Chapter 194: You’ll Get Used To It
In the rickshaw, looking at Mohe whose hands were unconsciously clenched and face showed unease, Cao Weida couldn’t help but laugh:
“What’s wrong, worried about your future life in the rear residence?”
“No… no.” Mohe was somewhat insincere, her gaze also dodging.
“Don’t be afraid.” Cao Weida took her hand, placed it in his palm and patted it, “The reason I haven’t taken a main wife until now is that I’m afraid you’ll feel a sense of disparity.”
“Rest assured, I dare not say I can be completely impartial, but I will definitely treat each of you as fairly as possible.”
“My rear residence doesn’t like a smoky atmosphere, you’ll all be sisters from now on.”
“I don’t expect you to be as close as real sisters, there will definitely be some small squabbles, but I don’t want you to have irreconcilable conflicts, we’re all family, just get along well.”
“I’ll say this to all you sisters, with me here for everything.”
Hearing this, Mohe inexplicably felt at ease, let out an “mm,” nodded obediently, gently rested her head on his shoulder, the worry on her face faded a lot, and a slight smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Having a master who cares for her is truly wonderful.
The rickshaw went all the way to No. 8 Sesame Hutong, and as the two entered the courtyard house, Ru Qiulan and Liu Rusi, who had been notified, came out with small quick steps.
“Master, you’re back.”
Then, their gazes gathered on Mohe, and they coquettishly laughed: “Yo, this is the third sister, isn’t she? She’s so pretty, with clear brows and bright eyes, elegant and intelligent, master, why don’t you introduce her quickly?”
Cao Weida smiled and introduced: “She is my third concubine Mohe, from now on she’ll be your third sister.”
He then introduced to Mohe: “Mohe, the one on the left is fourth concubine Ru Qiulan, the one on the right is fifth concubine Liu Rusi.”
Ru Qiulan and Liu Rusi lightly curtsied, giving a squat greeting: “Greetings, third sister.”
Mohe hurriedly returned the courtesy, “Greetings, fourth sister, fifth sister.”
Seeing that Mohe was still somewhat reserved, just as Cao Weida was about to comfort her, Ru Qiulan very sensibly stepped forward, took Mohe’s arm, and led her inside, laughing coquettishly as they walked:
“Third sister, don’t be reserved, we’re all family sisters from now on.”
“Besides, if anyone’s reserved, it should be us two sisters, you’re our sister after all.”
Liu Rusi also took the other arm and chimed in: “Yes, yes, if anything, we should be watching your mood, third sister, don’t bully us in the future.”
Mohe was made somewhat at a loss by the enthusiasm of the two sisters, “How… how could that be, while the master works hard outside, we sisters should love and support each other.”
“Oh, if you weren’t our sister, no wonder the master calls your name even in his dreams, you’re so obedient and sensible, no wonder the master likes you so much.”
Tsk.
Cao Weida followed behind, watching their appearance as close as one family, and secretly sighed in his heart, no wonder they’re from great families, whether Ru Qiulan or Liu Rusi, they were more experienced than Mohe in dealing with people and building relationships.
Sure enough, in the short distance from the entrance to the living room, Mohe’s initial unease had dissipated, the tension on her face turned into a smile, calling them “little sister” one after another.
Cao Weida naturally had no objection to this, and was quite pleased to see it.
If the rear residence can get along harmoniously, isn’t that exactly what he hoped to see?
It’s fine to use some scheming, as long as it’s for the good.
“Master, third sister hasn’t eaten yet, right? I’ll have someone prepare dinner right away.” Ru Qiulan issued orders with quite the demeanor of a matron.
Born in an official family since childhood, and then staying in Ruizi Mansion for so many years,
Although she had never managed a household, through osmosis, her every gesture exuded the air of a great family.
Liu Rusi could be considered of prominent status, but after all lacked foundation, and was quite deficient in this aspect.
Therefore, although she had only been with Ru Qiulan for two days, and usually they each minded their own business, subconsciously she didn’t find Ru Qiulan’s matronly demeanor inappropriate.
If she was like that, Mohe had even less objection.
Cao Weida, seeing all this, didn’t feel dissatisfied either; the position of main wife in the rear residence was vacant, but there always needed to be someone to take the lead.
