Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 1042 - 1041: Calculation, Knocking

Liu Sisi did understand the thoughts of the married woman.

In the case of house servants from an average wealthy family, when they died, they were simply wrapped in a straw mat and buried. However, for the house servants of marquises and princesses, they could be interred in a special cemetery prepared for them, and designated individuals would come and burn incense and worship during festivals, which could be deemed as having support in old age.

Hence, it was common to see servants and attendants who would recommend themselves to work for the households of dukes and ministers. While they were alive, they received high salaries, and even in death, they had a support system. Why wouldn’t they be happy?

After some thought, Liu Sisi said, "Since they are all fellow villagers, you can find some free time to bring the person over for a look."

Whether it would work out or not, she had to send someone to check first and then see the person for herself.

Miao Cuihua immediately brightened, nodding repeatedly, "Of course. But Sisi, Xuan’er is about to get married too, and there seem to be too few people attending to him. Haven’t you thought about adding more people to his side?"

"Let’s wait a while! It’s still early."

Liu Sisi didn’t go into detail with Miao Cuihua. In fact, she had already considered this matter. There truly weren’t enough people beside Di Xuan. Over the years, it had always been Xiao Shitou and Xue Yi attending to him. The maids and pageboys assigned to him had been sent to the outer courtyard, not allowed near him, and he didn’t even bring them when he left the capital this time.

If she were to add more people to Di Xuan’s side now, with Prefecture Princess Luo’s temperament, she naturally wouldn’t say anything. But these people would become a thorn between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, impossible for Prefecture Princess Luo to remove, a constant irritation in her throat. Why then should she add trouble for herself?

Miao Cuihua’s smile instantly vanished, and even as she wanted to persuade further, she saw Liu Sisi’s face sink, and she reluctantly bade her goodbye.

As she stepped outside, Miao Cuihua couldn’t help but look back, her envy spreading uncontrollably.

Although they were both women, some were simply more fortunate and could easily ascend to a high branch, becoming true nobility with many servants and maids at their beck and call. Deciding the life and death of others was just a matter of a few words, not to mention there were loving husbands and children surrounding them, living a happy and complete life. How wonderful it would be if she, Miao Cuihua, could have such a life!

These thoughts flashed through her mind, and then she shook her head, dispersing any inappropriate thoughts before smiling.

Why would she suddenly have such thoughts? Was it because Liu Sisi had just mentioned the Second Manager?

Whenever she thought of the Second Manager, the smile that had barely appeared on Miao Cuihua’s face faded.

She was nearly forty years old; why bother with such disgraceful thoughts? Little Chubby was of marriageable age. Wouldn’t it be better to wait a bit longer, let Sisi finish handling Young Master Xuan’s marriage, inform Sisi of Little Chubby’s marital arrangements, let her help find a suitable girl, and then she could dote on her grandchildren and enjoy her twilight years?

Having sorted through these thoughts, she cut off that ripple in her heart and got up to leave.

Thinking of the several families who trusted her to sell their daughters into servitude in the Di Family, she felt irritable and quickened her pace.

Liu Sisi watched Miao Cuihua’s retreating back with a cold gaze, then continued selecting the appropriate flower vase.

A wedding was a big deal in any dynasty, from significant items to small needle and spoon essentials. Everything had to be perfectly prepared, which was truly exhausting.

"Princess, you should rest for a while. The wedding is still some time away, and there’s no rush at this moment. If you overexert yourself and become unwell, it would be a loss not worth the gain."

Ms. Gao brought over a teacup and set it down, smilingly persuading her.

"You mustn’t underestimate it, this is indeed no easy job!"

Liu Sisi did as told and set down the vase in her hand, glanced at the hefty shopping list that needed to be attended to, and let out a weary sigh as she massaged the center of her forehead.

All sorts of troublesome matters piled up together truly prevented her from relaxing.

"As long as a person still breathes, they must continually toil, right? They say it’s rest, but how can one truly rest without a single thought? Wouldn’t that make them a fool? Since we’re alive, these things that ought to be done, if they can be finished earlier, just finish them, and one less thing to worry about."

Ms. Gao gently moved behind her, slowly starting to massage her shoulders: "Princess, you just can’t calm your heart. Fortunately, Young Master Xuan is about to marry Prefecture Princess Luo, and afterward, you can also have some rest."

Ms. Gao spoke, her face filled with words she hesitated to say.

Liu Sisi closed her eyes in silence; when she opened them again, she saw Ms. Gao’s reflection in the bronze mirror directly across from her.

"Ms. Gao, do you have something you want to say?"

"It’s... it’s not really a big deal."

Although Ms. Gao originally intended to deny it, her words took a turn as she spoke out, her tone carrying a hint of embarrassment: "Speaking of which, there’s a bit of selfishness on this old servant’s part. Hadn’t Manager Miao previously asked the Princess if there were any more servants needed? This old servant was hoping to seek your grace for Chen’er, to find her suitable work."

Chen’er was Ms. Gao’s daughter, born later in life, and was six years old this year; she hadn’t been brought along when they left the capital. It was just the right age for ordinary families to send their children into service at the manor.

"Chen’er just turned six, didn’t she? Isn’t that a bit too young?"

"The Princess has a good memory, indeed! It was just at the beginning of the month she turned six! What this old servant means is to let her start serving in the mansion now. It doesn’t really matter where she serves. What do you think, Princess?" Ms. Gao’s hands relaxed unknowingly as she massaged, carefully observing Liu Sisi’s expression.

"Chen’er is your daughter, and although she’s still young this year, serving in the manor is fine; learning early is better than being unruly when one gets older. Let her start as a cleaning maid in the outer courtyard for now! After we return to the capital, we’ll make other arrangements."

Liu Sisi couldn’t fathom why Ms. Gao would want her little girl to start serving at only six years old.

With some dissatisfaction in her heart, the tasks she arranged naturally had a punitive intent.

The color drained from Ms. Gao’s face—she hadn’t expected Liu Sisi to assign such work to Chen’er. At just six years old and based on what she knew of Liu Sisi from the past, it was more probable she’d have Chen’er serve Feng’er’s newly born son, or in the rooms of Young Master Xuan or the Third Young Master. No matter how much she calculated, she had not anticipated that Liu Sisi would break from convention and directly assign the lowest maid’s duties to the child.

"What’s wrong? Are you dissatisfied with my arrangement?"

Liu Sisi snorted coldly, her face naturally showing displeasure.

First, she’d been outwitted by Zuo Xingyu, then angered by Di Yelei, later fiercely bumped into by Di Xuan, just recently, Miao Cuihua used her as a favor to send people around, and now Ms. Gao, the person closest to her, even chose this time to scheme against her. How could she possibly be in a good mood?