Full House Spring

Chapter 88 Hidden Dragon and Crouching Tiger
When Rong heard her daughter's words, she knew that she was a person with plans in mind. It was obvious that she had been well educated by the old lady in the Duke's Mansion.

Rong said happily, "Mother will call all the capable maids in the mansion to you. You can choose any one you want. Is that okay?"

Xia Li smiled with curved eyebrows and said in a brisk voice: "Mom loves me the most. I will only pick six at most. More than that will make it too noisy."

Rong said in a gentle voice, "It doesn't matter if there are too many. It's a good opportunity to learn how to control people. Although mother is reluctant to part with you, she can't keep you by her side forever. You have to get married sooner or later. Whether it's managing the household affairs or taking care of the dowry, you have to slowly pick it up."

Xia Li didn't dislike this topic. Not to mention getting married, she had considerable assets and she really should learn how to manage them.

"What mother said makes sense. I think you and sister-in-law are both outstanding. With your guidance, I have nothing to worry about."

Rong nodded slightly and said, "It's a good thing to learn more from your sister-in-law. I'll ask Aunt Xu to call the maids over. You can choose them first. You can't become fat in one go. Take it step by step."

Xia Li nodded in agreement. She straightened her clothes and sat up straight. Soon, more than thirty maids were led in one after another. Although there were many people, no one made any noise except for the sound of footsteps.

They were about the same age as Xia Li, and they all stood in a row in an orderly manner. Although they kept their eyes down and dared not look around, they all tried their best to show themselves. If they were lucky enough to be chosen by a girl, it would be a great opportunity.

Rong glanced at the maids with a serious expression, then turned to Xia Li and whispered, "Do you want mother to speak for you, or do you want to do it yourself?"

Xia Li took a pine nut and peeled it, saying slowly, "Mom, just watch, I'll choose it myself."

Rong said lovingly, "Okay, pick them yourself, and I'll peel the pine nuts for you."

Xia Li accepted her mother's care with peace of mind. She looked at the girls and said loudly, "Those who can read, please step forward."

As soon as he finished speaking, more than 20 maids stood up. This literacy rate was not low. Xia Li nodded with satisfaction. She picked up the pine nuts that Rong had peeled and put them in her mouth. She continued, "From left to right, tell me what you are good at in order."

The maids tried their best to be chosen by the girl, so they all promoted themselves enthusiastically. Most of them were good at embroidery, some could read account books, and there was even one who knew medical skills. The girl's name was Du Ruo, she was pretty and gentle, and her temperament did not seem like a maid.

Rong explained softly, "Du Ruo is not a family-born child. Her family originally ran a clinic, but later fell into poverty. She followed her aunt to become a female doctor to treat the female family members in the inner house. Now that her aunt has passed away, she sold herself to the mansion as a slave, saying that she is willing to be your maid."

Xia Li looked puzzled and raised his voice to ask, "Since you know medical skills, why do you have to come out to be a slave? You can practice medicine outside and make a living without worrying about it."

Although Du Ruo's temperament was different from the other maids, she was extremely respectful to Xia Li. She said in a gentle voice, "I am too young. Although I have learned all the skills of my aunt, I am still not trusted by others. In addition, I have no one to rely on. Even if I can earn money, it is difficult not to be calculated by others. It is better to find another way to make a living."

Seeing her beautiful face and medical skills, Xia Li was attracted by her. She said thoughtfully, "I really need a girl like you. As long as you work hard and be loyal to me, I can give you a bond if you want to get rid of slavery and regain your freedom in the future."

A hint of surprise flashed across Du Ruo's eyes, and she said solemnly: "Thank you for your kindness, Master. I will serve you wholeheartedly and will never have any second thoughts."

Xia Li nodded with satisfaction and motioned for her to step out and stand with Qiao He and the others. The number of spots was limited, and if one was taken there would be one less spot, and the remaining people would inevitably feel a sense of urgency.

Xia Li asked a few girls who were good at reading account books and doing math. They were all very eloquent and Xia Li didn't know how to choose for a while, so he just asked them to answer the questions directly.

Rong watched with great interest and did not disturb her. She let her daughters do it on their own. In the end, two girls of equal quality emerged. They were twins. Xia Li did not hesitate and simply took both of them.

Baiguo and Baiying were extremely happy. The two sisters did not have to be separated and could both stay with the girl and serve her. This was the best thing.

Xia Li picked out two people who were good at embroidery and another who was familiar with various rules and etiquette so that they could be useful in the future.

Xia Li was extremely satisfied with the maids selected this time, but it put a lot of pressure on Shi Mi and Qiao He. In the past, it was difficult to pick out a skilled maid among the ten servants in the Duke's Mansion, but the Fang family seemed to have many skilled maids.