Otherwise, if everyone followed their own whims, that would truly be chaos.
“Master, ladies, the food is ready.” The maidservant set down the dishes and said humbly.
These maidservants were all hired by Cao Weida for money.
Not that he particularly liked luxury, but with a large house, various issues would arise one by one.
The clothing, food, housing, and transportation of the women in the rear residence all needed people to manage, so they could focus on their own lives and inner chamber affairs.
Cleaning the house, tending the courtyard, organizing items, and such tasks were also substantial, requiring dedicated personnel.
At the same time, kitchen prep, serving dishes, etc., also needed maidservants to assist, ensuring the inner chambers ran smoothly.
He could afford it, and could support his women; if money could solve it and give the servants jobs to support more people, why not?
He was one who enjoyed life, didn’t want to do everything himself, or he’d be exhausted to death.
During dinner, the three women behaved properly; all three wanted to build good relationships, and the atmosphere was quite warm and harmonious.
After eating, the maidservants orderly cleared the bowls and chopsticks.
Mohe instinctively wanted to help, but was held back by Liu Rusi, who laughed: “Let the servants handle these things, I’ve already had hot bath water prepared, third sister, go bathe quickly.”
“But…” Mohe’s gaze turned to the tidying maidservants, feeling that having everything handed to her without helping at all wasn’t right.
“Mohe.” Cao Weida shook his head slightly, “Go wash up, let them handle these.”
“Alright then.” Mohe didn’t insist too much; she was just used to doing laundry, cooking, and washing dishes herself, and hadn’t adjusted yet.
Plus, with her pure and kind nature, she felt it improper to be hands-off while the maidservants did everything, so she wanted to lend a hand.
However, since the master thought so, she naturally wouldn’t stubbornly insist on helping.
While washing up, Mohe felt shy again; not only was the bath water heated and put into the tub for her, the maidservants were also prepared to serve her on the side.
“Um… you all go out, I can do it myself.”
Beiping actually had women’s bathhouses as early as 1914, and by 1944, there were eight women’s bathhouses in total in Beiping.
Compared to over 120 men’s bathhouses, women’s bathhouses were few because female customers were very rare, a niche consumption scene.
The reasons were multifaceted: traditional concepts, spending power limits, facility and location limits, etc.
It could be said that in Beiping of this era, most women had never been to a bathhouse, and Mohe was one of them.
Before, she just wiped herself at home, which was very inconvenient.
Only before getting married did she comfortably take a hot water bath.
But now, not only did someone prepare hot water for her, they also helped scrub her back.
This made her hard to adapt to for a while.
The two maidservants exchanged a glance, both covering their mouths and chuckling lightly: “Third Concubine, you’re just not used to it, right? It’s fine, you’ll get used to it slowly.”
“In the future, you’ll need to bathe every day, there are many places you can’t reach to scrub yourself, so you’ll need our help.”
“You just relax, leave the rest to us, this way it’s cleaner.”
The dignitaries and nobles of this era loved luxury more than anyone, especially those nobles from the Qing Dynasty, who were extremely proficient at it.
Crucially, they were all very rich.
Where there’s demand, there’s a market, so places training these skills naturally emerged.
These maidservants were specially trained, each an expert, serving with great ease.
Of course, correspondingly, their salaries weren’t low; for these two, it was equivalent to fifteen silver dollars a month.
Of course, those doing cleaning, laundry, and dishwashing earned less, about ten silver dollars.
The residence had hired a total of ten maidservants and servants, and just the monthly salary expenditure was over nearly a hundred silver dollars.
“This…” Mohe hesitated, but ultimately nodded and accepted such service.
She was no longer that down-and-out niece of the eight banners descendant who needed to sell cigarettes on the street; she was now Cao Family’s concubine, a married woman.
Living alone in Koudai Hutong before was fine, but now that she had moved into the master’s house, she must slowly adapt to these habits, couldn’t lose face for the master.
“Third Concubine, your skin is so good, you could pinch water out of it, you’re so beautiful, with such a graceful figure, the master marrying you truly has great good fortune.” While serving the bath, the maidservant kept praising,
“It’s just that your palms are slightly rough, but no matter, luxury nourishes people, after some time it’ll be fine.”
