MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 90

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

·Zhao Mama (赵嬷嬷): Sixth Madame Gu's personal maid.

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

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

·Rong Mama (容嬷嬷): Old Madame Gu's trusted attendant.

·Qiuju (秋菊): A maidservant of Old Madame Gu.

·Xiao Hong (小红): A young maid from the main house.

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

·Manager Leng (冷掌柜): Manager of the Gu family's spice shop, Ranxiang Ju.

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Chapter 90: Actually at a Loss for a Strategy

Seeing her mistress was distracted, Hongye didn't say much more. Finding a moment, she whispered to Cuiming, "Could it be that Miss is missing the Marquis?"

Cuiming had also been very busy today, annoyed by the needlework room's affairs. Hearing this, she said, "You think you know everything again. Hurry up and help Miss sort the accounts."

"That's true…" Hongye couldn't help but frown, her voice growing louder. "These managers are truly slippery. Last time they were caught red-handed by Miss, I thought they'd behave. I never expected they'd still try to cheat. It perfectly fits that old saying about not giving up until one is at one's wit's end. When they get replaced and regret it, it'll be too late."

Hearing her speak, Qin Yuan snapped back to attention. "I've looked. There are some honest ones too. A few are just clinging to wishful thinking."

"Exactly, just like that Lu Mama," Cuiming said disdainfully. "Yesterday, although she was scared, she still pulled me aside to talk about her family's special circumstances, hoping Miss was just scaring her and that there might be some reprieve considering her family's standing. Today, hearing Miss still wants to find someone to replace her, she showed that 'broken pot' mentality again (meaning: acting recklessly since the situation is already bad). Luckily, I mentioned the hints Miss gave. She temporarily settled down again and followed my lead, not trying any more tricks. It makes people feel she's both pitiful and hateful. 'If you knew today, why did you act that way then?'"

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "You did extremely well today. For the next while, have her and the newly promoted matron work together. It's beneficial if the two of them don't get along; it makes it easier for you to sort out the needlework room's accounts. Remember, if you master one thing, you master many. Once you have a foundation here, managing other matters will be easier."

Cuiming nodded, committing it to memory.

Watching enviously, Hongye asked, "When will we deal with the tea-water room?"

Qin Yuan smiled. "Let's wait a few more days. I'm busy right now. If pushed too hard, even a rabbit will bite."

The Marquis's household had carried on like this for so many years; could it not wait a few more days? Sorting out the dowry shops and stockpiling pepper came first. If Lu Mama hadn't jumped out on her own, she wouldn't have acted so soon either.

It was enough to intimidate these stewardesses.

---

When Sixth Madame Gu learned that Cuiming had already suppressed Lu Mama and selected a new matron as Lu Mama's deputy, with the two managing the needlework room together, her jaw nearly dropped in shock. She asked Zhao Mama, "How could she be so docile?"

By all reasoning, shouldn't Lu Mama have made a huge scene?

If Lu Mama weren't so fond of stirring trouble and pushing herself forward, she wouldn't have taken so many years just to manage the needlework room.

Zhao Mama wasn't clear either. "Given her temperament, she probably should have made a big fuss. Perhaps she still wants to wait and see?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Sixth Madame Gu's expression was odd. "When I followed the Old Madame in managing household affairs back then, I dared only after a full year to handle these stewardesses. Our new sister-in-law is something else—making such a big move right from the start."

Her methods showed no trace of being the daughter of a concubine from a minor official's family.

Could it be because the Old Madame was backing her from behind?

Sixth Madame Gu, prone to overthinking, couldn't help but speculate further.

Zhao Mama smiled, trying to reassure her. "Has Madam forgotten? She has the Marquis protecting her from behind. Naturally, she can't tolerate being slighted. That Lu Mama can't handle pressure but still cares about face. She probably won't be able to hold back for long before she erupts. If she's overly eager to please and ends up offending the other stewardesses, what would Madam have to worry about?"

Sixth Madame Gu nodded, then shook her head. "How can I not worry? She wants to buy pepper, and the market price for pepper has risen because of it. Those managers still haven't found a suitable source. I'm truly worried she won't buy, and also worried she will."

