It was late autumn, and the chrysanthemum petals under the eaves were already dyed with frost.

The north wind whined, and the morning air was bitterly cold—for the housekeepers who had been waiting under the eaves since the sun had even appeared, they still felt cold when they stomped their feet and rubbed their hands.

These mothers-in-law have served in the Tang family for many years, and they can be regarded as people with a certain status, but Tang Shaoshuai opened his mouth and asked them to wait here, even if everyone was not convinced, but no one dared to shout cold.

Qu Ning washed her face under the service of the maids, she glanced at the faint frost and the blooming Han Ju outside the window, and asked Baoqin in a deep voice: "Those mothers-in-law outside, when did they start waiting?" ”

Baoqin glanced at the chiming bell that landed in the room - there was also this in the palace, Bixia used to cherish it very much, it was said that it was a foreign product transported by a foreign sea ship, but now this one in His Highness's room was more delicate and gorgeous than Bixia's favorite one, and it took her only a little time to learn to read the hours on the chiming bell: "Young lady, they have been waiting for them one after another at about a quarter past six." ”

"A quarter past six?" Last night, she was troubled by the young marshal all night, and she was "allowed" to fall asleep after the bell rang twice.

And Tang Zhong had already forced them to come over and wait early in the morning, how early did he have to get up?

Qu Ning's heart warmed slightly, and he immediately chose to ignore the change in his heart, and instructed Su Qin: "Please let them in." It's not easy to wait outside at this time. ”

Su Qin answered, lifted the curtain and went out, Qu Ning sat on the top, smiling and watching the mothers-in-law raise their feet and enter the door.

There is a fire burning in the smoke cage in the house, and it is as warm as spring, and it is completely two shijie outside.

How can the descendants of the Tang family observe words and looks, at this time, Mrs. Cui, who took the lead, carefully looked around at the furnishings in the house, and did not dare to look up at the face of the princess, and she already had a conclusion in her heart: The rumor that the young marshal personally nodded and wanted to marry the princess, I am afraid it is true.

The mothers-in-law who served in the Tang family all knew that Tang Shaoshuai was the most autocratic, and even if he was a master, he had to weigh one or two.

Thinking that at the beginning, the marshal made a decision on this family affair, and the young marshal was extremely dissatisfied, although he did not make a noise to make a marriage, but he put the news of "refusing to marry" in the newspaper, and they thought that the marriage would definitely not be successful. was making a bet that it would depend on the young marshal's follow-up methods, but who knew that the young marshal suddenly changed his mind inexplicably - but married this one back home in person.

These old men who have been serving for many years all know that the young marshal has been a particularly cold character since the death of Mrs. Da, even if he reluctantly marries, he may not be very close to the young lady, but at this moment, the room is full of young marshal's belongings - the French perfume on the dresser in the room is not available on the market, but the young marshal has his own channels to start, the clothes of the young marshal are set on the hanger, there are several original books on the bookcase, and even on the bedside table at the head of the bed, there is a large tome with a foreign cover, There is also a pen studded with Venus on it, which looks very imposing.

In addition, the young marshal personally asked for the right to be a housekeeper for the young lady, so at a glance, Mrs. Cui and her children had a number in their hearts: This is a true Buddha, and it has to be offered by Haode.

Cui Pozi was nervous in her heart, and she didn't know whether to continue with the original jihua, so she heard the woman sitting on the top gently open her mouth, her voice was very soft, and there was no arrogance of the princess of the royal family as they imagined: "Baoqin, you first take the booklet in everyone's hands, look at the thick stack, they are holding it like this, I look weird." In addition, prepare a hand stove for a few people, and prepare a cup of ginger tea to drink hot, which is cold outside, but don't freeze sick. ”

He smiled at the following mothers-in-law and said: "It's all my fault, I didn't know that you were going to hand over the account book today, but unconsciously, I went to bed late from the habit of being at my mother's house." Don't be weird. ”

A few mothers-in-law who were bluffed hurriedly knelt down: "But I can't afford to say this to the young lady." The young marshal explained, and the young lady must not be disturbed to rest. The slaves and maids have been raised roughly, but they have just waited for a while, so where can there be anything? ”

Having said that, Mrs. Cui pondered in her heart: Is this young lady really good-natured, or is she a newcomer, but just to be a face-saving person?

As he spoke, the people below had already sent a hot hand stove up, and each of them served a cup of ginger tea to dispel the cold, and the mothers-in-law felt that their bodies were warm.

Sitting above, always smiling at the corners of his mouth, the gentle Qu Ning had already flipped through a few account books page by page, and immediately had some idea of the pattern of the Tang family's backyard.

