Did the third place winner regret it today?

Chapter 12

Although Mother Sun was not very happy, she was not particularly unhappy. She just left like that anyway.
Qiao Que breathed a sigh of relief.
Since it concerns her monthly salary, she certainly doesn't want to be deducted, but Mother Sun is the Third Madam's confidant, and she, as a little girl, is afraid of offending her.
Fortunately, the girl did not confront Mother Sun. Her crying not only saved the monthly wages for the maids in the yard, but also did not offend Mother Sun. Everyone was still in harmony.
Qiao Que really had a new respect for his own girl.

In Qiao Que's eyes, this was all because the girl had lost her mother and had been taking classes and being taught by the great monk in the mountains, so she grew up so quickly!
After all, the girl was literate, while she was illiterate. Illiterate people are often in awe of literate people.
All in all, it's gratifying.
Because Qiao Que herself is not as opinionated as Qing Yan, if her master is opinionated, she will be happy to listen to her master's arrangements, even if she is only nine years old. This way, she doesn't have to use her brain and saves worry.

Although her daughter is still young, she is already able to stand on her own feet. What does she, as a maid, have to worry about?
Qiao Que immediately rolled up her sleeves and went back to the house: "I'm going to work! I'll make sure the girl wears a new dress on the fifteenth day."
Yin Shi followed him into the main hall and sat down. Yun Juan brought over a dish of washed mulberries. Yin Shi picked up one and put it in his mouth, shouting towards the lattice door: "Don't get too tired. Sew during the day and not at night. Just sew the shirt first. You can wear the skirt you sewed last time..."
Qiao Que said from the inner room, "That won't work. The young lady has just gotten rid of her mourning clothes. She shouldn't wear mourning clothes anymore. The new material that the lady gave her is fresh enough. Don't worry, young lady. I'm quick."

Yun Juan said, "I'll go wash my hands and help Sister Qiao Que!"
Through Yin Shi's efforts, not only did Qiao Que's second-class monthly salary remain, but Yun Juan was also promoted from a rough servant to a third-class servant and received a raise.
It's time to be full of energy.

Yin Shi stuffed his mouth with mulberries and chewed them while looking out through the open door.
The sky is blue, the courtyard is small but it belongs to her.
The two girls were convinced and worked hard.
If I bring another little girl to my side and teach her from a young age, I won’t believe that I can’t teach her well.
Seeing that there was no one around, Yin Shi could not help but cross his legs, his satin embroidered shoes swaying.
Beautiful~!
I just want to hum a little tune, but I hold it back.

The next day, Kui'er came with a small bag and wore a new dress made of Songjiang cloth from Fang Shengwen, which was the gift from Yin Shi yesterday.
The child's face lit up when he put on the new clothes: "My mother rushed to cut them for me overnight. She is working on the other piece of material now."
It’s okay, I’m not that kind of greedy and confused parent.

Because the maids in the courtyard had to be respectable and not bring disgrace to their masters, their masters would give them clothes for all four seasons and let them wear bright clothes. Kui'er came at this time and missed the opportunity, so Yin Shi rewarded her with fabric.
If her parents embezzled the material, even though she would be pitiful, Yin Shi would have to reconsider whether to continue using her.
The house of a wealthy family is a small society. There are servants who bully their masters, especially when their masters are still young.
Isn't it that Mother Sun is secretly trying to deduct the monthly wages of the maids in her yard?

She doesn't need to worry about Kui'er's affairs. Qiaoque is now the eldest maid in the courtyard, and she will take care of bedding, utensils and the like.
Yunjuan was also diligent. She told Kuier the rules and instructed her on how to pack her things.
Although Kui'er looks small, she is very skillful in making the bed and folding the quilt. It is obvious that she has been working since she was young. You can tell from her rough palms.

The maids lived in the side room, with three small beds arranged in a triangle shape, and each of them had a small wooden box to store their belongings. There was also a small cabinet that was probably custom-made, with three layers, one for each person.
Yin Shi leaned against the door of the ear room, watching the three little girls chattering as they tidied up neatly, and they quickly settled Kui'er.

Although Kui'er was young, she was very perceptive. She would not run to the main room unless she was called, and would do whatever she was told if she was called.
A tiny kid would grab a broom that was taller than himself and sweep the yard with a grunt.
Yin Shi couldn't say "This is a child, we can't use child labor", so he could only say to Li Pozi: "She is young, don't let her do heavy work."
Then he said to Qiao Que, "Watch her during meal time and let her eat more."
Qiao Que nodded: "Only when you are full can you have the strength to work."
Yin Shi: “…”
No, that's not what I meant.
……never mind.

As soon as Kui'er arrived, the facilities in Yinshiyuan were complete.
It is far inferior to the Red Mansion, but don't forget that the Red Mansion is a wealthy family, while we are just a country squire, just a country squire.
Yin Shi had three maids and one old woman to serve him, and he was very content.

Qiao Que lit a lamp and stayed up late at night, and as expected, all the new dresses were ready before the fifteenth day. The fabric used was the one given by the third lady, and it was very bright.
This is how you should take off your mourning clothes after the mourning period is over, put on bright clothes, and start a new life.

The children from the three rooms all arrived as promised.
Dalang followed the Shen family to the capital, while Erlang and Sanlang stayed at home, one was thirteen years old and the other was eight years old, they were teenagers and children. There were also four sisters from Da Niang to Wu Niang, and the seven children from the third room gathered together, which was quite lively.

