Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Zhao, the wet nurse, was rendered speechless by the merciless questioning and rebuke from the two women, mistress and servant.

She always thought that Wen Jingshu was gentle and kind-hearted, and that her pleading might give her a chance to survive.

Unexpectedly, the seemingly amiable matriarch was so decisive and ruthless when she turned cold, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"Madam, this servant... this servant..."

She wanted to plead again, but Wen Jingshu no longer looked at her and said to Zizhu indifferently, "Take her away and leave the mansion immediately."

"Yes," Zizhu replied, gesturing for the two burly old women behind her to step forward.

Zhao's wet nurse let out a piercing cry and struggled desperately, but she was no match for the strength of the two old women.

She was quickly grabbed by one person on each side and forcibly dragged away.

The cries and struggles gradually faded away, eventually disappearing into the depths of the lush flowers and trees.

Being soft-hearted is a major taboo in managing a family.

There are some bottom lines that must never be crossed.

Wen Jingshu held Ye'er in her arms, the coldness on her face slowly fading. She gently patted the child's back and soothed him softly.

"Ye'er, don't be afraid, it's alright now."

She held her child in her arms and continued walking slowly forward, the sunlight shining on her, making her look dignified and graceful.

After resting for half a day, I spent a lot of time playing with Luo Luo, fostering a bond between mother and daughter.

Feeling somewhat recovered, Liu Wenying tidied herself up and went to Tinglan Courtyard to take her shift.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she encountered Zizhu, who was about to leave.

When Zizhu saw her, she smiled gently and said, "Nanny Liu has arrived. The Madam is in the main house and wants you to go directly there."

Liu Wenying thanked her, but felt slightly surprised.

She composed herself and quietly entered the main house.

A faint, calming incense burned in the room. Wen Jingshu sat on a chaise lounge by the window, intently flipping through what looked like a register.

"This servant greets the First Madam." Liu Wenying bowed respectfully.

Wen Jingshu looked up at the sound and smiled, "Wen Ying is here, please sit down."

Liu Wenying thanked him, sat down on a small stool beside the couch, and listened attentively with her head bowed.

"I called you here today because I have something to tell you."

"Please give your orders, Madam."

"Tomorrow, Granny Tian will recruit a new batch of servants to join the household."

The manpower in the manor, especially those serving Ye'er, needs to be carefully reorganized and replenished after the recent changes.

You've learned a lot about judging people and managing affairs by following me these past few days.

"This time, when they're choosing people, you'll go with Granny Tian and watch carefully, learning as you go."

Liu Wenying's heart stirred slightly; she had been given a task, and it was time for her to help choose someone to serve the young master.

Wen Jingshu continued, "Assign a few clever, honest, and clean people to Tinglan Courtyard to take care of Ye'er's daily life. Since Zhao Nanny has already left the mansion, there are even fewer people available to help Ye'er."

Zizhu also said, "Yes, Zhao Nanny was sent away today. Now, Liu Nanny is the most senior in the manor and is relied upon by the young master. She has a heavy responsibility."

Zhao the wet nurse was driven away as Liu Wenying had expected, and she was not surprised.

However, Zizhu's words about the heavy responsibility suddenly made her feel pressured.

She rose, trembling with fear, and said, "Madam, I am young and inexperienced, I'm afraid..."

"Don't panic. Granny Tian is experienced and will take care of things. However, you have been by Ye'er's side the longest and know his temperament and habits best. It's always safer for you to keep an eye on him and help keep an eye on him."

Wen Jingshu gently comforted her, then looked at Liu Wenying.

"I trust your judgment and your good intentions. I will always remember the kindness you showed in saving Ye'er. Now, I am asking you to help choose people for Ye'er so that those who will serve him in the future can be as dedicated and responsible as you."

The First Madam's complete trust left Liu Wenying with no way to refuse, nor could she even think of refusing.

Liu Wenying took a deep breath and dared not hesitate, replying solemnly, "This servant will certainly do her best."

Wen Jingshu nodded in satisfaction and ordered her to go with Granny Tian to the front yard to check the people the next day.

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the sun had just climbed above the screen wall.

The front yard, usually the place where male servants and stewards of the outer courtyard spend their time, was quite lively at this time.

In the open space of the courtyard, three rows of people stood in neat rows, about twenty or thirty in total, mostly young women, but also a few older women.

They all lowered their heads and looked away, not daring to look around.

Granny Tian, ​​dressed in a dark brown silk shirt, stood with a stern face and her hands behind her back, scrutinizing everyone in the crowd.

When Liu Wenying came over, the stern look on Granny Tian's face disappeared, replaced by a rare kindness.

"You've arrived. The First Madam instructed me to have you help take a look as well."

Granny Tian raised her chin slightly. "Look, they all came this morning either from the brokerage or by applying on their own. They've all been screened by the prefectural doctor and are all healthy. Do you see any that you like?"

Liu Wenying responded with a "Yes," then turned around and calmly faced the three rows of faces that were either tense, expectant, or meek.

At this time last year, she stood here, waiting to be chosen, her fate entirely in the hands of others.

Now, in just one year, she is in the position of choosing people, and her status has been reversed.

A pang of sadness swept through her heart, but Liu Wenying quickly composed herself.

My gaze first fell on the few plump women standing slightly forward; they must have come to apply for the position of wet nurse.

Liu Wenying pointed to one of the women, who had an honest-looking face and somewhat timid eyes, and asked, "How old are your children?"

The woman quickly lowered her head and answered softly, "I have a little boy at home who just turned one year old."

She's about the same age as Ye'er.

"Why did you become a wet nurse?"

"The harvest in the fields was poor, and my husband injured his leg. I wanted to come out and earn some money to supplement the family income..." the woman said, her eyes reddening.

Liu Wenying nodded, neither confirming nor denying, then turned to another woman beside her who appeared more composed: "And you?"

"My husband passed away last month, my mother-in-law is elderly, and I have a daughter who is only nine months old. I'm looking for a stable job..."

She speaks more clearly and her tone is more steady.

Liu Wenying listened carefully, quickly trying to figure out their personalities.

She then asked a few more questions about feeding children and handling common minor issues.

Although their answers weren't particularly outstanding, they were decent enough, showing that they had some experience.

Liu Wenying understood the situation and turned to look at Granny Tian.

"Granny, I think these two sisters-in-law are reliable and steady, so they should be able to take good care of Ye'er."

"Hmm, you have a very discerning eye when it comes to choosing people. They're the same as the ones I've picked. Let's go with them," Granny Tian praised.

The two chosen beamed with joy, while the remaining unchosen ones looked disappointed.

After selecting her wet nurse, Liu Wenying turned her gaze to the two rows of people applying for maidservant positions behind her.

Compared to wet nurses, who require consideration of breastfeeding experience, physical health, and even temperament, the criteria for selecting maids are more lenient.

However, the rules of the Duke of Yu's mansion were still much stricter than those of ordinary families.

Liu Wenying walked slowly along the line, pondering which ones were nimble and agile, when her gaze suddenly stopped.

…………