Chapter 18 ROTNDOAHRF

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Rebirth of the Noble Daughter of a High Ranking Family

Chapter 18:

Handling a Hot Potato is Not Easy

"Aunt Li, feel free to ask whatever you want. Everyone here is experienced and won't mistreat a newcomer like you. Otherwise, no one can escape the consequences with Grandma and Father. " Ouyang Nuan said, then fell silent, lowering her head to sip her tea.

After entering the house, although Aunt Li was favored by Ouyang, she always felt suppressed by Madam Lin's various methods. She had never felt so prestigious before. Hearing this, she couldn't help but smile and said, "Then please, Steward Sun, tell me about the situation in this house."

Steward Sun stepped forward cautiously and said, "Yes."

Ouyang Nuan raised her eyes, casually and leisurely remarking, "Steward Sun, you better get to the point. Let's not delay in reporting back to Grandmother."

Steward Sun's heart trembled, and he bowed slightly, "Yes, Miss."

© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

He now had some awareness that this seemingly unremarkable Miss was not someone easily fooled. He mustered all his attention and went on to explain the tasks assigned to each person in the house and then outlined the important matters within the household.

Li Niniang took the roster handed to her by Steward Sun, and as she glanced at Ouyang Nuan, her smile grew genuinely warmer.

After Steward Sun finished his report, Li Niniang turned back to Ouyang Nuan and asked, "Miss, do you have any instructions?"

Ouyang Nuan nodded and asked Steward Sun, "Are the account books prepared?"

Steward Sun was taken aback for a moment. He hadn't expected Ouyang Nuan to inquire about the account books, but he had already made preparations. "Miss, I will organize the account books right away and personally deliver them this afternoon," he said.

Li Niniang was pleased to hear this. "Thank you very much, Steward Sun," she said.

Before Steward Sun could respond, Ouyang Nuan interjected in her usual calm tone, "Steward Sun, as a veteran of this household, I assume you have already carefully selected and sorted the account books before sending them to Li Niniang."

Steward Sun's heart trembled again. Dealing with Miss Ouyang was indeed challenging. If he simply delivered bundles of account books without any organization, they wouldn't know where to start. But now that Ouyang Nuan had mentioned selecting them, he realized he needed to put in some effort. He immediately replied, "Of course, Miss."

"That's all for now," Ouyang Nuan said as she stood up and walked out. Li Niniang hurried to follow her... Left in the hall, everyone exchanged glances. Wasn't Li Niniang supposed to be in charge? Why did everyone completely ignore her as soon as Miss Ouyang arrived and sat down?

"Miss, thank you very much. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to control these people. In the future..." Li Niniang followed Ouyang Nuan cautiously, her tone carrying a hint of unconscious caution.

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly and said, "Aunt Li, you don't have to be so formal. I have only one thing to say: with a big household and many people, there will always be idle talk and nitpicking. Just focus on managing things, and remember, Old Madam is your backing."

Li Niniang watched Ouyang Nuan leave in a daze, almost speechless. Why did she feel like the girl in front of her wasn't twelve years old at all? With just a few simple words, she laid out the intricacies so clearly. If she understood everything, why would she still help her...

Returning to her room, Hongyu seemed to have something to say but didn't dare to ask.

Instead, it was Fang Mama, who had been silent all along, who spoke up: "Miss, those managers were completely in awe of you. Why not just take back the management authority of the mansion? Why hand it over to a newly arrived concubine? Even if it's taken back in half a month, you could take advantage of this opportunity—"

Ouyang Nuan looked at her maid and smiled faintly, "Can't you see Grandmother's intention? She wants to reclaim this power herself. Haste makes waste, so there's no need to rush, Mama."

After saying this, her gaze casually drifted towards the servant girl sweeping the courtyard outside, and she smiled, "Is she behaving herself after being released?"

Hongyu followed her mistress's gaze and glanced at Xiao Tao sweeping the courtyard. She said, "She seems to have settled down. She doesn't dare to cause any trouble anymore. I think she has genuinely changed."

