At this moment, Mr. Fang changed into new clothes and ordered everyone in the household around.
The main room had to be tidied up, with all the bedding replaced with red mandarin duck silk quilts. The entire house had to be thoroughly cleaned, leaving no corner untouched. The courtyard was even washed twice.
After inspecting everything, Mr. Fang gathered everyone together and carefully instructed them on the rules.
As someone from a wealthy family, Mr. Fang knew how strict the rules were in the households of the elite. Although the Zhang family was just a merchant's household for now, Lao Fang believed that in a few years, it could become a Marquis or even a Duke's household. Therefore, the servants could not afford to be without discipline.
Originally, everyone came to watch the excitement, but after being subjected to Mr. Fang's fussing, they became a little nervous.
Later, Mr. Fang gave each person two sets of green clothes and caps, which were purchased from a ready-made clothing shop. From now on, this would be the uniform for all the Zhang family servants.
Anyone who worked in the household had to wear it. If they violated the rule, they would be fined for the first offense, beaten for the second, and expelled from the household for the third.
However, Zhang Er Niang was not interested in Mr. Fang's lecture at all. She was whispering in her younger sister's ear.
"Young sister, did the master tell you privately when you'll be allowed into his room?"
The younger sister wrinkled her nose and said in a dispirited tone,
"My husband said it would be in two years. He said I'm not yet of age, and my body hasn't fully developed."
Zhang Er Niang listened anxiously and said,
"How could you not be of age? How could you not have fully developed? When I was your age, our mother was already pregnant with your brother!"
"Now that the master is taking a concubine, when you enter his room in two years, won't the main wife and the concubine be pregnant? What will you do if the main wife bullies you?"
The younger sister snorted disdainfully and said,
"I'll see who dares. My husband loves me so much that he won't even let me do heavy work. He even has Liu Ma wash my clothes. If anyone bullies me in the future, I'll tell my husband and ask him to teach her a lesson!"
Zhang Er Niang was speechless. What an immature little girl!
"Don't count on it. Although the master of the house has a kind heart, once the new madam enters the door, who will remember this little maid who can only look but not touch?"
The younger sister became anxious, not knowing what to do.
At the moment, Zhang Erniang had no good ideas either. She could only console her,
"Don't worry too much. Serve the master well and don't annoy him. The master should make some arrangements when the time comes. If that doesn't work, I'll talk to the steward Fang in private."
While the mother and daughter were whispering to each other, Zhang Nuo was so nervous that he had already gone to the restroom three times.
Wow, they got married so suddenly! Although Zhang Nuo had dated several times before, he had never been married before!
Especially now, what the heck, this was a flash marriage, which was like a joke.
At the lunch table, Li said, "My little sister is good. I'll give her to you as your wife." Then in the afternoon, she was sent to him.
This was too hardcore!
Why didn't he get married in the future? He clearly had a family and a career, but there were always one or two factors such as conditions, personality, and family that weren't suitable.
Now, it was different. He saw someone who looked pretty and she became his wife.
Zhang Nuo didn't care about the distinction between the main and secondary wife. He had a girlfriend who was like the apple of his eye in the future, but now he had one reserved and in hand. What else was there to say?
While wandering aimlessly in the backyard, Zhang Nuo was both restless and tried to mentally prepare himself to have the demeanor of a head of the household.
Before he could figure things out, the doggy ran over as if being chased, excitedly saying,
"Master, the madam is about to arrive at the door. Steward Fang asked me to inform you."
Zhang Nuo suddenly shuddered and took three quick steps to the front yard. However, he immediately felt that it was too sudden and showed too much excitement, so he coughed and walked forward with his hands behind his back, swinging leisurely. However, if one looked closely, his hands were still trembling slightly.
When Zhang Nuo arrived at the main hall of the front yard, Hongyu had already brought Hongdou to the door, and Lao Fang and the others were standing inside to welcome them. They did not have the qualification to welcome Hongyu into the house. This was a job for either the female head of the household or the head of the family.
Upon seeing Hongyu in her gorgeous red palace dress, Zhang Nuo almost drooled.
This was just like the after beauties often seen in the cosplay world of later generations - that beauty, that figure, those long legs...
She was the kind of person one could only admire from afar in later generations, but now she was about to become his wife?
Zhang Nuo secretly pinched himself a few times to prevent himself from making a fool of himself. He maintained a polite and gentle smile as he led Hongyu by the hand into the house.
Once inside, everyone followed along to the main hall in the backyard. Following the rules that were taught to him by Mr. Fang, Zhang Nuo sat properly in the main seat.
Hongyu, accompanied by Hongdou, then bowed in respect. Zhang Nuo ceremoniously took out a key and placed it in Hongyu's hand, signifying that she was now the mistress of the house.
Then, Hongyu sat next to Zhang Nuo, and he proceeded to introduce her to everyone, starting from Mr. Fang.
As someone who was used to grand occasions from being by Empress Changsun's side, Hongyu found this small gathering to be easygoing.
After Zhang Nuo introduced each of the servants, she would offer a few kind words of comfort to them. Even Zhang Erniang, who was most worried that Hongyu would bully her daughter, was soothed by a few words from Hongyu.
Afterwards, Zhang Nuo announced that everyone would go to Mr. Fang's place to collect their monthly salary, which was like a red packet for everyone.
At this point, Hongyu was officially part of the Zhang family. The traditional feasting and drinking followed, as it did for years.
Luckily, Zhang Nuo was already a successful restaurant owner, and he had no shortage of fine food and drink.
Since Hongyu had just joined the family, she could not eat in the front courtyard.
So, thoughtful Mr. Fang had already arranged everything. There was steamed pork that had been prepared but not cooked for lunch, fried lamb made by Big Zhuang and Second Zhuang, mutton soup, lion's head meatballs, and Zhang Nuo's newly prepared osmanthus wine.
All the dishes were placed on a table in Zhang Nuo's room. Mr. Fang reluctantly took Hongdou and left, leaving the space for the newlyweds.
Once they were alone, Zhang Nuo suddenly became nervous again.
But Hongyu, with a charming smile, calmly led Zhang Nuo to sit at the table. She poured two cups of wine and said with a smile,
"Husband, I offer you a toast!"
That sweet "husband" completely ignited the fire in Zhang Nuo's heart. She was already his wife, so what was the point of beating around the bush? They had to take care of business!