Chapter 52: People Around Him

  Shen Mu Qing saw that Zhu Yi and Bai Mu's wedding date had been set, and now she could finally put her mind at ease.

  "…The house where Zhou Bing lives is a three-room one, and the back only has a two-room retreat. This day was booked in a hurry, so we can only temporarily live there first. After the spring, we will build three rooms on either side of the main room, so that later, even if we have more children, it will be enough... There is no time to make furniture, so let's open the warehouse and pick out some unused ones from Mu Qing's house two years ago. When the house is built in the spring, we can ask a master craftsman to remake them... These two big things are inconvenient for the children, but other things cannot be sloppy. For jewelry, clothes, and dowry utensils, let's prepare according to 24 lifts... Invite Ji Xiangfu to host the banquet, and Lian Kuibin to sing in the hall..."

  Zhou Bing's family listened with wide eyes, and later, they were already full of incredulity.

  Shen Muqing sighed silently in her heart.

  The Shens' gift was more of a gesture to save face for Zhou Guan and Bai Mu, rather than an actual expression of goodwill; it was really just a way for them to vent their hopes for their son's wedding.

  Anyway, Baihe and Zhenzhu being able to have such a grand wedding is also a testament to their love.

  That night, Shen Muqing called all the maids in the house to the Baolou and told them about Zhu Ji's marriage date and Li Shi's decision.

  "Let's have An Yuen arrange Zhen Zhu's marriage?" Lui Mei knew about this matter, and since it involved herself, she had long avoided talking about it. The one who asked was Ying Fen. She was surprised: "Did that lady say who would help with the arrangements?"

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "Madam said that there are still things to be done on her side, so let's just leave Zhu Ji's side to us."

  As soon as he heard this, he revealed a thoughtful expression.

  For a moment, there was no one speaking in the house.

  Shen Mu Qing saw that everyone's emotions seemed a bit low. He smiled and said: "Is it because you don't have confidence in handling such a big matter?"

  Several young maidservants, rough-handed wives and old women all cast their eyes on Luomei, Yingfen and Mingxia.

  They are also the four who serve as personal attendants. They don't speak but others speak on their behalf.

  Shen Muqing smiled and said, "I'm also encountering this kind of thing for the first time. Good or bad, it's all our An Garden's reputation. Everyone, don't be reserved. If there's anything to say, any good ideas, let's hear them out. As the saying goes, 'three cobblers together are better than one Zhuge Liang'. With so many of us, can't we come up with a solution?"

  Everyone heard and burst out laughing quietly.

  Bay Laurel jumped out first: "Girl, since we're going to get married, we must have a wedding banquet. I can go to the kitchen to help."

  Shen Mu nodded and smiled encouragingly: "Very good."

  Having thrown stones to ask for directions, they also gained praise and had a bottom line in their hearts, and began to express their own thoughts.

  Buer Yue Dao said: "I've been helping Yinfeng sister with the trivial matters in the girls' room these past few days, I can serve by Yinfeng sister's side."

  Shen Mu nodded solemnly and smiled, saying "uh-huh".

  Liu Chun said: "My family was originally a tailor's, I can help make clothes."

  She glanced at Yuegui and then at Liuchun, and said timidly: "I also know how to do needlework, I can help Liuchun."

  The women naturally did not get excited like the young maidservants, they all smiled and sat there listening to others talk, without one of them speaking up.

  Shen Mu Qing didn't force it either, and asked Ning Bi, who was the only one who hadn't spoken up: "What about you, what do you think?"

  The girl who was initially a bit nervous, slowly relaxed under Shen Muqing's warm and gentle smile: "Miss, I don't understand the rules of a big family like yours. However, from what I've seen with our neighbors getting married, there isn't much time left before the wedding, only about 30 days or so. Making jewelry, sewing clothes, relying on just us few people, it's probably going to be too late. In my opinion, we should find a goldsmith to make a set of headdresses for Zhen Zhujiu, and then find some seamstresses to make two new sets of clothes. On the day of the wedding, that would be enough. As for other things, just pick out some unused items from Miss's dowry. For the dowry utensils, you can exchange them for silver later and have the steward in charge of the outer courtyard help with the purchases."

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but look at the little girl with a new gaze.

  Who would have thought that someone who is normally quiet and unassuming, and doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary, actually has a lot on her mind... at such a young age...

  Shen Mu Qing's face turned red with sweat. He asked those women: "Ladies, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

  Everyone looks at me, I look at you, smiling, but without saying a word.

  If I were capable, I wouldn't have spent most of my life in the Shen family doing rough work. Fortunately, no one here speaks nonsense, and I can be considered a good gardener.

  He calmed himself down, thinking that those who were supposed to know already knew, and he didn't expect anything from these people anymore.

  She left behind Luo Mei, Ying Fen, Ming Xia and that little maid called Ning Bi.

  "There's no one else here." Shen Muqing's expression was solemn, "Madam has entrusted us with the task of managing this Pearl's wedding, which is both good and bad. The good thing is that you all have learned a lesson from this matter, and in the future, when faced with similar situations, you will be able to take charge. The bad thing is that if everyone does not take their work seriously and messes it up, they will earn the reputation of being 'careless', and even if they are not fired from working in this garden, they may never have the opportunity to become a head housekeeper again. Does everyone understand?"

