Unlimited estates for rural beauty

An old dame who was not tall and quite thin approached Wang Laohan from behind, nodding toward Feng Xuxu.

Feng Xuxu responded with a smile and then got up and left.

As she watched Feng Xuxu walking away, Wang Family’s old woman asked her husband, "Husband, who was that person you were talking to just now? She was quite pretty."

After his wife’s comment, Wang Liuzhu realized he had indeed forgotten to ask.

"Well, I reckon she’s a new servant girl from the front courtyard. She’s pretty, but I hope she doesn’t fall into the hands of that old demon, the butler... alas," Wang Liuzhu sighed, shook his head, and returned to his work.

Stepping forward, Wang Family’s old woman poked Wang Liuzhu’s sleeve and said, "I’ve heard that a new mistress arrived at the estate yesterday. Could it be her?"

Upon hearing his spouse’s words, Wang Liuzhu waved his hand dismissively, "How could that be? We’ve been here for so many years, when have you ever seen young masters or mistresses come here?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"But how about the two carriages in the backyard?" Wang Family’s old woman recalled the two carriages in the backyard and turned to look at Wang Liuzhu.

"Those carriages must have belonged to someone passing by who stopped to stay," Wang Liuzhu suggested casually as he set down the mended bamboo basket. Seeing his wife still daydreaming, he patted her hand, "Have you finished all your work yet? Hurry up and get busy, or do you want to be caught by that old demon, the butler?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Family’s old woman got up and mumbled, "Look at my memory, there’s porridge still simmering in the pot." She had left before Wang Liuzhu could say another word.

Feng Xuxu walked back to her own courtyard, troubled by her thoughts.

After Feng Xuxu had freshened up, she sat at the table, drank a small bowl of porridge, and ate a few bites of salted vegetables. Then she put down her chopsticks and called for Yingsu.

"Summon the butler, and have him bring the ledgers as well," she instructed.

"As you wish, Miss," Yingsu bowed before turning to leave.

Feng Xuxu waited inside her room for the time it took to burn an incense stick, but no one returned. She then asked Lan Lengyun to go and see what was taking so long.

Finally, after another half-quarter of an hour, Yingsu and Lan Lengyun dragged Butler Qian into the hall.

Knowing he could not escape, Butler Qian knelt on the floor as soon as he entered, trembling violently, his corpulent body shaking.

Feng Xuxu narrowed her eyes at Butler Qian on the floor, picked up the ledger on the table, and flipped through it page by page. When she reached the last page, she laughed angrily, her lips curling into a sneer, and tossed the ledger at the butler.

"Speak without omitting a single word, where have all these losses gone to?" she demanded.

Kneeling on the ground, sweat poured from Butler Qian, "Yes, yes, I’ll talk, I’ll tell everything."

With each embezzled amount Butler Qian confessed, Feng Xuxu’s grip tightened. Finally, she took a deep breath and said to Yingsu, "Take him and the ledgers to my cousin, then come back."

"Yes, Miss," Yingsu kicked the hefty Butler Qian, seized him by the collar, and hauled him outside. She fetched a long rope, trussed him up tightly, mounted a fast horse, and, with a strong effort, slung Butler Qian across the horse’s back and galloped towards Xuanyuan Mansion.

Feng Xuxu calmed her emotions and gathered the estate workers in the front courtyard, as she had something to say.

Upon receiving the news, the workers came in groups and clusters to the courtyard, quietly speculating amongst themselves.

When Feng Xuxu arrived at the front courtyard, she scanned the crowd; some squatting, others standing, all packed together. They whispered to each other, some gloating, some looking worried.

Mei Lenglei stepped forward and announced loudly, "Everyone, be quiet. This is the young mistress of Xuanyuan Mansion. From now on, she will be in charge of this estate. Because Butler Qian has made mistakes, he has been sent away. From this moment on, the management of the estate will be taken over by Lady Baihe."