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***[There"s a for terms left in pinyin in the above menu, for those who need it!]
Ouyang Nuan went to pay respects to Laotaitai early the next morning. The room had a caged coal basin. Thick cotton curtains hung around the room. The room was warm and cozy. When she walked inside, Nee Li was drinking tea served by Zhang mama. She reclined on a big embroidered satin cushion. She absentmindedly listened to her first-rank maidservant Yurong talk about something interesting.
When Ouyang Nuan walked inside, Nee Li imperceptibly straightened her body. Then she slowly sunk down again.
"Laotaitai." Ouyang Nuan performed her greeting and Nee Li nodded in acknowledgement. Then she went to sit on the heated brick bed like usual.
Nee Lin looked very happy. "What happened in the reception pavilion yesterday?"
Ouyang Nuan lightly smiled and said, "Li Yiniang was worried that she is newly-married and don"t know any of the managing mamas, so she dragged me along. I said that they were Laotaitai"s orders. Could they be hard to handle after that? Indeed, when I said that it was Laotaitai"s wishes, they immediately didn"t say anything more."
Nee Li nodded and asked, "Is there anything wrong with the account books?"
Ouyang Nuan"s eyes were clear and sincere. The smile on her face was more amiable. "Laotaitai is making fun of me. What does a little girl like me know about account books? Moreover, Li Yiniang is supposed to be in charge. I went there, sat down, had a cup of tea, and left."
Nee Li"s eyes looked satisfied, but her face had on a disapproving look. "Silly yatou [(more informal or derogatory) girl], I also want you to come into contact with more family matters. It will be easier for you to manage when you get married! You"re so lazy!" Then she lightly and very affectionately poked her forehead.
Ouyang Nuan immediately smiled along with Nee Li. At the same time, she hid the coldness in her eyes. Laotaitai said that Ouyang Nuan would help Li Yiniang merely to block Nee Lin"s mouth. Li Yiniang had just married and her ident.i.ty was too low and this would cause problems. Nee Lin did not sincerely want Ouyang Nuan to interfere. In fact, it seemed like Li Yiniang had already reported yesterday"s matters to Laotaitai already. Nee Li"s words today were tentatively testing to see if Ouyang Nuan had any intentions to encroach on the power. She was so guarded even against a young granddaughter. Nee Li was certainly a cunning old fox. Ouyang Nuan was thinking all of this, but she smiled until her eyes were curved crescents. She affectionately leaned against Nee Li. "Spare me, grandmother. Household management is very troublesome! Spare me from the hard work!"
"You!" Nee Li was very satisfied and imperceptibly smiled.