Being a second wife is difficult: I'm busy raising children in the Earl's mansion.

As soon as Qinghe finished speaking, Jiang Wan quickened her pace, and the return journey from the suburbs was smooth.

She had assumed that Uncle Xu would at most wait and rest in a side hall of the mansion, but she hadn't expected the old man to be so stubborn.

Despite the long journey and old ailments making walking difficult, he remained steadfast in his duty and refused to rest without permission.

After passing the screen wall, the view of the second gate of the Earl's Mansion came into clear view.

The afternoon sunlight was pale in winter, and a cold wind blew through the eaves. Uncle Xu stood quietly at the foot of the stone steps of the second gate, leaning on a dark solid wood cane.

He is fifty-eight years old this year. Half a lifetime of hard work has turned his temples completely white, his temples are heavily frosted, and his eyebrows and eyes are etched with wrinkles from the hardships of life.

He wore a faded dark blue cotton jacket, its edges neat and clean. His knees were slightly hunched, and he could barely maintain an upright posture. Every time he used his cane for support, his soreness and stiffness were evident.

Six years.

For six years, he guarded the shop outside Jinling City, silently managing the accounts and never going door-to-door. Every winter, his leg ailment would flare up again, but he still gritted his teeth and guarded every penny of income from the shop under Jiang Wan's name.

Jiang Wan quickly stepped forward and reached out to support his arm: "Uncle Xu, you must be tired from your journey. Why are you so stubborn?"

With her help, Xu Bo straightened up, his tone respectful: "I dare not neglect my duty in not being able to reply to Madam's instructions in person."

Jiang Wan didn't say much politeness and personally helped him walk to the inner warm hall: "Let's go inside and warm up first. I will go to Songhe Hall to report to Old Madam Ming later and then discuss the assignment."

Uncle Xu nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Jiang Wan, revealing a gentle familiarity that had remained unchanged for many years.

Years have passed in the blink of an eye. The little girl who used to hide behind the screen and eavesdrop on family matters is now capable of standing on her own.

The warm room was filled with small embers, which dispelled the chill.

After the servants served hot tea and left, only the two of them remained in the hall.

Uncle Xu warmed his hands with a teacup, his gaze falling on the rising steam. He suddenly said, "This old servant still remembers when Madam was a child, she loved to hide behind the screen and eavesdrop on conversations in the front hall."

Jiang Wan paused for a moment while holding the teacup.

"Back then, when the lady's mother was still alive, every time I came to the courtyard to report, I could see the tips of a pair of embroidered shoes peeking out from under the screen."

Uncle Xu chuckled softly, "This old servant has never exposed it. Every time I take my leave, I take a piece of malt candy from my sleeve and place it on the carved window sill. The next day when I go back, the candy is gone."

Jiang Wan looked down at the teacup in her hand and remained silent.

She remembers.

In those years, she would always find candy on the windowsill. Sometimes it was maltose, sometimes sesame candy balls, and sometimes small pieces of jujube paste cake wrapped in oil paper.

She never knew who put it there, nor did she ever ask.

After her mother passed away, and with changes in personnel within the household, those candies never appeared again.

"Later, when my wife got older, she stopped liking sweets." Uncle Xu said in a calm tone, as if he were talking about something very ordinary. "So this old servant replaced them with something else."

Jiang Wan looked up at him.

Uncle Xu didn't continue speaking and lowered his head to drink his tea.

After a moment of silence in the warm hall, Jiang Wan spoke first: "Uncle Xu, you have worked hard for six years. From now on, you don't need to hide outside the city anymore."

She didn't say anything more; some things don't need to be said too explicitly, as they both understand each other.

Jiang Wan first settled Xu Bo in the side courtyard to rest, then turned and went to Songhe Hall.

The Songhe Hall was warm and inviting. The old lady was leaning against a soft couch, reading Buddhist scriptures. When she saw Jiang Wan enter, she put down her book.

"The porridge distribution outside is all settled, and things have been peaceful in the manor lately. Have you come here today for something else?"

Jiang sat down in the evening, speaking calmly: "Madam, the manager of the shop that was part of my dowry has arrived at your residence today."

"His surname is Xu, and his given name is De'an. He served as a steward for three generations of the Jiang family for 28 years. Later, he worked outside for six years guarding the shop, and the accounts never had any errors."

She looked up at the old lady and said, "Since Wang Fu was exiled, the outer courtyard's purchasing, accounts, and personnel have all been left in limbo. Although Granny Liu has been temporarily in charge and is fair and just, she has been living in the inner courtyard for a long time and is not good at managing the outer courtyard's business affairs."

"Xu Bo has been deeply involved in management for decades. He is meticulous, loyal and reliable. I want to entrust him with all the affairs of the outer courtyard."

The old lady listened quietly to the whole thing, her face expressionless. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and only spoke when she put it down.

"Since he is both a former servant who accompanied you in your dowry and a loyal elder of three generations, he is naturally reliable. As I said before, all matters inside and outside the mansion are to be handled by you."

"The chaos in the outer courtyard has dragged on for too long and should have been thoroughly rectified long ago. You should just let go and appoint people freely. Everyone in the household must obey your orders, and no one should have a single word to say."

Jiang Wan bowed: "Thank you for your kindness, madam."

