Bab 56: Chapter 24: Nanny Gu Leaves (Part 2)_3
Yueyao had no immediate plans to hire a maid; she intended to wait for Nanny Deng's return to discuss the matter. By then, whether to choose a maid from within the Lian Mansion or to buy one, she would let Nanny Deng make the choice. After all, Nanny Deng had followed her mother for many years and helped manage the household affairs. Her experience was seasoned, and she had an accurate eye for judging people.
Lady Mo and the Old Madam certainly noticed Yueyao's behavior. The Old Madam nodded, "Third Girl has truly become sensible." With such a grand send-off, no one could accuse the Third Young Lady of being ungrateful now. With that amount of money, if spent wisely, it would be enough for Old Woman Guh to live out her days in comfort.
However, Lady Mo felt stifled by Yueyao's generous spending. Merely for a wet nurse leaving, nearly a thousand Silver Coins had been given away. Truly, one doesn't know the cost of necessities until they run a household.
The Lian family had been a scholarly family for generations, with special attention paid to every aspect. The more attention to detail, the more money was actually burned. Income was limited, but expenses grew larger and larger, and these past years she had come up with every method possible to balance the mansion's expenditures. She had thought that, with the Second Old Master gone and the Old Master having visited Jiangnan, he would bring back a sum of Silver Coin to replenish the household. But all that Silver Coin went straight into the Old Madam's hands. She hadn't touched any of it. Now, with Yueyao spending so freely, even if she had a mountain of gold and Silver Coins, they would eventually be squandered by her. A real profligate daughter.
Once Old Woman Guh had left, Yueyao went to see the Old Madam. She did not speak of Old Woman Guh's matter, just kept the Old Madam company and chatted.
The Old Madam felt very comforted by Yueyao's now sensible and attentive behavior. As the grandmother and granddaughter were talking, someone came in to report that Nanny Hao had returned.
Upon hearing about Nanny Hao, Yueyao suddenly remembered that Nanny Hao had been the steward mother sent to her courtyard in her past life. It had been so long that she had forgotten.
The Old Madam, patting Yueyao's back, laughed, "Nanny Hao is a steward mother I've chosen for you. She was away handling some affairs recently and wasn't in the Capital City. Third Girl, Nanny Hao has served diligently by my side for the past few years, is steady and utterly loyal, and is utterly blameless in her duties. I'm giving her to you, and with her by your side, I can rest at ease."
Upon hearing the Old Madam's words, Yueyao, without thinking, knelt on the ground and prostrated herself, saying, "Grandmother, your granddaughter has been unfilial, and even now, you have to worry about your granddaughter's affairs. Grandmother, Yueyao truly is unfilial." As she spoke, tears fell down her face. She was not crying for show, but truly felt regret.
The Old Madam was both amused and touched and quickly pulled her up, "Silly child, if I don't look out for you, who else will? Now that you know about the affairs, I feel very comforted."
Yueyao earnestly said, "Grandmother, rest assured, I definitely will not let you down." She would no longer be like she was in her previous life, treated like fish on the chopping board.
As they were speaking, Nanny Hao came in.
Yueyao knew that Nanny Hao was somewhat old-fashioned and that her manners were quite strict; she had little other impression of her. In those days, she had been absorbed in copying scriptures and was unaware of matters outside. She didn't have much recollection of Nanny Hao's affairs. Yueyao looked at Nanny Hao intently, seeing a woman in her early thirties with a long face and brows a bit thicker than most.
Nanny Hao bowed respectfully to Yueyao, "This old servant greets the Third Young Lady."
Yueyao hurried over to help her up, speaking modestly, "Nanny, there is no need for such formalities. In the future, I'll be relying a great deal on you."
Nanny Hao was somewhat surprised. From what she had heard, everyone said that the Third Young Lady was arrogant and haughty. To see her personally help her up and to hear her speak with such humility was unexpected.
Seeing Yueyao's demeanor, the Old Madam couldn't help but nod internally.
After Yueyao finished reading a section of scriptural texts to the Old Madam, she originally wanted to keep her company for a little longer. However, the Old Madam told Yueyao to go back, "You go back and keep Brother Zheng company! Grandmother is very well here." Instructing Brother Zheng was a proper matter.
