Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

The busy work continued until dark, and the newly purchased furniture and various household items were gradually put away.

Mei Xue hand-rolled two large pots of noodles.

Yu Wanran's bowl contained white noodles, while the others had mixed noodles. The steaming bowls were topped with a spoonful of thickened minced meat sauce, perfectly seasoned and fragrant, making everyone sweat as they ate.

Yu Wanran thought Mei Xue's cooking skills were acceptable, at least better than her sister-in-law and mother's cooking.

Yanbai added another bowl. Shunzi and Huarong slurped down four or five bowls in a row. Only when they scraped the bottom of the pot clean, leaving not a drop of soup, did they pat their round bellies with satisfaction and let out a burp.

They hadn't had a full meal in a long time.

While waiting to be sold, the dental clinic only provided them with a little thin porridge to keep them from starving. During this time, Yu Wanran was not there, and Yan Bai led them, so they were also only half full.

Yan Bai had no idea that they had such large appetites.

That evening, Zhong Yeliu went to Yu Wanran's room to give his first report.

"Master, the furniture and daily necessities for each room cost a total of 130 taels. In addition, each person needs two sets of clothes for all four seasons, as well as shoes, hats, hairbands, and the like, which cost a total of 15 taels of silver."

"I propose that everyone's monthly allowance be thirty coins. What do you think, Master?"

She knew that her master's family was not wealthy at the moment, and she did not plan to give them a monthly allowance unless her master specifically mentioned it.

Being able to eat and stay warm is already a blessing; so many people outside are suffering from hunger and cold.

"Ye Liu, there's another guard, Yan Qing, at the old house. Also, two male servants have been sent to my parents' manor outside the city. I will cover all their daily expenses from now on."

Yu Wanran pondered for a moment before adding her own thoughts.

"By the way, give Yanbai ten taels of silver. Also, your treatment, Yanqing's and Yanbai's treatment should be distinguished from others by the titles of manager and guard."

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. A household needs a hierarchy, different treatment, and clear rewards and punishments to be well-managed.

"Yes, master."

Zhong Yeliu gratefully rose from her seat, preparing to bow in greeting.

"Ye Liu, I'll be traveling a lot in the future, so this family will all depend on you to take care of it for me."

Yu Wanran pressed her back to her original seat.

"Given the current limited resources, we'll temporarily set your and Yanqing's monthly allowance at two taels of silver. You'll each have four sets of clothes for the whole year, made of at least fine cotton."

"The monthly salary for everyone else will be set at fifty coins. When you run out of money, come to me for reimbursement and I will withdraw it separately. As for the future, we will adjust everyone's treatment as needed."

Zhong Yeliu noted them down one by one and nodded in agreement.

The two discussed the arrangements for the house for a while, and Yu Wanran told everyone to go and rest early. Every beginning is difficult, and tidying up the belongings these next few days will definitely be tiring.

The next day, Yu Wanran brought all the documents, household registration records, and other materials to the yamen to find the registrar.

With a letter of introduction from Wu Jian and a bribe of ten taels of silver, the clerk was very friendly and easy to talk to.

Without Yu Man and his wife even needing to be present, the formalities for Yu Wanran were completed very quickly. After paying the twenty taels of silver for registration, the second branch of the Yu family became residents of Huangshan County.

Yu Wanran was an independent female merchant in the county town; the second branch of the Yu family were farmers in Mingshui Village.

Carrying the two newly issued household registration documents, Yu Wanran immediately went to Wu Jian's house and presented her visiting card.

Upon discovering she was a woman, Old Madam Wu personally met with her. She inquired in detail about Wu Jian's work as a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in Tongcheng and how the two had come to know each other.

Yu Wanran said what needed to be said. She gave the old lady a letter and two hundred taels of silver, and presented the gifts she had brought.

