Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Show Off a Little (2/2)
“You don’t need to worry about these things. Just take good care of yourself and the child in your stomach. I will arrange everything for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Moreover, Grandma Li and Grandma Chen are both competent. They will take care of everything that needs to be done with just one command.” Han Yu had experienced more than once the benefits of the servant girls sent by his mother-in-law. These trained servants couldn’t be compared to those hastily bought from tooth shops outside. He also understood the importance of a family’s heritage, and as someone who had climbed up from the bottom, he knew he needed to work even harder.
“I know Grandma Li and Grandma Chen are capable, or else Mother wouldn’t have sent them. But it’s important that we manage the public affairs ourselves. As for the holiday gifts for our family back home, I’ve asked Shu Xiang to make two sets of new clothes for Father and Mother. Each of the children will get a set as well, and in addition, each household will receive two boxes of mooncakes, ten pounds of pork, thirty pounds of rice, and ten pounds of white flour. What do you think? Should we add anything else?”
Shu Xiang was a servant girl sent by Madam Su last time. Su Wenyue had named her and the other three servant girls—Shu Xiang, Shu Yu, Shu Qin, and Shu Lan. Not only could all four read and write, but each had their own abilities and specialties. Since Shu Xiang was best at embroidery and mending, the task of making clothes was assigned to her; she also took charge of Xiao Xi, the maid who was bought last time.
Aside from everything else, Su Wenyue insisted on discussing the holiday gifts for their old home with Han Yu. Maintaining good relations there was of utmost importance. Normally, so many gifts wouldn’t be necessary, but by now, Han Yu was an official of some standing, and since they weren’t living together, they were spared the daily annoyances. She was happy to be generous and give more.
“Let’s add two pieces of cloth, so Elder Brother and Sister-in-law can make new clothes for the festival.” Su Wenyue thought for a moment and added two pieces of cloth; after all, they were just lying unused in the box. Unlike other items, cloth would lose its freshness if stored for too long.
“It’s already enough. Our family isn’t that wealthy, and my monthly salary is just so much. Besides, the Third Child’s family doesn’t need that much, just sending two boxes of mooncakes will be fine. They don’t appreciate good things, so giving them more is just a waste!”
Han Yu had an issue with Han Lin and his wife, but he didn’t stoop to their level. Besides, after what Mrs. Wang had done before, and since Su Wenyue once said in a dream that Sikong Ling conspired with Mrs. Wang to harm his daughter-in-law, his disdain for Mrs. Wang intensified, holding a grudge ever since. Nonetheless, Mrs. Wang was still the Daughter-in-law of the Han family, his Sister-in-law. Some things weren’t appropriate to do, and if it weren’t for considering his daughter-in-law’s public image and potential gossip, Han Yu wouldn’t even want Su Wenyue to send those two boxes of mooncakes.
Seeing Han Yu’s reaction, Su Wenyue pressed her lips together and smiled, “Alright, we’ll just send two boxes of mooncakes to the Third Child’s family.”
Even giving the mooncakes was being too generous to them. Su Wenyue and Han Yu shared the same thoughts. Their family’s mooncakes weren’t the cheap kind found on the market, nor were they ordinary homemade ones. Though Su Wenyue didn’t make them herself, they were made under her guidance and according to her wishes. The fillings alone were meticulously prepared, mixed with many ingredients, not to mention the detailed process of making them. It was fortunate that among the servant girls from the Su Family was one skilled in cooking, and there was Xiao Xi who had learned from Su Wenyue; otherwise, they might not have been able to make them at all.
The mooncakes took a great deal of effort to create, and the boxes for them were specially ordered from her mother’s family’s carpentry shop, not just exquisite but also giving a high-end, classy impression. The boxes alone weren’t cheap, but since they were ordered from her family’s shop, they were only charged for the cost. If not for Su Wenyue’s insistence, she wouldn’t even have had to pay for that.
Su Wenyue thought that Han Yu hadn’t seen them yet, so she had a servant bring up a finished box of mooncakes. This idea was actually inspired by Imperial Consort Li from her previous life, and now she was keen to show off in front of Han Yu, hoping to win a few words of praise from him.