northernbook Chapter 29 The Loyal Servant Returns to the Bai Family
Chapter 29 The Loyal Servant Returns to the Bai Family
Qiao Qingqiao usually doesn't even want to talk to Aunt Chen, but now she suddenly said something, and it was even a reprimand to Aunt Chen.
Xu Biyun, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, immediately covered her face with her handkerchief and laughed, whispering to Liu Wan'er beside her,
"Look at her, even her own daughter dislikes her. Aunt Chen is truly despicable."
Aunt Chen was speechless after being rebuked by her own daughter.
Aunt Chen really wanted to get closer to this girl, but now that her son was mentally challenged and she couldn't rely on him, this girl was the only one she could count on.
Her daughter was well-educated and polite from a young age, and had the demeanor of a well-bred lady, which made Aunt Chen very proud.
The only thing that bothers me is that the more books my daughter reads, the less attention I pay to her.
In recent years, he has become increasingly distant from his aunt, and instead prefers to pay his respects to Madam Bai.
This made Aunt Chen resent Bai Shi for quite some time.
He thought that with Bai's death, his daughter would be closer to him, but he didn't expect Qiao Qingqiao to still avoid him like this.
This infuriated Aunt Chen, but she couldn't lash out directly. Although her daughter was a concubine's daughter, with such character and appearance, she was very likely to marry into a prominent family in the future, and she would have to rely on her daughter for care.
Therefore, although Aunt Chen was dissatisfied with Qingqiao, she dared not show it.
Aunt Chen stepped back into the crowd, stopped cursing, and just rolled her eyes at the crowd with a crooked mouth.
Seeing that Aunt Chen was embarrassed, Xu Biyun kindly comforted her.
“Auntie, four or five people from my courtyard were also taken away by the eldest young lady. We all feel the same way.”
Aunt Chen dared not offend her daughter, but she did not indulge Xu Biyun.
“Who is like you? I am a concubine, while you are still a mistress.”
Enraged, Xu Biyun wanted to rush forward and tear Chen Yiniang's mouth apart, but Liu Wan'er held her back.
Xu Biyun gritted her teeth in anger, her eyes turning vicious. Her facade of virtuousness crumbled instantly, and she muttered under her breath, "..."
"That wretched woman, Aunt Chen! I was trying to comfort her, and she dared to ridicule me. Where has all the respect she used to have for me gone? I wish I could strangle her."
Qiao Jizhou looked at Qiao Qingshu standing under the eaves and felt a strange unease.
"Shu'er, why are you making such a fuss? Your grandmother isn't fully recovered yet, and you're already busy cleaning up the house, preventing her from getting any rest."
Qiao Qingshu forced a smile.
“Father, the matter of taking inventory of the servants involves all the courtyards, so we called you to Grandmother’s room today so that Grandmother can supervise us. If there is anything that is not done well, Grandmother will have to point it out.”
Old Madam Qiao understood that this was bound to happen sooner or later, and it was better to end it sooner rather than later.
She coughed lightly twice, then waved helplessly to summon Li Mama, who was in charge of personnel matters in the manor.
"Go out and keep watch. If anything seems amiss, come in and report to me immediately."
Li's mother nodded, clutched the headcount list in her hand, and left the house, standing behind Qiao Qingshu.
Qiao Qingshu sat on the porch under the eaves and slowly waved her hand,
"Listen up, everyone. Those who wish to stay in the Qiao family will be rewarded with one tael of silver. Those who wish to return to the Bai family will have their monthly wages withheld. Those who wish to stay should stand behind Mama Li, and those who wish to return to the Bai family should stand behind Xia Zhi."
One tael of silver was equivalent to half a month's expenses for an ordinary family. Although it wasn't a large sum of money, it was a considerable reward in the eyes of the servants.
The crowd below immediately erupted in chaos.
Even the owners of each house were stunned.
Old Madam Qiao was overjoyed and rushed out of the room, grabbing Qiao Qingshu's hand and saying...
“Good child, Grandma knew you were the most opinionated, and also a well-behaved and sensible child. You know how to consider the Qiao family. If the Qiao family really lost some people, it would be extremely embarrassing.”
