Madam Cheng began to venture out more frequently, no longer confining herself to her room.
She expressed no interest in the affairs of Master Cheng and his other two concubines.
One morning.
Madam Cheng took Jiang Xiyue out with her. The two shivered in the cold wind, but gritted their teeth and persisted, coming to supervise the servants' work.
This left the servants utterly bewildered.
The aunt and niece merely watched.
Madam Cheng also enjoyed pointing things out, to assert her authority as the mistress.
"Here, here, look at all this charcoal spilled on the floor, sweep it up quickly!"
"Firewood, firewood! Why is so much firewood being used? We need to be thrifty!"
Madam Cheng watched the entire process, calling out every little flaw. Although Jiang Xiyue remained silent, she accompanied her aunt throughout, supporting her.
The servants were miserable.
They all found it strange, why would the mistress come out today?
But they dared not speak.
They could only acknowledge and focus on their work. However, the mistress was extremely picky, nitpicking at every detail, causing them to be significantly delayed.
Under normal circumstances, their work was well-coordinated, with clear divisions of labor. Cai Shi and Xi Shi's children prepared meals, while Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi helped with fetching water and wood. Other servants and the people from the other two convoys were responsible for clearing the snow.
There were also servants tending the fires in the temple, ensuring its warmth.
So that everyone wouldn't freeze.
The simple stone stove was naturally prone to being blackened by the fire.
Charcoal marks on the sides were also normal, as not many people sat that close, nor would they step on them, even if the floor was entirely black.
But Madam Cheng couldn't stand the messy appearance, it was as if she was looking for trouble.
She was simply seeking attention.
The servants could only comply, though they were already very unhappy.
After being lectured, Xiao Wuzi and Xiao Liuzi retreated outside to fetch water. With so many people in the convoy, a considerable amount of water was needed for drinking and cooking. They would fetch water first thing every morning to prepare.
It was freezing outside at this moment, and the people sweeping were in the front courtyard, so no one was in the back. The two couldn't help but complain a little.
"Hey, Wuzi, what's wrong with our mistress today? She usually stays in her room and never shows her face. Why did she decide to come out today? And she's acting so high and mighty, even more troublesome than when she was in Fengcheng!"
Xiao Liuzi whispered this, truly afraid of her. He wished he never had to face her again in his life.
Xiao Wuzi, while lowering the small wooden bucket into the well, also exhaled and said, "Hiss, how would we know? The masters do as they please!"
"But we've been at this Five Grains Temple for over a month. Even if they were delicate, they should have recovered by now. I heard the Jin family is the same these days. Master Jin and those young ladies are quite rowdy, and the Jin family's servants are complaining bitterly that their lives are not easy either!"
He shook his head repeatedly as he spoke, looking very sympathetic.
After all, he was also a servant.
He truly empathized.
Xiao Liuzi also sighed. Though just a ten-year-old boy, he put on a look of bitter suffering and sighed, "Indeed, if she regains her energy and wants to exert her authority as a mistress, our hard days will begin!"
He sighed mournfully.
Xiao Wuzi knew he was still bothered by Madam Cheng. After drawing a bucket of water and wiping his hands, he could only pat his shoulder in comfort and say, "Tsk, don't forget, we still have the Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Madam!"
He believed that with the two of them around, they, the servants, would not be wronged!
Xiao Liuzi nodded, quickly saying, "Right, right, right, we still have the Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Madam! But I'm also worried, I hope they don't get into arguments and take their anger out on the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam!"
It was his turn to draw water from the large well, and he mumbled this.
He would rather be hurt himself than see his Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam wronged!
What wonderful people they were!
They were his benefactors, better than his own parents.
Accompanied by the splashing sound of the water being drawn.
Xiao Wuzi also nodded with a smile and said, "Don't worry! With the capabilities of our two masters, they won't be wronged! They are not people who can be wronged! They will definitely be able to handle Madam Cheng completely!"
The two spoke in hushed tones, which eased the morning's unpleasantness.
Those who had been tormented by Madam Cheng were all holding back their anger.
Cai Shi and Xi Shi also felt somewhat unbearable, but they forcibly suppressed it.
Madam Cheng, after a tour of disdain, came over to "offer some pointers"!
That's right.
In her eyes, her condescending presence to instruct them on their work was an honor!
She stood five or six steps away from the stone stove, covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief. She lectured Cai Shi and Xi Shi for a long time, "Are you two always in charge of the food? It was because I hadn't recovered and wasn't mentally capable before that I couldn't manage these things and didn't speak to you properly..."
Although she knew they were distant relatives of her husband's family, these poor relatives were no better than her own servants. At least in her maternal family, poor relatives who visited were always asking for money or grain.
They would come begging for favors every few days.
Madam Cheng had always looked down on this, forgetting her mother's teachings.
After all, any wealthy family with a semblance of dignity would handle relationships with poor relatives properly.
But she had looked down on these poor relatives since childhood, let alone discussing familial ties with them. Therefore, her tone naturally carried a sense of superiority. When inquiring about their families, she preferred to belittle them and elevate herself, and then seize the opportunity to boast about her own background.
It couldn't be said that Madam Cheng's tone was particularly sharp, but her words, spoken with a gentle smile, were so uncomfortable that eight or nine out of ten times, they were offensive.
But Madam Cheng didn't realize it. Jiang Xiyue also looked down on these so-called poor relatives and disdained getting too close to them, fearing she would be contaminated by their poverty. So, she stood far away with her aunt.
Cai Shi and Xi Shi found it very infuriating to listen, and their faces felt deeply humiliated and embarrassed. They were all part of the same family, and the young couple treated everyone harmoniously, yet these two insisted on putting on airs and pretending to be close to them!
Shameless!
Cai Shi and Xi Shi very much wanted to say, if you look down on them, then don't force yourself to come over. Doing so disgusts them and inconveniences yourselves.
The children, though they didn't understand the implied meanings of the words, could sense the emotions. They could clearly feel the disgust and alienation from the two women.
Cheng Xiaotian felt very unhappy. He knitted his brows, wanting to speak, but Cai Shi sternly stopped him with her eyes, signaling him not to cause trouble!
This child was also very upset!
Madam Cheng, a noble lady who had never set foot in a kitchen, was now condescendingly telling them how to cook. One moment she wanted her hands washed every time she touched the food, the next she said they should save meat and grain, and accused them of wasting food.