Repudiating a Good Wife Is Out of the Question

70. To Entertain the Guest is One Hard Job

Translator: Sissy That Walk

Cao Mo had no idea Mammy Qian and Mammy Qin had their little encounter behind his back while he was busy arranging stuff around the house.

Guests from Qingzhi Alley arrived before noon.

Mammy Qian asked a maid to report this to Cao Mo before she led other mammies and maids to welcome the guests at the gate.

“Mammy Qian? Where is Xie Yonghe’s wife?” Big Madam Qi’s face darkened.

Mammy Qian chuckled, “You haven’t heard of it, Big Madam Qi? The Young Madam is managing the household now, he has assigned Xie Yonghe’s wife some other job and given me the honor to welcome you.”

Big Madam Qi was one sophisticated lady, she grasped a few points from what Mammy Qian said.

Firstly, Lady Lu was no longer in charge of the domestic affairs and quite naturally, the stewards worked for her were bound to be replaced by the new Madam.

Secondly, Mammy Qian was being modest when she said she had the honor to welcome guests and Xie Yonghe was entrusted with some other job, Mammy Qian was trying to say that she had gained grace in the manor.

Big Madam Qi cast a glimpse at her maid Mammy Liu, Mammy Liu took the hint and stepped forward to Mammy Qian, stuffing a pouch of silver into Mammy Qian’s sleeve stealthily, “Mammy, allow me to say a congratulations to you and the Young Madam, I heard the Young Madam is just seventeen years old, tut tut tut, how amazing!”

Mammy Qian beamed, she was loud in her thanks to Big Madam Qi and Mammy Liu while she led them to walk in, “Our Young Madam is young indeed, but he is such a capable young man, have you heard of the news that the Ministry of Works is now able to produce mirrors? That’s the Young Madam’s contribution… …”

Mammy Qian led the group to Jingyi Hall, there were bonsai plants standing on either way, the guests gasped on seeing such delightful green plants.

“Amida Buddha, look at the bonsai plants! So charming!” Big Madam Qi exclaimed and walked to the plants to take a closer look.

Mammy Qian nodded her head with a big smile, “This is also the Young Madam’s doing. The stewards who was in charge of gardening was rebuked by the Young Madam for she had always made excuses on not having new plants. The Young Madam has outsourced gardening to a He Family resides in the east, and they sent the bonsai plants for free as a thank you gift. The Young Madam knows Big Madam Qi likes green plants the best, he asked me to send you a few pots of the rarest plants to you.”

Big Madam Qi praise on Cao Mo, “What a great boy! So considerate and well-thought! Now I feel bad as an elder, how can I take presents from him like this, you know what, I have a few top quality inkstones in my house, I will ask my servant to send them to him tomorrow.”

Mammy Qian chortled with delight, “The Young Madam wasn’t counting on you to return him a present or anything, he says it’s his honor to be filial to you. He says he is young and inexperienced, all he wants is some understanding and forgiveness from the elders.”

“What a great boy! Oh my! I will remember his kind heart and put in good word for him.” Big Madam Qi beamed, she pointed at a pot of pinon pine and a pot of wintersweet, “Mammy Liu, go ask people to carry the two pots to our carriage, let me have a look about other plants.”

Mammy Qian snickered, she exclaimed in her heart that Cao Mo was truly a genius! Even Lady Lu had a hard time getting along with Big Madam Qi, but it looked like Cao Mo had won Big Madam Qi’s heart before he even met her.

… …

Big Fourth Madam from Hongfeng Alley and Big Third Madam from Zizhu Alley arrived at the lane from either end at the same time, but Mammy Xia stopped Big Third Madam and apologized, “Sorry for the inconvenience, Big Third Madam, the road is blocked, you need to go back and come to the manor from the other end of the lane.”

“What’s the matter? Since when the road is blocked?” asked Cuifen, Big Third Madam’s maid.

Mammy Xia explained, “The Young Madam has established a soap workshop at that end of the lane, fragrance soap can be used to wash hands and take baths, fragrance-free soap can be used to wash clothes, some big mouth has spread the word, people who want to buy soaps is blocking the road. The Young Madam explained to them several times that we are out of stock, but they just wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Big Third Madam’s eyes sparkled when she heard this huge business opportunity.

“Mammy Xia, let me take a look at the soap.” asked Big Third Madam.

Mammy Xia replied, “The Young Madam said no one is allowed to show off soaps outside for this is his first time to manage the household and he doesn’t want any trouble, if you want to see soaps, please get inside first.”

Big Third Madam nodded, she hurried her servants to change direction and get to the gate from the other end of the lane.

Big Fifth Madam arrived right after Big Third Madam left, she pulled a long face and asked Mammy Xia, “What are you doing here? Where’s your Young Madam?”

“To reply to Big Fifth Madam, Young Madam is entertaining the guests in Jingyi Hall, Big Madam Qi and Big Fourth Madam have arrived already, the Young Madam asked me to wait for you and escort you here.” replied Mammy Xia respectfully, she knew Big Fifth Madam was a mean one.

“Is this the way he treats his elders? Go tell your Young Madam, I’m right here waiting for him, I won’t get in unless he welcomes me in person.” with that Big Fifth Madam made as if to weep.

Mammy Xia didn’t see that coming, she sent a maid to report this to Cao Mo promptly.

… ..

“Young Madam, Big Fifth Madam is weeping on the street, she says you don’t respect her and she won’t come in unless you welcome her in person!”

“What?” Cao Mo sprang to his feet, “She is crying by our gate on such an auspicious day? Is she looking for trouble?”

Xiao Yi stood up and comforted Cao Mo, “It’s all right, I will go welcome her.”

“No rush, if she wants to cry, them she can cry, I will go welcome her when she finishes crying.” a crooked smile flashed across Cao Mo’s face.

“You, go keep an eye on the Big Fifth Madam, and come report to me when she is done crying.” said Cao Mo to the little maid.