Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 714 - 667: Replacement of Power (1)

"Mother, with so many people, how should we deal with them? If we drive them all away, what about the New Year’s preparations?" asked Madam Baili, seizing upon one last excuse and daring to ask.

It wasn’t possible to skip the New Year, after all, was it?

"Select some reliable and seasoned people from several estates outside the city to come up," said Old Madam Baili.

Madam Baili’s mind turned slightly; if the selection was from the estates, wouldn’t she be the one to select them?

The people on the estates, though they lived freely, didn’t have much profit and lived in hardship. They were eager to come to the city for work, and many had secretly given her benefits hoping to come to the city.

"Yes, Old Madam, I understand," replied Madam Baili.

Just as she was about to leave, Old Madam spoke again, "The people on the estates were all arranged by Lan Niang. Select whom you want to bring back to the city and have her review and approve them."

This was like a bucket of ice water poured over her, completely dousing Madam Baili’s hopes.

The Old Madam was clearly biased. As soon as the second son’s wife was slightly better, she was immediately given back authority.

Not daring to defy the Old Madam, Madam Baili had to respond, "Yes, Mother."

.

From the mansion, the fifty or so undisciplined servants were all people of the First Madam. Half of the remaining were also First Madam’s people, but these were honest and didn’t do anything out of line, so Second Madam Baili did not pursue them, only punishing the problematic fifty.

These individuals were sent to remote, impoverished estates to do hard labor.

With some people driven away, vacancies needed to be filled immediately, and Madam Baili selected personnel from other estates.

Not all the people selected were accepted; thirty percent of them were eliminated by the Second Madam.

Madam Baili, seething with anger, had no choice but to pick more people from the estates to return to the city.

After two busy days, on the day before New Year’s Eve, the mansion’s servants were finally sorted out.

Second Madam Baili took some medicine and, holding the nanny’s hand, addressed the newly selected servants.

Her voice was weak, but her words were firm, "You have come to the city. You must be aware of why you’ve been selected. The mansion is not like the estates, where you can freely play after your work is done. In the mansion, once the work is done, you must stay by the master ready to serve. Without permission, you’re not allowed to go out freely, nor are you allowed to steal, form cliques, and harm others behind the master’s back. Anyone caught will be put to death! Have you remembered this?"

The first four disobedient ones died mysteriously, and stories about them had already twisted among the servants, claiming they were discreetly executed by Baili Mansion to save face.

The Second Madam’s stern address made the newly arrived servants think of the four dead ones, eradicating any rebellious thoughts they might have had.

Besides, doing hard labor under the sun at the estates earned less money compared to the comfortable service in the city mansion.

They had pleaded with the First Madam for half a year without success, and now with luck falling from the sky, being chosen by the Second Madam was a blessing they’d cherish no matter what.

Dozens of people responded together, "We have remembered, Second Madam."

This act of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys discouraged anyone else from acting recklessly.

Second Madam Baili used a mix of kindness and intimidation, giving everyone the New Year’s money in advance, which was double what they received in previous years.

In the past, when they were on the estates, the New Year’s money was only one thousand cash; this year it was two thousand cash.

Working for the First Madam, the reward was taken secretly, and if unlucky, one could lose their life; working for the Second Madam, earning was done openly.

Comparing the two, the servants’ loyalty shifted towards the Second Madam.

Moreover, with the Second Madam’s recovery, she would definitely take charge of the mansion. She was also a third-rank Envoy’s Wife, a noblewoman of the court.

The quick-witted servants had all turned their allegiance to the Second Madam.

The First Madam lost her people and her influence. On the surface, she remained the housekeeper’s wife, but she could no longer command the mansion’s servants.

Unable to vent her anger in the mansion, she lashed out at the maids in her quarters instead.

"First Madam, here is an invitation to a banquet for you," said the maid timidly, handing over the invitation upon noticing the First Madam’s anger.

The First Madam turned her head in fury, "I won’t look at it!"

"It’s an invitation from Madam Xue," the maid said.

The First Madam hesitated, glanced at the maid, and immediately took the invitation.

This Madam Xue claimed to come from a high-ranking family in the capital, and her husband was also the legitimate son of a prestigious family.

The First Madam did not know her exact identity, but she could speak of secrets within the Imperial Palace and even knew the reasons why Baili Erlang and Baili Huang became envoys.

Beside her was the Second Steward of the Yu Wen Family of Marquis Zhongyi, and the carriage she rode was also from the Yu Wen Family. And currently, the Yu Wen Family was favored by the Emperor.

The most important point was that Madam Xue was generous and extravagant, gifting more lavishly than any lady in the city, with rare Western Regions rouge in her possession.

As Madam Baili’s husband was not an official, she was troubled by not having official wives to befriend. Madam Xue’s initiative in visiting Madam Baili made her feel greatly flattered and surprised.

Through repeated visits, they became acquainted.

Madam Xue knew a lot about managing the affairs of high family residences.

Under her guidance, Madam Baili managed the Baili Mansion in an orderly manner, and if it weren’t for the incident with the four servants a few days ago, she might have remained in charge of the household affairs.

Thinking of the troubles in the mansion over these days, Madam Baili also wanted to talk to Madam Xue and vent.

"Prepare the carriage. I’m going to see Madam Xue," Madam Baili instructed the maid, after glancing at the location written on the invitation.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and preparations for the New Year’s Eve dinner were underway, which was originally Madam Baili’s responsibility, but since her people were driven out and penalized by the Second Madam, she was in a bad mood and simply left everything unattended.

Madam Xue invited her for tea, giving her the perfect excuse to leave the mansion.

Old Madam Baili, upon knowing that she left the mansion, immediately wore a displeased expression, "The second son’s wife is still taking medicine, yet she left the mansion?"

Fortunately, Second Madam Baili was kind and did not mind these matters, comforting the Old Madam, saying that her health could handle it.

But no matter how kind she was, Old Madam Baili couldn’t feel at ease, because, after all, having been ill for half a year, she was as thin as paper. Claiming to be strong might fool children but couldn’t fool adults.

Thus, Old Madam Baili had to personally lend a hand.

The servants in the mansion, all of whom were replaced, fearing they would be sent to the countryside to do farm work if they didn’t do their jobs well, worked diligently, so Second Madam Baili didn’t have to worry too much.

Who was in charge of cleaning the rooms, who watched over the refreshments, who managed the tables and chairs, whether the festive couplets and window decorations were put up, whether the red lanterns were hung, whether firecrackers were ready, whether the traveling carriages and palanquins had new curtains replaced, and whether the tent, curtains, and drapes in the master’s rooms were changed.

All of these tasks were conducted orderly under Second Madam Baili’s arrangement.