She swept her eyes and said softly: "Everyone, don't be nervous. She smiled, "The marshal and the young marshal can afford it, let me take care of all things in the family, but what, although I was born in the royal family, but one is that I am lazy and have never taken care of family affairs. She smiled and said modestly, looking at the respectful looks of the old women below, she secretly smacked her tongue in her heart, and continued, "If you talk about the means and experience of housekeepers, I am afraid that I am far inferior to my deceased mother-in-law." There are established rules to follow, and now that the account book is in order, and everything is stable and stable, since I have just arrived, I don't need to make any more changes, everything is just according to the old calendar. ”

She spoke politely and gently, but the mothers-in-law below knew it in their hearts: the sentence "You don't need to change when you first arrive" is a heavy beating.

Although it is a newcomer now, there will be a day when it will not be a newcomer.

The young lady has an account in her heart, and now she doesn't care about it, but everyone gives each other a face, if you don't know how to be interested, you will settle it in the future, and some will suffer a loss.

No matter what everyone thought in their hearts, she said it so politely, and they only dared to reply with "don't dare to be".

Qu Ning let each of them ponder for a while, and then smiled: "I can't even recognize people now, grandma and give me a face," she greeted Baoqin and asked her to give her pen and ink, "You should first report your personal surname, where you have worked in the past, and where your family is located, I will make a note first, so as not to blacken my eyes in the future." ”

Several mothers-in-law glanced at each other, and they were all shocked: although this one was modest and said "inexperienced", these three questions were very pointed.

The things in this backyard are the most intertwined, if these mothers-in-law who have sold themselves have the most advantage over the hired outside, that is, they have been serving in the Tang family for decades, and even some of them are serving in the house for three generations.

If it weren't for the Tang family's thin sons at the end of the early years, like those in the palaces and marquis mansions in Beijing, I am afraid that there would still be children who are in-laws of each other.

The reason why there is a word called "slave bullying the master" is because these sons of the family are horns of each other, and the relationship is woven into a fine net, and even more people have strengthened their own courage, which makes the masters empty.

But as long as you see through the nodes in it, it is impossible for this net to trap the master in it.

Several people made a color to each other, and Mrs. Cui took the lead and stepped forward to tell each other one by one.

"The slave's surname is Cui, and now she is in charge of the big kitchen," Mrs. Cui said respectfully and in detail, "The slave and maid have been sold into the house to serve since they were ten years old, and it has been thirty-four years now. Because of the good needlework made by the slave and maid at home, the old slave served in the needlework room at first, but later the master appreciated it and transferred it to the big kitchen. My grandson is the steward of the silk shop on Wangfu Street outside, and my granddaughter Xiuhong also has the blue eyes of the master, and now she is a second-class girl serving by the side of the second lady. ”

With her at the beginning, the mothers-in-law behind replied one by one according to this format, Qu Ning listened attentively, recorded all the details one by one, and Zuihou drew a table.

In this way, the situation in the backyard of the Tang family is very simple and clear.

This time the head is kneeling, Mrs. Cui is in charge of the big kitchen, and her granddaughter is doing things next to the second lady Tang Key. This woman looks like a shrewd and capable person, and she is also the leader in replying, with a good face in life, and a clever mouth, I am afraid that she is very trusted by the master at home.

The steward of the pulp washing room is surnamed Feng, and she looks at her with a loyal face, and she speaks very honestly.

The sewing room is a manager surnamed Lu, who is said to be a good embroiderer, her husband died early, and her daughter also worked in the sewing room.

The steward of the purchase is surnamed He, and he doesn't talk much in front of her, but he can get the position of buying this oil and water, and he is usually afraid that he is not this character.

However, no matter what kind of character they were, in front of Qu Ning, they all stood quietly with their heads down, not daring to be thorny.

Qu Ning looked at the form and was distracted, and knew in her heart that Tang Shaoshuai had already made a good start for her, and only then did she smile and reply to the mother-in-law who was kneeling at the bottom, full of anxiety: "I already know your loyalty." You've worked hard," she patted the ledger and said, "I'll keep it for now, and I'll look at it in the future." Baoqin, you send all the grandmothers out. ”

Baoqin sent them out with a smile and came back, only to hear Suqin ask His Highness: "Young lady, what's wrong with this account?" ”

Baoqin was shocked, and walked into the door quickly, only to see His Highness's brows furrowed tightly.

"Hmm." Qu Ning looked at the pages carefully, and sighed for a long time, "Sure enough, the most pitiful person in the world is a motherless child." ”

"Huh?" Su Qin didn't understand her exclamation, but Bao Qin was much more sensitive to it, and immediately understood what the princess was feeling.

Qu Ning glanced at the maids with different expressions, pursed his lips and smiled, didn't explain much about this sentence, only carefully examined this month's account book, and only closed his eyes until he finished reading it: "Did the young marshal say in the morning, when will he come home?" ”

There are some things, she should discuss it with the man. After all, it's his relatives involved.