparing mourning clothes at the time, and Nanny Qian was going to deliver Dragon Boat Festival gifts to Jiang Mansion, so I brought along two bolts for Miss Jiang. I don’t even know whether they could be used... the fact that Miss Jiang still recalls this makes me rather embarrassed."

Nanny Liu’s eyes flickered as she nodded quietly to herself, realizing the Sixth Miss was indeed remarkable, executing tasks with foresight, every word flawlessly delivered, no wonder First Master entrusted such a large Tong Mansion for her, a young miss, to manage!

Her main intention was to cultivate a rapport with Xiqiu, since she was indeed the head figure of Tong Mansion, marrying into the fourth son of the Marquis Mansion, who was now an emerging governor recently granted a mansion; it would be greatly advantageous if she could extend any support back to her family. After meeting Xiqiu today, she understood clearly enough that Xiqiu was an intelligent person, strengthening her intention.

With these thoughts in mind, Nanny Liu stood up and took the indigo blue bundle from the maid beside her, presenting it to Xiqiu: "Our Miss took the opportunity to specially embroider some for Sixth Miss in her spare time. As Sixth Miss handles household affairs and rewards to servants are routine, our Miss embroidered some pockets for Sixth Miss." Xiqiu slightly raised her eyebrow, smiling warmly as she accepted: "How could I deserve this!"

Nanny Liu’s gaze quickly flicked across Xiqiu’s face, observing her sincere smile. The smile on Nanny Liu’s face widened further. "I heard Sixth Miss is renowned for her embroidery skills; even the Second Prince Consort once complimented it while she was alive. In comparison, our Miss’s skills seem somewhat lacking." She was referring to the time when Tong Xihua wore the Lan Border Skirt embroidered by Xiqiu and received praise from the Second Prince Consort.

When Ren Zong ascended the throne, he had not yet posthumously honored the Second Prince Consort; so she remained the late Second Prince Consort in memory.

"Nanny, you’re being too humble. My embroidery can’t compare. Miss Jiang’s pockets are truly excellent!" Xiqiu took out a pocket from the bundle, embroidered into the shape of a gourd. Observing the tight embroidery, the vibrant yet tasteful color pairing, she praised it genuinely.

With a full smile, Nanny Liu retrieved two or three more pockets with new designs from the bundle and introduced them to Xiqiu. After a lengthy conversation, she took her leave to visit Tong Xiyan’s courtyard, stopped by Tong Xiyu’s place for a brief moment, and then finally left the gates of the Tong Mansion with her entourage.

Chunyan furrowed her brow and said, "Miss, why did she come to you first?" Xiqiu had her store away the pockets; they’d be perfect as rewards for servants during the New Year. Regarding the Jiang Mansion, she indeed harbored goodwill toward them. She didn’t know Miss Jiang, but she had seen Madam Jiang and believed she to be a shrewd person. She hoped Miss Jiang would appreciate her kindness; otherwise, managing the affairs, her only half-brother Tong Minzhi might encounter innumerable inconveniences in the future.

"Perhaps since the festival gifts were sent by me, she came here first as a courtesy." Xiqiu spoke calmly as she sat beside the flower rack, picking up her needle while Chunyan stored the pocket, also sitting by Xiqiu’s side, taking up needle and thread to embroider pockets. A new daughter-in-law arriving at an unfamiliar in-law’s house to distribute tokens of goodwill was customary and couldn’t be omitted, so Xiqiu needed to bring ample pockets to the Marquis Mansion.

The original custom required them to be embroidered by Xiqiu herself, but now how could she possibly find time to embroider so many? So, Chunyan and Chunliu helped with some.

As for the wedding dress, it was said to come from the maiden’s hand after coming of age. In some prominent families, preparation of the wedding dress began early, from when young ladies first learned embroidery. This was also the First Lady’s intention for Tong Xiyang back then, with half of her wedding dress stitched by her own hands. However, a wedding dress, unlike ordinary garments, is exceedingly complex, and it isn’t something one can freely choose to embroider. If the embroidered flowers wilt, or the thread colors clash, these are all taboos. Thus, Tong Xiyang’s remaining half was given to the seamstress squad to finish.