Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Inheritance
Xiao Li said while pulling Mianmian’s hand to return to the pavilion, just as a servant brought tea and snacks. Xiao Li took Mianmian to wash their hands and eat some snacks.
Every time Xiao Li returned to the old house, she always felt as if she traveled back to a bygone era; time seemed to slow down.
The servants over at the old house moved with uniformity, clearly professionally trained, and as for the meals, they were exquisitely prepared.
Xiao Li suddenly felt curious. Since they seldom stayed long, the kitchen staff made everything meticulously, and the servants served well.
What did these people usually do when they weren’t around?
After the servants left, Xiao Li finally asked, "Mom, have these servants at the old house been trained?"
Qin’s mother first gave a piece of pastry to Mianmian before speaking, "Yes, not just anyone can be a servant at the old house.
They carry on a tradition, including the chefs. You see how exquisite these pastries are; it’s all passed down over decades, even centuries.
With each generation inheriting and innovating, this is the result we see today."
Xiao Li nodded, "Do they do this every day?"
Qin’s mother smiled, "You want to know if they are like this when we aren’t around, right!"
Xiao Li nodded, "Yes, I’m curious about what they do when we’re not here?"
Qin’s mother nodded, "They naturally perform the same duties as when we are here.
Every room needs to be cleaned daily, so when we’re not here, they still clean daily to ensure we can stay comfortably whenever we arrive.
Just like Aunt Wu and the others at our villa in the city, even though we’re at the old house, they still have to keep the villa tidy, so it’s clean when we return.
The old house, though more often empty than occupied by us, follows the same principle.
If there’s a difference in their work, it’s that they don’t need to serve us. But even when not serving us, they still have to daily review the etiquette of serving food, the hand gestures, the arrangement of dishes.
These are all important details; they want to be flawless when the hosts are present, so they cannot slack off on ordinary days.
A person’s conduct must be ingrained through daily repetition in order to embed the standard into their bones.
If they slack off when we aren’t around, can they instantly get into the right state when we come?
They cannot.
Feigning proficiency is different from having it ingrained within you. To know if their regular state is good, you only need to observe them now.
As for kitchen staff, they are even less likely to slack off. When we are not around, they don’t need to cook for us, but they won’t waste time, instead using it to research food.
Our kitchen will come up with something new from time to time.
Frankly, Xiao Li, you haven’t stayed at the old house for a long period to really experience it; you always stay for just a few days. You aren’t very familiar with the old house.
This time, there’s nothing urgent, so stay for a few more days, let Ah Xiao show you around properly."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Li looked at Qin Xiao. She had no issue with how long to stay, as she was quite free now, unsure of what uncle’s plans were this time.
Qin Xiao, holding Xiao Li, noticed Xiao Li looking over, smiled, and said, "This time we’re staying long-term, until the point we don’t want to anymore, then we’ll return to the city.
Later, I’ll take you to the Piano Room in Tingfeng Pavilion, as promised to play the piano for you last time."
Xiao Li smiled, "Great! I’ve been waiting more than a year for this piano. I must listen well..."
They sat in the pavilion for a while longer, and then Xiao Li started getting hungry, occasionally pouting and crying. Seeing this, Xiao Li took her back to the courtyard.
Mianmian didn’t want to go back to the courtyard yet, so Qin Xiao stayed with her to play around the pavilion for a while longer.
Once back in the courtyard, Xiao Li first fed Xiao Li milk, and once he finished and fell asleep, she began to organize the luggage the servants had barely opened and hadn’t had time to sort, hanging up the clothes inside.
Normally, the servants would take care of this. But just as they were about to organize the clothes, she returned with Xiao Li, fearing the noise might disturb him, so she sent them away for now.
Seeing her and Qin Xiao’s personal clothes in the trunk now, she decided it was better to take care of them herself.
As Xiao Li was hanging up clothes, Qin Xiao returned with Mianmian, and Xiao Li looked at them, "Why are you back so soon? Did Mianmian get tired?"
Qin Xiao laughed, "Such an energetic little girl, how could she be tired?
She was just by the fish tank watching the fish, but couldn’t resist putting her hand in to play, getting her sleeves wet. I was afraid she’d catch a cold, so I had to bring her back."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Li hurried to fetch a change of clothes for Mianmian and took her to the bathroom to switch outfits.
After getting changed, Mianmian ran back over to Qin Xiao, "Daddy, I changed my clothes. Can we go out to play again?"
Qin Xiao looked at the watch on his wrist and saw the time, "Mianmian, it’s lunchtime now, we should go to the dining room to eat. It’s not playtime now."
Mianmian merely wanted to go out; it didn’t matter where. Upon hearing they were going to the dining room, she was happy and immediately pulled him along.
Qin Xiao didn’t move, picking up the little one and softly said, "Mianmian, would you go to eat without inviting mommy and little brother?"
Mianmian heard her dad and first turned to look at her brother on the bed, "Daddy, Little Brother doesn’t eat!"
Qin Xiao continued, "Little Brother is just too small now and can’t eat, but he will eat meals in the future.
Little Brother isn’t eating now, but won’t mommy eat?
You didn’t call mommy just now!"
Mianmian blinked her eyes and only then turned to Xiao Li, "Mommy, let’s go eat together!"
Xiao Li smiled, "Okay, let’s go eat together."
Xiao Li called for a servant to watch over Xiao Li, and the three of them went to the dining room.
In the dining room, Qin’s father was already back and sitting with Qin’s mother waiting for them.
Seeing they didn’t bring Xiao Li, Qin’s mother knew he must be asleep, "Xiao Li asleep?"
Xiao Li nodded, "Asleep."
The three sat down, and one servant after another started serving dishes. Previously, Xiao Li didn’t pay much attention to the etiquette of serving, but after hearing Qin’s mother, she took notice today.
Upon seeing, Xiao Li noticed their meticulousness.
Whether it was the hand gestures or the placement of the dishes, everything was extremely particular. Though they were merely having a meal, the servants served according to proper dining etiquette.
This is the foundation of a great family.
Life is full of these rules, yet these rules don’t make you uncomfortable but instead feel natural.
Because the rules are inherited, not forcibly imposed into your life, but seep into everyday life bit by bit.