After breakfast the next day, Cheng Xue knew about the cost of the kitchen.
Seeing Cui Li's wife in front of her constantly explaining to herself, she expressionlessly picked up the teacup and took a sip.
In this way, Cui Li's wife stopped talking and just bowed her head and knelt.
Cheng Xue put down the teacup and spoke after a while:
"From now on, let Bai Wei do the shopping. As for the relative who is in charge of things, forget about it. If there are vegetables in the other village, you don't have to buy them from him, and there is no need to maintain this connection in the house."
When Cui Li's wife heard this, she nodded hurriedly in response, and she completely understood Bai Wei's position in the Li family.
"The house will be very busy next, so you still have to do the kitchen work. You must be careful and cautious when putting things in your mouth. If anything goes wrong, don't think I will sell out all six of you."
"Yes, yes, I have written it down. I will not be careless." Cui Li's wife responded again.
Although she had experienced this kind of threat before, facing Cheng Xue's actions just now, she suddenly felt unsure.
Looking at the capital, the kitchens of the houses of officials above the fifth rank are not more than one hundred taels a month. It is not easy for her to squeeze down to seventy or eighty, and she did not expect to be disliked so much. She also knows that the food prices of her relatives are high.
But is that buying groceries? Isn’t that buying news? But the host doesn’t understand, and there’s nothing she can do.
From this day forward, everyone in the house must behave politely and never do one more thing for fear of making a mistake.
For this reason, Cheng Xue knew it and ignored them. Anyway, she took her time and dealt with the banquet in front of her first.
In the afternoon of the same day, she sent out the invitations. She invited two families, one was Xiao Qinglin and the other was Zhou Fang. As for Li Yue, Li Heng and Wen Tian, they directly sent people to deliver oral messages. There was not so much detail when returning to her own home.
Not to mention the invitations.
Li Hui originally wanted to have a good rest, but he didn't want someone from the palace to announce his presence, so he had to change into his official uniform and bring Dexi and Wenxi into the palace with them.
Li Yue rushed home as soon as he learned the news. He saw his mother and Bai Wei discussing the dishes, fruits, tea and snacks for the banquet, and suddenly felt a little disappointed.
You must know that she and her sister used to do this, and her mother never cared about it. Now that she is married, she has become a guest and is not as comfortable as she was at home before.
Cheng Xue ordered all the food, and Bai Wei took it down to prepare. Only then did Li Yue have the opportunity to talk to her mother.
"Mom didn't say anything when she came back yesterday, so she wasted a whole morning."
"It's really not a waste. Your father and I had a good sleep."
"Where's dad? Is he in the study room?"
"I've gone to the palace. I don't expect to come back until tonight. When will Yixin come back on weekdays?"
"It has to be around three o'clock." Li Yue replied, "I sent someone to the court to inform him. He can come back early today."
"Then we'll eat here tonight. I brought a lot of geese and hens from home. I'll pretend them to you later, and you can take them back and eat them slowly."
While talking, Cheng Xue looked at her eldest daughter. She looked very good, her eyebrows were delicate, and the young couple had a good relationship.
Just looking at it so innocently, the unhappiness in Li Yue's heart immediately dissipated, replaced by shyness and embarrassment.
"Oh mother, don't keep staring at me like this, you're so embarrassed."
As a wife, she naturally understands the meaning in her mother's eyes.
Cheng Xue smiled, poured her a cup of red date and wolfberry water, and said:
"Silly girl, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. You and Yixin are living well, and I'm happy to see you. That's better than anything else."
"Mom~" Li Yue rubbed her mother's arm affectionately, acting coquettishly.
After a long time, Cheng Xue patted the back of her hand and asked:
"How much do you spend on the kitchen every month? If it's the same as here, just give it back to someone's relative. It's all wasted money and it's unnecessary."
"Okay." Li Yue responded obediently without any excuse.
The mother and daughter chatted for a long time and then came out to report that Li Hui was back. Also coming back with him was Xiao Qinglin. They both imagined what the house would be like in the future. Xiao Qinglin would definitely come here often.
Cheng Xue asked Hongyu to lead someone to prepare the meal. Now that her daughter is out of the house, she can no longer eat at the same table as before. But she still has to show up when she should, it is basic etiquette.
When they came to the front hall, the two were drinking tea and chatting. Xiao Qinglin saw Cheng Xue and hurriedly stood up and walked over.
"Sister-in-law, it's been a hard journey, how's your rest?"
"It's good. I came back too late yesterday afternoon and didn't say anything. Did you two... meet in the palace?"
Xiao Qinglin nodded, sat down next to her warmly, and said:
"I just happened to have a family letter to send to the palace, so I saw my brother. Anyway, I'm going back by myself, so I just came to make a living."
Cheng Xue liked his rudeness, looked him up and down, and said:
"I'm a little fatter, and my complexion looks much better. Do you have a girl you like? Your parents are always thinking about her."
Speaking of "the girl you like", Xiao Qinglin scratched his head in embarrassment and said "hmm".
Cheng Xue was surprised and glanced at Li Yue subconsciously. The latter nodded and said helpfully:
"She is the only daughter-in-law of Mr. Qian, a doctor from the Ministry of Water Affairs, Qian Yujiao. She is nineteen years old, gentle and pleasant, and has a good reputation."
The official position of the doctor of the Ministry of Water is from the fifth rank. This background is somewhat inappropriate for Xiao Qinglin, but Li Yue praised that she is the only legitimate daughter of the Qian family. It seems that she is a girl who has been cared for and raised carefully. Looking at Xiao Qinglin again, she looks like she is worthless with a smile on her face.
Son, it can be seen that he is very satisfied with this money girl.
It's just that at this age...
"You don't get engaged until you're nineteen? But do you keep your filial piety?"
"No sister-in-law." Xiao Qinglin lost his shyness and explained generously, "Master Qian was born in a poor family, and he only had one wife in the back house, and they have a son and a daughter. The couple attaches great importance to their two children, especially the marriage. If it weren't for the emperor's uncle,
As a matchmaker, it's difficult for this family to succeed."
"Why? Why don't you look down on you when you are so young and promising?"
"My sister-in-law has misunderstood. It's not that he doesn't like her, it's that she's too tall and they don't want her enough. Her brother is one year older than me. He just got married a while ago. He is married to the daughter of a small official in the Ministry of Industry."
"Oh, then the wife's natal family here should be just like theirs. The back house should be very clean."
Xiao Qinglin smiled and nodded, acquiescing. In fact, he was not anxious about his marriage. With their family's family background, it would be difficult for ordinary people to match him. It was rare to find such a suitable person, and with the emperor's uncle acting as a matchmaker, he was very happy. But his mother
She was very opposed to it, but fortunately, she was staying with her father in the north. By the time they came back, everything had been settled, and there was no point in trying to stop it.
Cheng Yao looked at his sly smile and quietly said:
"If Mrs. Xiao still doesn't know about this matter, it's best if you take the time to inform her. If you are worried about Mrs. Xiao's objection, just ask for an imperial edict. This will not only leave your mother speechless, but also give the woman's family great honor.