“I know an old traditional Chinese doctor whose skills are excellent, tomorrow I’ll get two prescriptions for you to boil and soak your hands in, guaranteed to make them soft and smooth as jade.”
Sitting in the tub sprinkled with petals, enjoying the meticulous scrubbing, listening to the nonstop praise, Mohe suddenly somewhat understood what kind of luxurious life her cousin had described before.
She lifted her somewhat wrinkled hands from the soak and looked; the palms, finger joints, and fingertips had thick calluses from years of cooking and chores.
Before, she didn’t mind, but now she suddenly found them an eyesore.
“I suppose the master also likes my hands tender…” After becoming Cao Weida’s woman, she had unconsciously started caring about her master’s preferences.
“Then thank you, trouble you to get two tomorrow.”
The maidservant smiled playfully: “Third Concubine, rest assured, I’ll definitely get them for you.”
“How much? I’ll give it to you later.”
“Third Concubine, rest assured, the master gives the accountant’s office a sum each month, I just need to tell them there, no need for you to pay.”
‘So, this is what life in a wealthy family is like’ Mohe gained more understanding of life in great households.
In the study room.
Cao Weida leaned back in the chair smoking, carefully recalling things he needed to do this period and the next few days, while his other hand scribbled on paper.
The bigger the operation, the more things to consider, a brain-draining task.
Actually, he himself hadn’t expected how things suddenly spread so wide.
Before, he just wanted to live a bit better, and within his ability, help the Communist Party more.
At the start, he was worrying about eating better, had to go to the black market at night to scrounge.
Now at this point, it seemed all from flashes of inspiration, widening the paths, another flash, widen again, some active, some passive, unknowingly becoming like this.
“First stabilize the current situation, secure the base, no more flashes of inspiration for other ideas.” Cao Weida scratched his head, tapping the pen tip on the little devil’s sea and land cooperation.
For this business, he never planned to make money from it, even planned to work for free.
Not for anything else, just to avoid catching Ono Shiota’s attention.
The scale of this business was too large, the profits astonishing, even half a percent would be astronomical.
He loved money, but cherished life more, especially now not a lone wanderer, so he must think thrice.
Once money piles up without strong protection, it becomes a death warrant!
Like a child carrying gold bricks through a busy market, safe?
So, the wisest choice was not to reach out, let them have all the interests.
“What a pity.” Cao Weida resisted the temptation, shook his head regretfully, and noted it down.
Scribbling like this, he didn’t know how much time passed when a knock came.
“Master, third concubine has finished washing up.”
“Got it.” Cao Weida tossed the paper into the space, stood up, and stretched.
Just brought in, and absent for three straight days, Cao Weida naturally wanted to make it up to her.
So, tonight Ru Qiulan and Liu Rusi very obediently gave the space and time to Mohe.
When Cao Weida arrived at the bedroom, Mohe was already lying on the bed, covered by a thin silk quilt, revealing half her soft bosom and that delicately alluring face.
“Master, it’s late.” Saying this, Mohe’s throat felt itchy, her voice trembling.
Although she had experienced intimacy and was savoring it, after all she was newly married, still somewhat shy.
Looking at her blushing pretty face like rosy clouds, Cao Weida’s mouth corners couldn’t help but curve up; he walked to the bedside, lay down, domineeringly pulled her over, and whispered in her ear: “Indeed late, tonight I’ll properly make it up to you.”
Mohe’s cheeks flushed even more, like a streak of gorgeous sunset glow on the horizon, her eyes misty as she looked at her master.
Sniffing the faint scent, an inexplicable palpitation surged.
“.”
The next morning, Cao Weida got up refreshed, and under the maidservants’ service, got up and washed.
At breakfast, Cao Weida instructed: “Save some food later, send it to third concubine when she wakes.”
“Yes, master.” The maidservant acknowledged.
Hearing this, Ru Qiulan coquettishly laughed, “Yo, looks like third sister was quite worn out last night, still not awake.”
“Master, you too, don’t know to be more tender with third sister…”
“Exactly, kept me from sleeping well last night.” Liu Rusi yawned, her under-eye bags slightly dark.
