MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 54

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

 ·Lu Mama (卢妈妈): The stewardess in charge of the needlework room.

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

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

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Chapter 54: I Beg to Differ

How to handle subordinates truly reflects a person's magnanimity and capability.

Gu Jinghui was somewhat curious about what choice his young wife would make.

Would she make a big show but let things slide lightly, or would she punish severely? Or would she prefer peace and pretend not to know, opting for rare hutu (a deliberate and strategic ignorance)?

Then he heard Qin Yuan say, "I made it clear from the start that if she has any entanglements with Sixth Madame Gu, it's none of my concern. Water that is too clean has no fish (being too strict leaves no followers). As long as she stays roughly on the right path, I had no intention of investigating closely."

"But since she challenged me directly today, we must take a proper inventory to ensure no one thinks I can't tell right from wrong."

Cuiming asked, "Does the Young Lady intend to strictly investigate Mama Lu's accounts, making an example of her to warn others (meaning: punish one as a warning to all)?"

Qin Yuan said, "Yes and no."

Hongye was somewhat confused: "What does that mean?"

Qin Yuan said, "My original intention was not just to manage these few Mamas."

Cuiming understood: "The Young Lady's aim is control of the household management."

"Correct. My aim is the household management. Naturally, I cannot be too soft-hearted, but I also cannot make too many enemies. Whether she stepped forward due to carelessness or was instigated by someone, if I let it pass lightly, wouldn't that let everyone know I'm easy to bully? Yet, I cannot be overly harsh to her."

"Instigated by someone?" Hongye asked, "Could it be Sixth Madame Gu?"

Qin Yuan said, "Whoever is full of cunning schemes and wants to stir up trouble, that's who it is."

Since she married into the Marquis household, Sixth Madame Gu had never stopped causing trouble.

If not for her calm nature and early precautions, she would probably have been made restless and developed a rift with Gu Jinghui.

Now, Sixth Madame Gu continuously showed weakness and friendliness, hinting that she should have children early to secure her position as the Marquise. It could be said she spared no effort.

Cuiming sighed, "The Marquis household is truly a dragon's pool and tiger's den (a dangerous place), much more complicated than the Qin family."

Hearing this, Gu Jinghui in the side room clenched his hand into a fist.

If they were comparing simplicity, the Lin family only had a widowed mother, wouldn't that be simpler?

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Then he heard Qin Yuan laugh and say, "The Qinghe Cui clan is an aristocratic family. My father is also the Chancellor, so naturally, they strictly upheld the distinction between Di and Shu (legitimate wife's children and concubine's children), not allowing the concubine's children to cause trouble, and not daring to show exclusive favor or bias towards concubines. My mother also spent considerable effort on this."

"All of my father's official dealings and visits from clan relatives were handled by my mother. The Qin family's foundation was thin, and my father's salary wasn't high either. If not for my mother's planning, it would have been very difficult."

Hongye said, "This servant thought the Young Lady would have complaints when mentioning your mother."

Qin Yuan said, "As a concubine's daughter, survival was difficult, so naturally, I resented the legal wife's deliberate suppression. But as a mistress of a household, I can appreciate the legal wife's difficulties. It's just a matter of different positions."

The more Gu Jinghui listened to Qin Yuan speak, the more he felt he had married a treasure.

Although the maid Hongye was sharp-tongued and often disrespectful and annoying, she wasn't wrong.

His young wife was a reasonable person, different from others.

Qin Yuan added, "Su Dongpo (the Song Dynasty poet Su Shi) once said: 'Human life is like an inn; I am but a passerby.' How can everything be perfect everywhere? The fact that Mother is good to me alone surpasses countless other things. Most women who marry into their husband's families spend the majority of their time serving their mothers-in-law. There are not a few women who are disliked by their mothers-in-law and are worn down to death. Mother never makes me follow formalities (meaning: perform ritual servitude) and, because of the Marquis, is everywhere afraid I might suffer injustice. What more could I be dissatisfied with?"

Gu Jinghui breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but laugh softly.

Cuiming giggled and said, "The Young Lady didn't marry the Marquis; she married Old Madame Gu."

Qin Yuan also laughed cheerfully.

Cuiming was only half right; she didn't marry the Marquis, she married the Marquis household.

