Being a second wife is difficult: I'm busy raising children in the Earl's mansion.

The process of choosing a maid for Lu Wan took three days in total.

Jiang Wan wasn't idle either. Every day she would flip through the roster and listen to the replies. Her judgment was even more accurate than that of the old accountant in the warehouse.

The morning before, Wang Mama brought another group of people over and they stood under the corridor. Seven or eight maids all bowed their heads, their clothes neatly arranged, looking like a row of newly fired blue and white porcelain vases.

Lu Wan stayed in Jiang Wan's room last night and woke up this morning feeling refreshed. She looked at each of them carefully, without being perfunctory. However, she was in a hurry to go to school, so she only glanced at them briefly from the steps before pointing to the three standing in the middle and saying, "Mother, these all look good. You can decide on the others for me."

After saying that, he grabbed the books and ran off, his steps quick and fast, even faster than a rabbit.

Jiang Wan smiled as she watched her retreating figure, but didn't stop her.

The child may be impatient, but his judgment is not bad; those three girls are indeed more outstanding than others.

That afternoon, Wang Mama delivered the list of the three men, detailing their family background, the time they entered the mansion, which courtyard they had previously lived in, whether they had been punished, and whether their family members were honest and upright. The list was meticulously compiled, with handwriting as neat as a case file from a government office.

Jiang Wan spent two nights searching and had people secretly keep an eye on things for two more days before finally identifying a maid named Qiu Ling.

Qiu Ling is ten years old this year, three years older than Lu Wan. She is tall and well-proportioned among children her age, and she is also very presentable. She won't embarrass anyone when she stands out.

Her father worked as a porter in the warehouse, and her mother worked as a laundry worker in the sewing room. Both of them had signed a life-long contract and had worked for the Earl's mansion for more than ten years. Their family history was clean, and they couldn't find a single relative who gambled or drank.

When Wang's mother delivered the list, she added, "This girl is steady and reliable. She helped out in the sewing room with her mother for the past two years and never made a mistake."

"Several times when the threads got tangled, and others were stamping their feet in frustration, she would quietly squat there and straighten them one by one, only looking up and smiling after she finished."

Jiang Wan didn't say anything at the time, she just closed the roster. Now that the people have been decided, there's no way to skip the explanations.

On the morning of the third day, Qiu Ling came with her mother.

Her mother's surname was Zhao. She was in charge of washing several large vats in the sewing room. Her hands were always white and wrinkled from being soaked in the water all year round, but her collar and cuffs were always neat and tidy, and even the crevices under her fingernails were clean.

Standing under the eaves, Zhao pushed her daughter forward half a step, then stepped back herself, slightly bowing, neither moving forward nor looking around, waiting for the message to be delivered from inside.

Jiang Wan sat in the hall and asked Qiu Ling to stand in front of her.

The little girl wore a faded bluish-gray vest. The clothes weren't new, but the edges were neatly finished and the cuffs were clean, showing that she had taken care to tidy herself up before going out.

She stood upright, her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes lowered, not looking around, and even her breathing was very soft.

Jiang Wan looked around and then asked Qiu Ling to stand in front of her.

"How old are you?" Jiang Wan asked casually.

"Replying to Madam, this servant is ten years old this year," Qiu Ling answered quickly, her voice not loud but each word clear.

"What did you do in the sewing room before?"

"I worked as a laundry worker with my mother for two years, and I also cleaned up loose threads a few times. I wasn't fast at it, but I never made any mistakes."

Jiang Wan put down her teacup and glanced at her again.

This answer wasn't particularly tactful, but it was honest. It was true that he couldn't explain himself quickly, and his confidence stemmed from the fact that he had never caused any trouble.

People who speak the truth and have confidence are at least not sloppy in their work.

"Can you read?"

Qiu Ling shook her head and added, "I can understand the accounts in the sewing room, but not the other accounts."

Jiang Wan nodded and asked a few more questions: Was she afraid of the dark at night? Could she sleep alone? Would she cry under the covers if she heard thunder?

The questions were trivial and seemingly casual, but Qiu Ling answered them calmly and unhurriedly. Occasionally, when she was stumped, she would pause honestly before answering, without trying to fool anyone or pretending.

Jiang Wan glanced at Qing He, who nodded slightly, indicating that she looked alright.

Just then, a soft rustling sound came from inside, and the curtain was lifted a crack from the inside, revealing half a furry head.

