MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 47

 Glossary

 ·Qin Yuan (秦鸢): The female protagonist, Marquise of the household.

 ·Gu Jinghui (顾靖晖): The male protagonist, Marquis Gu.

 ·Old Madame Gu (顾老夫人): Gu Jinghui's mother.

 ·Sixth Madame Gu (六夫人): Wife of the sixth son, Gu Jingjun.

 ·Gu Shiliu (顾十六): Gu Jinghui's personal attendant.

 ·Hongye (红叶): Qin Yuan's loyal maidservant.

 ·Cuiming (翠茗): Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

 ·Cai Mama (蔡妈妈): A stewardess in charge of repairs.

 ·Zhao Niangzi (赵娘子): The widow the Marquis brought back.

 ·Cheng Ge'er (程哥儿): The twin boy.

 ·Yu Jie'er (玉姐儿): The twin girl.

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Chapter 47: Why So Obsessed?

The personal maid exclaimed in admiration, "Madame, your plan is truly unparalleled. This old servant knows what to do now."

Sixth Madame Gu smiled without saying a word.

Over there, as soon as Qin Yuan entered the gate of Wutong Yuan, she saw that the stewardesses were indeed already waiting in the courtyard.

Because she wasn't there, these people had gathered together, chatting about something noisily.

Qin Yuan lightly coughed.

Hongye immediately called out loudly, "The Madame has returned!"

The stewardesses slowly dispersed, their movements lazy and sluggish, causing Hongye to frown involuntarily.

The young maids responsible for sweeping the courtyard quickly moved tables and chairs to the shade under the trees. Qin Yuan sat down and asked, "Is everyone here?"

"They're all here," came the lazy, uneven replies.

Qin Yuan didn't mind and sat leisurely in the armchair, her jade-like hand lightly propping her chin, saying, "Tell me one by one what you are supposed to do routinely this ten-day period and what you plan to do today."

Hongye and Cuiming, standing nearby, took up brushes and ink and began to record.

The several stewardesses then gave a general account.

If there were unclear points, Hongye or Cuiming would ask questions.

In Qin Yuan's presence, these stewardesses were inwardly unconvinced but still answered, though often with evasions.

After they finished, Qin Yuan asked, "Is there anything that needs instruction? If you have matters at home, you must also request leave in advance from Hongye."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The Mama in charge of the needlework room, Mama Lu, stepped forward and said, "The embroidery thread in the needlework room is almost used up and needs to be purchased."

Qin Yuan glanced at her and asked, "Approximately how much embroidery thread is used each year?"

Mama Lu couldn't answer.

Hongye looked at Cuiming, who nodded, indicating she had taken note.

She was responsible for assisting the Young Lady in supervising the needlework room; naturally, she had to investigate matters the Young Lady cared about thoroughly.

Qin Yuan said, "Let's not talk about previous years for now. How many colored embroidery threads have you procured this year, and how much is left? Later, check the numbers with Cuiming, estimate how much embroidery thread is needed this year, and then apply for approval to purchase."

Mama Lu secretly wiped away sweat.

Qin Yuan asked again, "Is there anything else?"

A few other matrons, seeing Mama Lu had met with a soft rebuff, didn't dare to act presumptuously and all shook their heads, saying there was nothing, planning to wait and see.

Qin Yuan said, "If there's nothing, you may go about your duties. Be sure to manage your subordinates well, and don't let them gather idly to play cards, gamble, or drink."

Just as they were about to disperse, the personal maid from Sixth Madame Gu's side hurried in, bowed, and said, "Madame, this old servant has come on Sixth Madame's orders with a silver note. Please record it in the accounts."

As she spoke, she took out a silver note and handed it to Cuiming.

The stewardesses who had been about to leave stopped to watch.

The personal maid then pulled out several ingots of silver and said, "This is this old servant's share. I'm old and prefer to keep silver on hand; I haven't had time to exchange it for a silver note yet. I beg your pardon, Madame."

Her manner of pulling out her entire life's savings caused Qin Yuan's lips to curl slightly.

Cuiming took it with a smile and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

The personal maid immediately said loudly, "Hurry? Of course, I'm in a hurry! Sixth Madame has already sent people to inquire about pepper; news will come sooner or later. Since you, Madame, are buying in large quantities, naturally, you'll get it cheaper. This old servant is just afraid of missing out."