After bidding farewell to Songhetang, Jiang Wan felt no more attachments. When she returned to Nuantang, she heard Lu Wan's voice from inside before she even stepped inside.

"Uncle Xu, what is the little monkey in this porcelain statue holding in its hands?"

Jiang Wan stood at the door for a moment, but did not go in immediately.

"He's holding a peach." Uncle Xu's voice was tinged with laughter. "This is called a 'promoting a noble title' porcelain sculpture. The little monkey holding a peach symbolizes a promising future."

"And this one?" Lu Wan asked again, "Is that a lotus flower in the little boy's hand?"

"It's a lotus flower." Uncle Xu was very patient. "A child holding a lotus symbolizes peace and good fortune, making it most suitable for a little girl."

Lu Zhao chimed in from the side, "Did Uncle Xu bring this from Jinling?" His tone was more composed than Lu Wan's, but a hint of curiosity could still be heard.

"Yes, they're from kilns in Jinling. Children in the city love these little trinkets, so this old servant picked out two to bring."

Jiang Wan then stepped through the door.

Lu Wan was squatting by the table, holding a small white porcelain statue with green glaze in her hands. She tilted her head and looked at it over and over, her fingertips carefully avoiding touching it.

Lu Zhao stood beside her, holding a small brown glazed monkey in his hand. The monkey was hugging a branch, and its eyebrows and eyes were sculpted with great lifelike detail.

Upon seeing Jiang Wan enter, the two children straightened up and called out "Mother."

Lu Wan spoke first: "Mother, look, Uncle Xu gave it to us."

She raised the small porcelain statue a little higher, as if afraid that Jiang Wan couldn't see it clearly, "This little boy is holding a lotus flower."

Jiang Wan glanced at it and nodded: "It's really beautiful."

Lu Wan looked down at it a couple more times before carefully placing it back on the table. She then looked up at Uncle Xu and asked, "Uncle Xu, how many days have you been traveling from Jinling?"

Uncle Xu replied, "It took six or seven days to travel."

Lu Wan thought for a moment and asked, "Does your leg hurt?"

Uncle Xu was taken aback, as if he hadn't expected her to ask this. After a moment, he said, "It's alright, this old servant walks slowly, it's nothing."

Lu Wan didn't ask any more questions.

She gently held the small porcelain statue to her chest, walked to Lu Zhao's side, glanced at the little monkey in his hand, then looked away and quietly stood next to Jiang Wan.

This child is usually quiet, but he never hesitates to ask questions when necessary.

As Xu Bo watched her movements, his smile deepened.

He had only prepared these two small items as a courtesy, but he didn't expect the little girl to really like them. She even asked him if it hurt. What a lovely child.

He has seen too many children in his life, some greedy, some cowardly, and some so bound by rules that they dare not move.

Jiang Wan didn't say much. She sent the two children away first, and the warm room became quiet again.

She sat in the main seat, looked at Uncle Xu, and said clearly, "Uncle Xu, from today onwards, all matters concerning the purchase, material coordination, account auditing, and personnel scheduling of the outer courtyard of the Earl's Mansion will be under your jurisdiction."

"All servants in the outer courtyard, purchasing assistants, and farm managers are at your command. Anyone who shirks responsibility, is negligent, or outwardly complies but inwardly disobeys, you may directly record their names and punish them without reporting to me."

Uncle Xu stood up, leaning on his cane, and bowed to accept the order: "This old servant will certainly live up to Madam's trust, clean up the accumulated malpractices in the outer courtyard, regulate accounts and personnel, and ensure that everything is clear and that every matter is implemented effectively."

Jiang Wan nodded.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Qinghe's voice came through the curtain: "Madam, Granny Liu is here."

When Granny Liu entered, she was carrying a stack of account books. She first bowed to Jiang Wan.

Jiang Wan stepped aside and nodded to Granny Liu: "Granny Liu is here. This is Uncle Xu, whom I mentioned to you before. He's an old man who has served the Jiang family of Jinling for three generations. From now on, he will be in charge of all the purchasing and scheduling for the outer courtyard."

She then turned to Uncle Xu and said, "Uncle Xu, this is Granny Liu. She's been managing the storeroom for over ten years. After Wang Fu's accident, she took care of everything in the outer courtyard by herself. She's steady and meticulous, and her accounts are always accurate."

Upon hearing this, Granny Liu put down the account book in her hand and bowed slightly to Uncle Xu: "I have long heard that the eldest madam has mentioned you. I am finally able to meet you today."

"Manager Xu, you've come a long way and must be tired. I've finished organizing all the inventory ledgers, recent requisition details, and outstanding purchase accounts in my warehouse, and they're ready for handover at any time."

Uncle Xu returned the greeting with a half-bow, speaking politely: "I am new to this job and not yet familiar with the rules of the manor. I will need Steward Liu's help in the future."

The two, one inside and one outside, were humble and showed no intention of competing.

Jiang Wan sat in the main seat and watched this scene. She said, "Starting tonight, the two of you will reconcile the accounts. Granny Liu will assist in checking the old accounts, and Uncle Xu will be in charge of the liquidation. Check each item against the old purchase ledgers left by Wang Fu."

"All backlogged accounts, unexplained expenses, and vague income items from previous years will be thoroughly investigated and traced back to their source."

As dusk deepened, the lights remained on.