Lu Wan had just woken up, her eyes still heavy with sleepiness, her hair a little messy, and half of her face pressed against the pillow, leaving a faint red mark.

Since her wet nurse left these past few days, she has been staying in Jiang Wan's room. This morning, her husband took leave, so she slept in a little longer.

I woke up and heard people talking outside, so I groggily peeked out.

Jiang Wan turned around and looked at her, then smiled first: "Awake? Still feeling dizzy?"

Lu Wan shook her head, rubbed her eyes, and walked to Jiang Wan's side. She didn't say anything, just stood quietly, but her gaze fell openly on Qiu Ling.

Qiu Ling noticed someone was watching her. She looked up and met Lu Wan's gaze. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled shyly, her ears turning slightly red. She lowered her head again.

Lu Wan didn't look away and returned her smile, her eyes crinkling with the brightness of someone just waking up.

Seeing that she was awake, Jiang Wan reached out and gently tidied her disheveled hair, saying in a soft voice, "Of the three you pointed to earlier, I've chosen one for you. Her name is Qiu Ling. Do you like it?"

Lu Wan turned her head and glanced at Qiu Ling again, carefully examining her before nodding: "Mother's choice is naturally good."

She paused, her gaze falling on Qiu Ling, who was a head taller than her, and said with a hint of curiosity, "She's so much taller than me."

Jiang Wan chuckled: "She's a few years older than you, so naturally she's taller than you. In a few years, when you're her age, you might even be taller than her."

Lu Wan nodded thoughtfully, as if she had made a mental note of it.

She thought for a moment, then turned to Qiuling, tilted her head slightly, and said in a serious tone, "Then I'll be counting on you from now on."

Qiu Ling was stunned for a moment, as if she hadn't expected the young lady to say such a thing to her.

She clenched her sleeves, her ears turning even redder, and replied in a soft but steady voice, "This servant will certainly serve Miss well."

Lu Wan smiled, her eyes crinkling. She didn't say anything polite, but simply moved closer to Jiang Wan, as if she had already unilaterally accepted this person.

Seeing that things were settled, Jiang Wan turned to Zhao Shi and said, "Now that Qiu Ling has been settled, she will serve by the young lady's side from now on. Go back and tell your husband as well, so that they can rest assured. She will have holidays during the New Year and can see you whenever she wants. It's not like she's sold off and then forgotten."

Zhao nodded quickly, pulled Qiu Ling to kowtow, and thanked her repeatedly. She couldn't hide the smile on her face, and her steps were lighter as she left.

Jiang Wan then turned to Qing He and said, "Take Qiu Ling to the eldest young lady's courtyard to familiarize her with the place. Walk around and tell her everything you need to know so she has a general idea. Also, keep the little maid who used to serve the eldest young lady in her courtyard. Let her serve her for a while and see if they get along."

Qinghe responded and led Qiuling out.

Lu Wan craned her neck to look at Qiu Ling's departing figure, her curiosity still lingering in her eyes.

Jiang Wan looked at her like this and chuckled.

"Now that you have Qiuling and that little girl by your side, let them stay with you for now. If there's anything you're not used to, we can change them later. There's no rush."

She paused, then reached out and pulled Lu Wan to sit down beside her, her tone softening as if she were talking about something ordinary.

"There's one more thing. I've discussed it with your grandmother. You're getting on in years, and you should have a governess by your side."

"Since there are no suitable candidates in the manor, we plan to carefully select someone from outside who has a good reputation and prestige."

Lu Wan blinked and asked, "What does a governess do?"

Jiang Wan explained gently, "I'll teach you manners, etiquette, and how to treat others appropriately."

"It's not that I'm trying to restrict you, but I want you to know how to stand, sit, and speak when you go out and meet people in the future, so that others won't look down on you."

Lu Wan thought for a moment, then asked, "How long will it take to make a choice?"

"This can't be rushed," Jiang Wan said. "A good nanny has to be chosen slowly and carefully."

"You can't just look at their reputation; you also have to consider whether their temperament is compatible and whether they have a good personality. If you choose someone who is too strict, and you're constantly on edge, then you'll end up losing more than you gain."

Lu Wan nodded, as if she had made a mental note of it, but then she became restless and looked up at Jiang Wan: "Mother, I'll go back to my own courtyard first."

