CHAPTER 420: CHAPTER 422: SECOND WIFE (PART 4)

"Oh." Tianyi wiped his hands and looked back at Chunyan, shaking his head with a confused look: "I don’t know either. Fourth Master said he was going out to do something alone and told us not to follow."

Chunyan pouted, secretly glaring at Tianyi, thinking, how can he claim to be a personal servant without even knowing where his master goes!

When Chunliu brought back the materials from Second Madam, Xiao Yanzheng led a group of girls and maidservants bustling in. Following her were Min, Xing, and Sheng, a group of children looking at the empty branches of the silver tree all over the ground, imagining how it would appear placed in the courtyard, excitedly fidgeting. Sheng clapped his hands and said, "Fourth Aunt, can we help you together?"

"Sure." Xiqiu nodded with a smile, then looked at Xing and Min: "Are you all here to help me too?"

"Yes!" Xing nodded his small head: "To help Fourth Aunt."

Min appeared with a serious demeanor, standing behind with his little arms crossed, only using his eyes to observe the smiling Xiqiu.

With the children’s laughter, the atmosphere seemed much more cheerful. Xiqiu asked Chunyan to call over Tianyi, who was dismantling a wall in the backyard, and the group gathered in the courtyard to study the pile of loose materials from Second Madam.

Tianyi, with a pained expression, said, "Madam, these forty or fifty trees have loose layers inside. Not only do we have to install them, but we also have to stick gauze and paper of different colors. With just a few of us, we can’t finish in one afternoon."

Before Xiqiu could speak, Xing frowned and said, "What do you mean... you can’t finish today... just do it tomorrow. You’re backing out before even starting. If Grandmother were here, she would surely spank you!" He righteously scolded and pointed his little finger at Tianyi: "Besides, there are so many of us, how can we not finish it?" Although his speech wasn’t clear, everyone pieced together what he said and burst into laughter at his demeanor.

Tianyi blushed from Xing’s words, muttering and scratching his neck, unable to retort.

Min quietly tugged on Xing’s little hand, saying, "He’s Father’s servant, how can you talk to him like that?"

Not understanding Min’s concerns, Xing tilted his head and asked, "Did I say something wrong?" Min sighed dramatically, turned his head, and stood aside, ignoring him.

Xing pouted, soon forgetting Min’s words, and joined the crowd, waving his little hands: "Let’s get to work, everyone!"

Xiqiu laughed, pointing at the bamboo frames laid out, saying, "Alright, let’s do it, but be careful. The bamboo has splinters, so watch your hands."

"Okay!" Min and Sheng cheered, joining Tianyi and Xiao Yanzheng squatting on the ground, meticulously sorting and assembling the parts.

Xiqiu then turned to Chunliu: "You and Chunyan measure the sizes and cut the silk gauze given by Second Madam." The two nodded, carrying a table into the courtyard to cut.

Xiqiu lifted her skirt and squatted next to Xiao Yanzheng, and soon noticed Min standing aside. She smiled and waved him over: "Why isn’t Min helping?" Xing and Sheng were full of smiles, happy to be part of the work.

Min looked at the scattered items, furrowed his little brows, and approached, whispering, "With so many people together, it’s too slow." Xiqiu’s eyes lit up as she asked: "Does Min have a good idea?"

Min thought for a moment and replied, "Why not have everyone do one task, then pass it on. That way, it’s not chaotic and faster."

Ha! Xiqiu gently patted Min’s head, sincerely praising him: "Min is so smart! This method is great." She didn’t expect someone so young to understand coordination and assembly line operation, making it efficient and orderly by assigning tasks.

"Shall Min make the arrangements, and we’ll follow his plan!" Xiqiu said with a smile.

Min’s eyes shone, yet hesitated. Xiao Yanzheng looked up at Min and said, "Alright, we’ll follow Min’s arrangements. Min, how should we distribute the tasks?"

Min put his little hands behind his back, thought a little, and pointed at Tianyi: "You’re responsible for inserting all bamboo branches into the tubes." Then pointing at Xiao Yanzheng: "Aunt and Nanny take care of the layers." Xing and Sheng impatiently asked: "What about us?"

Min thought again and said, "You handle the candles." Pointing at Chunyan and Chunliu, "You stick the gauze..."

The arrangement was neat and orderly.

Xing tilted his head and asked: "What about you and Fourth Aunt?"

Min’s face froze, pausing for a moment, then replied: "Mother checks the quality, and I... supervise you all!"

"Alright then!" Xing drooped his little head, pulling Sheng’s hand to stand aside, waiting for Tianyi to start the first step.

Xiqiu laughed, nodding seriously: "Let’s get started!" Fearing Tianyi couldn’t manage alone, she called for Nanny Cen and another maid from the kitchen to help.

Everyone lowered their heads to attend to their tasks, Min seriously wandered around with his hands behind his back, checking on everyone, occasionally talking to Xing: "If you insert the candle like that, it might easily fall over and burn."

Xing was fine, but Sheng puffed his cheeks angrily, hands on his hips: "You try doing it. Hmph!"

The two locked eyes, and everyone in the courtyard chuckled at their antics...

Xing anxiously tried to mediate: "Don’t argue, let’s hurry up. Soon it’ll be dark, and we’ll light it to see. Don’t waste time."

"Hmph!" Sheng grunted, pushing Xing aside and running off: "You do it yourselves, I’m not doing it anymore!" With those words, he dashed out the door.

Xing lost his balance and was knocked over by Sheng. Xiqiu quickly picked him up, pointing at Sheng’s nanny: "Go after and see."

The nanny acknowledged and left.

Startled, Xing clung to Xiqiu, crying.

Xiqiu sighed. She had thought more children meant more fun, but they quickly had a conflict. Who knows how Sheng is doing. Fortunately, Fifth Madam isn’t in the courtyard now, otherwise, with the children involved, who knows what chaos might ensue.

As she comforted Xing, Min stood aside, face sullen, and no longer in the high spirits he had before.

Xiao Yanzheng paused her work to talk to Min, then turned to Xiqiu: "Fourth Sister-in-law, maybe we should call the maids to do it to save us the trouble."

Xiqiu originally intended for the maid to do the work, but seeing the children’s eagerness, she couldn’t refuse. Who would have thought it would turn sour?