Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 25 The Two Stewards of the First Branch

Qingmei said unhappily, "Who came? They can't even speak properly!"

"It's the Second Deacon!"

"I heard you. I'm asking you, who's here?"

The smooth-talking man said, "Yes... Second Steward Yang Can has arrived. The clan leader personally appointed him as the Second Steward of the eldest branch, and Steward Deng accompanied him."

Upon hearing this, the old women and maids in the courtyard immediately erupted in an uproar, whispering amongst themselves and creating a buzzing sound.

The lord sent a second steward?

Could it be that Qingmei, the second steward, appointed herself?
Qingmei was immediately embarrassed. Why would the clan leader send a second steward?

I have only just established my authority. If I were to lose it now, how would I be able to keep these 'old retainers of the Yu family' in check in the future?
Xiao Qingmei's mind raced, and she softly said "Oh," calmly adding, "So the deputy second steward appointed by the clan leader has arrived."

"You're so quick-witted! You're so clueless. Since it was Butler Deng who personally delivered them, why did you make them wait?"

"Without Sister Qingmei's permission, how could this servant dare to make such a decision?" Qiaoshe replied in a teasing tone.

Qingmei glared at her and said, "Hurry up and invite Steward Deng and the Second Deputy Steward in. I'll go and inform the young mistress."

"Yes, Second Steward!" The silver tongue, eager to see the excitement, hurriedly turned around and ran off in a flurry.

In the flower hall, the beautiful woman reclines on the Xiangfei couch, while Suo Chanzhi seems to be deep in thought.

She has officially moved into Phoenix Villa as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yu family.

The eldest son's family, as the "middle-class family," actually doesn't have much to manage.

Because Yu Chengye's assets in his inner residence were not much, but his outer residence included an orchard on Phoenix Mountain, a poultry and vegetable farm, as well as two industrial workshops with production lines in Lingzhou's salt pond and Heishui's iron smelting.

Those businesses that are currently only nominally under her control, but are actually managed by the eldest son's chief steward Li Youcai and several stewards from the outer residence.

Li Youcai is a member of the eldest branch of the family and is not under her control.

However, Suo Chanzhi was not in a hurry about this. Her most pressing task was to take control of the inner quarters.

If she cannot conceive, any schemes she may have now will be in vain.

Therefore, all she needs to do now is to make the inner quarters a solid, unyielding unit.

In this way, once she becomes pregnant, she can be sure that when the child is born nine months later, it will definitely be a boy no matter what.

She had already entrusted the task of instructing the maids and servants of the eldest son's household in the inner quarters to Qingmei. Now, her only worry was whether she could conceive.

Yang Can, oh Yang Can... I've let you bully me for so long, you better not disappoint me.

Just as Suo Chanzhi was thinking this, she heard Xiao Qingmei's urgent call.

"Young Madam, Young Madam, Yang Can, Yang Can, he..."

Qingmei rushed into the house, panting heavily.

Suo Chanzhi sat up abruptly from the chaise longue: "Yang Can? What happened to him?"

"what?"

Qingmei was taken aback by the young mistress's strong reaction and paused for a moment before saying, "He...he's here."

"he came?"

Suo Chanzhi's eyes widened in surprise: "How did he get here? No, how... how could he come to the inner quarters?"

Qingmei, remembering her still-unaccustomed status as "Second Steward," anxiously said, "The clan leader appointed him as the Second Steward of the First Branch. Steward Deng brought him here."

"what?"

Suo Chanzhi was overjoyed and said excitedly, "Quickly, let him... let Steward Deng and the others in."

Little Green Plum pouted, "Look at my girl, she's so worthless!"
So love can transfer, right?

……

"Deng Xun (Yang Can) greets the young mistress."

Manager Deng led Yang Can into the flower hall and bowed to Suo Chanzhi, who was already seated.

Suo Chanzhi glanced at Yang Can, who was dressed in a blue round-necked robe, tied with a belt and wearing a black turban. He seemed... to be even more handsome.

Suo Chanzhi's eyes shimmered with a gentle light.

After Yang Can finished bowing, he also looked towards Suo Chanzhi.

Suo Chanzhi was dressed in plain white clothes, her face as smooth as water and as radiant as jade. She exuded a youthful charm from the inside out, making her even more graceful and charming.

Steward Deng bowed to Suo Chanzhi and said, "Young Master has unfortunately passed away. Now the young mistress is the sole head of the eldest son's household, and everyone in the Yu family is watching."

The patriarch was worried that if the young mistress made any mistakes, it would give others leverage against her.

Therefore, Yang Can was assigned to the eldest son's family as the second steward, to share the burdens of the young mistress.

"Okay!"

Suo Chanzhi blurted out, and immediately received a warning look from Yang Can, which sent a shiver down his spine.

No, how could I be so excited about this?

Suo Chanzhi immediately sneered again: "Very good! Doesn't my father know that Yang Can harbors a great prejudice against the Suo family?"

Butler Deng smiled and said, "Young Madam, please calm down. Yang Can was originally a close advisor to the young master. He is loyal to the young master and is also very familiar with the affairs of the eldest branch. Appointing him as the steward of the eldest branch will allow him to better assist the young madam."

Butler Deng paused for a moment, then said, "As for Yang Can's previous reckless remarks, now that he is being asked to assist the young mistress, wouldn't his previous statements be completely refuted? This would also demonstrate the young mistress's magnanimity."

"Hmph, I'm just a petty woman, narrow-minded and don't need any grand gestures." Butler Deng still smiled, but his tone had become a bit harsher: "Young Madam, this is Master's intention."