It's not that they are intolerant. The more capable girls Xia Li has around him, the easier it will be to solve problems in the future. Shi Mi is older than them, so she can control them.

Nanny Zhou first took the selected maids back to Cuihua Court to settle them down, while Xia Li stayed to talk with Rong. After a while, Sun Fuya came over with a white, tender and cute little girl.

Xia Li's eyes lit up when he saw Shuo Ge'er. Such a small kid, who could not walk steadily and spoke slurred, yet he greeted his grandmother and aunt in a serious manner.

Rong directly took Shuo Ge'er into her arms and asked lovingly, "Is our Shuo Ge'er's cough healed?"

Shuo Ge'er first glanced at Xia Li curiously, then said in a baby voice: "Still coughing...my stomach hurts..."

Rong said distressedly: "Then you have to continue taking the medicine, otherwise you won't get better."

Shuo Ge'er's meaty little face was squeezed into a ball, and he said unhappily: "The medicine is bitter... It doesn't taste good..."

Rong pretended to be angry and said, "How can you not take medicine? Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease. Brother Shuo, you must be obedient."

Although the little girl was reluctant, she finally nodded and agreed. Sun Fuya said with a smile, "She only listens to her grandmother. Yesterday, her father let her ride like a horse, but she just didn't want to take the medicine."

Rong didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said, "If his father is willing to let him ride on him, then let him ride as much as he wants. After all, our Shuo Ge is smart, right?"

Shuogeer seemed to understand what was said, and his saliva flowed out of his mouth. Xia Li hurried forward to wipe it for him and said with a smile: "Shuogeer, do you know who I am?"

Shuo Ge'er said shyly: "Auntie..."

Seeing how happy his little boy looked, Xia Li took him from his mother's arms and talked to him. Perhaps because Xia Li was good-looking and looked very much like his grandmother, Shuo Ge'er accepted him well, and the two of them became as close as one in no time.

Sun Fuya was happy to see this happen. It was a good thing for her son to be loved by more people. Now she was in charge of the household affairs, and she was responsible for all the trivial matters in the mansion. She simply left her son to her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and went to do other things. Xia Li took Shuo Ge'er to run around the mansion and saw a small bamboo forest in the yard of the mansion. She waved her hand and cut down a bamboo to make a rolling lantern for Shuo Ge'er to play with.

While she was doing it, Shuo Ge'er was helping her beside her. The aunt and nephew were having a lot of fun. It took them half a day. Each of them made a rolling lantern and happily ran to the main courtyard.

There were few people in the mansion, and dinner was mostly eaten together in the main courtyard. When the aunt and nephew went there, Fang Zongru and Fang Qizheng also came back from the academy. Shuo Ge'er couldn't wait to show off his rolling lantern to his grandfather.

When Sun Fuya heard that it was her sister-in-law who did it, she hurried to check her hands. Seeing the scars from the bamboo sticks, she said distressedly:

"Sister, why do you have to do it yourself? Look at what you have done. Next time, just tell the servants to do it, and don't let Brother Shuo do everything for you."

Xia Li smiled and said, "This minor injury is nothing serious. As long as Shuo and I are happy, this is for you, sister-in-law."

Although Sun Fuya behaved properly and steadily, she was only in her twenties and was still a little girl at heart. She played with the rolling lantern, and no matter how she rolled it, the candle inside would not go out. She exclaimed sincerely, "My sister's hands are really dexterous."

Xia Li said indifferently: "It's just a little toy to coax the child, sister-in-law, don't think too much about it."

Fang Qizheng had already started competing with his son for the chance to play, and the two of them were making a lot of noise. The main courtyard was bustling with activity. Both Rong and Fang Zongru were not conservative people, so they let them play.

The family sat at the same table for dinner. Shuo Ge'er also sat with them and was fed by a wet nurse. They did not follow the rule of not talking while eating or sleeping. The family talked about all sorts of trivial things while eating, which made Xia Li feel extremely warm in her heart. This was just like the happiness she had dreamed of. She was a little annoyed that she had not found her relatives earlier.

Although the second son was still in Kyoto, Rong felt extremely fulfilled. After dinner, when all the children had left, the old couple sat in the room and talked. Rong said with emotion: "I never dared to imagine this scene today. My life is finally complete."

Fang Zongru handed the warm milk to his wife and said with a faint smile: "This is just the beginning. The second son has not yet married, and our good daughter's marriage has not yet been settled. It is too early to say that it is perfect now."

Rong took a sip of milk and frowned, "Does the Kuang family really want to cling to the good girl? They don't even want to take the official position given to him?"

