The common folks either carried something beside them or in their hands. There were fresh vegetables, mountain delicacies picked from the mountains, and some brought a lot of firewood. It was a dazzling array of items, everything imaginable.
What was most unexpected was that the shopkeeper of Huacai Workshop, accompanied by several embroiderers and hairpin makers, was also waiting outside the gate. They said they were here to take the measurements of Li Zhao, Jiang Zhiqing, and Jiang Mian to make wedding clothes and hairpins for them.
This scene naturally greatly surprised the newly hired stewards.
After getting off the carriage, the common folks immediately surrounded Li Zhao. They bombarded him, Jiang Mian and others with greetings and tried to force the things in their hands on them.
Li Zhao tried to decline several times but to no avail. He was a bit helpless. He turned around and glanced at the newly hired stewards. The head steward and two deputy stewards immediately stepped forward and greeted the crowd with smiles on their faces.
"Thank you all for your kindness to our Li Mansion. From now on, we will manage the mansion on behalf of our master. These items need to be registered and stored in the warehouse. Please come with us."
The three stewards led the common folks outside into the mansion. In the blink of an eye, it became quiet outside the gate. Jiang Mian let out a sigh of relief and exchanged a helpless look with Jiang Zhiqing.
These common folks were really too enthusiastic. They were afraid that they would have nothing to eat and rushed to give them things.
Fortunately, they were only staying in Luozhou for a while. If it was like this every day, they might never have a moment of peace.
Baoyue Pavilion.
Jiang Zhiqing and Jiang Mian both stretched out their arms. The embroiderers from Huacai Workshop were surrounding the mother - daughter pair, taking their body measurements.
The shopkeeper of Huacai Workshop was making notes while smiling and saying to Li Zhao, who was sitting in the upper seat:
"The time is tight. It might be too late to make custom - made wedding clothes. However, we can slightly modify the existing wedding clothes in the shop according to the figures of the young master and the lady. We will definitely be able to finish the wedding clothes within two days and won't miss your auspicious day."
Li Zhao nodded. "That's enough. Also, modify five sets of regular clothes for each of us for all four seasons. The matching jewelry must also be prepared. Use the best materials for the clothes and the latest designs and styles of jewelry from the capital. It would be best to send them to the Li Mansion early tomorrow morning so that the lady and the young lady can change into them."
"Alright. Since it's the order of Young Master Li, we will definitely do our best to make them." The shopkeeper of Huacai Workshop made notes one by one. After taking Li Zhao's measurements, he bid farewell and left.
Immediately afterwards, the three newly hired stewards, who had finished dealing with the things sent by the common folks, rushed to Baoyue Pavilion in a hurry.
"Greetings to our master, the lady, and the young lady."
The current head steward of the Li Mansion was named Yin Zizhen. The other two were Ma Dai and Kuang Wu. These three were not servants but commoners with household registrations. Among them, Yin Zizhen had once been the shopkeeper of a horse - trading shop and had several years of experience in management. However, the horse - trading shop was in a slump and couldn't afford to pay the wages, so he had to find another way out.
As for Ma Dai and Kuang Wu, they had both served as stewards in two different small households respectively. Due to being排挤 by their masters, they had to leave.
Yin Zizhen was holding a brand - new booklet in his hand. He said to Li Zhao, "The things sent by outsiders today have all been registered and stored in the warehouse by this humble one. This is the detailed list. Please have a look, master."
Li Zhao didn't take it but said, "Give it to the lady."
Yin Zizhen responded and then handed the booklet to Jiang Zhiqing on the other side.
Jiang Zhiqing took it, glanced at it, closed the booklet, and said with a smile, "Thank you, Steward Yin. Are the common folks still in the mansion?"
Steward Yin said, "Don't worry, lady. They have all been sent away."
After saying that, he looked at Jiang Zhiqing eagerly, waiting for the next instruction.
Jiang Zhiqing paused for a moment and looked at Li Zhao. Li Zhao smiled gently and nodded at her. "You are in charge of this mansion. Just say whatever you want."
Jiang Zhiqing thought for a while and then said, "The three of you should first familiarize yourselves with the layout of the mansion today, know how many courtyards there are in the mansion, and how to manage it on a daily basis. Tomorrow, when the tooth - shop sends all the servants, you should immediately assign the tasks."
"My wedding with the master is set for three days later. This is the most urgent matter in the mansion at present. On that day, the master and I plan to open the gates to welcome guests widely. Regardless of their status, as long as they are willing, they can come to the Li Mansion to have a cup of wedding wine. Therefore, there must be enough food and drinks for the banquet. Don't worry about not having enough money. If it's not enough, just ask me for it."
Steward Yin and the two deputy stewards listened attentively and then solemnly promised, "Don't worry, lady and master. We will plan carefully and won't let the master and the lady worry."
Jiang Mian was quietly watching Jiang Zhiqing instructing the three stewards from the side, looking at her mother's profile.
Jiang Zhiqing had once served beside the old lady Li. She had seen the old lady handle the affairs of the mansion and had also been in charge of organizing several large - scale banquets in the Li Mansion. Even the second aunt of the Li family couldn't deny that she was really capable.
At this moment, when giving orders to these three stewards, she showed no trace of timidity. And because of all her experiences, she had the calmness that came with age. She was more and more like the mistress of a household, and it was hard to tell that she originally came from the countryside.
Thinking of the hardships her mother had suffered in Dongli Town, Jiang Mian's eyes moistened inexplicably.
Her mother had finally tasted the sweetness after all the bitterness.
In order to nourish his body, Xiao Jingcheng let his body continue to sleep in Jiang Mian's room. He controlled the body of the yellow dog and followed Jiang Mian around. Therefore, he quickly learned that there were three new stewards in the Li Mansion and that many new servants would enter the mansion tomorrow.
With the servants, this mansion could truly come back to life. This also showed that Li Zhao really intended to push the Li family back in front of the world again. He no longer just wanted to hide his identity as before.
Realizing this, Xiao Jingcheng suddenly understood.
He knew the weight of the name "Li Bingjun", and others naturally knew it too.
Now the world was divided into two. The Southern and Northern Sheng Dynasties were at a stalemate, and neither side had taken the next step. Having a talent like Li Bingjun as an assistant would determine who would finally win the world.
Whether it was his uncle or his father, they were probably going to take action.
Now it was just a matter of who would act faster.
Daoist Yuanzheng didn't return to the Li Mansion until it was almost dark. Since they didn't know his background, Steward Yin almost mistook him for a swindling sorcerer. Fortunately, Jiang Mian rushed over in time and said with a smile that he was a distinguished guest of the Li Mansion. Only then did Steward Yin let him in.
Touching his goatee, Daoist Yuanzheng said, "Tsk tsk.不愧是 a wealthy family. It's starting to have rules."
Jiang Mian said with a smile, "You'll get used to it. It'll probably be the same in the capital."
Another dreamless night passed. Early the next morning, Jiang Mian was woken up by the noise outside.
The tooth - shop had sent all the servants they had bought to the Li Mansion as agreed. At this time, the several maids arranged by Li Zhao for Jiang Mian knocked on Jiang Mian's door.
"Has the young lady gotten up? The lady sent us here to serve you wash and dress."
Jiang Mian was about to answer and let them in when suddenly she remembered something. Her face changed.
Oh no, Xiao Jingcheng was still in her room!