话说宁国府中都总管来升，闻得里面委请了凤姐，因传 齐同事人等，说道:"如今请了西府里琏二奶奶管理内事，倘或他来支取东西，或是说话，我们须要比往日小心些。
When Lai Sheng, the Chief Steward of the Ning-guo mansion, learned that Xi-feng had been invited to take on the management of the household, he called his cronies together and addressed them in the following terms:'Well lads, it seems that they've called in Mrs Lian from the other house to run things here for a bit; so if she should happen to come round asking for anything or have occasion to talk to you about anything, be sure to do what she says, won't you?”
众人都道：“说的是。”
There was a chorus of agreement from the rest.
正说着，只见来旺媳妇拿了对牌来，领取呈文京榜纸札，票上批着数目。
Along came Lai Wang's wife just then with a tally and a receipt for the amount required, to fetch sacrificial paper and paper for supplications and prayers.
众人连忙让坐倒茶，一面命人按数取纸来，抱着，同来旺媳妇 一路行来，至仪门口，方交与来旺媳妇自己抱进去了。
Not only that, but, having fetched them, he carried them for her all the way to the inner gate of the mansion, only handing them to her then so that she could take them in to Xi-feng by herself.
凤姐即命彩明钉造簿册。
Then Xifeng ordered Caiming to prepare a register
凤姐即命彩明钉造册簿，即时传了赖升媳妇，要家花名册查看，又限明日一早传齐家人媳妇进府听差。
and sent for Lai Sheng's wife to bring her a list of the staff.She announced that all the men-servants' wives were to come to her early the next morning for instructions.
大概点了一点数目单册，问了来升媳妇几句话，便坐车 回家。
After checking quickly through the list and asking Lai Sheng's wife a couple of questions, she went home in her carriage.
至次日，卯正二刻便过来了。
She was back at half past six the next morning
那宁国府中婆娘、媳妇闻得到齐，只见凤姐正与来升媳妇分派，众人不敢擅入，只在窗外听戯。
to find all the old servingwomen and stewards' wives assembled.They did not venture into the antechamber when they saw that she and Lai Sheng's wife were busy assigning tasks, but from outside the window
只听凤姐与来升媳妇道:"既托了我，我就说不得要讨你们嫌了。
they heard her tell the latter: “Since I've been put in charge here I daresay I shall make myself unpopular.
再不要说你们’这府里原是这样’的话，如今可要依着我行，错我半点儿，管不得谁是有脸的，谁是没脸的，一例现清白处治。”
So don't let me hear anyone saying "We don't do it that way here"!From now on, whatever it is, you do it the way I tell you to,
说着，便吩咐彩明念花名册，按名一个一个的唤进来看视。
She made Caiming call the roll and the servants entered one by one for inspection.
一时看完，便又吩咐道:"这二十个，分作两班，一班十个，每日在里头单管人客来往倒茶，别的事不用他们管。
After this she ordered: “These twenty, divided into two shifts often, will be solely responsible for serving tea to the guests on their arrival and before their departure.They will have no other duties.
这二十个，也分作两班，每日单管本家亲戚茶饭，别的事也不用他们管。
These twenty, also in two shifts of ten, will see to the family's meals and tea every day.They will have no other duties either.
这四十个人，也分作两班，单在灵前上香添油， 挂幔守灵，供饭供茶，随起举哀，别的事也不与他们相干。
'These forty.Again, two shifts.
Your job is to look after the shrine: lighting fresh joss-sticks, keeping the lamps in oil, changing the drapes.
You will also take turns by the spirit tablet, making offerings of rice and tea, kotowing when the visitors kotow, wailing when they wail.That is your job and nothing else besides.
这四个人，单在内茶房收管杯碟茶器，若少一件，便叫他四个描赔。
'You four are to look after the cups and plates and so forth in the ladies' tea-room.
If anything is missing, you share the responsibility between you and a quarter of the cost will be stopped out of each of your wages.
这四个人，单管酒饭器皿，少一件，也是他四个描赔。
These four will take charge of the dinner-sets and wine vessels, and likewise make good any loss.
这八个，单管监收祭礼。
These eight will receive the presents of sacrificial offerings.
这八个，单管各处灯油、蜡 烛、纸札，我总支了来，交与你八个，然后按我的定数，再 往各处去分派。
“These eight will look after the distribution of lamps, oil, candles and sacrificial paper to various places according to a list which I shall issue.
这三十个，每日轮流各处上夜，照管门户， 监察火烛，打扫地方。
These thirty will take night duty in turns, seeing that the gates are locked and keeping a look-out for fires, as well as sweeping the grounds.
这下剩的，按着房屋分开，某人守某 处，某处所有桌椅古董起，至于痰盒掸帚，一草一苗，或丢 或坏，就和守这处的人算帐描赔。
'The rest of you are to be divided up between the different apartments.Each of you will be responsible for the things in your own apartment, from furniture and antique ware down to spittoons and dusters.If the tiniest sliver gets lost or broken, you will be held responsible and will be expected to make it good..
如今都有了定规，以后那一行乱了，只和那一行算账。
'Well, now you all know the rules.From now on whenever any trouble occurs I shall know exactly who to hold responsible.
卯正二刻我来点卯；巳正吃早饭；凡有领牌回事，只在午初二刻；戌初烧过黄昏纸，我亲到各处查一遍，回来上夜的交明钥匙。
I shall call the roll at half past six, you will have your meal at ten, and applications for stores or reports should be handed in punctually before half past eleven.
戌初烧过黄昏纸，我亲到各处查一遍回来，上夜的交明钥匙。
At seven in the evening, after the burning of sacrificial paper, I shall make a tour of inspection, then issue those on night duty with their keys.