Chapter 206: This Household Seems a Bit Different
By evening, whether they were working in the fields, attending school, or strolling outside, everyone started returning home one after another.
With the number of people growing, they now uniformly had their meals over at the new residence.
Nanny Shi and Nanny Du finally came to understand what the Old Madam meant by “quite a few people in the household,” and it truly opened their eyes.
The masters and the servants returned together, carrying hoes over their shoulders.
A servant squatted down right next to the young mistress to eat snacks.
What was even more exaggerated was that several tables were set up in the courtyard, and the place where they as servants ate was positioned right next to the masters’ tables—even the food and dishes were exactly the same.
“Shocked” was no longer enough to describe what Nanny Shi and Nanny Du were feeling.
Seeing that the two sisters looked a bit constrained, Auntie Lu proactively stepped forward to strike up a conversation with them:
“You must be Sister Shi and Sister Du. My husband’s family is surnamed Lu, so the young mistress and the others all call me Auntie Lu. The young mistress said you’ve just arrived and might be a bit unaccustomed, so if there’s anything you need, just feel free to call for me. The young mistress said that during this period, you don’t need to rush into doing chores; familiarize yourselves with the household first.”
Nanny Shi tried her best to suppress her shock, along with all her previous knowledge and the rules regarding master-servant distinctions, as she asked, “Has the household always been like this?”
Auntie Lu smiled. “Always like this. The Old Master and Old Madam are kind-hearted and never restrict us servants. The young mistress is the same. Look over there—the one squatting with Miss Wen Ying and being fed by her is my little granddaughter, Hua’er.”
Nanny Shi and Nanny Du remained rooted in shock.
Looking at this bustling, grand family, Auntie Lu spoke with a face full of smiles and gratitude, “Encountering such masters is our good fortune.”
After speaking, she glanced at the two women and said, “I have to go to the kitchen to help the young mistress. The Eldest Young Master should be bringing the Little Young Master and the others back in a moment.” With that, she headed toward the kitchen.
Nanny Shi and Nanny Du exchanged a glance and hurriedly followed her. Upon entering the kitchen, they saw Wen Yao had already tied on an apron.
“Auntie Lu, you’ve come just in time. Have Lu He take the fish and wash them again; they weren’t cleaned thoroughly at all. If he doesn’t wash them clean next time, he won’t get to eat any,” Wen Yao said, pointing at the several fish arranged in the basin.
Auntie Lu gave a smiling assent, carried the basin to the doorway, and called out. Instantly, a boy ran over, took the fish basin, and dashed toward the well, deeply afraid that running too slowly would mean he really wouldn’t get to eat.
Nanny Shi and Nanny Du attempted to help, but they discovered they had absolutely no clue where to start. On the contrary, they bumped into Wen Yao from time to time, forcing the two to hurriedly apologize.
Old Madam Luo entered with her two daughters-in-law, only to witness this scene.
She let out a helpless sigh. “Nanny Shi, Nanny Du, the two of you should step out first. It’s better to let us handle things here.”
With them bustling about like this, when would they ever get to eat?
Growing anxious, the two hurriedly apologized, “Old Madam, it is because we servants are stupid and clumsy.”
Old Madam Luo felt a headache coming on. The rules of those wealthy households could truly be quite annoying at times.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Go on out first, otherwise no one will get to eat in a moment. Auntie Lu, don’t keep busy either; take them to get to know the family.” Old Madam Luo dismissed people exceptionally nimbly.
Auntie Lu wiped her hands on her apron. “Yes, Old Madam. Come along, elder sisters. Let’s not add to the mess; Miss Yao’er’s kitchen isn’t a place just anyone can assist in.”
Even after walking out of the kitchen, the two were still in shock. In this household, the young mistress was actually the one cooking.
“This… the young mistress cooks?” Nanny Shi furrowed her brow.
Auntie Lu nodded. “Mm, the young mistress’s cooking is delicious.”
They had only exchanged a few words when the sound of a carriage was heard, followed immediately by a crowd of people entering.
“The one walking in front is the Eldest Young Master, beside him is Young Master Wen Nong from the Second Master’s family. Behind the Eldest Young Master is Young Master Wen Fa from the Second Master’s family, and that gentle, quiet one is Young Master Wen Jin from the Third Master’s family.