Fang Zongru took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to her. Rong put down her milk and saw that the letter was signed by Kuang Chengrui. She hurriedly read it. After she finished reading it quickly, she said with a serious face:
"What does this guy mean? He doesn't want to cancel the engagement, and he wants us to find a suitable partner for our daughter. Does he want us to be scolded?"

Fang Zongru folded the letter again and said in a deep voice:

"That guy is confident enough in himself. There are indeed not many people who are better than him. He probably knows that we don't want our daughter to marry, so he is gambling."

In Rong's mind, nothing is more important than her daughter's happiness. She said calmly, "I don't care what he thinks. Since he said that he is willing to cancel the engagement if my daughter finds a suitable marriage partner, then I will find one for my daughter. Whether it is marrying into the family or marrying down, there are countless families with higher status than the Kuang family. I don't believe that he is the only one."

Fang Zongru had met Kuang Chengrui before and had some understanding of his abilities. He said objectively, "Except for his background, Kuang Chengrui is really not bad. If I am right, he will be promoted to a higher position soon. There are not many guys more capable than him. What will happen in the future is really uncertain."

After hearing what he said, Rong calmed down. She said seriously, "As long as the Kuang family doesn't ask for an immediate marriage, there is room for negotiation. I will look for a partner first."

Fang Zongru didn't object. His daughter was not young anymore and could only stay for two years at most, so he had to make preparations in advance.

Xia Li lived a leisurely and comfortable life. She had no idea that her parents were worried about her marriage. Even if she knew about the letter from Kuang Chengrui, she probably wouldn't take it too seriously. No one could force her to do anything she didn't want to do.

On the second day, just as Sun Fuya sent Shuo Ge'er to Cuihua Ting in Xiali, a maid came to report that her mother had come. The Sun family was also a big family in Laizhou. Although it was not as profound as the Fang family, it should not be underestimated.

Sun's mother treated her daughter Pingping and asked as soon as she entered the house: "Where has Shuoge gone? I haven't seen him for a long time."

Sun Fuya dismissed the maidservant and said coldly, "My brother has gone to play with his aunt. Has mother informed my mother-in-law?"

Mother Sun rolled her eyes and said unhappily, "If I go, your mother-in-law will always make trouble. How dare I not say hello to her?"

Sun Fuya said unhappily, "Mother, please be careful with your words. This is the most basic etiquette. If you don't even understand this, you'd better not go out."

Mother Sun and her eldest daughter had always been at odds, and she didn't want to make things awkward at this moment, so she changed the subject and asked, "Did you really find your sister-in-law? What does she look like and what is she like?"

It is normal for other families in Laizhou to pay attention to the Fang family's movements. This is not a secret that cannot be told. She said frankly:
"It's true. My sister-in-law looks similar to my mother-in-law. She is also a beauty, well-educated and well-mannered, and is no worse than the ladies in Laizhou."

Mother Sun nodded and said self-righteously, "Although she was not raised in the Fang family, she is a girl from the Fang family after all. It is possible for her to marry your cousin. Your aunt wants you to help bring them together."

Sun Fuya said with disdain, "My cousin didn't even pass the exam to become a scholar, yet he dares to be a toad and want to eat swan meat. Is mother not in a clear mind?"

Mother Sun was displeased and said, "What are you talking about? The Wu family only has your cousin as their legitimate son. Although they are not as wealthy as the Fang family, they are still a family of officials. Could it be that he is not worthy of a girl who was raised outside? I heard that she was working as a maid in Kyoto. It's rare that your aunt didn't despise her, but you chose her."

Sun Fuya could really understand why her father hated her mother. Even she couldn't stand her mother, let alone others. She suppressed her anger and said:
"If mother doesn't want to go back and be scolded by father, then don't meddle in other people's business. The Wu family can't even dream of having a daughter of the Fang family. A fellow like my cousin won't even be considered for marriage into our Fang family. Do you understand?"

Mother Sun was very unhappy and started to yell, "You heartless girl, are you looking down on your in-laws? If you hadn't crawled out of my belly, you wouldn't have the good life you have now, you..."

Without waiting for her to continue, Sun Fuya shouted:
"Please be careful with your words and actions, mother. I can live a good life because I am a girl from the Sun family and have nothing to do with my maternal family. If you are still confused, I will let my eldest brother send you to the family temple."

Although Mother Sun gnashed her teeth with anger, she did not dare to continue arguing with her daughter. She stood up and said, "You are a heartless girl who doesn't care about me at all. When your man gets tired of you, I'll see who will support you."

Sun Fuya rubbed her forehead and said coldly: "Even if I am divorced, I will not ask you to make the decision. If mother has nothing else to do, please go back quickly."

Sun's mother wanted to grab her daughter's hair and slap her a few times, but unfortunately, she only dared to think about it, and finally had to go back with a lot of anger.

(End of this chapter)