Madam Qiao became even more convinced that Qiao Qingshu was wholeheartedly devoted to the Qiao family. Now she was even trying to find ways to help the Qiao family retain her.
Old Madam Qiao wished she could go up and kiss her sensible granddaughter!
Qiao Qingshu smiled faintly.
He secretly thought that this move, which seemed to be keeping people for the Qiao family, was actually a screening process for the Bai family.
The human heart is the most unpredictable thing.
Now, if we offer them incentives, and there are those who are unmoved by the money, even willing to lose money to return, then they are truly determined to go back to the Bai family.
Jiu'er and her mother, along with their family of three, chose to return to the Bai family almost without hesitation.
Five other servants also firmly chose the Bai family.
The rest chose to stay in the Marquis's residence.
Qiao Qingshu nodded calmly as she watched this scene; it was entirely within her expectations.
It's already difficult to find even a few loyal servants.
The rest of the people were mostly driven by the need to make a living, so they naturally went wherever there was money.
We cannot criticize them for being disloyal or ineffective; these are all human nature.
Without saying much, he smiled and turned to Li's mother,
“Mother Li, release the indentures of these nine people for me. The rest don’t need to be touched.”
Seeing that Old Madam Qiao was all smiles, Li's mother nodded hurriedly and went to do it.
At this moment, Madam Qiao frowned again, thinking of the Bai family.
"Shu'er, if only nine people go back, won't the Bai family think that our Qiao family is deliberately refusing to release them?"
Qiao Qingshu comforted her softly.
“Grandmother, I will speak to Uncle myself. Our Marquis’s mansion treats its servants well. If a servant does not want to leave, are we going to force them to leave with a knife? Besides, Uncle already said that those who do not want to leave do not have to leave. The Bai family will not blame us for this matter.”
After hearing Qiao Qingshu's words, Old Madam Qiao finally felt completely at ease.
He found his granddaughter pleasing to the eye and even affectionately touched her little face, then stuffed the hot water bottle in his arms into Qiao Qingshu's hands.
They insisted that she stay in the house for lunch, but Qiao Qingshu said she couldn't disturb her grandmother's rest any longer.
After obtaining the indentures of those individuals, he dismissed the rest of the group.
The once bustling Fushou Hall suddenly returned to silence.
Seeing this, Aunt Chen also quickly slipped away, afraid that Qiao Qingshu would complain about her.
On the way back to Haitang Courtyard, I met Aunt He and the Third Miss Qiao Qingle.
Aunt Chen stepped forward and asked curiously,
"Aunt He, how many people left your room?"
Aunt He answered honestly.
"Only one left; the rest were all brought back."
Qiao Qingle, who was standing to the side, asked,
"Auntie, where are you in your room?"
Aunt Chen pouted. Only Jiu'er had left her room; the rest had been sent back.
Compared to that, it seemed quite fair, and his previous anger subsided.
After exchanging a few more words, Aunt He took Qiao Qingle's arm and left.
Watching the mother and daughter, Aunt Chen felt a pang of envy.
Why is Aunt He so close to her own daughter, while her own daughter Qiao Qingqiao isn't close to her at all?
Thinking about all this, I felt a strange sense of frustration and hit the hibiscus flower next to me hard, scattering the petals all over the ground.
Liu Wan'er and Xu Biyun happened to pass by at this time and saw Aunt Chen throwing a tantrum with flowers.
Xu Biyun, recalling the remark Chen Yiniang had made to her earlier, wanted to get her revenge, and laughed,
“Auntie really got slapped for nothing. Second Master didn’t stand up for you, and there’s no one to help you get justice. You’re so pitiful.”
After saying that, he slipped away.
Aunt Chen was so angry that she stomped her feet and howled at the top of her lungs for a long time before she finally calmed down.
A carriage was arranged to take the nine people back to the Bai residence.
Qiao Qingshu went to see them off, only to find all eight of them waiting in the same spot with their bundles in hand.
Only Jiu'er has not yet arrived.