What if her auspicious dream was real?

Sixth Madame Gu was starting to feel uncertain.

As for this young sister-in-law with a tender face, no matter how she provoked her, it had no effect.

And so far, when had Qin Yuan ever suffered a loss?

She herself had been assigned tasks by the Marquis.

Gu Baozhu's temperament was spoiled and unreasonable. Just coaxing her to pick up a needle required a lot of effort.

After guarding her for half a day, what in the world was that thing she embroidered?!

It wasn't even as good as her own young daughter who had just started learning embroidery.

Sixth Madame Gu had to manage the household, deal with her children, cope with Sixth Master Gu, and coax Gu Baozhu. She was so tired she didn't even feel like talking.

Why were things so vexing day after day?

She didn't dare stir up more trouble. If the Marquis had just spoken in anger that day, it would be fine. But if he really took action against Sixth Master, who knew how Sixth Master would take it out on her, making her spend more money again.

---

Sixth Madame Gu never expected that while she wasn't going to provoke Qin Yuan anymore, Qin Yuan would come looking for her.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Early the next morning, Qin Yuan ran into her at the Upper House. Upon meeting, Qin Yuan asked her, "Sixth Sister-in-law, last time you said you'd help me inquire about pepper. Have you found out anything?"

Sixth Madame Gu gave a dry laugh. "I did inquire, it's just…"

"Just what?" Old Madame Gu, supported by Qiuju, walked out at that moment and immediately interjected.

"Mother, you're here."

Sixth Madame Gu hurriedly stood up to pay her respects.

Qin Yuan also paid her respects and stepped forward to support the Old Madame, saying cheerfully, "Mother, I was asking Sixth Sister-in-law about the pepper matter. She also invested a share and said she'd help me ask around. The managers from my dowry shops haven't done much big business. They found out that recently there have been many inquiries about pepper, driving the price up by five taels per catty. This item isn't used much to begin with. I don't know who's buying it, making the price rise like this. I thought I'd ask Sixth Sister-in-law if she could find out anything."

Old Madame Gu raised her eyebrows in surprise and asked Qin Yuan, "Could your dream really be that accurate?"

Rong Mama walked in with Xiao Hong and the two children and chimed in, "The Madam's dream is almost too accurate. It truly seems to be an auspicious dream. The Madam is blessed."

Sixth Madame Gu, standing to the side, paled. This was exactly what she feared.

If Qin Yuan's auspicious dream came true, wouldn't she become even more beloved by Old Madame Gu and the Marquis? Managing the Marquis's household would probably slip from her grasp.

What should she do?

Despite Sixth Madame Gu's usual shrewdness and quick-wittedness, she found herself actually at a loss for a strategy.

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "Whether the dream is accurate or not is still unknown. But now the pepper price has been driven up. If I buy more, won't it go even higher? What if those rich merchants really do, as Manager Leng said, find pepper overseas and ship it back? The losses would be huge."

Hearing this, Old Madame Gu immediately nodded. "You are quite right. This is the proper way to do things. One cannot only see the good and not the bad. Thinking things through carefully helps one avoid stumbling."

To be so steady at such a young age.

Old Madame Gu liked this daughter-in-law more and more the longer she looked at her.

Only then did Sixth Madame Gu say, "Just as Third Sister-in-law said, the price my managers inquired about is also this high. I don't know why the inquiries for pepper have recently driven up the price. I wanted to find good quality pepper at a lower price for Third Sister-in-law, but…"

Qin Yuan sighed. "Should we put it on hold for now? If the price goes any higher, whether those stewardesses are still willing to buy becomes questionable. I can't decide on my own. When collecting the money initially, I mentioned an approximate figure, saying it would be around fifty taels per catty."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Sixth Madame Gu's heart stirred.

She didn't know what she was thinking, but she said, "If putting it on hold is best, then let's put it on hold. I'll send people to inquire everywhere again. If I get any news, I'll tell Third Sister-in-law immediately. I wonder how Gu Shiliu's inquiries are going."

(End of Chapter)

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