Jiang Wan glanced at her, her tone teasing: "You were staying here the other day, refusing to leave, complaining about the pillow and the blanket being too thick. Now that the new maid has arrived, you're already eager to go back?"

Lu Wan's face flushed from her words, and she called out in a drawn-out tone, "Mother—!"

Jiang Wan chuckled and stopped teasing her. Calculating that Qinghe and the others should still be over there getting their bearings, she said, "Go ahead, Qinghe should still be there. You can also get to know Qiuling better."

Then he called Yunzhi in, "Take Miss back, but don't let her run too fast, or she'll fall and cry again."

Lu Wan muttered, "I won't cry," then bowed to Jiang Wan and turned to follow Yunzhi.

The room quieted down. Jiang Wan picked up her teacup and took a sip. Qing He hadn't returned yet. She put the teacup down and leaned back. Qiu Ling seemed like a good girl, but whether she could stay long depended on how well she got along with Lu Wan.

Lu Wan may look obedient, but she has her own ideas. She doesn't like maids who are too clever, and she has no patience for maids who are too dull.

Qiu Ling is not competitive or assertive, so it's uncertain whether she can keep up with Lu Wan's pace.

After a while, Qinghe returned and dusted off her sleeves as she entered.

Jiang Wan asked her, "How's it going with the young lady?"

Qinghe smiled and said, "I was just showing Qiuling around the courtyard when the young lady arrived. She seemed quite interested and even led Qiuling around the courtyard, pointing to the grape trellis and saying, 'I'll share half of the grapes with you when they bear fruit.'"

"Qiu Ling was stunned and couldn't say anything for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan couldn't help but chuckle.

"What was Qiu Ling's reaction?"

Qinghe thought for a moment and said, "She paused for a while, then nodded and said, 'Then this servant will water the plants for the young lady.'"

Jiang Wan picked up her teacup and took another sip, the smile on her lips still lingering.

Qiu Ling may seem tongue-tied, but she's not shy on stage and never embarrasses anyone.

Lu Wan likes her, so the matter is settled.

We need to hurry up and find a governess. She can't just have a good reputation; she has to be someone who can command respect and not frighten Lu Wan...

As she was thinking, she heard footsteps coming from the courtyard outside. Yunzhi had returned.

Qinghe glanced outside and whispered, "Madam, Chunlan, the old lady's maid, has arrived, followed by several young maids carrying things."

Jiang Wan put down her teacup and straightened up: "Please invite her in."

Chunlan stepped in, followed by several maids each carrying several bolts of fabric, neatly stacked, brightly colored, clearly just taken from the storeroom.

Jiang Wan glanced at her and understood what was going on, but she didn't rush to speak. She simply greeted her with a smile, "Miss Chunlan is here. Has the old lady given any instructions?"

Chunlan smiled and bowed: "The old lady said that it's autumn now, so it's time to make some new clothes for the eldest young lady. These fabrics were just put into storage a few days ago. The old lady specially selected these few bolts for you to take a look at and see if they suit the eldest young lady's taste."

Jiang Wan got up and walked over, reaching out to stroke the top piece of pale yellow silk. The fabric was delicate and smooth, gleaming with a warm luster under the light.

She understood that the old lady was telling her that she also kept in mind her granddaughter's needs for food, clothing, and daily necessities.

She turned her head to Qinghe and said, "Write it down. When the young lady comes back, let her choose for herself."

Qinghe responded, and Chunlan chatted for a few more minutes with a smile before leading her people out.

Jiang Wan sat down again, placed her fingers on the edge of the table, and tapped them lightly twice.

The matter of the maid has been settled, and the old lady has also sent word. There are still many things to worry about.

We need to hurry up with the matter of finding a governess, but we can't rush it, or we might end up choosing the wrong person.

She looked out the window; the sun was shining brightly, and the low bushes in the yard were lush and green.

She thought she should plant a row of hosta flowers in the yard. When they bloom in late summer and early autumn, she could pick them and make some candies of hosta candy for Lu Wan, since that girl loves sweets.

When the hosta flowers bloom, the whole courtyard is filled with their sweet and refreshing fragrance. After a few days, when there is some free time, someone will be sent to find some good seedlings.

Seeing that she remained silent, Qinghe didn't ask any questions, but quietly replaced the cold tea on the table with a warm one.

Jiang Wan picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip.

There's still a long way to go; we can take it one step at a time.