CHAPTER 386: CHAPTER 388: PERSONNEL AFFAIRS (1)

Fourth Master Xiao did not insist, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "If you’re bothered by the matters of the estate, you can go to the outer courtyard and find Housekeeper Ping. He came as my mother’s dowry, and he has managed several of her estates very well."

Xiqiu nodded as she listened and replied, "I will first discuss it with the accompanying maids and try it out. If it really doesn’t work, I will come to Fourth Master for help!" After saying this, she leaned into Fourth Master Xiao’s arms and smiled slightly.

After these days of effort adapting, she was now quite comfortable sitting like this, and could converse freely with Fourth Master Xiao.

Fourth Master Xiao nodded and said, "Hmm, as you wish. If you find it tiring, just let others handle these matters."

Xiqiu did not argue.

After having dinner with Fourth Master Xiao, Min joined them, and the three went to the Grand Dowager’s room to sit for a while. Fourth Master Xiao went to the study, and Xiqiu returned to her room.

Nanny Wu came, bringing two rolls of fur rewarded by the Grand Dowager. Xiqiu thanked her and spent the night with Chunyan around the kang, beginning to cut clothes for the First Master.

They had only about ten days, so time was not very ample.

Just as they were about to cut, Tianyi and Tiancheng came in, carrying a table over one meter long and half a meter wide. Xiqiu paused and asked in surprise, "Why did you move Fourth Master’s desk here?"

Tianyi smiled and said, "Fourth Master’s orders, I don’t know." Although inwardly he thought, Fourth Master is handling affairs alone in the study but is thinking of his wife, so he simply had the desk moved back to the room.

As Xiqiu was about to speak, Fourth Master Xiao strode in and pointed at Tianyi, "Move the round table and put the desk by the window." Connecting to the kang where Xiqiu often sat.

Tianyi and Tiancheng followed the instructions, moved the round table, and placed the desk.

Tianyi moved, but his foot kicked the purple-leaf orchid kept in the corner, which startled Chunyan who hurried over, clutching the orchid while giving Tianyi a dark look. Tianyi touched his head and chuckled!

Xiqiu looked at them, and for some reason, something stirred in her heart.

After sending Tianyi and Tiancheng out, Fourth Master Xiao had already brought in his documents and sat behind the desk while Xiqiu sat on the kang sewing clothes for the First Master. Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at her and asked, "Who are these for?"

Xiqiu replied without looking up, "These are for father. Mother said it’s damp and cold in Yongzhou, so she asked me to make a cloak to send over." She picked up a piece of cut fur, "With these leftover pieces, I’m thinking of making a pair of knee warmers for Mother. What does Fourth Master think?"

"Hmm." Fourth Master Xiao responded lightly, his gaze passing over Xiqiu’s knees.

She hadn’t mentioned her leg these days, had it healed, or was she enduring the pain?

The next morning, Xiqiu groomed herself after getting up, and coincidentally Min came, so she smiled and asked, "Would Min like to go out for a walk?"

Min’s eyes lit up but looked hesitantly at Fourth Master Xiao.

"It’s okay," Xiqiu said, "Mother wants to go see the dowry house. If Min wants to go, come with Mother and help her see how to arrange it, okay?"

No matter how composed Min was, he was just a three-year-old child, and his eyes immediately glowed with excitement.

Xiqiu then turned to look at Fourth Master Xiao, who was sitting on the kang drinking tea, and asked, "Fourth Master, may I take Min?"

Min also looked expectantly at Fourth Master Xiao.

Fourth Master Xiao looked at Min, glanced at the happily smiling Xiqiu, put down the tea cup, and nodded slightly, "Sure."

A subtle smile appeared on Min’s face.

Xiqiu squatted in front of Min and said with a smile, "Father has agreed, so shall we now ask for Grandmother’s permission?"

Min moved his feet to step back but placed them down again and nodded at Xiqiu.

The three went to speak with the Grand Dowager about visiting the house. The Grand Dowager advised, "It’s cold, and the house hasn’t been lived in for a long time, so it’s likely to be cold. Bring extra people to light the stove first, and it’ll warm up by the time you arrive."

Not wanting to be too casual with Min present, Xiqiu nodded, "Understood."

The Grand Dowager then took Min’s hand and said, "Listen to your father and mother, and don’t run around recklessly, understood?"

Min nestled by the Grand Dowager and nodded repeatedly, "Grandson remembers." He glanced at Xing and Sheng, who were sleeping in the green gauze cabinet, showing hesitation. The Grand Dowager noticed his thoughts and said with a smile, "There are too many people; your father and mother can’t manage them all!"

Min nodded and said nothing.

Xiqiu then took Min, accompanied by maids and women, out the Yimen and onto a carriage. Two carriages left the courtyard through the side gate...

The carriages rattled out of the South Arch and onto East Street, where it was immediately bustling with people.

Min sat in the corner of the carriage, his eyes lingering on the window curtain, as if he could see the bustling streets through the thick, blue-green cotton curtain.

Fourth Master Xiao leaned against a plush pillow with embroidered floral designs, speaking slowly, "Passing through East Street, after Five Blessings Lane, it’s West Street... After crossing West Street and a few alleys, you’ll reach Yangpi Lane."

He was introducing the route they would be taking next.

As expected, as Fourth Master Xiao described, the sounds quieted as the carriage left East Street, and after traveling a while, Fourth Master Xiao suddenly lifted the window curtain. Xiqiu looked at him in surprise, only to see him turn and say, "Isn’t this your shop front?"

Xiqiu paused in surprise, immediately leaned forward, and saw through the curtain a large signboard "Xu’s Tea House" hanging over a shop. But as Zhu Sancheng had said, there were only two clerks warming themselves by the stove inside, with not a single customer in sight.

Uncertain, she said with a smile, "I only knew it was on West Street, but I didn’t know exactly which one." Hearing her, Fourth Master Xiao showed a thoughtful expression.

Min looked at Fourth Master Xiao, with a hint of astonishment in his eyes. He had never seen Fourth Master Xiao show any expression other than indifference.

Thinking this, he looked at Xiqiu again. Today she wore a dark red embroidered overcoat with a fox fur collar, enhancing her gentle complexion. The smile hanging on her face also carried something more than usual, which Min couldn’t describe, but he quickly turned his gaze.

Xiqiu glanced at Min and asked Fourth Master Xiao, "Fourth Master, you mentioned inviting a tutor after the new year, have you decided on which tutor to invite?"

Min immediately focused intently on their conversation.

Fourth Master Xiao drank a sip of tea and then said, "I did interact with a few, but none were suitable. A few days ago, I heard from Lord Han that his household had a Mr. Zhao who was quite good, but that person resigned at the beginning of the year to return home. He said he would write a letter to inquire, and I’ve also asked others to look into it."