Fu Xin Ci heard the deep guilt in her father-in-law's words and quickly changed the subject, "Dad, you haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"No, not yet."
"Then let Brother Qi help you with water for washing up, and I'll cook for you, Dad."
"Ah." Qi Yuan Shan loved hearing such heartwarming words and agreed with a chuckle.
Qi He loved being directed by his wife the most. He first took the reins of his father's horse, led it to the stable to be tied up, and then followed his father to the washing room.
Fu Xin Ci entered the kitchen first. She scanned the room, taking in its layout, furnishings, and contents at a glance.
Seeing that the young madam was going to cook, Chun Yu quickly informed Madam Yang and then hurried over to help with the fire.
The millet congee and flower rolls were ready-made and just needed reheating. Her father-in-law liked fried fish, and they had eggs. There were also fresh shepherd's purse by the yard. A handful blanched and stir-fried with eggs would be perfect.
After Qi He helped his father wash up and change into the brand-new dark blue robe Fu Xin Ci had made for him, he grinned, about to offer some praise.
However, his father smiled and raised his hand, patting him on the shoulder, "You are a married man now, the husband of a wife. You must be more steady from now on."
"Dad, don't worry, your son won't disappoint you." He left unspoken the additional thought that he wouldn't disappoint his wife either.
"That's good."
Looking at his son's smiling face, Qi Yuan Shan secretly mused, "Xin Ci is truly capable." This foolish son of his was a completely different person after getting married compared to before.
As the father and son were chatting, Fu Xin Ci's voice came from outside, "Dad, it's time to eat."
"Coming."
Qi He also noticed the significant change in his father.
How could he not change? Other families' happiness was their own. This was different; this was his own home.
After Qi Yuan Shan finished eating and was seated in the main hall, the young couple solemnly knelt to serve him tea.
His grandfather had taught Fu Xin Ci that although the Qi family was small, the process of acknowledging kinship should not be overlooked.
Qi Yuan Shan accepted the tea from his son and daughter-in-law, his heart filled with emotion.
It seemed like only yesterday their son was born, and in the blink of an eye, he was married.
Soon, he would be a grandfather.
Wait, he needed to go to his wife's memorial tablet and have a good chat with her, to share his joy.
With this thought, Qi Yuan Shan took out a large red envelope from his embrace and asked his son to give it to his daughter-in-law.
"Xin Ci, this red envelope contains the rewards I've received over the years, as well as the benefits others have given me. Now that Xiao He and you are married, please accept all this money for household expenses."
Fu Xin Ci hadn't paid much attention at first, but after her father-in-law finished speaking, she was somewhat stunned.
Judging by his words, this was no small sum.
Seeing the two children staring at him blankly, Qi Yuan Shan didn't explain further. He simply said, "Dad is tired and needs to lie down," and left the young couple to return to his room.
Watching her father-in-law's retreating figure enter his room, a faint voice could still be heard: "It's good to be home."
Only then did Fu Xin Ci open the red envelope. Looking at the stacks of large denomination silver notes, she counted them and was astonished to find seventy to eighty thousand taels.
Later, she considered that the Yao family alone had given twenty thousand taels, so seventy to eighty thousand taels seemed reasonable.
However, Fu Xin Ci hadn't expected her father-in-law to give them all the money.
"Brother Qi, there's so much money, what should we do?"
"Dad gave it, so you keep it."
After Qi He finished speaking, he seemed to remember something and, showing a row of white teeth, went to discuss it with his father.
It wasn't long before he came out, grinning and boasting to his wife, "Wife, Dad said we don't need to buy servants."
"Why?"
"Dad said he'd look for a couple at the penal colony tomorrow."
Fu Xin Ci glanced at Madam Yang and her daughter, who were still tidying the courtyard, and nodded silently.
"I told Dad that we need at least three people. One for the gate, one for cooking, and one for cleaning and heavy chores."
"Mm."
"But Dad asked me if three was a bit few."
"It's enough. Aren't Madam Yang and the others here?"
Fu Xin Ci thought that with only three masters in the household, six servants were more than enough. In her opinion, it was even luxurious.
However, she hadn't expected that the next day, when she and Qi He returned from her family's home, her father-in-law had already brought back four people.
It was a family of four, a couple who didn't seem too old, with their two sons.
The couple appeared to be in their late twenties, the man surnamed Ji, third eldest in his family, and everyone called him Old Third Ji.
The woman was surnamed Bai, and was usually called Madam Bai, or the third Ji's wife.
The two boys were ten and eight years old, their names were common, the elder called Da Hu (Big Tiger) and the younger Er Hu (Second Tiger).
The family of four looked presentable, and it was said they had all bathed at the penal colony.
Madam Yang had been standing by the young madam, and seeing that she didn't seem to reject them, she then asked the family of four to kowtow to the young master and young madam.
Prompted by Madam Yang, the couple gratefully knelt to pay their respects to their new masters.
"This humble one, Old Third Ji, kowtows to the young master and young madam."
"This humble servant, Madam Bai, kowtows to the young master and young madam."
"This humble one, Da Hu (Little Tiger), kowtows to the young master and young madam."
"You may rise."
"Thank you, young madam."
After the family of four rose and stood in place, Fu Xin Ci asked the question she most wanted to know.
"Sister Ji, how is your cooking skill?"
"Replying to the young madam, this humble servant worked as a cook in the previous master's kitchen."
Whenever Madam Bai thought of how her family of four had been implicated in their former master's rebellion and imprisoned in the penal colony, living in darkness, her body couldn't help but tremble.
She was afraid the young madam would send them back and answered the young madam's question with extreme caution.
Seeing the family of four looking timid and walking on thin ice, Fu Xin Ci decided to be brief.
"Then, starting today, Sister Ji, you will be in charge of the kitchen and prepare three meals a day for our family."
"Yes, this humble servant understands."
"Third Brother Ji, you will manage the household chores."
"Yes, this humble one will ensure the work is done well."
"Da Hu and Er Hu, you will stay at the gate and report immediately if anyone visits."
"Yes, we will do our best."
The family of four knew they had been kept by the young madam and would not have to return to the penal colony, and they were overjoyed.
Fu Xin Ci and Qi He couldn't bear to watch this. Fu Xin Ci handed over the matter of settling the Ji family to Madam Yang, and the two of them walked hand in hand to the back courtyard.
Madam Yang and her daughter were old acquaintances of the Ji family, and were happy to work together again under the new masters. Madam Bai was also very pleased.