“Those three walking together—the smallest one is the Little Young Master, and the other two are Young Master Jin from the Jin family and Young Master Xie from the Xie family, who are currently living in the house.
“The two walking at the very back—one is Young Master Li, and the other is Young Master Li’s guard, who is also the Little Young Master’s savior, the young hero Xun Feng.”
Auntie Lu introduced them to the two women one by one.
Seeing the people standing with Auntie Lu, Wen Jun and the others stopped.
“Auntie Lu, have more people arrived at the house?” Datou asked curiously.
Nanny Shi and Nanny Du hurriedly snapped back to attention and saluted, “We servants pay our respects to the young masters.”
Wen Jun cast a glance at Wen Yao inside the kitchen and spoke as calmly as a gentle breeze, “Our house doesn’t care for such things. Just be at ease.”
“Yes.” The two rose from their salute.
Wen Jun slipped into the kitchen while the others also went about their own business. On the contrary, Li Yi, who was walking at the very back, cast a glance at the two women. Looking at the way they saluted, they seemed to have undergone specialized training, which instead made them appear somewhat out of place in this casual household.
Regardless, the family members were already accustomed to the situation of people mysteriously appearing out of nowhere by now, so no one made a fuss. The meal was finished in a lively and bustling manner. Even the servants’ table where Nanny Shi and Nanny Du sat was extraordinarily lively, completely different from the life they had lived for the past several decades.
However, it held a great deal more relaxation and comfort, devoid of the previous constraint and shackles. The two women exchanged a glance, both seeing peace of mind in each other’s eyes.
This time, they had come to the right place.
After dinner, Xun Feng took the kids to the back courtyard to practice martial arts again. Li Yi also learned of the origins of these two individuals from Wen Yao and Wen Xiuyi. Once Xun Feng finished teaching the kids and accompanied him back to his room, Li Yi finally instructed Xun Feng to investigate whose household these two women belonged to, what crime that family had committed, and whether it would implicate the Wen family in the future.
“Young Master, are you worried the Wen family will be implicated?” Xun Feng asked.
Li Yi shot him a glance, and Xun Feng shut his mouth.
The people had been escorted to the capital. If it was a major crime involving the seizure of the estate and the execution of the clan, these two women could probably not be kept.
Early the next morning, Nanny Shi got up exceptionally early, intending to prepare to serve her masters’ washing and grooming. Except, before she could even decide whether to serve the young mistress first or the master first, she saw the young masters getting up on their own. They each held their respective washing utensils and squatted in a row by the well to begin washing up.
Yawning, Wen Xiuyi walked out from his room. Seeing her, he even greeted her, “Nanny Shi, morning.”
Nanny Shi blanked for a good while before testing the waters blankly, “Master, morning?”
Wen Xiuyi looked around. “Where’s Yao’er? Not up yet?”
Nanny Shi replied, “Replying to Master, this servant has not yet gone to serve the young mistress to get up. I will go right now.”
“No need, no need. Mind your own business while she sleeps hers. When she’s slept enough, she’ll get up on her own.” After speaking, he joined the washing crew on his own accord, waiting for Auntie Lu and the Eldest Sister-in-law Lu to make breakfast.
Since Wen Yao hadn’t gotten up, they could only make do for breakfast.
Once the group finished their morning meal in a lively manner, those who had to go to school went to school, and those who had to work went to work. The people in the house dispersed to almost nothing all at once.
Nanny Shi constantly felt as though she were living in a dream.
Looking at the remaining people in the house, Nanny Shi felt she had to find something for herself to do. From her observations, she discovered that the most useless person in this household currently seemed to be herself. If she wanted to stay, she had to have her own value.
Seeing Wen Ying playing with little Hua’er, Nanny Shi walked over and spoke, “Miss Wen Ying, how about this old servant teaches Miss embroidery?”
Wen Ying jumped up instantly, slapped the dust clinging to her skirt, and said directly, “Nanny, go look for my Eldest Sister instead. My Eldest Sister likes embroidery.” With that, she pulled Hua’er along and slipped away.
Embroidery? She wasn’t going to learn that; she wanted to be a female general.