Ouyang Nuan looked at Xiao Tao, who appeared resigned, and raised an eyebrow slightly. Going from a first-class maid to a third-class sweeper, it was unbearable for anyone. While Hongyu's assessment seemed reasonable on the surface, could a person's nature really change? A maid like Xiao Tao, who betrayed her mistress once, would likely do so again.

Hongyu, being very cautious by nature, pondered for a moment before saying, "Miss, Xiao Tao has been trying to get into the rooms these past few days. I've caught her and sent her away each time. I wonder if she's trying to plead for mercy."

"Oh, was I around at that time?" Ouyang Nuan asked casually.

"It's just when you were paying respects to Madam," Hongyu replied, a bit puzzled by Ouyang Nuan's sudden interest.

"Oh right! Earlier, Wenshuo complained about how we all went to the Hau Ting for the discussion today, but Xiao Tao hurriedly ran out from the young miss's room. Could it be..." Hongyu trailed off, exchanging a glance with Fang Mama, both feeling that something was amiss.

Ouyang Nuan looked at Xiao Tao outside the window, her eyes carrying a hint of coldness. "Go and check what's missing and what's been added in the house!"

"Eldest Miss, are you suspecting..." Hongyu was startled. Could it be that Xiao Tao, daringly, stole something in this house? Her face turned pale in an instant. Was Xiao Tao really risking her life like this?

Fang Mama was an old woman, but when Ouyang Nuan mentioned the need to investigate, she immediately became alert. Her expression turned unusually serious. "Yes, Miss."

Early the next morning, Ouyang Nuan went to pay her respects to the old lady. Inside the room, there was a charcoal brazier and a smoking cage, while the door was covered with thick flowered cotton curtains. The room was warm and cozy.

Upon entering, Madam Li was being served tea by Zhang Mama. She reclined against a large brocade pillow, absentmindedly listening to a funny story being recounted by her senior maid, Yu Rong.

Ouyang Nuan entered the room, and Old Madam Li subtly straightened her posture before reclining again. "Grandmother," Ouyang Nuan greeted with a bow.

Seeing Old Madam Li nod in acknowledgment, she approached and took her usual seat by the kang. Madam Li appeared pleased. "How was the atmosphere in the Hua Ting yesterday?"

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly and replied, "Li Yiniang was worried because she's new here and doesn't know many of the stewardesses. She insisted on taking me along. I thought if Grandmother spoke, they wouldn't cause any trouble. And indeed, once they heard it was Grandmother's wish, they didn't hesitate."

Old Madam Li nodded and then asked, "Are there any issues with the account books?"

Ouyang Nuan's eyes were clear and sincere, and her smile was gentle. "Grandmother, you're teasing me. What can a young girl like me understand about account books? Besides, it's already entrusted to Li Yiniang to manage. I just went there for a while, had a cup of tea, and came back."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Nuan's expression remained serene, but her eyes sparkled with satisfaction. However, her face displayed a hint of disagreement. "Grandmother, I understand your intentions. You want me to become more involved in household affairs so that I can manage my own household well in the future. But you know I'm not lazy." She smiled gently as her grandmother lightly tapped her forehead with her finger, a gesture of affection.

Ouyang Nuan immediately joined in the laughter with Old Madam Li, while carefully concealing the glint of determination in her eyes. She understood that her grandmother's proposal for her to assist Li Niniang was primarily a strategic move to silence Madam Lin's criticisms, rather than a genuine desire for her involvement. Li Niniang must have already briefed Old Madam Li about the previous day's events, so Old Madam Li's current inquiry seemed to carry a subtle hint of testing her intentions regarding the exercise of power. Seeing her grandmother maintain such vigilance even towards her, a young granddaughter, Ouyang Nuan couldn't help but admire Old Madam Li's cunning.

While these thoughts raced through her mind, her eyes curved into crescent moons as she affectionately leaned closer to Old Madam Li and whispered softly, "Please spare me, Grandmother. Managing household affairs is such a tedious task. Let's save me from such drudgery!"

“You!” Old Madam Li felt a surge of contentment in her heart and found herself smiling unwittingly.

•••

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Chapter 18 ROTNDOAHRF

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