  Although it's said in a subtle way, everyone sitting here is a clever person, who wouldn't understand?

  "Rest assured, miss, we will definitely make Zhu Di's wedding a grand and proper affair. And let certain people know that even without the support of her elders, you are still capable of managing this household."

  Shen Mu Qing slightly nodded her head.

  Several others also showed a "understanding" expression towards Shen Muqing. Especially Jing Bi, the expression on her childish face had a few points of stability and solemnity.

  "Ching Pi, how old are you this year?"

  Her expression suddenly became very frightened.

  Shen Muqing immediately felt a sense of inquiry.

  She gazed at Qingbi with a cold smile: "No wonder you've been quiet all this time, it turns out you have a guilty conscience! Yingfen, these maids were brought by you, tell me, what's going on?"

  As soon as Shen Mu Qing lost his temper, the atmosphere in the house immediately became tense.

  Ying's face turned pale, and she immediately put her pen in front of Shen Muqing: "Miss, Jingbi is just saying a few words!"

  Na Jingbi saw Ying Fen kneel down and also knelt down.

  Shen Mu Qing didn't even glance at Ying Fen, her clear and cold gaze fixed on Ning Bi: "Is this really the case? Ying Fen, don't you forget, if something happens to a little servant girl, the person responsible for teaching her can't escape responsibility either..."

  The young maids in the Shen household were always personally taught by either Wang Mama or Li Mama, and never had any incidents where the person responsible for teaching them would be held accountable... They had been with Shen Muqing for a long time and knew that this young lady was up to her old tricks again. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But this frightening play still had to go on.

  Ying Fen suddenly turned around and stared at Ning Bi fiercely: "Speak quickly!"

  "Miss is kind-hearted, she'll understand once she knows. But if the mothers find out, you'll be in big trouble, maybe even sold off cheaply! Hurry up and tell Miss what's going on!"

  Ning Bi's face changed greatly, and she crawled to Shen Muqing on her knees: "Miss, I didn't intentionally hide it from you... It was my mother-in-law who sold me. At that time, I didn't tell the truth to the matchmaker... Miss, please don't sell me again, I'm willing to do any work..."

  Whatever job is willing to do... Shen Muqing suddenly thought of Luo Mei.

  She turned her head and saw that Lu Mei had tears in her eyes and lowered her head.

  Yingfen and Mingxia also looked sorrowful and mournful.

  She suddenly felt a pang in her heart.

  People sometimes struggle hard just for a mouthful of rice. What's wrong with her wanting to survive?

  Before Shen Muqing could speak, Ming Xia had already pleaded on behalf of Ning Bi: "Miss, she didn't say anything, and we wouldn't have known if it wasn't for her. Even if she was pregnant, there's no evidence to prove it. Since she spoke up in front of you, Miss, it's because you're kind-hearted and worthy of trust... Please spare her this once. Sending her to the laundry room to wash clothes is the same."

  Yingfen also interceded for her: "Yes, miss. She's so capable, if you keep her, there will be a time when she'll come in handy."

  Luo Mei also nodded in agreement beside him.

  "Alright, you all read to her, and I'll spare her this time. But if I find anything improper again, I'll call the matchmaker to sell her off immediately!" By the end of his words, his tone had turned severe.

  It's like that, and several people also showed joy on their faces. Especially Luomei, who smiled and said: "Miss is probably already set in her heart, just waiting for us to speak up, so that Ningbi can accept our feelings, right, Ningbi?"

  Jing Bi was a clever person and immediately gave Shen Muqing a courtesy greeting.

  "Alright, alright, get up quickly! I'm delighted to see you all taking care of each other. No need to be so meticulous about these little things."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  With this interlude, the atmosphere seems even more harmonious than before!

  Shen Muqing asked Ning Bi: "How old are you this year?"

  "Ah, I'm already thirteen years old this year," said Nian Bi with a bitter smile.

  "How can you be so small?" Shen Muqing exclaimed in a low voice.

  "I'm a child bride... My family was poor, I've never had a full meal since I can remember!"

  She was stunned and silent for a long time before saying: "Then, why did your mother-in-law want to sell you?"

  "His head lowered: 'He passed the imperial examination as a xiucai...'"

  For a moment, even the air was frozen.

  Shen Mu Qing Jiang raised his spirits and changed the subject: "Ning Bi, how much do you know about the wedding?"

  Ning Bi seemed to have resigned herself to her fate, and she calmly replied to Shen Muqing: "Miss, it all depends on how much silver you are willing to give for the Zhu Ji flower. Twenty-four lifts, some are fake lifts, and some are real lifts. Fake lifts, two pieces of clothing are nicely arranged, that's one lift. Real lifts, four sets of clothes are tightly packed, and two more sets can be added."

  Shen Mu Qing Suo Xing Jiao Le Di: "I've married Zhu Ji, so naturally I'll marry you all later. I currently have 1,000 taels of silver in my hands, plus Jin Zhu, the five of you will each get 100 taels, and there will be 500 taels left over for Yue Gui and the others to add to their dowry. Ning Bi, can you help me calculate the account based on 100 taels of silver?"

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  Chapter Fifty-two: People Around Him