Xiao Shuyuan's worries had just begun when a problem arose with Aunt Xu.
One day, a woman in her thirties, carrying a bundle, came to the door, claiming she had been hired as a nanny.
Aunt Xu shooed her away, "You've come to the wrong place, we don't hire nannies."
The woman didn't believe her. "Impossible, I memorized the address multiple times and I have a note here, it's definitely correct."
"You're being unreasonable, we don't lack a nanny."
The woman retorted, "Are you the mistress of the house?"
"I'm not..."
"You're not, yet you're making decisions on your own?"
"You? Get out of here quickly."
Aunt Xu had a premonition that this woman was sent by the young mistress to sideline her, so she absolutely refused to let her in.
"What's all the shouting about?"
A clear, cold voice rang out. Aunt Xu quickly turned, "Young Mistress, this person is being unreasonable..."
Tian Jing waved her hand, "Aunt Xu, are you the master or the servant?"
Aunt Xu took a step back and bowed, "Your subordinate is the servant."
"Heh," Tian Jing gave a cold laugh. "Everything you said at the door reached my ears, not a word missed. Tell me, what exactly is your status? Is this house to be handed over to you to manage?"
"Your subordinate dares not."
"You dare not? I think you dare too much."
Tian Jing's voice dropped ten degrees. "Immediately send a message to the person who lent you the guts, otherwise, you'll be completely sidelined."
After reprimanding Aunt Xu, Tian Jing ignored her and turned to the woman with the bundle. "You came with a bundle, it seems you have confidence."
The woman patted the bundle, and the sound of metal clashing came from within. "It's a family heirloom, I definitely have confidence."
"Very good. Go to the inner kitchen and prepare a tasting menu."
"Yes."
The woman followed Tian Jing into the inner courtyard.
Aunt Xu leaned weakly against the doorframe. What should she do? The young mistress was no ordinary person.
If she didn't send a message, she would be sidelined and abandoned by the young mistress.
If she sent a message, she would surely die faster. The young mistress was so capable that she could hear conversations at the front door. Then, what about things happening in secret? Did her husband know? Did the young mistress know?
No, she had to go discuss it with her husband.
...
In the inner courtyard kitchen, the woman opened her bundle, revealing two smaller bundles inside, one large and one small.
She unwrapped the smaller bundle, which contained not only knives but also a copper spoon.
Tian Jing gave her only one large cabbage, two large red carrots, and a large piece of tofu.
"I want four dishes and one soup."
"Alright, please wait."
The woman surveyed the kitchen, found a cutting board and a basin for washing vegetables, and without regard for Tian Jing watching, she bent her head and began to wash and chop seriously.
Half an hour later, four dishes and one soup were served on the dining table.
Li Zhengguo was already helping Grandpa to sit at the dining table, waiting to taste the food.
Stir-fried shredded radish, shredded cabbage in vinegar, blanched tofu, radish stewed with tofu, and cabbage and tofu soup.
In the four dishes and one soup, there wasn't even a thickening agent.
Grandpa Xiao tasted it and nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, it completely preserves the original flavor of the vegetables, and the saltiness is just right."
After tasting a bit of everything, Tian Jing stopped eating.
The woman looked nervous. "You don't like it?"
"No."
Tian Jing shook her head. "I am still breastfeeding."
"Oh, I see, I will be careful."
Tian Jing raised an eyebrow. "You really are confident."
The woman nodded vigorously. "I am very confident in my cooking skills, and the previous cook did not prepare separate meals for you."
"You know?"
"I could smell it from the kitchen."
"Then you can stay. Fifty a month, with room and board. I know this salary might be a bit low for your culinary skills."
"But I believe that after you know the additional conditions, you'd be willing to accept even less."
The woman asked nervously, "What are the additional conditions?"
"Your retirement for the rest of your life, and vegetables grown by your own hand."
The woman's eyes welled up. "Good, good, I'm willing, I'd be willing even without a salary."
"Alright, find a room in the third courtyard to live in. For all your daily necessities, look for A Guang."