The old lady scrutinized her appearance and inquired about her family situation, making it somewhat unbearable for her to remain seated. Yu Wanran made an excuse that she had something to attend to and hurriedly fled the Wu family.

She thought to herself that the Wu family was too hospitable. Little did she know that after she left, the old lady scolded her housekeeper daughter-in-law in a bad mood because of her, and threw a tantrum.

"A merchant's daughter, she only met Jian'er through a chance encounter while escorting goods, and she happened to deliver a letter home for us. What are you thinking, you shallow-minded fool? You had to bother this old woman to come and see that young lady!"

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Just manage your household well and take good care of your two daughters, consider it sharing the burden for your man!"

"If Jian'er wanted to take a concubine, would he have waited until now?"

Mrs. Wu secretly pursed her lips.

If the two are really unrelated, why would my master be so trusting of a stranger, entrusting him with two hundred taels of silver and a family letter to bring back?

Seeing Yu Wanran's face and her imposing presence, she instinctively felt that she was no ordinary person. Among the people the master associated with, there had never been a woman, which made her suspicious.

Yu Wanran was completely unaware of Mrs. Wu's worries. Even if she knew, she would only laugh it off.

It's perfectly normal for a woman confined to the inner quarters of her home, guarding that small space, to have a short-sighted and limited perspective. Therefore, in this second life, she has absolutely no desire to marry and have children.

If one cannot meet a like-minded soulmate, what does it matter if one remains alone for life?

She is content in this life because she can make up for her regrets and repay the debts she owed to her family in her previous life.

Upon returning home, Zhong Yeliu was directing several servants to arrange the courtyard. Various flowerpots, sourced from the market, were arranged neatly in different corners, planted with common flowers such as osmanthus, daffodils, orchids, and chrysanthemums.

The house, which was originally filled with a dusty, earthy smell, suddenly felt refreshing and came alive.

But glancing at my own house, why does it feel like there are more people here?

Upon seeing her, Zhong Yeliu quickly stepped forward to report.

"Master, today Madam sent back the two servants who were stationed at the manor. She said that the household staff is sufficient and they are not used to having more outsiders. In the future, if they need help, they will hire tenants on a temporary basis."

Yu Wanran listened and sighed softly.

I guess her mother probably didn't want to take advantage of me. Such a large estate, how could just a few of them manage to manage it? I can only bring people over tomorrow to see if they can help.

"These two newcomers, Da Niu and Xiao Si, I've arranged for one of them to do odd jobs in the kitchen and the other to run errands and be at someone's beck and call. Their monthly pay will be the same as everyone else's."

"Okay, you can arrange it as you see fit."

Yu Wanran nodded, then remembered something and instructed, "Ye Liu, clear out a room to use as a storeroom. I have some valuable jewelry in my luggage that others gave me; register them and put them in there. From now on, you will be in charge of the storeroom key."

Zhong Yeliu agreed.

Unlike before, she no longer had to painstakingly deal with family and relatives; nor did she have to constantly worry about her reputation like she did in a brothel. Now, busy in this small mansion, she felt an inexhaustible energy.

Yu Wanran also felt relieved.

Small but complete.

This was the first small home she had built with her own hands in this lifetime. If they didn't have any grand ambitions, as Ji Chunhua said, a few thousand taels would be enough for them to live on.

But Yu Wanran was not satisfied with this.

She wanted a better life for herself and her family. Serving servants required at least a hundred or two hundred taels of silver a year. She needed to earn more money to cope with the risks.

Taking out the ledger, Yu Wanran pondered the trade routes she knew from her previous life, wondering which one to start with. Going overseas was too far, and building a merchant ship would probably cost over a thousand taels of silver, which she couldn't afford.

First, travel by land. Once you've accumulated enough wealth, then you can consider expanding outwards.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Yanbai came in and presented a letter.

Yu Wanran took it and saw that it was signed by Duke Xiao Wang. She couldn't help but look up at Yan Bai.

Yanbai lowered his head.