Chapter 102: The Manager Mom

  The next morning, Qin Dai Xin woke up early. Her biological clock had always been accurate, and she often woke up before the maids came to call her. She was just lying in bed because she loved to linger, enjoying this rare indulgence of laziness.

  Chun Li helped Qin Dai Xin comb her hair while saying: "Miss must have slept well last night, that's why she got up so early today."

  Qin Dai Xin smiled, "But being early by a quarter of an hour doesn't count as early."

  Just then, Ruyi brought Xue Qing and her mother over. Qin Daiyu looked at them from the copper mirror, and after not seeing them for many days, Yan Shi was still white and delicate, dressed in a fitting manner, with a respectful demeanor. Compared to the somewhat selfish and cold Yan Shi she had seen initially, they were practically two different people.

  "Are you back?"

  "After hearing Miss's message, I set off immediately and rushed back. Last night, I didn't sleep well all night, for fear that Miss had something urgent to do." Yan Shi spoke fluently, and it was impossible to see that she wasn't a close servant, but rather like an old person who had been following Qin Dai's side for many years.

  Qin Dai Xin didn't respond to her words, but instead muttered to herself: "In this kind of weather, wearing a padded jacket is already too hot, and wearing a spring dress is still too early. I don't know why, but it feels like there's nothing suitable to wear in the closet."

  Miss, just wear a thicker brocade dress and cover it with a jacket. Although the weather is still a bit cool, there's no wind at all. I walked here and didn't feel even half a breeze.

  Qin Dai'er listened and was extremely pleased. Indeed, someone brought out a jacket with a pattern of plum blossoms embroidered on it, which she put over her original clothes, and after dressing up, she said to the people in the house: "From today on, Yan Shi is the manager of this house." After finishing speaking, she turned to Ruyi and said: "Let's go to Mother's courtyard to pay our respects!"

  "Yes." Ruyi didn't even have time to look at the expressions of the people in the room, and hurriedly followed Qindai's heart into Fang Wanru's courtyard.

  The master and servant walked in the garden, feeling the subtle breath of spring. The air was filled with a pleasant earthy fragrance, and upon closer inspection, a hint of new green color seemed to appear at the base of the walls.

  Such an environment is most refreshing.

  "Ru Yi, why don't you ask me why I kept Xue Qingniang in the house?" Maybe he just didn't dare to ask!

  She didn't expect Qin Daihe to ask her these questions, and for a moment, she didn't know how to answer. To tell the truth, she was afraid that Miss would say she wasn't doing her duty as a slave girl, and if she hid something, she wasn't confident that she could deceive Miss. So for the time being, she really didn't know how to answer Qin Daihe.

  Just as he was thinking about it, a person suddenly walked up to him. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the second son of the Qin family, Qin Zixin.

  This Qin Zixian, Qin Dai had seen him a few times, and thought that this child was dull and thin, but very good at reading. When he saw people, his face would turn red before he even spoke, and he was similar to his birth mother, Feng Yiniang, a kind person.

  As expected, Qin Zixin's face turned red as soon as he saw Qindai Xin, and in a soft voice, he asked, "Third sister, are you okay?"

  Qin Dai's heart wasn't annoyed, and she smiled: "You're in such a hurry, where are you going?"

  Qin Zixian saw that she didn't seem angry, nor did she tease him as usual, and thought to himself that the rumor about Third Sister changing her ways must be true, and he felt a bit more at ease.

  "I just came out of my mother's house and now I'm going to school." This child was previously ridiculed by Qin Dai Xin and was afraid, seeing her like a mouse seeing a cat. Although he can read books, his mouth is very stupid, and he often suffers grievances himself. He would never go to Fang Wanru to tattle, even if he talked to his aunt for a few words, she would advise him to be more tolerant of everything, as long as he passed the exam and became an official, he could leave this house.

  Qin Daixin smiled, "Studying hard is a good thing, but don't forget about your body! Look at you, so thin! Eat more nutritious food every day, and rest when you're tired from studying. If your body collapses, it's useless no matter how well you study."

  Qin Zixi looked astonished, her face disbelieving, and after a moment's pause, she said: "Thank you, Third Sister, for your concern. I...I'm going to the academy." After finishing speaking, she bowed and walked away without looking back.

  Qin Dai's heart shook her head, this child, although he reads well, is not suitable for being an official. Whatever thoughts he has are written directly on his face, and he might be taken advantage of without even realizing it! With such a lack of tact, how can he hold office?

  As if aware of Qin Dai's thoughts, she stared blankly and hastily said: "The second young master has gone far away, miss should hurry up and go to the madam's place!"

  "You're right, let's go!" Other people's lives are their own masters, what does it have to do with her? She's actually worrying about nothing here.

