Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 353 - 33: Trivial Matters (Part 3) (One Update)
Before the Little New Year, when Zhao Youshen’s family hurried back from the Capital, Susu’s room already had three new young wives.
Not only did Zhao Youshen’s family bring back over ten carriage loads of New Year gifts, but they also brought two people prepared for Susu by the Old Madam—a midwife and a woman most skilled at attending to Postpartum Confinement.
Although Susu feared the Old Madam’s worry and didn’t tell her about the troubles there, she couldn’t escape the well-informed Uncle Wei. The day he arrived in Hami, he had already heard all the gossip.
He feared Susu might feel embarrassed and didn’t inquire openly. Instead, he sent a letter to the Old Madam to inform her. Only then did the Old Madam realize that Susu had been trying to appease her with pleasant words.
When the letter sent by Song Family’s Dark Department arrived in October, announcing Susu’s pregnancy, the Old Madam was both pleased and uneasy, fearing someone might harm her or that this "foolish daredevil" might accidentally fall into someone’s trap.
With the arrival of the two people from Zhao Youshen’s family, all were under the Song Family’s watch, so there was no fear of them being bribed. They wouldn’t stay in the Northwest and would return to the Capital after Susu’s confinement.
On the surface, Susu appeared indifferent, but she was indeed nervous. After all, it was the first time in two lifetimes, and now there was no cesarean section.
However, rationality told her that fear was useless; excessive worry might even harm the child. This tangle between reason and emotion gave Susu a headache.
Now that she saw the two women sent by the Old Madam, she was relieved to find that the midwife was also a medical woman, though she had to give them a slight admonition.
"You were sent by the Old Madam, which already gives you some distinction. However, our small household regulations differ from the mansion’s, so I hope you won’t laugh."
"What is the Lady saying? The Old Madam has instructed us that in the Northwest, we follow only the Lady’s orders, doing whatever you tell us to, ignoring everything else."
Seeing the genuine respect on their faces, Susu knew the Old Madam must have already admonished them.
Her smile then became more genuine, "You may consider yourselves as family now. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to pay respects to the Concubine, and you can discuss the family’s situation with her."
Then she called Shuimo and took out two golden bracelets meant for gifts; each was solid and weighed two ounces.
These two women were specially sought out by the Old Madam for the Heir’s wife, spending a lot of money, but the Heir’s wife trusted the arrangements made by her maternal family more.
Though the Old Madam was understanding, she was somewhat disappointed. These two women, although remaining in the mansion and receiving second-class allowances, mainly did odd jobs in the Heir’s wife’s courtyard.
The maids and older women in the mansion weren’t as easy to deal with as a few like Fen Dai; they couldn’t easily approach the mistress.
Upon learning of Susu’s pregnancy, the Old Madam joyfully rewarded the entire mansion with a month’s salary and sought reliable midwives to send to Susu.
The Heir’s wife, reminded by her trusted old maid, thought of these two people. After all, they were just some minor helps in her courtyard, so why not send them to the Northwest? It would please the Old Madam, and even if Susu found out, she’d have to be grateful.
These two maids had been at the Shun’an Earl Mansion for two years and had seen Susu, knowing her status in the Old Madam’s heart and her means.
Besides, before leaving, they had already received rich rewards from both the Old Madam and the Heir’s wife and dared not put on airs before Susu.
Furthermore, the Old Madam had privately promised them that once they served Susu well, she would free them from their bonds and allow them to reunite with their families.
Now, even if Susu wasn’t generous, they would still serve her diligently.
Susu instructed Liu Niuniu, who is from the Wei Defu family, to take the two to settle in, fortunately having many empty rooms at home.
Previously, the bamboo building in the back was dismantled; now, with three new empty rooms, Susu arranged for them to stay there.
"Originally, I didn’t know you were coming, but we have ready rooms in the back of the main house. Each of you can have a room, and there’s a place to talk and drink tea."
The two women gratefully thanked her. Sitting on a cold bench for two years in the Heir’s wife’s courtyard, they never expected Susu to value them so much.
Susu then asked Shuimo to open the storeroom and move furniture and bedding to furnish the rooms for the two women.
Susu has an excellent memory and naturally remembered this time the names of the two women, "Nanny Jiang, Mrs. Ding, don’t be shy. If you need anything, just ask this maid. You’re second-class in the mansion, but now we’ll treat you as special second-class in our mansion!"
The two women didn’t initially respond, but once they left the main room, they exchanged a look, surprised that this mistress remembered them, as they had only met Susu a few times upon first entering the mansion.
Shuimo and the wife of Defu led the two to settle in. Susu then smiled at the travel-weary Zhao Youshen’s family, "Thank you, Aunt Zhao. Let your daughter-in-law support you to wash and rest first, and report back in the evening."
Zhao Youshen’s family left behind the gift list and the Old Madam’s letters before retreating with her daughter-in-law, Zhao Wu’s wife.
Susu first read the letters; the one from the Old Madam contained numerous pregnancy taboos, combining the known and unknown into over ten pages, accompanied by five silver notes, each worth a thousand taels.
"Our family lacks nothing but silver, so don’t be stingy now. Don’t eat too much rich food; ensure fresh vegetables and fruits are available. In winter, there’s little good to eat; consider building a greenhouse."
By "greenhouse," the Old Madam didn’t mean those makeshift bamboo and straw curtain constructions but a real glass conservatory.
Not to mention the cost of glass needed to construct such a greenhouse, just the coal required to heat it day and night during the winter would cost two to three hundred taels of silver a month. Only a family like the Songs could casually mention such luxury.
However, seeing the silver notes, Susu found it amusing and exasperating. With her current wealth, building a glass greenhouse wasn’t much of an expense, and she didn’t need her to send money.
Fortunately, they were sent with a letter. Otherwise, if others found out, they’d think she was showing favoritism. Over time, it might even cause gossip among the grandchildren and granddaughters.
Susu thought it over, then put the five thousand taels away, planning to have Hong Sheng find a box of fine jade to send to the Old Madam. If she didn’t accept it, Susu would return the silver notes, and the Old Madam would surely understand her intentions.
The remaining letters were seven or eight in total, including those from the Third Miss, Sixth Miss, Yang Liu, and Mrs. Zhao, as well as from the Third Madam, Amber, and Dong Song.
Without mentioning the others, the three from Yangzhou were notable.
The Third Madam’s letter was expected; due to the Sixth Miss and Sixth Young Master, Susu had always been close to the third branch. When she married, the third branch openly gave a gift, and secretly the Third Madam added to her dowry.
According to Bisi, the Third Master and his wife now have their own considerations.
Still, Susu found the letter sincere, mentioning that the return gift in August hadn’t been sent in time, asking Susu not to mind, and promising a substantial red envelope for the New Year.
Susu smiled at this, recalling scenes from her time in Yangzhou...
