Chapter 371: Chapter 371: No One Can Surpass You
After relinquishing authority, Wufu drafted an invitation and had Liu Jin deliver it to Ah Jiu, officially inviting him to a housewarming celebration.
Once Liu Jin had dispatched the invitation and returned, he informed her that the Ninth Master had accepted the request, saying, "Miss, shall we order a banquet from Huixian Tower?"
He had heard from Xiao Li that when wealthy households hosted guests, many would order banquet spreads from famous restaurants to be served at their homes.
Wufu listened to his explanation and shook her head, saying, "No need. We are not organizing a grand feast, and we are only inviting himāprobably with a few of his subordinates at most. Two tables of food should be more than enough. Just have Sister-in-law Qing prepare some home-cooked dishes."
Liu Jin had no choice but to agree.
Madam Zhou, upon learning that Wufu intended to invite the esteemed Ninth Master, also felt a bit nervous. She shared the same thought as Liu Jin, preferring to order prepared banquet spreads from outside to avoid being a poor host.
Wufu found it necessary to explain to her again.
"...If thatās the case, then let Sister-in-law Qing prepare. When the time comes, Iāll help out in the kitchen as well," Madam Zhou said, hesitating for a moment.
Wufu nodded and agreed, then leaned on the welcoming pillow, smilingly saying, "Then it will be a bit of trouble for you, mother."
Madam Zhou laughed, "What trouble? Itās just cooking a few dishes. Compared to before, these days feel like living in bliss."
She wasnāt lying. Life now truly wasnāt strenuous at all, since there were so many people to serve her, and heavy labor was done by others. In fact, Madam Zhou found herself somewhat unaccustomed to it.
"Mother has suffered much. From now on, you should enjoy your blessings!" Wufu said with a smile, afraid that her mother might start thinking about the past hardships, so she changed the subject and asked, "Mother, how do you feel about taking over the household affairs?"
Looking a bit embarrassed, Madam Zhou responded, "I still think the days before were simpler. Now, thereās accounting and such to do. Qiu Xiang even mentioned building a storeroom, creating ledgers and the like. Itās all Greek to me."
"That Qiu Xiang, though she didnāt elaborate on her previous household, itās clear she has a calculating mind. Whatever you donāt understand, just ask her. As for complexity, the core principles remain the sameāit all comes down to adaptability. Keeping ledgers and accounts, itās all for oneās own convenience, to have a clear understanding of income and expenses, and not to be bamboozled by the staff," Wufu continued her guidance.
"If you understand this well, why donāt you continue to manage it? I heard from Qiu Xiang that in those wealthy households, young ladies are taught early on to manage household affairs alongside the Matriarch, so that when they marry, they wonāt be looked down upon," Madam Zhou said with a smile that was not quite a smile. In her eyes, marrying into a good family was the most important thing for her daughter, and having one more skill would prevent the in-laws from disdain.
Wufu hastily responded, "Iām just not interested in that, and besides, I have you, mother. This way, you wonāt complain about having nothing to do. As for me, thanks to Shopkeeper Lin, Iāve just turned in one jade piece, and I need to continue carving the remaining jade, so how could I have time to manage the household?"
Knowing that her daughter made a living through this craft, Madam Zhou said, "You work hard."
"Not at all," Wufu chuckled. "In any case, from now on, mother will manage the internal affairs, and Iāll handle the external ones. We wonāt worry about living a prosperous life. Rest assured, with me here, nobody can bully you!"
"Mother, this residence is bought by me; it belongs to us, mother and daughter, not to anyone else. You just relax and enjoy your life as the Old Lady, not having to endure othersā looks any longer. Instead, it is those underneath us who should be wary of your displeasure. Remember, you are the master of this house, the highest authority, and no one can overstep you. If thereās anyone who dares to disrespect you, you have the right to sell them off. You are the Matriarch of this home, do as you please," Wufu instructed yet again.
Moved to tears, Madam Zhou nodded repeatedly.