Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 82 Handling and Recruiting

At Yun Gui Courtyard, Madam Yun met Meng Shu in the main hall.

He took the list from Madam Wei, glanced at it, and tossed it aside, saying, "Go back and tell your second young lady to draft a new list and send it over no later than 1 PM."

Madam Yun turned to look at Meng Shu, who was standing at the lower end of the table, and said in a low voice, "Do you know your mistake?"

A cold sweat soaked her back. Meng Shu knelt down to admit her mistake, feeling quite regretful for not reminding the second young lady earlier. She reflected on herself, realizing that she had gradually lost her usual caution after staying in such a comfortable environment for so long.

"Tell me what mistake you made."

Madam Yun casually picked up an account book from the table, flipping through it while casually tossing out a question.

Meng Shu quickly prepared her reply before kneeling on the ground and carefully considering her words: "To answer Madam's question, this servant is at fault. As a personal maid, I have failed in my duty to observe and advise."

"So, you knew beforehand that this list was problematic?"

Every word is a trap, and every visit to Yun Gui Courtyard is a learning experience! Meng Shu had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "This servant is foolish. On the way here, I saw Langya Courtyard from afar and realized that for the Second Miss's birthday banquet, in addition to the young ladies who are on good terms with the Second Miss, her in-laws, the families who do business with our Tang family, and even the retainers who depend on our Tang family, we should also take care of them all."

Madam Yun's expression was always gentle. She simply nodded slightly, and Wei Mama, who was beside her, stepped forward to help Meng Shu up, comforting her, "It's kind of you, a little girl, to think so much. Just be more careful when you're on duty in the future. Our Madam is always fair in her rewards and punishments, so don't worry."

This meant that she was not blamed, so Meng Shu quickly bowed to Madam Yun again.

Just as she straightened up, Madam Yun suddenly asked, "Who was serving your second young lady when she was drafting the list?"

Meng Shu felt a chill run down her spine, her heart churning with turmoil. Before she could even speak, she heard Madam Yun's voice again.

"But is it Qin's mother?"

The questioning tone revealed a firm conviction. Madam Yun's tone carried a hint of disappointment, "Pass on my message: Qin Mama has done a great service in raising the Second Miss. Now that she is old and frail, she is granted the privilege of leaving the manor to retire to the estate and enjoy a few years with her family."

The Qin family's indentures were all in the Tang household. Those chosen to be wet nurses were usually like Wei Mama, who would become maids when their young mistresses got married. If they were not competent, for various reasons, the master would not easily release them from their indentures. They would retire to the estate and that would be the end of their lives. It would even implicate the younger generation in the family, preventing them from standing up for their masters. The punishment was severe.

The fact that Qin Mama was dealt with in front of Meng Shu might have been meant as a warning, but Meng Shu didn't feel anything special about it. In the past few months, judging from Qin Mama's actions, she was mostly just a figurehead in Yunyi Courtyard. She didn't fulfill her duty of maintaining social connections for the Second Miss, and she was too lenient with the maids under her, which indirectly contributed to the previous laxity in the courtyard.

Meng Shu was naturally not foolish enough to plead for her, so she stood obediently next to Wei Mama, making sure she followed the rules correctly.

Meng Shu then followed Wei Mama out of the main room and walked to the hanging flower gate of the second courtyard. There she saw an unfamiliar old woman leading five or six maids who were slightly older than her into the main courtyard.

As they passed each other, Meng Shu noticed that these people not only had large frames, but also walked with upright posture, looking very dashing. She couldn't help but think more about how a series of subtle changes had occurred in the mansion since the eldest master took Fu Guangjin to the capital.

Wei Mama told Meng Shu to wait at the hanging flower gate. After a while, she came over with two second-class maids, who were carrying two bolts of brocade and a red lacquered brocade box inlaid with mica.

Upon returning to Yunyi Courtyard, Wei Mama paid her respects to the Second Miss. Before Meng Shu could even inform the Second Miss, the others were ordered to leave the flower hall, leaving only Qin Mama to speak.

