On the day before the Lunar New Year, Ding Changchuan took Ding Zhou to the capital.
After the two took their children to visit Ding Shengkang and Ding Han, the father and son went to the study room in the front yard.
"Sister-in-law, I've already tidied up the yard where you live. I'll accompany you to take a look. If you're not satisfied, you still have time to tidy it up again."
"Thank you for your help, sister-in-law."
After An Ran took over the control of the rear house, he first cleaned up the yard where Ding Changchuan lived.
Ding Zhou was also very satisfied after seeing it. The yard was not small and was neatly kept. An Ran added some exquisite ornaments based on the original ones, and there were several flower trees in the courtyard. Of course, it is impossible to bloom now.
The next day on New Year's Eve, when everyone had dinner together, Ding Zhou saw An Ran looking a little languid and thought he suddenly took over as housekeeper because he was too busy and tired.
"Sister-in-law, if there is anything I can do to help you at home in the future, just tell me." ?.?????.ℂ??
An Ran smiled and said, "I'd like to thank my sister-in-law first. I really need your help in the future if I have something to do."
Ding Zhou agreed happily.
When he returned to the room in the evening, after washing up, Ding Changhe saw An Ran's eyes were red and asked, "What's wrong? Who made you angry?"
An Ran shook his head, "Uncle, has Xiao Shitou not replied yet? I heard that the people from the mission have returned a long time ago, but why hasn't Xiao Shitou returned?"
Ding Changhe hurriedly held An Ran in his arms and said warmly, "It takes some time for letters to come back. I estimate that I will receive a reply in just a few days."
An Ran cried softly and hugged Ding Changhe, "Uncle, help me bring the little stone back."
Ding Changhe patted An Ran's back gently, "Don't worry, he is my eldest son, I won't let anything happen to him, trust me."
At night, Ding Changhe didn't bother An Ran anymore, and only comforted her in a low voice. An Ran fell asleep with tears in her eyes.
The next day, An Ran calmed down, put a cold handkerchief on her swollen eyes, and sent someone to invite Ding Zhou.
"Third brother and sister, there are a lot of things this year. I want you to help me manage some chores in the house. Mainly the kitchen purchases and staff duties. I wonder if my brother and sister have the time."
Ding Zhou was very happy in her heart. After all, this was equivalent to sharing more than half of the housekeeper's power.
"Sister-in-law has an order, how can I shirk it, but I just arrived and I'm not familiar with it, so I'm afraid I won't do it well."
An Ran smiled faintly, "There are rules for this, and there are stewards everywhere. I just need my brothers and sisters to pay attention and keep an eye on them, so that no one can fool them."
"Okay, if you don't understand anything, I'll ask my sister-in-law for advice."
Ding Zhou went back happily. As soon as she arrived in the capital, she was assigned a part of the housekeeping rights. Of course she was happy.
When he was in Fucheng, Ding Lin was in charge of the back house, using only the people around him, and he also had a tight grip on power.
At that time, Ding Zhou had nothing to say about matters in the back house except her own yard.
Sister Chen and Mrs. Sun followed An Ran's instructions and notified various stewards.
After coming back, Sister Chen asked in private, "Why did grandma give away the housekeeping rights?"
An Ran rubbed his head, "It's too cumbersome, and there are rules for this. It doesn't matter who cares. We have to take out the accounts for the past years and take care of the gifts given by the uncle over the years in advance."
A few days ago, Ding Changhe and An Ran talked about the list of people who need to be given gifts by colleagues in Beijing, and the garrison generals in various places also need to be sorted out.
Mrs. Sun and Sister Chen didn't say anything more after hearing this.
After Ding Changchuan heard what his wife had said and saw that her daughter-in-law kept saying nice things to her sister-in-law, he smiled and said, "I remember that you used to look down on my sister-in-law. You have changed too quickly."
Ding Zhou rolled her eyes at Ding Changchuan and said, "The third master is right. I really looked down on my sister-in-law at first. The dignified eldest daughter-in-law, the head of the Ding family, was huddled in the countryside, with a son beside her. It’s such a frustrating life.”
Ding Changchuan smiled and said, "Then why are you praising my sister-in-law now? It's because my sister-in-law asked you to help the housekeeper."
Ding Zhou sat next to her husband and said sincerely, "It was only later that I realized that the women in the eldest brother's house are simple. If the eldest sister-in-law lives in the house, she can just put aside her anger. If anything happens, she can't be dealt with alone." Okay, if you don't have enough protection, there will be a gap between you and the eldest brother. But if it is in the countryside, the eldest brother often lives there, and no one will disturb things in the middle, so the relationship between the two will naturally be good. "
It was only later that Ding Zhou came to understand that it doesn't matter how good-looking or not it is to capture a man's heart, whatever you don't pay back in the future will be yours, so what's the use of fighting for a moment of loyalty.
Later, she gradually started to respect An Ran when she saw that An Ran was so shameless, punished when things happened, and never frightened anyone.
Ding Changchuan thought for a while and said, "You don't understand. When my sister-in-law first arrived at Ding's house, she suffered a lot. We were not at home at that time, and my mother didn't like her and gave her a lot of grievances, so she didn't like living in the house." Even though my eldest brother later begged my eldest sister-in-law to return home, she was rejected."
Ding Zhou smiled and said, "So, it's best if you men don't get it. My sister-in-law doesn't follow her elder brother's will and only lives according to her own ideas. Instead, her elder brother tries to accommodate her everywhere. So you men are really... .”
Mrs. Ding Zhou clicked her tongue twice and glanced at Ding Changchuan.
After Ding Shengkang learned about this, he said to Ding Changhe, "Your wife has done a good job. She is not a petty person who loves to seize power."
Indeed, Ding Zhou took over all the trivial matters in the house, while An Ran was only responsible for sending gifts and favors to others. The two of them have a division of labor, and it is easier to discuss things when they have something to do.
