Chapter 663 - 343: Send Them All Away

Chapter 663: Chapter 343: Send Them All Away

Since her arrival at the Li Family residence, Nanny Wang had only ever seen Li Changyu act amiably. He and the Young Lady were a loving couple, which led Nanny Wang to assume he was intimidated by his wife’s powerful family. Thinking he was willingly subservient, she wasn’t particularly afraid of him.

Now that he was questioning her, she relied on her status as Mrs. Gao’s trusted wet nurse. She took a step forward, knelt before the couple, and said sternly, "Since you’ve brought it up, Master, I will speak out of turn. The Young Lady has never known a day of hardship. Since marrying into the Li Family, she has never once complained about the food or lodging. She even cooks herself to show respect for her parents-in-law. That is one thing—it is a daughter-in-law’s duty. But you cannot force the Young Lady to wear such coarse cloth garments..."

Before she could finish, Mrs. Gao hastily cut her off. "Nanny, what nonsense are you spouting? I think you’ve lost your head. Apologize to the Master at once!"

Li Changyu stared at the old servant woman, his voice cold. "You feel your Young Lady has been wronged? Are you implying that my father-in-law’s judgment has failed him in his old age, that he shouldn’t have arranged this marriage? Since you know the word ’duty,’ you should understand the duty a servant must uphold. If you are so dissatisfied with the Li Family, then I will send you back to the Gao Family—it will spare you any further grievances here. Wuzi!"

A tan-faced farm boy entered from outside, bowing his head respectfully. "Yes, Second Young Master? What do you need?"

Li Changyu pointed at Nanny Wang on the floor. "Find two men and send this old woman back to the Gao Family. And take a letter to my father-in-law for me." He then swept his gaze over the other maids and nannies in the room, a faint smile on his lips. "Anyone else who finds it difficult to live here? Speak up now, and I’ll send you back along with her."

"Right away!" Wuzi said quickly. He stepped forward, grabbed Nanny Wang, and began to drag her out, leaving everyone in the room stunned.

Nanny Wang immediately began to wail and thrash about. "Young Lady! Young Lady, please say something for me..."

Wuzi pulled a wad of something from his sleeve—it certainly wasn’t a handkerchief, as a boy like him would never carry one—and promptly stuffed it into her mouth. Her cries turned into muffled whimpers.

Mrs. Gao stared blankly, her large, tear-filled eyes wide, as Li Changyu took her nanny to task. She was filled with a confusion she didn’t know how to voice. Like Nanny Wang, she was stunned by her husband’s sudden outburst.

Seeing Mrs. Gao’s dazed and distraught expression, the other servant, Nanny Jin, could no longer hold her tongue. She stepped forward. "Master, Nanny Wang has served the Young Lady since she was a child. For the Young Lady’s sake, if not for her own, you should..."

Li Changyu’s eyes flashed with annoyance. "You want to leave as well? Fine. I’ll have them send you away with the others."

Nanny Jin was furious. She stood there silently in a fit of pique, thinking, ’Fine, send me back then! When I get home, I’ll tell the master and madam exactly how this husband of hers treats their daughter. Does he think a daughter of the Gao Family is someone to be trifled with?’

The rest of the servants didn’t dare say another word. ’Why did he turn on them so suddenly?’ they wondered. ’Hasn’t he always been so good-natured?’

Li Changyu said coldly, "This is the Li Family residence, not the Gao Family’s! Your Young Lady married me, which makes her a daughter-in-law of the Li Family. The husband is the guide for the wife. Even your Young Lady must listen to me. How dare you servants look down on me? Nanny Jin, are you planning to run back and tattle to your master? Don’t trouble yourself. I will write to my father-in-law personally. I guarantee my letter will be far more detailed than anything you could say. I will make it very clear to him how all of you have behaved since your arrival. You, and you," he pointed, "can all leave together. As it happens, I have some free time today. The work in the fields has been taken care of, so I can focus on putting my own house in order."

The two maids he pointed to were rather attractive and had always been picky and critical of everything. He had been wanting to deal with them for a long time. Just like that, four of the most overbearing servants were gone. The ones who remained were either genuinely honest and dutiful, or were shrewd enough to read the room and knew not to overstep.

After having them taken away, Li Changyu waved his hand to dismiss the remaining servants. Only then did he turn to look at Mrs. Gao, whose face was ashen.

Mrs. Gao’s lips trembled. "Second Master... are you displeased with me? Is that why you deliberately shamed me in front of everyone?"

Li Changyu moved a stool in front of her, took both of her hands in his, and sighed. "Would shaming you bring me any honor? Wan’er, we are husband and wife. While it’s said that ’the husband is the guide for the wife,’ there is also the saying that ’a husband and wife should be of one heart.’ I don’t want a crowd of servants standing between us, meddling in our lives. They are here to make our lives easier, not to cause us grief."

Mrs. Gao stammered, "But... but, Second Master, you should have just disciplined them. Why send them back to the Gao Family? What will my father think?"

Li Changyu pulled her into his embrace, stroking her small hands as he spoke softly. "Oh, you. You truly were raised as a sheltered lady—you’re too naive. It’s a good thing you married me. If you had married into any other prominent family, you would have been eaten alive. Think about it. Those servants are all snobbish, cunning women blinded by wealth and status. It’s a waste of effort to discipline them. It would be better for me to simply buy new servants and train them properly from the start. As for your father, don’t you worry. A man who would choose me as his son-in-law back when I was poor is no ordinary person. How could he fail to understand the subtleties of this situation? Besides, they are old servants of the Gao Family. It’s more appropriate to send them back and let him be the one to deal with them."