Suo Chanzhi flicked her sleeve slightly and said calmly, "Since my father-in-law has made this arrangement, I, as his daughter-in-law, cannot object."

However, I just appointed Qingmei as the second steward of the eldest branch of the family, and now she's been branded as someone who went back on her word. How can she possibly manage the eldest branch in the future?

Little Green Plum was overjoyed to hear this; the girl's favorite was indeed me.

Steward Deng remained calm and said indifferently, "Second Master has handed over all six estates and three ranches."

According to the master's wishes, he wanted to transfer all these properties to the eldest son's family for management.

Sending someone as young and promising as Yang Can was also because they were worried that the eldest branch of the family might not be able to take good care of the many businesses they suddenly took over.

If the young mistress insists on not allowing Yang Can to take a position in the eldest branch of the family, then… this old servant will simply report the truth to the master.”

"Wait a minute!"

Upon hearing that Yu Xinglong was going to hand over all six estates and three ranches to the eldest son's family for management, Suo Chanzhi immediately called out to Deng Xun.

"Ahem! I have thought it over carefully. Qingmei is still young, and I'm afraid she is not up to the task of managing the properties under the eldest son's name."

"Alright then, Yang Can will be the second steward of the eldest branch, and Qingmei will be the deputy second steward of the eldest branch."

Qingmei pouted, but in front of outsiders, she didn't dare to offend the rules of hierarchy and didn't say anything.

Upon hearing this, Butler Deng's lips twitched involuntarily a few times.

The stewards of the eldest branch are already divided into first, second, and third positions; why bother with having a head and deputy?

Second Deputy Deacon? What a bizarre title.

Butler Deng smiled and said, "Yes, the young mistress has made this arrangement in order to better manage the eldest son's property. I believe the master will not have any objections. This old servant will report to the master when I return."

After finishing speaking, Steward Deng took a step back, smiled, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "Now that I have delivered the Second Steward of the First Branch, I will take my leave."

"Steward Deng, please take care. Qingmei, please see Steward Deng off for me."

Steward Deng repeatedly said he dared not, but Qingmei still sent him away.

Only Yang Can and Suo Chanzhi remained in the room. Suo Chanzhi slowly stood up, her plain-colored skirt flowing down like water.

"Unexpectedly, your unconventional approach actually worked, and Yu Xinglong has indeed given you an important position."

Yang Can shook his head and said, "That's not necessarily true. I think that Chief Yu is just making a preliminary move."

"Idle chess, what do you mean?"

“If you cannot conceive, or if the child you conceive is not a boy, the head of the clan can take back the properties that he allocated to the eldest son’s family at any time.”

As the second deacon, I can naturally become a figurehead at any time.

Suo Chanzhi glanced at Yang Can: "You knew this all along, so why did you still come?"

Yang Can sighed, "Although we are not husband and wife in name, we have the de facto relationship. How can I bear to abandon you?"

Ha ha……

Suo Chanzhi dismissed it as nonsense. How could you not feel sorry for her? Who treats their wife so harshly? She's not gentle at all.

Bah, you beast!

Suo Chanzhi recalled the unpleasant time Yang Can had spent as a pastry chef. She straightened her pretty face and gave a cold snort.

"Don't make it sound so nice; your usefulness may not even be that great."

Don't forget, you still have a Grand Deacon above you.

“I know him, Li Youcai, the chief steward. I dealt with him a few times when I was a secretary.”

Yang Can thought for a moment and said, "What this person values ​​most is the iron smelting in Blackwater and the salt mines in Spirit Pool. He doesn't care much about the affairs of the eldest son's family, so we don't need to be too wary of him."

Yang Can paused for a moment, then asked, "How much longer... will it take to confirm whether you are pregnant?"

At this, Suo Chanzhi's expression softened, and she subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, replying softly:

“I asked a few old women, and they said that even if we find a skilled doctor to take my pulse, it will still take another six or seven days.”

Yang Can nodded. The thought of finding out in just one week whether he had a child made his heart beat faster.

At this moment, Xiao Qingmei brought Deng Xun back. As soon as she entered the flower hall, she said angrily, "That old bastard Yu Xinglong sent Yang Can, who has a lot of prejudice against us, over here. What does he mean by that?"

Suo Chanzhi shook his head and said, "Those who control one thing to manage many things achieve balance and restraint. Anyone would do the same, and there's nothing wrong with that."

Yang Can glanced at Qingmei, who glared at him and said, "What are you looking at? I'm not afraid of you."

"Let's make this clear first, you're the deputy second deacon, and I'm the head second deacon."

Yang Can said, "Alright, you're number two, I'll be number three, okay?"

Qingmei was taken aback, not expecting him to be so easy to talk to, and felt a little embarrassed:
"That's not necessary. How about... once we're inside the inner quarters, I'll be in charge and you'll be in charge; once we're outside, you'll be in charge and I'll be in charge."

Suo Chanzhi nodded and said, "That's good. It's only reasonable for the two of you to compete with each other, so that others won't suspect anything."

Upon hearing this, Qingmei rubbed her hands together excitedly and said, "We can compete with him? That's great! Mr. Yang, let's see who has the best skills."

Yang Can shook his head slightly, too lazy to argue with a young girl, unless... it was just words.

Yang Can glanced at those rosy little lips.

Suo Chanzhi said, "Alright, since the clan leader has sent him to the eldest branch, Qingmei, why don't you take him to see Steward Li and give him an explanation?"

(End of this chapter)