The kitchen was huge.
Yue Jie and Yue Xin compared it to the kitchen they had and there was simply no competition.
The surroundings and utensils in the kitchen were washed and wiped by Xue Cong.
Everything was sparkling clean.
"Yue Jie, help me with the preparation of the ingredients for noodles.
"Yue Xin go to the woodshed, to get some firewood for the fire.
"The woodshed is to the left of the kitchen."
Yue Xin glanced over at Yue Jie, not sure of what to do.
Yue Jie, however, was just as clueless.
They looked at Xue Cong, who had taken out the meat with some scallions, onion and ginger.
"Yue Jie, chop the onion and ginger." Xue Cong said without looking and went to start chopping the piece of meat.
Chop.
Xue Cong chopped the meat halfway and stopped.
She lifted her head and realized that Yue Jie and Yue Xin were looking at her with an apologetic look.
"We... we don't know how to do any of it.
"But give us a chance and we will try our best to learn.
"We've promised the same to Master Lin and we will stick to it."
Yue Jie and Yue Xin said at the same time.
Xue Cong looked at their sincere eyes and sighed.
"You didn't have to do any chores before?" She asked curiously.
In poor families like hers, the boys would have to do heavy chores and tend to the fields.
The girls would have to learn how to cook, sew and take care of chores in the house, preparing for them to be married out.
And in Xue Cong's case, being sold when the family was in a dire situation.
"We eh... We didn't have to." Yue Jie and Yue Xin replied to Xue Cong.
They went on and told her about their background.
How their father was framed and banished to prison. And they got affected by it in turn.
Xue Cong nodded her head and felt bad for both of them.
They had gone from being treasured daughters to slaves in such a short span of time.
She went on and talked about a little of her family.
But she emphasized that being in the mansion with Master Lin had been a better life for her.
"Master Lin is a kind and fair master. We should try our best to serve him."
Xue Cong said, and the sisters nodded their heads.
She proceeded to lead the sisters to the firewood shed, teaching them on how to stack the firewood and keep them dry.
Then, she asked them to carry some of the firewood.
"Yue Xin." Yue Jie glanced back anxiously when she heard some of the firewood Yue Xin was carrying drop to the ground.
Luckily, Yue Xin wasn't hurt.
Yue Xin just didn't have the strength to carry the firewood.
"It's all right, let me do it. You will have to bulk up and get used to it soon." Xue Cong said as she picked up the firewood on the ground.
Yue Xin looked down at the ground and kept quiet.
Her sister, Yue Jie went over and tried to console her.
"I'm fine, elder sister. I will do my best."
Yue Jie nodded as it was the first time she saw Yue Xin being so determined.
Yue Xin had grown up a little, she thought.
Xue Cong then led them back to the kitchen and showed them how to start the fire.
It took them a few tries with the flint and dry straw to succeed.
After that, they got to learn about how to prepare the meat, onion and ginger for the soup noodle.
Meanwhile, Lin Xuan Qi got bored of the waiting and he went to the warehouse.
And there they were, twenty kilograms of rice.
Ten kilograms from Xue Cong as she was with him for two days.
The other ten were from Yue Jie and Yue Xin.
"I'll have to find a rice merchant to have a deal with them soon."
He had seven taels of silver left from the system.
It wouldn't last forever, and he wasn't about to use it all for buying more servants.
There would be autumn tax to pay per head, and money was also needed to run the mansion.
Cloths, food, furniture, firewood, salt, sugar...
Lin Xuan Qi felt a headache when he thought about the things to run the mansion.
He sighed and walked out of the warehouse, closing the door behind him.
Lin Xuan Qi then proceeded back to the main hall.
When he got back to the main hall, he saw Xue Cong, Yue Jie and Yue Xin waiting for him.
He nearly gave out a laugh when he saw Yue Jie and Yue Xin's faces smudged with soot due to their attempts to start the fire.
"I see that you are getting the hang of things." Lin Xuan Qi said.
"Yes, Master Lin, they were hardworking and picked up things fast." Xue Cong interjected, trying to let Lin Xuan Qi know that the sisters were good servants.
He nodded and said, "Try your best but take note to focus on what you are best with.
"For example, Yue Jie can help with Xue Cong with accounting and taking stock of the items in the mansion."
"I will, Master Lin." Yue Jie bowed and addressed Lin Xuan Qi as master for the first time.
Lin Xuan Qi nodded and was glad that Yue Jie was taking the transition well.
"You know how to write and count?" It was Xue Cong's turn to be surprised when she heard what Lin Xuan Qi said.
"Yes, Sister Xue Cong. I can teach you when the chores are done." Yue Jie replied.
Xue Cong glanced over at Lin Xuan Qi, unsure if he approved.
Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head as it was advantageous to him if Xue Cong learned to read and write.
"Come, let's dig in before the noodles are cold." Lin Xuan Qi said and the servant girls quickly followed him to the dining hall.
Outside the mansion, two men watched from afar as they saw the smoke from the fireplace in the kitchen rise.