Chapter 13: Mother He's Thoughtfulness
Chen Defu handled matters swiftly. The over twenty thousand taels of silver Yun Chu had given him, along with some revenue from the shops, were all used to purchase ice.
In ordinary summers, ice cost about one tael per jin. Buying ice in spring was cheaper, around five to six hundred wen. However, this spring was exceptionally cold, leading everyone to believe the summer wouldn't be too hot. Consequently, the price of ice kept dropping. Chen Defu bought large quantities at three hundred and fifty wen per jin, renting out all the ice cellars around the capital...
Yun Chu still remembered that in her previous life, during this very summer, the unbearable heat drove the price of ice to nearly that of gold, making it prohibitively expensive.
The ice she had bought for over thirty thousand taels could now be sold for at least two to three hundred thousand taels.
With money, many future problems could be solved.
Having stayed up late, she woke up a little later in the morning. By the time Yun Chu emerged, the concubines had already arrived.
"Madam."
"Mother."
Everyone greeted her in unison.
Yun Chu raised her hand slightly, and only then did those in the room dare to sit down.
None of them wanted to face severe punishment for failing to observe proper decorum.
Yun Chu glanced around and asked, "Why hasn't Concubine Tao arrived?"
Concubine Jiang, who lived next door to Concubine Tao, quickly stood up to reply, "Last night, Concubine Tao was vomiting and had diarrhea. Early this morning, she said she wasn't feeling well and would come later to pay her respects. Please don't blame her, Madam."
Yun Chu frowned. "Women with child often experience discomfort here and there. Concubine Tao is three months away from giving birth. If she's too weak, the child will be difficult to deliver."
She turned to the maid beside her and instructed, "Ting Xue, fetch some nourishing supplements for pregnancy from my storeroom and deliver them to Concubine Tao's courtyard."
Ting Xue nodded and went to carry out the task.
Yun Chu's gaze fell on the little girl standing beside Concubine Jiang. This was the Xie family's second daughter, Xie Xian, who had a very low profile in the household.
She vaguely recalled that just before her death, when Xie Shiyun forced her to drink the poison, it was Xie Xian who rushed over crying and knocked over the bowl containing the poison.
In the entire Xie household, only Xian Jie'er had wept bitterly over her death.
Noticing Yun Chu's gaze, Xie Xian hid behind Concubine Jiang and softly called out, "Mother."
"Xian Jie'er is far too timid," Yun Chu said with a smile. "At three years old, it's time for her to begin her education. Let Xian Jie'er join the others in studying."
The Xie family had hired a tutor to teach the children how to read and write. After their initial education, they would attend the academy run by the court's educational administration, just like Xie Shi'an.
Concubine Jiang had long wanted her child to start studying.
However, the eldest daughter, Xie Ping, had only begun learning to read and write at the age of five. She was afraid that sending Xian Jie'er to school too early would displease the eldest daughter...
But since the Madam had given her approval, she readily agreed and pulled Xie Xian forward, saying, "Hurry and thank your mother."
"No need for thanks among family," Yun Chu waved her hand. "Don't linger here any longer. Everyone, return to your duties."
The group withdrew.
Xie Ping stayed behind to continue learning household management from Yun Chu.
After teaching her for a while, Yun Chu said, "Early this morning, Old Lady Li brought several carts of jujube trees into the estate. Take the account books and verify them. Handle minor issues yourself, but come back to me if there are major problems."
Xie Ping stood up. "Yes, Mother."
She took the account books and left.As soon as she left, Ting Shuang approached and said softly, "Madam, the nourishing supplements you ordered have been delivered to Concubine Tao's courtyard. The maid stewed bird's nest, and Concubine Tao had just taken a few sips when Mother He brought over several rolls of brocade, saying the master instructed Concubine Tao to make some new clothes."
Ting Feng muttered under her breath, "When our madam was pregnant before, the master wasn't this attentive..."
Halfway through her sentence, she realized her words might sadden the madam and immediately covered her mouth.