Shortly after, before noon, Meng Shu came out of the small kitchen and saw Qin Mama bidding farewell to the Second Miss with tears streaming down her face. The Second Miss seemed reluctant to part as well, and comforted Qin Mama with a few words. She then took the package from Meng Zhu and handed it to the little maid behind Qin Mama.

Qin's mother kowtowed gratefully to the second young lady, and then reluctantly left Yunyi Courtyard with Wei's mother.

The entire incident lasted less than two hours.

Madam Yun used an incomplete list as a pretext, but in reality, she probably already harbored the intention to remove Qin Mama from the Second Miss's side. After finding fault, she acted swiftly and decisively. However, the message she had Wei Mama deliver was very eloquent, and she also rewarded the servants with cloth, jewelry, and silver. She gained both face and substance, and everyone would say that Madam Yun was kind and considerate to her servants.

The second young lady showed no displeasure. After lunch, she only asked Meng Shu to accompany her to the garden to digest her food.

The autumn air was crisp and clear, and the wind rustled through the bamboo forest.

Meng Shu felt uneasy and followed behind the second young lady a step behind. She had just delivered the list when the young lady's wet nurse was sent to the estate. Therefore, she hesitated and prepared to explain.

The second young lady spoke first: "I know you won't say anything nonsense to Mother. It's good that Qin Mama is leaving. She's kind-hearted, but she's not good at disciplining servants at home, and while she's steady enough, she lacks resourcefulness in dealing with outsiders. From now on, she'll be following me..."

The second young lady didn't continue speaking. Instead, she had Meng Shu step forward and walk alongside her, enjoying the autumn scenery along the way, while discussing the guest list and the banquet menu with her.

During her first month at Yunyi Garden, Meng Shu had already learned about the young ladies who were on good terms with the young lady. She had also heard about the various businesses and shops of the Tang family while working at Langya Courtyard, so she spoke with great knowledge.

But she wouldn't say it directly, only subtly guide the conversation. For example, she might ask about in-laws: should the sisters-in-law and sisters-in-law of the two older cousins ​​leave invitations? Should the young ladies who were on good terms with the young ladies in the mansion be considered? The family members of the shopkeeper in Lin'an would only be eligible to attend the banquet depending on their importance. In addition, there were the retainers; Mr. Lin would be returning to Lin'an, and the eldest master's trusted confidants would also be there. The men would be going to the capital with him, so the women of the household would naturally have to be taken care of...

Meng Shu was extremely grateful that she had sought guidance from Master Fang last night; otherwise, she would never have thought of things so thoroughly. The Second Miss listened and nodded, saying, "I had thought too simply. The list should have been consulted with Master Fang after it was drafted."

Meng Shu pointed to a colorful butterfly that had just landed on a begonia and gently comforted her, "Miss, this morning Madam said something to me: 'We're still young, so it's okay if we make mistakes. 'Mountains don't refuse dust, rivers don't refuse overflowing; with time, flowers will bloom and butterflies will come.'"

At 1-3 PM, the clouds returned to the courtyard.

Madam Yun finally smiled at the list, picked up her pen to add and delete, and then asked Wei Mama to give it to the second young lady. "In previous years, you only showed up once at your birthday banquet before hiding in Yunyi Garden with the young ladies to play. There was some oversight in your previous considerations."

The second young lady looked ashamed and said, "I will learn more from my mother in the future."

"The menu is well-prepared. Manager An is very experienced. I'll give her a copy of the list later, and she'll make additions and changes based on the guests' preferences."

The second young lady breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a smile with Meng Shu. Seeing the tension between the mistress and servant, Madam Yun clapped her hands. As the sound faded, three maids entered from outside the door—the same ones Meng Shu had encountered at the hanging flower gate that morning. Meng Shu nervously clutched her sleeves, a quick thought revealing that the other three had likely been rejected by Madam Yun.

“Wan’er, these three girls were personally chosen by your father for Zheng Shan. Their figures and appearances are secondary; what’s important is that they are skilled. You can choose one to serve you personally.”