A Guang, who was diligently cleaning his plate, looked up. "Big sister, wait a moment. After I finish eating, I'll take you."
The woman nodded. "My name is A Feng."
"Sister Feng."
"Mm-hmm."
...
A Feng and A Guang, carrying the daily necessities allocated to her, entered the third courtyard and immediately saw a plot of tilled land on the west side of the yard.
Vigorous vegetable seedlings were growing in the plot.
"A Guang, is this the vegetables the young mistress mentioned that I'll be growing myself?"
A Guang nodded. "The young mistress wants you to live in the third courtyard so you can manage this vegetable garden. You must manage it carefully. The hoes and other tools are in the westernmost room."
"Then I'll stay in the second room from the west."
"That's good, it's close."
...
In the east room of the inner courtyard, Xiao Shuyuan and his wife knelt by the old man's bed.
...
After listening to the couple's story, Grandpa Xiao was so angry he clutched his chest and pointed at Aunt Xu. "Scram, get out of here immediately."
Xiao Shuyuan quickly got up and rubbed his grandfather's chest. "Grandpa, Grandpa, be careful of your health..."
But Grandpa Xiao's face began to turn green, and his lips turned purple, scaring him badly.
"Young Mistress, Young Mistress, come quickly."
Bang!
The room door was kicked open, and Tian Jing, one in each hand, threw the couple out.
She raised her hand and mangled Grandpa Xiao's earlobes, squeezing out blood forcefully. "Brother Zheng, bring me a needle."
Li Zhengguo quickly brought a needle. Without waiting for his wife to instruct him, he pricked Grandpa Xiao's ten fingers and squeezed forcefully.
"Watch this, I'm going to the backyard."
Without waiting for Li Zhengguo's reply, Tian Jing left the east room, moving at extreme speed. She went into the west room, made a quick round, and then headed to the backyard.
Seeing A Feng tidying up the vegetable garden, she coldly ordered her, "Go back to your room, no peeking."
"Yes." A Feng quickly dropped her tools and got up to return to her room.
Carrying a small teacup full of thick yellow liquid, Tian Jing flashed into the east room.
Grandpa Xiao's complexion had returned to normal, and he lay weakly on the bed.
Li Zhengguo helped Grandpa Xiao to sit up.
Tian Jing slowly poured the liquid into Grandpa Xiao's mouth with one hand, while with the other, she sent her energy into Grandpa Xiao's body.
This time, she accelerated the flow of her energy, and the liquid quickly spread through Grandpa Xiao's internal organs.
Slowly opening his eyes, Grandpa Xiao's eyes were filled with tears. "Jingjing, Grandpa is sorry to you."
"Don't speak for now. Nothing is important besides life and death."
"That's what they say, but I can't let go of this."
"I'm here."
The calmness of her granddaughter relieved Grandpa Xiao. "Alright, I'll leave Aunt Xu to you to handle."
"Okay."
Soon, Grandpa Xiao fell into a deep sleep.
Leaving her husband to keep watch, Tian Jing went to the west room to bring her daughter and two sons into the east room, and then she dragged the couple, who were slumped in the hall, to the backyard.
She chose an empty room, kicked open the door, and threw them inside.
"Speak, you only get one chance."
"Young Mistress~"
Aunt Xu tried to grab Tian Jing's leg, but Tian Jing kicked her away.
Having already witnessed the young mistress's speed, Aunt Xu didn't dare to pounce again. She lay on the ground and cried.
"I was also forced! Woo woo woo... My son's family all work under them. They are hostages in their hands!"
Tian Jing looked at Xiao Shuyuan, who had a calm expression. "Her son isn't your son?"
Xiao Shuyuan shook his head. "She and I don't have children, so we adopted A Guang."
"Can't have children?"
"Yes," Xiao Shuyuan nodded, hatred in his eyes. "More than thirty years ago, the Second Master sent people to castrate me, making me unable to have children, cutting off those who might continue to be loyal to the Master."
Second Master?
This life is truly different.
Grandpa Xiao's second maternal uncle has appeared, so Grandpa Xiao's eldest maternal uncle will likely not be far behind.