Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 253 - 5: Settling In (Part 2)

Previously, apart from the retired soldiers and a few maids, there was also a pair of siblings at the house, one older and one younger.

The older one is the sister, only ten years old this year, but she is tall and strong, looking like she is fifteen or sixteen. Her eyebrows and eyes are honest and sincere, similar to Linglong, almost like real sisters.

However, while Linglong appears simple but is sharp-minded, this girl called Han Niu is genuinely straightforward and honest.

Her brother, Chang Sheng, is seven years old this year, but he is not as robust as the five-year-old Bai Yue. It was said he was born prematurely, making him somewhat physically weak, but he is very intelligent.

If it weren’t for everyone saying they were from the same mother, no one would believe it just by looking at them.

The siblings’ father also died on the battlefield, and when Chang Sheng was three, their mother couldn’t bear it anymore and ran away with a small merchant to Hami.

Their father’s comrades raised the two children bit by bit. Later, Hong Sheng took them in, reasoning that whether it’s one sheep or a flock, what’s two more mouths to feed.

Susu deliberately chatted with the siblings for a while and found herself quite fond of the honest and earnest Han Niu. Hong Sheng mentioned that they had some barbarian blood in their ancestry.

"Han Niu’s father was a good man. In this generation, it’s a girl, Han Niu, who inherited the barbarian lineage, learning some military skills from her father since childhood. Don’t be fooled by her age; three or four ordinary men couldn’t handle her. I’m thinking of letting her stay by your side. She’s familiar with Hami, and I would feel more at ease when you’re out."

Without even thinking, Susu agreed. Though young, she can still grow! With proper training, she could even become a female guard. That’s not common, you know. The guards beside Seventh Sister were even sent by Third Master Qin, which saved a lot of trouble.

"I think Chang Sheng is quite clever too, though he’s young. Let’s have him follow Bai Yue, serving as a connection between the inner and outer courtyards, making it easier for communications."

With Susu’s suggestion, Hong Sheng naturally had no objections.

Originally, there was only one maidservant in the mansion. Hong Sheng initially intended for Han Niu to follow Yue Baiyou. However, Yue Baiyou looked down on Han Niu for being simple and didn’t dare say it directly to Hong Sheng but secretly made things difficult for the little girl.

Unable to stand it, the maids reported to Hong Sheng, who then bought a maid for Yue Baiyou and replaced Han Niu.

That’s why they say Hong Sheng is sincere. When buying a maid, he even handed over the indenture.

Now in the Hong Mansion, it’s unheard of for a family’s maid to only listen to an outsider.

Regarding Yue Baiyou, Hong Sheng had already shared his intentions. Susu inwardly scoffed; if only it were so easy to send that girl away. Men, always thinking it’s simple.

What Susu thought didn’t really matter. On the surface, she maintained silence, presenting an attitude of "letting her husband decide."

Hong Sheng felt his wife’s satisfaction with his male domination fed his ego, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that trouble lay ahead.

Susu didn’t bother with Hong Sheng’s whimsical notions. Knowing his leave would soon end, she needed everything set before his return to the military base, including inviting his subordinates and their wives for a housewarming banquet to establish their new home.

Susu saw the furniture stored by Hong Sheng in the warehouse from their old house—three or four complete sets and several scattered pieces. Even the cheapest material used was camphor wood, followed by red sandalwood, rosewood, ironwood, fir, and ginkgo wood.

When she heard from Hong Sheng that he only spent a thousand silver taels, she thought maybe Hong Sheng had used his status to pressure someone. Those pieces of furniture were worth ten thousand taels.

Seeing Susu’s confusion, Hong Sheng laughed and said, "It’s just a matter of them offending someone and being desperate. Had they not come to me, they wouldn’t be able to sell their properties, and returning to their hometown, let alone making a comeback, would be impossible. The wealthier they are, the more they fear death. I’m taking this house with a clear conscience."

The more Hong Sheng explained, the more he felt justified, until he noticed Susu’s strange look and weakly added, "They didn’t even want a single copper coin. I’m not that ruthless and still shelled out nearly two thousand taels."

Susu couldn’t help but laugh, "I didn’t say you were wrong, it’s just you’re talking more and more." Plus, his skin was getting thicker and more shameless. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Susu had no psychological aversion to using second-hand furniture, as long the bed wasn’t second-hand. Besides, these pieces, though slightly used, were still eighty percent new. After being moved from the warehouse and cleaned, they were nearly indistinguishable from new.

Since her dowry didn’t include bulky furniture, buying new furniture would cost quite a bit, so it was more economical to use these for now.

The fourth section is the main building with five rooms and a large porch at the front, with a plaque bearing the words "Brocade Residence."

This house was where she and Hong Sheng would live during their years in Hami. Susu naturally put in the effort to decorate it thoughtfully.

With things on her mind, she hastened her efforts, ensuring nothing was outwardly noticeable, resulting in elegance throughout.

At this moment, Susu sat in the study within the east wing of the main house, writing invitation cards.

In this study, directly opposite the door, there stood a sycamore-mosaic, Seven-Wonders Linglong table adorned with stationary treasures—a white jade crystal paperweight, white jade brush washer, a sandalwood incense burner on a tray.

An agate jade brush holder held several of Xiangfei’s Toothed Purple Hair Brushes, along with two sets of Kyoto Bamboo House’s Scenic Writing Paper.

There was a box of jade slabs, an inkstone made of Duan stone, another of vermilion stone, and a jade green ink water pot.

Another large white jade basin held patterned stones from Yuhua Terrace, alongside an assortment of Eastern gold-leaf stationery envelopes, a small clock, two treasure ink boxes, one square and one round, two silver ink boxes, and a piece of aged pine soot ink on an ink platform.

Alongside the desk was a three-layered carved hollow Longevity Mountain stone bookshelf with dozens of books and four nanmu book chests, all filled to the brim.

Beneath the southern window stood a small knee-high table carved from raw wood, supported by roots, with a small footstool, and a cloud-point bamboo side table displaying ancient copper tripods and a bamboo jade screen.

If tired from reading or writing, one could take a leisurely rest here.

At the Shun’an Earl Mansion, Susu had practiced writing invitation cards quite often, so within a short time, she finished about a dozen. Considering the diverse tastes of people, Susu straightforwardly and sincerely invited the families Hong Sheng determined to attend.

Putting down the pen, Susu exhaled a breath; the earlier things were settled, the sooner she could handle the bigger matters.

While deep in thought, Susu heard a commotion outside the courtyard, and listening more closely, she sighed helplessly.

Currently, except for one person and one matter, everything in this household was satisfactory.

Outside, with the eloquent and strong-willed Fen Dai and Han Niu, Yue Baiyou and her maid stood no chance. Picking up a book, Susu reclined on the small couch, pondering how Miss Yue was like a warty toad—never biting but annoying, trying to find presence in small, trivial matters, utterly ignorable to her.

What’s the point of a good sister, if not to act as family, but instead rush to be a third party or concubine? Isn’t that just madness?