  Yu Yi didn't know Qin Dai's thoughts, thinking she was concerned about Qin Zixin's attitude. As they walked, Yu Yi comforted her, saying: "Miss, don't blame the second young master, he's also been teased by you and is still in a daze now! To say that this second young master is just a bit too thin, if he were to grow taller and fatter, he would be almost identical to the eldest young master."

  "Really?" Qin Dai's heart at this moment didn't care about others' opinions of herself. "I didn't notice that."

  "The young lady didn't take a close look, but the second son's eyebrows and eyes are almost identical to those of the eldest son. It's just that he is younger and hasn't grown up yet, in a few more years, it will probably be obvious to anyone."

  Qin Dai Xin didn't think so, "Two brothers, after all, should resemble each other."

  Yu Yi thought she didn't want to discuss the topic, so she stopped talking. The two of them walked through the garden and pavilions in silence until they arrived at Fang Wanru's courtyard.

  Every day at this time, Fang Wanru would meet with people from various departments and houses in the study. Apart from a few brothers and sisters who came to ask after her well-being, as well as some aunties who came to establish rules, she would also see some officials handling various matters related to the estate and the mansion. If one were to follow the rules, starting from the day Qin Zichen got married, this household should have gradually been handed over to Lin Qingyue's hands. Others should have addressed her as "Big Madam", a title that signified she was the new mistress of the Qin family, capable of taking charge of all matters in the mansion. However, Lin Qingyue was a talented lady who preferred to stay indoors and play chess with herself rather than bother with account books. As for Fang Wanru, having held power for many years, it wasn't easy for her to hand over the keys to the household all at once; she couldn't bring herself to do so. In this way, although it didn't follow the rules, it suited the hearts of these two women and they lived in harmony. For now, Qin Zichen had no children, so being addressed as "Big Young Master" was still acceptable.

  Fang Wanru was leaning on the kang, listening to the housekeeper's report. Fang Wanru was an official's daughter who had read extensively and learned how to manage household affairs from a young age, including how to deal with deceitful servants and other women in her husband's household. For decades since marrying into the Qin family, she had been in charge of all major and minor matters, and the housekeepers' words could not deceive her.

  "Is it just a small matter that you're bothering me with?" Fang Wanru couldn't help but feel a headache, rubbing her temples with her hand. She said irritably: "Just follow the usual practice of previous years. The red and white affairs have all been settled at the back office, if you don't know, you can go ask the person in charge of external affairs." After saying this, she patiently added: "This year's second day of the second month is different from previous years. Naturally, Master will need to accompany Young Master to attend a business gathering, and our household expenses for receiving guests may need to be increased accordingly."

  The old woman did not dare to take liberties and asked with a straight face: "How much is suitable?"

  Fang Wanru thought to herself that 5,000 taels would probably not be enough, as the guests who came were all distinguished and couldn't be treated carelessly. Even if it was a huge sum of money spent on gifts, Fang Wanru had seen the world and knew that if managed well, the silver would likely return many times over. Calculating this way, the current expenses didn't seem like much after all.

  She then ordered Haitang to have someone bring over the IOU and instructed the woman to go to the account room to withdraw 5,000 taels in advance.

  The old woman secretly clicked her tongue, what a big handwriting. Although she was curious in her heart, she didn't dare to show it on her face, and respectfully took the token from Haitang's hand and retreated.

  Qin Dai Xin came in when Fang Wan Ru was looking at the account book. Seeing her, she closed the book and had someone move a red wooden varnished stool for her to sit on.

  "Mother has started doing household chores so early, it's really tiring." Still have to say some polite words.

  "A big or small family, eating and drinking every day, all need money, where more or less, must be counted in the heart." The firewood, rice, oil, and salt in a small household are still carefully calculated, let alone the Zhu family's large household. "Managing the household's major and minor matters is a great skill, not just women's red needlework, managing the kitchen, there are many twists and turns here! Our Qin family's daughters, no matter whether they marry into an official or merchant family in the future, must be with a family that matches our door. After marrying in, it's about managing the household." Fang Wanru's words were profound, and it was unknown whether she intentionally said them for Qin Dai to hear.

  "Mother's teachings are, the child remembered." Qin Dai Xin was surprised that Fang Wan Ru would say such things to her, but she didn't show it. In her heart, these things had nothing to do with her at all. On the other hand, Ruyi, who was listening on the side, secretly rejoiced and felt that Miss had entered Madam's eyes, and finally didn't have to be anxious every day.

  "Wait until you're a bit older, and then you'll have to learn these things too. At that time, we'll also need to invite an experienced mother to teach you well." Fang Wanru thought of her second daughter Qin Qianxin, who was simply clueless in this regard. When she tried to learn needlework, she would either complain of fatigue or prick her fingers, and even a simple embroidered purse wouldn't turn out right. As for cooking? Don't even mention it.

  "As for Mother's management, I have something to discuss with you, and I hope you won't blame me for taking the liberty of making decisions on my own."