Ting Shuang lowered her head and said, "The master is busy with official duties and couldn't possibly concern himself with such trivial matters. It should be said that Mother He is being considerate."
Yun Chu took a sip of tea.
It seemed He Shi couldn't wait to make her move.
She had cooperated as much as possible, hoping He Shi wouldn't disappoint her.
Just then, commotion erupted in the courtyard.
Immediately after, Xie Ping rushed in with an unpleasant expression: "Mother, those matrons completely disregard me as the eldest young lady, saying all sorts of infuriating things. You must discipline them properly..."
Voices of the matrons sounded from outside: "Madam, you must uphold justice for us. Although we are just rough labor matrons, we are still human beings. How can the Xie family treat us so harshly..."
Xie Ping's face flushed red with anger.
Yun Chu patted her hand, signaling her to remain calm, then stepped out.
The matrons spoke over one another, clearly explaining the whole story.
The matter was simple: Xie Ping had just gone to check the accounts. The jujube trees matched the records with no errors. After finishing her task, she prepared to leave.
A matron suddenly complained of thirst, asking if the Xie family kitchen could prepare some tea for everyone.
This matron had clearly heard about the cancellation of afternoon tea and was deliberately testing the waters.
Xie Ping didn't overthink it and used the matron's question as an opportunity to announce the cancellation of daily afternoon tea and snacks.
These words were like pouring oil into boiling water - the group instantly erupted.
"Madam, we old servants do the hardest and most exhausting work for the lowest wages. Now we don't even have tea to wet our throats - one can't help but feel disheartened."
"The maids serving in the courtyards get such high monthly pay, and they even get to drink tea rewarded by their masters and eat leftover snacks. Why not target the maids instead?"
"Now that the eldest young lady has just started managing household affairs with you, Madam, our lives have become difficult. What will happen in the future?"
"If you ask me, the eldest young lady isn't suited for household management at all!"
"The eldest young lady was born to an outside mistress. Only a concubine-born young lady would torment us matrons to save a few coins..."
"..."
Xie Ping tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand.
What she hated most was servants mentioning her origin as an outside mistress's daughter - this hurt more than a slap in the face.
Yun Chu slammed her teacup heavily on the table, and the matrons finally quieted down.
"Your Indentured Contracts are still held by the Xie family, yet you dare to show such disrespect to the Xie family masters?" She exuded cold authority. "The Xie family's eldest young lady is registered under my name, making her a legitimate eldest young lady. If I hear any more of this nonsense from you, you'll be sold off immediately!"
The previously chattering matrons instantly fell silent, not daring to make a sound.
They weren't afraid of the young lady because of her questionable status, but the madam was different - she was the legitimate daughter of a general's household...
Xie Ping looked at Yun Chu with deep gratitude.Mother had been easily angered these past two days. She had thought Mother would blame her, that Mother would take away her household management authority just like how she punished An Ge'er and Wei Ge'er...
"However..." Yun Chu's voice softened, "I've given Ping Jie'er the household management authority. Since she proposed eliminating afternoon tea and snacks, I naturally won't object."
The matrons' faces were filled with disappointment.
The mistress wouldn't stand up for them either. Should they just accept it like this...
"But, you have indeed worked hard." Yun Chu's voice became gentle. "How about this - all the rough work matrons' monthly stipends will be increased by fifty coins. Do you have any objections?"
Hearing this, the matrons widened their eyes in disbelief.
A few cups of tea and some melon seeds and snacks every afternoon would disappear once eaten, but the monthly stipend was real copper coins that could be kept in their pockets - nothing could be more reassuring than that.
"No objections, we old servants have no objections!" The matrons beamed with joy. "Thank you, Mistress. We'll continue with our work now."
After they left, Yun Chu turned to look at Xie Ping: "Any new measures will encounter resistance when implemented. Don't be intimidated by those matrons. Feel free to proceed boldly - I'll always be here for you."
Xie Ping said gratefully: "I understand, Mother."
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