Voices sounded outside the courtyard again, along with a few exclamations.

Hongye asked in surprise, "What's going on now?"

Qin Yuan said, "I'm afraid it's Sixth Madame Gu."

Gu Jinghui listened carefully and indeed heard Sixth Madame Gu's voice.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hongye said, "I'll go out and look. I wonder if the Young Lady has guessed correctly again this time."

As soon as the words fell, the curtain slapped loudly, and she had already run out of the room and reached the eaves.

Inside the room, Cuiming asked, "Young Lady, is Sixth Madame Gu here because of the people from Fengxuan Pavilion?"

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "I originally felt sorry for that maid standing under the sun and wanted to remind the Marquis to trouble him to say it himself, to cut off that maid's hopes and avoid other troubles. But I was afraid the Marquis would feel uncomfortable, so I didn't speak up. Who would have thought it would attract this great Buddha (an important but troublesome person)."

Gu Jinghui's gaze was deep and thoughtful.

After a short while, Hongye returned, followed by Sixth Madame Gu and several stewardesses. The area under the eaves immediately became much livelier.

Before Sixth Madame Gu even entered, she was already asking through the window with a laugh, "Third Sister-in-law, are you free?"

Qin Yuan went out to greet her and said, "So it's Sixth Sister-in-law. Even if I weren't free, I'd have to make time. You must have come with good news for me."

Sixth Madame Gu said, "Third Sister-in-law is truly prescient."

Cuiming and Hongye couldn't help but chuckle.

Qin Yuan also laughed.

Sixth Madame Gu didn't know what her host and maid were laughing about but joined in the laughter.

Hongye led the way in front, everyone entered the main hall, and Cuiming hurriedly arranged for someone to serve tea.

Several stewardesses piled smiles on their faces, standing to the side, much more respectful.

Without waiting to be seated according to rank, Sixth Madame Gu said, "I just received news and came straight away. The manager of my dowry shop found out someone wants to sell off a large batch of pepper. I wonder if Third Sister-in-law is interested?"

Qin Yuan invited Sixth Madame Gu to take a seat and then said, "Naturally, I'm interested. I've also ordered people to inquire everywhere. The Marquis has also sent Shiliu (Gu Shiliu) to check prices outside. We should have replies in a few days. Then we can compare the three and, if they're similar, proceed with the purchase."

Sixth Madame Gu said with a smile, "That's natural. I've also contributed a share in this, so of course we should compare the three. It's necessary."

Qin Yuan thanked her. After the two chatted for a few more sentences, Sixth Madame Gu added, "So Third Brother is also helping Third Sister-in-law make inquiries. Before, Third Brother never concerned himself with these matters. I thought he wasn't versed in practical affairs."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan smiled.

When Gu Jinghui spoke about the pepper matter in the main room, he didn't seem unfamiliar with practical affairs.

She carefully considered her words and said, "The Marquis probably saw that I collected a lot of silver and made account books. He's afraid I might fail and damage his prestige, so he's thinking of ways to help me."

She said everything, yet it was as if she said nothing.

Sixth Madame Gu sighed and said, "Third Brother dotes on you, Third Sister-in-law. My Sixth Master only cares about his own fun outside; how could he be willing to manage household affairs? Everything inside and outside piles up on me. I'm not afraid of you laughing, Third Sister-in-law, but since I had children, my energy is not what it used to be. I don't have three heads and six arms; how can I manage everything? For us women, the most important thing is our children. With children, even the husband takes a back seat."

In roundabout ways, she was bringing up the topic of having children again.

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "Sixth Sister-in-law, the capable ones have more to do."

Seeing she had nothing else to say, Sixth Madame Gu added, "I also brought a few stewardesses with me. They heard I'm doing a pepper business and all want to contribute shares to get rich together. I thought they usually work hard as stewardesses, leaving early and returning late. If we're making money, let's bring them along. They will remember your kindness in the future, Third Sister-in-law."

Qin Yuan said seriously, "Sixth Sister-in-law, I beg to differ."

(End of Chapter)

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Translator's Note: check out my other work— The Marquis’s Beloved is a Black-Hearted Lotus and Rebirth as the Matriarch of a Noble Family (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

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