It was just that Erniang and Sanniang had a quarrel, Sanlang teased Wuniang and made her cry, and Erlang, the brother who was supposed to be in charge, actually wanted to secretly drink some wine, hoping that the world would not be in chaos.
This made Yin Shi very troubled.
Fortunately, although she was small in size, she had the soul of an adult and took good care of the children. Everyone had a great time.

When it was time to leave, the old lady asked, "Should we go to school tomorrow?"
Yin Shi had returned home and rested for several days, and also said, "Let's go tomorrow."
The family allocated a special room for the girls to go to school. Every day the girls went there together.
The aunt said, "I'll call you when I come over." After she went back, she said to her nanny, "Fourth Aunt knows how to take care of people now."
"That's right." The nurse said, "You have an aunt, but she doesn't."
He doesn't even have a wet nurse, so he lives a lonely life.
The old lady said, "Don't talk nonsense. Mother is still here."
The nurse hurriedly said, "Look at me, I deserve a slap in the face."

The eldest lady was already twelve years old, and in two years she would be getting married. Her aunt and wet nurse knew that a girl's marriage had to depend on her stepmother, so they were all teaching her to please her.
The old lady picked up the needle and started sewing.
The nurse advised: "Make the stitches thinner to show your sincerity."
The lady said softly, "Okay."
This is a close-fitting garment tailored for my stepmother. The material is particularly soft, making it more difficult to sew.

Cutting outer clothes is a way to show filial piety to others. Cutting small clothes that are close to the body and cannot be seen by others is a way to show filial piety without seeking fame or reputation.
If Yin Shi knew that a twelve-year-old girl had to consider so many details, he would probably sigh again.

Yin Shi's life began to return to normal and she started going to school again.
Not only the girls from the third room went to school, but also the cousins ​​from other rooms, a total of more than ten girls. It can be seen that the uncles are all very fertile. After all, there is no birth control in this era, and the Yin family has the money to support them, so they don't drown baby girls.

Everyone is of different ages. The oldest cousin is fourteen years old, and the youngest is Wu Niang from the third room, who is only six years old and just started school this year.
Although the classes are taught in the same classroom and by the same female teacher, it is actually differentiated teaching.
Younger ones learn to read and write. Older ones learn needlework, music, calligraphy and painting. Older ones learn housekeeping skills.
Although it is quite practical, generally speaking, what I learned is for the purpose of finding a good match. The ultimate goal is to marry into a good family and manage my marriage well.

After a year of intensive study in the mountains, Yin Shi is now quite good at needlework.
But her handwriting surprised the female teacher: "How could it be so good?" It was this teacher who taught her a year ago. She knew Yin Shi's level.
I really have to thank this year for the buffer. Until now, Yin Shi is glad that he took the right step at that time.
Now she could calmly tell her husband: "I have made some progress by copying Buddhist scriptures every day in the mountains, and receiving guidance from my master, as well as having few chores and no distractions. Does my husband think I am doing well?"
The gentleman also heard that she had found a master at Donglin Temple, and he nodded in praise: "Not bad."
Yin Shi smiled and let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

At this point, the traces of the original owner were completely wiped out. Yin Shi went to school seriously with her sisters, and respectfully visited her grandmother and stepmother every morning and evening.
Day after day, over and over again, she looked no different from the other girls in the Yin family.

No, it cannot be said that there is no difference at all.
The fourth daughter of the third branch of the Yin family returned from a year of mourning for her biological mother and became mature, calm and sensible. She never fought or quarreled with her sisters, and she never got involved in arguments.
In the eyes of the sisters, the fourth wife from the third room is a good person who can only smile foolishly and is a little dull.
They didn't know that Yin Shi, an adult soul, would not give in for the maids' monthly salary, but how could he be so petty as to argue with a group of little girls. Adults are tolerant.

Love to quarrel, love to fight. In Yin Shi's eyes, there is nothing between little girls that is worth her fighting for, and she even has to take the responsibility of mediating and breaking up the fight, because she is the only adult among a group of children.
Gradually, she gained a reputation for being kind and friendly. The aunts all wanted their daughters to play with Si Niang, without worrying about being bullied or getting into trouble.
They all said, "Si Niang is a safe person."

However, since returning from the mountains, Si Niang has developed a hobby of planting flowers and plants. She has transplanted many of the flowers and plants she brought back from the mountains, making her yard lush and green, with clusters of flowers.
Sometimes the old lady would come to visit her, and after praising her, she would suggest: "Cut some flowers and give them to your mother to enjoy."
The elder sister really acted like an elder sister. Worried that no one would teach her, she whispered in her ear: "You are still young. I tell you...from now on, when we get married, we will all rely on our mother."

If the aunt hadn't said it, Yin Shi might have really done it for the sake of peace. But after the aunt said that, Yin Shi thought, I really can't send it.
What should I do if the Third Lady really likes me and arranges a marriage for me early?
Yin Shi said "hmmmm" and pretended to be stupid, but he didn't do anything. He went to school and ate every day. As for trying to please his stepmother, he didn't do anything.

The eldest lady was so angry that she went back and told her aunt, "Fourth Lady seems to not understand what people are saying."
"She doesn't have an aunt to take care of her now, so she will have to rely on her mother in the future." The aunt was very disappointed, "Why doesn't she know how to show more filial piety?"
"It's all for her own good."

(End of this chapter)