CHAPTER 344: CHAPTER 346: TESTING THE WATERS (PART 5)

Just got into the mansion, and she had been holding onto it without a chance to give it to her?!

Xiqiu waved her hand with an indifferent look: "You can give it to Chunyan later. In the future, if there are matters in the courtyard, report directly to Chunyan. Your tasks will stay the same for now..." After speaking, she picked up her tea.

Ziyang and Treasure Bead were both shocked and left without saying a word.

Xiqiu looked at Chunyan and said, "The people in the courtyard are not many, you can manage them all together. If you are overwhelmed, let Chunliu help you." Seeing Chunyan nod, she continued, "Go get the Deacon’s Token and bring in Jin Dairui and the others."

Chunyan managed the various affairs in the house, Chunliu looked after Xiqiu’s jewelry, clothing, and the monthly allowances for the maids and female servants. Bihuai was responsible for the duty rosters of the maids and servants, while Biwu oversaw the laundry and kitchen affairs in the outer courtyard.

With the tasks clearly arranged, later on, if there were any mistakes, they would know whom to find for accountability—layer by layer of inquiries, with clear and fair investigations.

In no time, Chunyan led Jin Dairui, Zou Bochang, and Zhu Sancheng, along with their families, inside. The three families stood crowded in the hall to report, and Xiqiu instructed Chunliu to have the three stewards and their wives remain while sending the others to the adjacent side room for tea.

Xiqiu assessed the six of them. Jin Dairui was short and thin, dressed in woven cotton with one sleeve bearing a patch, yet the patch was sewn neatly. He stood with his head bowed, legs together, respectfully... She turned her gaze to the steward’s wife behind him, who also dressed plainly, with a patch on her clothing. If not closely examined, it was hardly noticeable. She looked at the woman’s hands, rough in the joints yet clean...

It seems her sewing skills are quite good.

Zou Bochang appeared chubby and fair, and his wife was the same, smiling steadily at Xiqiu without avoidance. Zhu Sancheng and his wife were similar to Jin Dairui’s couple, appearing honest but dressed noticeably better.

"When Nanny Qian brought you into the mansion last time, there wasn’t a detailed inquiry. These past days have been busy, and I haven’t had time to ask you, where are you all staying now?"

Zou Bochang replied, "Replying to Fourth Madam, Nanny Qian rented us a small courtyard. Now all three families live there with care provided for meals!"

Nanny Qian naturally didn’t have the authority to rent a courtyard, it seemed to be Madam Xia’s arrangement.

She nodded: "Since that’s the case, you may reside there for now. Regarding the courtyard’s expenses, at the beginning of each month, send someone to the mansion to get funds from me. Is eight taels per month sufficient? If there’s anything else needed at the mansion, just ask for Maid Chunliu from the Fourth Estate to guide you to me."

Zou Bochang, taking on the leader’s role, nodded and replied, "It takes roughly six to seven taels for meals, and one tael five Qian for rent per month, so that suffices." Then, he looked at Chunliu and bowed, "Thank you, Maid Chunliu."

Chunliu returned the bow halfway.

"In my dowry, there are altogether two estates, a residence, and a shop on West Street. I’ve only received an overview and am not deeply familiar with them. So... I’ll give you five days to understand the state of the shops and estates in the Capital and report back to me; as for Shandong, I’ll grant you half a month, is that enough?"

The six exchanged glances, and Zou Bochang thought for a moment before asking, "Fourth Madam, the time is sufficient, it’s just... who will go to Shandong, who to Tongzhou, how shall it be arranged?"

"How you arrange it I don’t care, decide among yourselves. I only need the results." With that, she sipped her tea.

The six of them were visibly nervous; could Fourth Madam possibly let them choose on their own? The land in Shandong was low, while the fields in Tongzhou, though also rice paddies, were higher, yielding different harvests entirely. As for managing the residence or shop... the gains and benefits would vary even more.

Fourth Madam not assigning, could she let them choose themselves?

The six of them were puzzled about Xiqiu’s intentions yet dared not ask further, leaving the mansion filled with doubts. Chunliu saw them out, and Chunyan, full of confusion, asked Xiqiu, "Miss, why let them choose the land themselves?"

Xiqiu took a sip of tea: "I want to assess their abilities. Since they managed to be part of my dowry into the Marquis Mansion, they surely have their connections and capabilities. Letting them compete is better than banding together against me!"

Chunyan then realized: "This way, pitted against each other and away from their original places, they’ll have no choice but to rely wholeheartedly on you, Miss, and won’t dare harbor other thoughts."

Xiqiu smiled and walked out of the courtyard. She hadn’t closely inspected the place she stayed at, but now she realized that this courtyard was much larger than it appeared from outside, with a layout of two sections, approximately ten plus rooms, along with side rooms and side wings, larger even than Lady’s courtyard at the Tong Mansion.

The courtyard had a grapevine trellis, now sparsely hanging with withered vines, with a stone table and stools underneath. In front was a passageway, similar to those in all courtyards of the Xiao Mansion, arranged with tables and chairs. Exiting the courtyard to the left was where Tong Xihua originally lived; to the right was a row of woods, separating a row of side rooms, and then the outer courtyard...

First Madam lived in the Bamboo Pavilion, which lay straight north from the front gate, and further ahead was Li Jingxuan. Fifth Young Master and Fifth Madam lived in Pinlan Pavilion before Li Jingxuan. She was told her courtyard at the back had another courtyard called Mei Garden, where Fifth Madam and Fifth Young Master originally resided.

It was in the southern corner of the Marquis Mansion, no wonder Fifth Madam moved to Pinlan Pavilion. Stepping out from her courtyard, albeit far away, they would have to pass by Tong Xihua’s courtyard to reach the Grand Dowager’s quarters.

Living like this was inconvenient, nowhere as free as Pinlan Pavilion!

As for the feng shui, she couldn’t really tell!

Chunliu returned after escorting people out and reported: "Zou Bochang inquired what exactly Miss’s purpose was, hoping I could tell them, so they have a clue."

Xiqiu asked, "How did you respond?"

"I said, Miss certainly has her reasons for doing so. As servants, we just follow orders without asking why!" Chunliu smiled, "Did I speak too rigidly?"

Xiqiu smiled and shook her head: "No! They will certainly inquire again, keep track of who comes how many times, and who never comes, then report back to me." Chunliu nodded in agreement.

At that moment, a flash of bright red entered through the door, and Xiqiu’s eyes lit up as she went to greet: "Yanzheng, why did you come in such cold weather?"

Xiao Yanzheng smiled joyfully and said, "I wanted to come last night, but thinking you might be tired after staying at your family home all day, I held off until now..." She said, rubbing her hands, "Quickly, take me in to warm up, it’s really cold!"

Xiqiu held her hand, and the two entered the room together. Chunliu assisted Xiao Yanzheng in removing her outer cloak and served her hot tea. Xiao Yanzheng took a sip, sighed comfortably, and exclaimed, "It’s so comfy here!" She then put down the teacup, her eyes smiling, "How is it, my fourth brother, isn’t he great? He is the type who’s cold on the outside, warm on the inside, seemingly indifferent yet meticulous, right?"