Chapter 421: The Mandarin Duck Girl Takes Residence in Sun Mansion
Two days later, June 15th.
Because it was an official day for burning incense and eating vegetarian food, Jia's mother's courtyard was crowded with people. Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan and others were of course present, and even Jia Baoyu, Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu and others were present.
The elder ones told Buddhist stories in the main hall, while the younger ones went into the green gauze cabinet and chattered about poetry and songs.
But everyone was chatting happily when the head maid Amber came in from outside and reported: "Grandpa, Sister Ping'er is in the courtyard. She said she wanted to report something to the first wife and the second wife."
If Ping Erh only went to Wang Xifeng to report, it wouldn't be a strange thing, but the fact that the eldest wife Xing was also included made Jia Mu a little puzzled, so she asked casually, "What is so serious that you have to report to the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law together?"
Amber said hurriedly, "I heard that it was the aunt who sent a message, wanting to exchange a few capable maids and servants with our mansion."
This sounded new again. Since Rongguo Mansion was Jia Yingchun's parents' home, it was reasonable for her to ask for one or two maids and servants.
But what does this "change" mean?
Grandmother Jia was even more curious. Since it was her granddaughter's business and no one else was present, she ordered again, "Go and call Ping'er in. I want to hear how the second girl wants to 'change'."
Amber took the order and went out, and soon brought Ping'er in.
After Ping Er greeted everyone, Grandmother Jia curiously asked, "What did the second girl send back? Why did she say she wanted to 'exchange' people with her family?"
"Reply to the old ancestor's words."
Ping'er said respectfully, "From what my aunt said, since the Sun family originally had no proper mistress, there were not many maids and old women who could be used. But when the flood hit last year , they bought a group of twelve or thirteen-year-old maids back."
"Recently, my son-in-law found a lucrative business and sent more than a dozen family members to the south to keep an eye on it. As a result, even the servants and able-bodied men in the mansion are a little stretched to the limit."
"If we catch up with Shuntian Prefecture, they are checking the origins of the servants, and the second master of the Sun family is working in the government office, it will be even more difficult to hire people to fill the positions."
"So my aunt discussed with my uncle and wanted to use the newly bought maids to exchange for a few useful family members from our house."
After hearing these words, everyone suddenly realized.
"This is a really good deal!"
Wang Xifeng immediately clapped her hands and laughed, "Last year, my second brother-in-law was ordered to guard the refugee camp outside the city. His maids were carefully selected, and each one is as fresh and innocent as a green onion. Although they are not very useful now, as long as they are properly trained for two years, they will definitely be the top girls in our mansion!"
Madam Wang also nodded and said, "There are quite a few maids in our house right now, and they are almost old enough to be sent out to get married. And now that the inspections are strict, it is not easy to buy new ones from the public. If we can find a few good ones from the son-in-law's house, it will save a lot of trouble."
Seeing that two generations of housekeepers in this mansion have already agreed to this matter, other people will naturally not have any objections.
Jia's mother sat on the kang and pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's fine in our house, but the second girl is pregnant, and there's no proper mother-in-law to take care of her at home. We should find some right-hand men to help her share the housework, so that she won't overwork and hurt her body."
After a pause, he instructed Wang Xifeng, "Since it is a good thing for both parties to get along, you, as her sister-in-law, should worry more and find some steady and reliable men who are willing to work in the mansion."
Just as Wang Xifeng was about to nod in agreement, someone suddenly appeared from Jia Mu's side, knelt on the ground with a thud, and said in a crisp voice, "Grandma, I am willing to serve you!"
When everyone saw clearly that this person was Yuanyang, there was an uproar in the hall.
This is because when others go to the Sun Mansion, they will inevitably be promoted, but Yuanyang is now the best among the servants in the Rongguo Mansion. Even in front of the ladies and grandmothers, she is a respected figure.
And if she were to be with Jia Yingchun, even if she was trusted and respected, how could she compare to the position of the chief maid in Rongguo Mansion?
Jia's mother's face changed color. She took off her tortoise-shell glasses in disbelief and stared at Yuanyang for a long while. Suddenly, she raised her voice and ordered, "I'm a little tired. You all should leave first."
Everyone knew that she had something private to discuss with Yuanyang, so they all bowed and left. Even Jia Baoyu and others, after being notified, hurriedly left Grandmother Jia's courtyard.
When only Jia's mother and Yuanyang were left in the room, the old lady got down from the kang, gave Yuanyang a helping hand, and said warmly, "Get up first. If there is any injustice or grievance, just tell me it in a proper way. Why are you making such a fuss?"
Hearing her words, it was like an old grandmother coaxing her disobedient grandchildren. Yuanyang's eyes suddenly turned red. He looked up at the old lady reluctantly and almost changed his mind.
However, thinking that if she continued to stay in Rongguo Mansion, she would most likely fall into Jia She's hands, and Sun Shaozong promised to allow her to slowly find her ideal husband, Yuanyang made up her mind and choked up, "I dare not lie to the old lady. The eldest master has intercepted me and teased me several times. Two days ago, he even said that he wanted to take me as his seventh concubine."
"He also said that if I was not happy, he would call my father from Jinling and force me to marry him!"
As she spoke, she knocked her head to the ground and said resolutely: "I will never comply with this matter, but I don't want you and the master to have a quarrel because of this matter. Just when I was in a dilemma, this excuse happened to come up."
"Please be merciful, old lady, and allow me to serve you at your aunt's house!"
After hearing this, Jia's mother was so angry that she trembled all over, muttering: "I only have such a reliable person left, and that unfilial son still wants to plot against me!"
Then he pulled Yuanyang and said, "Get up now. I'll take care of this matter for you. Why do you have hide in the second girl's house?"
Yuanyang refused to get up and just kept kowtowing, saying that she did not dare to ruin the mother-son relationship between Tiantai and the master.
Seeing that she was determined, Jia's grandmother thought that since she was going to Jia Yingchun anyway, she might be able to get her back when Jia She got rid of his dirty thoughts.
So he sighed and shook his head, saying, "Forget it. Since you are determined to serve the second girl, then help her manage the household well and don't lose face for our Rongguo Mansion."
Hearing that Grandmother Jia agreed, Yuanyang was both surprised and reluctant to leave. She kowtowed several times and cried, "Thank you for your kindness, old lady. If there is really an afterlife, I will serve you even if I have to work like a cow or a horse!"