After Yueyao left, the Old Madam said to Nanny Zheng, "Third Girl has indeed improved. It's good that she knows her duties; it spares me some worry."
Nanny Zheng naturally agreed with the Old Madam's sentiments and praised the Third Young Lady. However, she then said, "Old Madam, why didn't you let Third Young Lady stay a bit longer? With the Third Young Lady here, I feel even the Yisong Courtyard has become livelier."
The Old Madam shook her head, "There's no need for her to stay longer. Yet it's true, Yisong Courtyard has been too quiet. Before, I thought the quiet was pleasant, but now as an old woman living here, I find it stuffy." Hearing Yueyao's crisp voice had lifted her spirits considerably. But she did not want to keep Yueyao by her side. After all, the child was only eight and had a simple mind. Now she understood some matters, but in the future, she would still have to rely on the Eldest Son and the Mo family.
As the Old Madam's confidante, Nanny Zheng knew that the Old Madam was considering the future of the Third Young Lady, "Old Madam, if you think the Third Young Lady is unfit, there's still the Eldest Miss and the Second Young Lady." She was aware of all the Old Madam's taboos. If the Third Young Lady wasn't suitable, they could choose the Eldest Miss or the Second Young Lady. As for the Fourth Miss, she had forgotten everything and couldn't be put by the Old Madam's side.
The Old Madam did not respond to Nanny Zheng's suggestion. However, she considered that perhaps it was a good idea. If Yisong Courtyard became lively and less desolate, it would be more pleasing for her to watch.
Yueyao took Nanny Hao back to Lanxi Courtyard. Everyone had a hunch by now. She was likely the new Steward Mother.
Yueyao changed her clothes. When she went out again, she gathered everyone together, "This is Nanny Hao, who will be in charge of the affairs big and small in the courtyard from now on. You all should follow Nanny Hao's instructions." After meeting everyone, Yueyao let Nanny Hao go about her duties.
She had barely settled back in her inner room when a maid brought in a small red box. Upon opening it, Yueyao saw that it contained the indentures of Qiao Lan and Nanny Hao.
Only after a lifetime did she understand how important these things were. Holding them meant holding these people's lives. The people Lady Mo had given her, she did not have their indentures. Those people truly served the Lady Mo who held their indentures, not her. Precisely because of this, she had suffered such a great loss.
Yueyao carefully locked the indentures in her black lacquered small box with cinnabar ground and embossed design. The things in that box were her lifeline, as well as the means for her and Brother Zheng's survival. After locking it, she put it into her mahogany chest. The key, she kept on her at all times.
Yueyao didn't know much about Nanny Hao, so she specially called Qiao Lan to inquire about Nanny Hao's background in detail.
From Qiao Lan's narration, she learned that Nanny Hao had been married with one son and one daughter previously, but they had been killed by her husband's concubine. Nanny Hao hadn't asked for anything, only requested a divorce from her husband. After the divorce and for reasons unknown, she entered the Lian Mansion to work. However, Yueyao did not know how Nanny Hao's former husband and the concubine died.
Yueyao's attitude towards Nanny Hao was the same as towards Qiao Lan, observing and weighing. Although it was said that people granted by the grandmother would not be inappropriate, she still had to observe them before she could be at ease.
It didn't take long for the Lady Mo to find out that the Old Madam had given Nanny Hao to Yueyao. Previously, she couldn't quite grasp the Old Madam's intentions. Now that she knew, it turned out the Old Madam had been waiting for this person.
Yueyao didn't know the full story of Nanny Hao, but Lady Mo did. Nanny Hao, having received great favor from the Old Madam, was loyal to her and heeded only the Old Madam's words. Recently, Nanny Hao had gone outside for some reason, but what for, she did not know. Now placing such a person by the Third Girl's side, Lady Mo had guessed what the Old Madam was planning.
Lady Mo felt a knot of anger in her chest. First, it was Qiao Lan, and now Nanny Hao. Later there would be Nanny Deng; the Old Madam was guarding against her. Guarding against her causing harm to the Third Girl. Lady Mo gritted her teeth; the Old Madam was exceedingly cautious of her, but her actions were for the Lian family. Yet she was still wary of her.
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone