The Noble Lady's Rebirth: She just wants to Rest in Peace!-Chapter 195: Making Plans Together

Liang Hui bought two rough servant women, one to work in Lin Youning’s courtyard, the other to help in the kitchen.

Lin Youning refused, "Sister-in-law, you know I already have Nanny Guo and two maids in my courtyard. I don’t lack for helpers. Let these two women help you instead."

"I don’t have much to manage here, one can stay in the kitchen and the other can be in your courtyard to help." Liang Hui wouldn’t have bought these two servant women if it weren’t for Sister Ning.

Lin Youning smiled bitterly, "Sister-in-law, now that Brother is a Third-Rank Assistant General, this house only has two rough servant women. I know these things may not seem important to you, but you need to think about Sister Ling’s future, about what kind of family she’ll marry into. Her natal family is her support; we cannot afford to be shunned by the noble families in the Capital. How could a family of officials have no servants?"

"I understand these things, it’s just that over the years, our family has kept it simple. Your brother and I have gotten used to it." Liang Hui, of course, thought about her daughter.

"Since you have considered these matters, you need to plan them well. Fewer people are easier to manage, but Brother is a man and doesn’t understand these things. You’ve been to noble families in the Capital and know what their setups are like. Even if we’re not comparing to them, we could at least compare to the gentry, right? Even gentry families have servants." Lin Youning knew her sister-in-law worried about the household income. "Apart from Brother’s salary, there’s no other income. I know that’s why you haven’t acted. I’ve saved some money over the years. Let me give it to you to buy land and shops. Don’t be quick to refuse, consider it as me asking you to manage it on my behalf. We can split the silver coins evenly. Otherwise, as a lady, I can’t do these things myself and wouldn’t make a single silver coin."

"Sister Ning, how could this work? It’s not just that I don’t agree, your brother won’t either. I understand you’re doing this for the family’s good, but we can’t use your belongings. You grew up pampered in the Marquis Mansion, and bringing you back to a house like ours already wrongs you, how could we take your things?" Liang Hui refused without a second thought.

"Sister-in-law, Brother doesn’t understand these matters, of course he’d refuse. But he is now a third-rank military general, and as the head mistress, you need to consider these issues." Lin Youning was resolute in her expression, "Or do we wait for the day when people point out Brother’s inner house is without decorum and send a noble girl in as a concubine?"

Liang Hui froze, "No... that can’t happen, right?"

Lin Youning nodded, "Why not? I grew up in the Marquis Mansion, and even if these things didn’t happen there, visiting madams spoke of such matters often."

Liang Hui wavered.

She came from the countryside, and even though her husband didn’t mind her background, she worried if he ever fancied a noble lady, she would be unable to oppose it, and she had felt heartache over it.

"Sister-in-law, trust me on this." Lin Youning knew it wasn’t right to scare her sister-in-law, but now that she was back, she needed to support the Zhao Mansion with her brother.

Her sister-in-law was kind and frugal, but now that Brother was a Third-Rank official, changes were necessary, or people would gossip and look down on him behind his back.

Liang Hui took a deep breath, "Alright, I’ll agree for now, but I still need to discuss this with your brother."

Lin Youning nodded with a smile.

When Zhao Housheng returned that evening and heard about it, he thought for a moment before agreeing.

His wife couldn’t understand, but Zhao Housheng recognized that his sister wanted to help them while preserving their dignity, which was why she frightened his wife this way.

With such intentions from his sister, how could Zhao Housheng refuse out of pride?

Privately, Zhao Housheng also spoke with his sister about it, "I understand your intentions. In the future, do what you wish, and I will pay attention on my side."

"As long as Brother isn’t angry." Lin Youning smiled.

No matter what, having something to do during the day kept Lin Youning from overthinking, and at night she asked Shanmoi and Hailan to bring out all her savings from over the years, apart from the gold ingots reserved for rewards, the rest were silver notes.

Most were allowances from Mrs. Gu Sr. and Gu Yifeng over the years.

With over ten thousand taels in total, Lin Youning was taken aback as she counted, "Five thousand taels will go to Sister-in-law, let her choose two shops and buy some land in the Capital."

As a noble family, how could they not have shops and land? Relying solely on a salary is tough, and life would be as poor as this.

Although she didn’t ask, Lin Youning knew her brother had always been looking for her and had no heart for life, and her sister-in-law never complained. The most aggrieved over the years had been her sister-in-law and Sister Ling.

Her Warm Pavilion, and the place where Nanny Guo lived, had belongings that, apart from those five thousand taels, there were more than ten thousand taels left, enough for a normal family to live comfortably for a lifetime.

Shanmoi, Hailan, and even Nanny Guo knew about this and did not stop or conceal it. They could see that the Madam saved money to buy a servant for the young lady, and with such intentions, how could the young lady not support her?

Liang Hui was startled by the silver notes sent over, but seeing her husband nod, she accepted them.

"The young lady said that tomorrow Nanny Guo will buy servants, and madam can just go look at shops and land." Shanmoi curtsied slightly before leaving.

Liang Hui held the silver notes but wasn’t that happy, "Clearly, bringing Sister Ning back was to enjoy life, yet we’re still burdening her."

"Accept it, let us live our days well, managing the land and shops, and when Sister Ning gets married, give her a larger dowry. That would be the least we could do." Zhao Housheng comforted his wife.

If it weren’t for his sister providing the silver notes, even if he had the heart to give a dowry in the future, he’d be unable to.

Years ago, their parents had lost her seeking to provide for his education, and it hastened their passing. This was always Zhao Housheng’s deepest regret, so now that he’s found his sister, he wants to give her the best of everything.

Liang Hui didn’t speak seeing her husband quiet, but internally a sense of strength arose, and she began to look forward to the future.

The next day, Liang Hui and Nanny Guo went out. Sister Ling went to school, so when Dong Boyun came by, she acted more freely, even suggesting to Lin Youning that they sneak out for a fun.

The last time Dong Boyun and Lin Youning went out, they encountered Xu Kuan. Right as they returned to Zhao Mansion, Xu Kuan came by, so to Lin Youning it seemed Xu Kuan was everywhere. Although going out seemed appealing, thinking of Xu Kuan made Lin Youning hesitant.

Yet, a quarter of an hour later, Dong Boyun led her out of the mansion.