RATMOFANF: Chapter 34

 Character Glossary

· Shen Jingxiu (沈静姝): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife. The new matriarch of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

· Ziyun (紫云): Shen Jingxiu's chief personal maid, loyal and observant.

· Danzhu (丹朱): Another of Jingxiu's maids.

· Bilü (碧缕): Another of Jingxiu's maids. Young and somewhat naive.

· Zhou Momo (周嬷嬷): A stewardess from the manor's accounts office.

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Chapter 34: Must Be Even More Discreet in Speech and Action

The news reached Qingfeng Yuan, and everyone was delighted.

As soon as Jingxiu entered the gate, Ziyun, Danzhu, Bilü, and a group of servant women and maids were already waiting in a line at the entrance. Beaming with joy, they surrounded Jingxiu to offer their congratulations.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Since their mistress had become the manager of the household, they would naturally benefit as well. From now on, among the servants of this manor, they would be considered top tier.

Back inside the room, Ziyun happily helped Jingxiu change her clothes. Standing before the large pearwood wardrobe, she rummaged through left and right, muttering incessantly, "Which one to wear? Your status is different now. Somehow, all these clothes seem unworthy of you."

Danzhu, standing nearby, chimed in, "Yes, our young lady is now the proper matriarch of this household. Her attire should naturally be more dignified. We should have a few new sets made."

"Then, shouldn't the carriage for our young lady's outings be changed too? I've seen matriarchs from other households sometimes ride in carriages drawn by four horses," Bilü suggested, her dark eyes wide.

Danzhu agreed, "Right, right, the travel carriage must also be changed. Now, our young lady naturally needs to pay attention to appearances. I once saw the main wife of the Loyal Shun Marquis going out in a carriage adorned with gemstones and pearls. Our family holds a higher noble rank than theirs, so naturally, we should be more impressive than them."

In the eyes of these young maids, now that she had become the matriarch, she could practically swagger through the capital city from now on.

Jingxiu addressed Ziyun, who was still buried in the wardrobe searching for clothes, "Stop looking. Find an ordinary everyday outfit."

Hearing the tone in her young lady's voice, Ziyun realized their mistake. She quickly pulled out a simple moon-white gown. As she helped Jingxiu dress, she said to the two younger maids, "You two, stop talking nonsense."

Danzhu, glancing at the expressions of her young lady and Ziyun, reluctantly closed her mouth. Bilü, however, looked at Ziyun with a confused expression and asked, "Young Lady, did I... did I say something wrong?"

Jingxiu said calmly, "You three, come here for a moment."

The three obediently stood before Jingxiu. She looked at them and said, "Although I have now gained the Old Madam's trust and become the managing matriarch, I have no powerful maternal family backing me. My time in the household is short, and I have little established foundation here. Therefore, we must be even more discreet in our speech and action."

Her gaze swept over each of their faces before she continued, "You came with me from my maiden home; you are the people I trust most. In the future, household affairs will be numerous and complex. There will be increasingly more occasions where I will send you to interact with various parts of the household. You are my close attendants. You must not presume upon your status and become arrogant. If I find out any of you dares to bully others based on my influence, I will not be lenient. Do you all understand?"

The three replied in unison, "We understand."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Only then did Jingxiu feel somewhat relieved. She instructed Ziyun, "Go down later and inform everyone in our courtyard that from now on, they must also stick to their proper roles."

Ziyu assented and went out. Just as she opened the door, she saw Stewardess Zhou from the manor's accounts office entering the courtyard with several young maids.

Zhou Momo walked at the front, followed by three young maids, each holding a tall, thick stack of account books in their arms.

Seeing Ziyun, Zhou Momo stepped forward with a smile and reported, "Miss Ziyun, this old servant has been sent by Chief Steward Fu to deliver the manor's account books for the Madam's review."

Ziyun instantly drew a sharp, surprised breath.

So many account books! How long would it take to read them all?

Hearing Zhou Momo's voice from the inner room, Jingxiu stood up and came out to greet her. She said with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Momo."

Ziyun finally snapped out of it and quickly beckoned to the young maids. "Come in, please." She pointed to the desk in the outer room. "Put them here for now."

The young maids entered and laboriously placed the stacks of account books on the desk. In moments, the desk was piled high like a small mountain.

Even after Zhou Momo had left Qingfeng Yuan with the young maids, Ziyun's chilled heart hadn't warmed up.

Danzhu couldn't help but mutter, "So many! How can anyone read all this? Won't it exhaust our young lady?"

Bilü's round little face was even more scrunched up with worry. Having misspoken earlier and upset her mistress, she now forcibly held back, not daring to make another sound.

As the saying goes, it's lonely at the top.

If one wants the glory of being the matriarch of a powerful family, one must be able to endure the hardships that come with it.

And this was only the beginning?

Reviewing the account books was merely the first step on a long journey.

Jingxiu's expression remained unchanged. She instructed the three, "Ziyun, first go and assemble the people in the courtyard and inform them of what I just said."

Ziyun nodded in agreement and was about to leave when Jingxiu stopped her. "Keep a close watch these next few days. If anyone dares to cause trouble outside, report it to me immediately."

After Ziyun left, Jingxiu instructed Danzhu and Bilü, "Later, go to the kitchen and have them prepare some high-quality glutinous rice, multi-colored flour, honey, soybeans, red beans, and the like."

Bilü, her round eyes wide, held back her drool and asked, "Is Young Lady going to make pastries?"

These were all ingredients for making pastries. Before marrying, Jingxiu often made them with her maids, so upon hearing the request for these items, Bilü guessed correctly.

The corners of Jingxiu's eyes curved slightly as she smiled at Bilü, with a hint of doting affection. "Such a big girl now, and still such a glutton."

Bilü stuck out her tongue in embarrassment.

Jingxiu continued, "I'll make a few varieties of pastries this afternoon to take when I visit the Princess's residence tomorrow to see Mother-in-law."

The Grand Princess had given her such a grand gift; it was only proper to express her thanks in person.

Danzhu and Bilü assented and went to carry out their tasks.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Once all three had gone about their respective duties, only Jingxiu remained in the room. She walked over to the desk and sat down, opening the mountain-like pile of account books.

She first sorted the account books into categories.

Those from the estates were separated into paddy fields, dry fields, and orchards. Those from the shops were also listed according to their respective business types. Those from the manor itself were organized into fixed annual and monthly expenditures and non-recurring expenses. Only after categorizing them did she begin examining them in detail.

After Danzhu and Bilü prepared the ingredients for making the pastries, they came to report to Jingxiu. Ziyun, seeing Jingxiu intently studying the accounts, said with heartfelt distress, "Young Lady, perhaps let this servant handle the pastry making instead? Every time you make pastries, I assist you and have learned about seventy or eighty percent of the skill."

She truly felt for her young lady. Those account books would keep her busy for a while. Given her young lady's determined nature, if she couldn't finish during the day, she would certainly work late into the night.

She couldn't help with reviewing the accounts, but she could at least share the burden of making the pastries.

Jingxiu put down the account book. "This won't take much time. Last time at the garden, I made pastries for Mother-in-law, and she liked them very much. This time, I should still make them myself."

Her young lady was clever and skillful; there wasn't anyone who had tasted the pastries she made and didn't crave them again.

Hearing this, Ziyun didn't try to persuade her further. The mistress and her three servants headed towards the small kitchen together.

(End of Chapter)

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