Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 877

Chapter 877: Very Sweet

The next day, all the head housekeepers handed in their rosters. An Zhi carefully reviewed them. “Have everyone go to the storeroom to collect their money before leaving. Thank you all for your hard work yesterday. But from now on, if anyone in any courtyard gets into trouble, the housekeepers will know.”

The madam suddenly became stern. Although there was no punishment this time, they all knew there would not be a next time.

After checking the rosters, An Zhi took out the notes she had made while reviewing the accounts yesterday.

Currently, the Pei household only had three people. Even if other people occasionally stayed, most of the time it was just An Zhi and her family of three. There was simply no need for so many people.

Before An Zhi got married, she managed the An household. She knew exactly how many people were needed to handle the food, clothing, and daily necessities of a small household.

For the Pei household now, having over a hundred people to do the work was far too much. Yesterday, she used the housekeepers to handle about twenty people, which lightened the burden considerably.

However, the expenses were still very high, and many things were unnecessary.

Take those vacant rooms, for example. They did not need daily cleaning; normally, a quick cleaning every few days was sufficient. If someone came to stay, then half a day’s work was needed. There was no need to employ so many people to clean every day. This expense alone cost the Pei family over a hundred taels of silver every month.

It’s not that An Zhi was unwilling to spend money, but too many people inevitably lead to chaos. Especially with so many elderly people holding onto their decades of seniority, they not only did not do any work but also corrupted the atmosphere of the household.

An Zhi pulled out a few names—several people who no longer worked but still held positions and had quite a temper. She asked Nanny Wang to bring these people to her.

“You’ve all worked for the Pei family for many years, and now that you’re all getting on in years, I cannot bear to let you work anymore. Here’s some silver, twenty taels each. Take this silver; it will be enough for you to live comfortably in your old age,” An Zhi said softly. “As far as I know, you’ve all acquired some mansions over the years. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can always come to me.”

Upon hearing this, everyone knew that the Pei family was going to dismiss them.

Twenty taels of silver was no small sum; it was enough to buy a good concubine outside, let alone provide for their retirement—enough for them to live a wealthy life for the rest of their days.

But these old men were unwilling to leave. In the Pei family, they had food and drink, were served by young servants, and their masters were not troublesome. Once they left the Pei family, their children would surely be served as comfortably as these new servants in the Pei family.

Xu Momo, a servant with a scab on his chin, hesitated, “Madam, you’re too kind. We’ve followed the Pei family through thick and thin for decades. If the Pei family faces any difficulties, we are all willing to stay and continue helping.”

The others nodded hurriedly in agreement.

Actually, they just did not want to leave. They could stay in the Pei family and be lazy, and none of them wanted to go out. Besides, everyone knew that the Emperor valued Pei Que, and the Pei family was currently enjoying great fortune. As long as they stayed in the Pei family, who knew what kind of good fortune awaited them in the future?

An Zhi silently put away her smile. “The Pei family is not in any trouble. It’s just that there are too many people in the courtyard. Besides, you’ve worked hard all your lives, and you deserve my money to help you live out your old age comfortably. There’s no need for the nannies to say anything more; I must give you the money, otherwise outsiders will say that the Pei family is mistreating its servants.”

An Zhi not only gave them money but also refused to accept any money for their redemption. Mainly, these people had indeed done a lot of work in the Pei family when they were young, and it was normal for them to become lazy in their old age; she could understand that. Therefore, An Zhi did not intend to punish these people. Instead, she gave them money, hoping that they would be more sensible.

Seeing that their master was not smiling, some wanted to continue speaking, but their master had no intention of listening and turned and went inside.

“Oh well, it’s alright. Madam is already being generous by giving us money back,” someone said.

“Yes, other families would not give so much. After Qiu Jin’s incident, Madam will probably punish the Pei family severely. We might as well take this opportunity to take the money and leave; otherwise, Madam will definitely continue investigating. If she finds out something, things will not be so easy to talk about then.”

“That’s right, let’s go.”

Those who had worked for the Pei family for so many years were all perceptive, and none of them could guarantee that their hands were completely clean. Given the master’s favor towards Madam, if Madam would not budge, they would definitely leave.

Of the group, only Nanny Xu left, cursing and swearing. She was the youngest in the group and had only just begun to enjoy her newfound comforts; leaving the Pei family made her even more unwilling.

Chunlan watched from behind the wooden window until everyone had left before going inside to report to her madam, “Madam, they’ve all left.”

“Good, they are gone. Have someone keep an eye on them; a few troublemakers will inevitably cause trouble. Some people get old and really think too highly of themselves, as if they’ve forgotten about their indentures.” An Zhi finished speaking and looked out the window. “Judging by the time, Consort Dowager Xue and the others should have left the city by now, right?”

“They’ve probably left the city,” Chunlan nodded.

“Sigh, she’s quite detached. But it’s good this way; not clinging to power brings peace in the future,” An Zhi sighed. “I wonder if she received the pastries I gave her.”

Meanwhile, Xue Mengyao had just found the pastries An Zhi had given her in the carriage.

Li Zhi was supposed to travel alone in the carriage, but after leaving the city, he insisted on coming to find Xue Mengyao, and no one could stop him.

“Your Highness, who sent these pastries?” Li Zhi noticed the exquisite layers of pastries, many of which he had never seen in the palace.

Xue Mengyao smiled faintly. Seeing the words “Zhilan Academy” on the pastries, she knew An Zhi had sent them.

She took a piece and fed it to Li Zhi. “Do not worry about who sent them. It’s not easy to get these pastries. It takes several days to travel from the capital to Xiling. We’ve fallen from a great height, and today we set off without anyone to see us off. This pastry is the most heartwarming thing today.”

Li Zhi took a bite of the pastry. It was very sweet and melted in his mouth, but he was still curious about who had sent it. However, since the Dowager Consort did not say, he did not ask. He would be with her in the future anyway, and one day she would tell him everything.

Xue Mengyao was a source of reassurance for Li Zhi. With Xue Mengyao around, Li Zhi felt safe and secure.

The procession accompanying them to Xiling was grand and imposing, representing Li Xing’s reluctance to part and his high regard for them.

However, with so many people traveling together, the journey would take two extra days.

Xue Mengyao took a piece of pastry to eat herself; it was indeed very sweet. She remembered something An Zhi had once told her. “Yes,” Xue Mengyao sighed inwardly. Seeing that Li Zhi had finished eating, she gave him another piece and carefully wiped the crumbs from his lips.