The stewardesses pricked up their ears.

When it came to making money, no one was indifferent.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan said, "Cuiming must draw up a receipt for you, stating that the silver will be divided upon maturity. If you withdraw early, it will only be calculated at the market price with deductions for handling losses. After all, business can bring profit or loss. Since you want to contribute, this must be stated clearly."

The personal maid flatteringly smiled and said, "This old servant understands. How can business only bring profit without loss? But I believe you, Madame, will surely make a great profit. Otherwise, why would the always cautious Cai Mama also contribute? As for Old Madame Gu and Rong Mama, that goes without saying."

Cuiming wrote out the receipt and had her sign and stamp it.

The personal maid said, "Let this old servant sign for Sixth Madame's share as well."

With that done, the personal maid carefully put the receipt into her purse, pressed it down, then bowed and left. The stewardesses also quickly left Wutong Yuan.

Hongye said, "For Sixth Madame to suddenly act like this is really strange."

The silver Sixth Madame contributed wasn't much, and the Young Lady hadn't even found a merchant yet. Why was she in such a rush?

Given all that had happened before, Hongye didn't have a good impression of Sixth Madame and couldn't help but feel wary.

Cuiming didn't speak, just looked at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Why bother with them? We have plenty to keep us busy. I expect that soon all the stewardesses in the mansion will come begging to contribute."

Cuiming frowned and asked, "Should we agree to all of them?"

Qin Yuan said indifferently, "If we don't let them contribute, wouldn't that offend them and make things difficult for Cai Mama?"

Cuiming said, "If I had known, I shouldn't have agreed to Cai Mama yesterday."

Hongye had signaled her with her eyes yesterday, so she had agreed.

Hongye said, "Yesterday, I was thinking of building good relations with Cai Mama."

The Young Lady had just arrived; having more people in the mansion on her side was always good.

Qin Yuan said, "It was inevitable that the stewardesses would all want to contribute eventually."

She had thought of it when she showed the ledger to Old Madame Gu this morning.

Sixth Madame Gu truly didn't disappoint.

Hongye asked in surprise, "Did you already foresee this, Young Lady?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan said lazily, "I just thought about it casually, that's all. I didn't expect to be right again."

Hongye said, "Then…"

Qin Yuan interrupted her, "You and Cuiming go and busy yourselves. You're responsible for supervising the tea room, and Cuiming will go ask Mama Lu about the needlework room accounts."

"But Young Lady…"

"I'll rest in the room. I can manage with those few young maids. Without you two, I won't starve or thirst, will I?" Qin Yuan planned to practice some calligraphy for a while and wait to see if Manager Lin had any news delivered.

Cuiming and Hongye went off eagerly to their tasks. Qin Yuan returned inside, practiced some large characters for a while, took out the half-written poem from yesterday to play with, but still couldn't think of the second half.

Writing poetry required the right mood; only when the mood arrived could it be written.

Qin Yuan didn't force it and turned to go to the inner room to rest.

Gu Jinghui, in the main room, told Old Madame Gu about the matters he had discussed with Gu Shiliu yesterday.

After all, Old Madame Gu knew most about his entanglements with Zhao Niangzi, and now only his mother could help him.

"Regarding Fengxuan Pavilion…" Gu Jinghui, his handsome brows knitted, said worriedly, "Zhao Niangzi still has half a year left before she finishes mourning. If we have her move out to live separately now, I'm afraid it will attract gossip, and Cheng Ge'er and Yu Jie'er will be heartbroken. But if she stays in the mansion, it's also troublesome."

The thought that Zhao Niangzi intentionally fell ill without treatment to garner his pity made him so frustrated he didn't know what to do.

"You fool, only now are you thinking of this?" Old Madame Gu said angrily. "If I hadn't beaten you, you'd probably still be confused."

Gu Jinghui: "…Mother…"

Why was his mother so obsessed? Others believed that filial sons are raised under the rod, but his mother always believed that if you couldn't think clearly, a good beating would fix it.

Was he really that kind of person?

Thinking that he still needed his mother's help, Gu Jinghui sullenly endured it.

Old Madame Gu asked, "Aren't you planning to explain this properly to Yuan'er?"

(End of Chapter)

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