Chapter 584

Rongguo Mansion, Fengjie's Courtyard.

Wang Xifeng sneered slightly: "Now that the mansion is different from the past, if everyone still maintains such a big display, this family business will be difficult to manage.

Ping'er, Brother Cong is the same age as Baoyu, and originally should have the same expenses as Baoyu. Now that he is the head of the family, I haven't carefully remembered the maids and small servants in his room. What is the situation now?"

Last time at Rongqing Hall, Lady Wang asked the Old Lady for Yuanyang, wanting to give her to Baoyu as a concubine. This made Wang Xifeng vigilant in her heart.

She knew that even if the Second Room had fallen into such a situation, her aunt still wouldn't give up, and her heart was still thinking about the one-third of an acre of land in the Rongguo Mansion.

According to common sense, Baoyu was now a side branch and should have moved to the East Road Courtyard with his parents long ago. Because of the Old Lady's pampering, he had been staying in the Rongguo Mansion until now.

Just because Baoyu was a young man without an official position, unlike Jia Zheng who was a court official, there would be no official concerns. Jia Cong couldn't be bothered to care, so there wasn't much calculation inside or outside the house.

Wang Xifeng didn't care about this matter either, but since Lady Wang wouldn't give up, she had to make a fuss about it to establish the prestige of the First Room's governance.

Because of the Old Lady, she feared she couldn't drive Baoyu back to the East Road Courtyard for the time being.

But using the excuse of Baoyu's excessive expenses, she could make a big fuss to kill her aunt's arrogance, so that she wouldn't always have improper thoughts.

Ping'er was slightly stunned when Wang Xifeng suddenly mentioned Jia Cong, but although she had a gentle nature, she was also an extremely intelligent person and somewhat understood Wang Xifeng's intentions.

She smiled: "The Cong Sanye lives in the East Mansion, so people on our side might not be clear about the affairs in his room, but I often go over there, so I am clear about it.

These things are all on the surface, and you can find out with a little inquiry.

The Cong Sanye now has Hearing Zhi Shao, Wu'er, Qingwen, Zhen Ying Lian, and Lingguan, who came last year, to take care of his daily life, clothing, and diet.

However, they cannot all be counted as the Cong Sanye's maids. For example, Sister Hearing Zhi Shao has served the Cong Sanye since she was a child, but because of a life-and-death accident in previous years, everyone in the mansion thought she was dead.

Even her slave status in Zhen'an Prefecture was cancelled. In addition, Sister Hearing Zhi Shao was favored by the palace, so she is no longer counted as a slave of the Jia family in terms of status.

When she was still in the West Mansion, the Old Lady set a monthly allowance of two taels for Hearing Zhi Shao, which was the same as the maids and concubines in the mansion, so she is not counted as the Cong Sanye's maid, but rather a proper person in the room.

Zhen Ying Lian and Lingguan were both brought back from Jinling by the Cong Sanye, and they are not slaves of the Jia family either.

They also have a monthly allowance daily, but it is all stripped from the Cong Sanye's own monthly allowance, and it doesn't occupy the East Mansion's public silver. The two of them are actually raised by the Cong Sanye himself.

The Cong Sanye's proper maids are only Wu'er and Qingwen.

After they moved to the East Mansion, because the Cong Sanye is the master of the East Mansion, according to the Jia family's rules, they were both promoted to first-class maids and receive a monthly allowance of one tael.

The Cong Sanye also has two small maids, Si'er and Juan'er, who were also old people from the Cong Sanye's Qingzhi Study in the West Mansion, and they have followed the Cong Sanye for many years."

Ping'er smiled at Lin Zhixiao's wife again: "I was confused. The Cong Sanye now has another big maid, which is Mother's daughter, Xiaohong.

Xiaohong is a second-class maid in the Rongxi Hall and receives a monthly allowance of one diao.

So the maids by the Cong Sanye's side are only two first-class, one second-class, and two third-class, totaling a mere five, which is much less than Baoyu's.

In addition, the Cong Sanye has only one small servant, named Jiang Liu. All the Cong Sanye's miscellaneous affairs outside are run by Jiang Liu alone.

This really cannot be compared to the ten small servants by Baoyu's side.

Moreover, the number of maids by the Cong Sanye's side will only decrease in the future, not increase.

Because, according to the Cong Sanye's wishes, after his birthday this year, Wu'er will enter the room, so the Cong Sanye's first-class maid will only be Qingwen.

According to Wu'er's temperament and the Cong Sanye's preferences, he probably won't add any more people, and Wu'er will still take care of the Cong Sanye's daily life and diet."

Wang Xifeng said to Lin Zhixiao's wife: "Listen, Brother Cong is the head of the two mansions, carries two titles, and is also a Grade 5 official of the imperial court.

But the maids and small servants he uses don't even reach a fraction of Baoyu's. If this spreads, it will sound very bad. People outside will definitely say the Jia family has no rules.

Moreover, according to the rules left by the ancestors in the mansion, only the elder masters can use first-class maids.

Originally, only the Old Lady, the First Old Master, the First Old Mistress, the Second Old Master, and the Second Old Mistress used first-class maids.

Even I am not qualified. Like the young masters and young ladies, I can only use second-class maids.

In the past, the Old Lady loved Lin Meimei so much that seeing she had no capable people to serve her, the maid Zujuan she gave to Lin Meimei was only a second-class maid. That is the principle.

Brother Cong inherited the title and mansion, becoming the Old Master of the East Mansion, so his Wu'er and Qingwen could be promoted to first-class maids. These are the rules of honor and inferiority that have lasted for generations in the mansion.

The Old Lady giving the first-class maid Sister Xi Ren to Baoyu was truly a rare pampering for Baoyu.

Even so, Sister Xi Ren's monthly allowance is hung in the Old Lady's room, because Baoyu originally shouldn't use a first-class one. This is also to comply with family rules.

A few days ago, the Mistress wanted to ask the Old Lady for Yuanyang, wanting to put her in Baoyu's room. Even if Yuanyang is after the first-class maids, she is also the best, and no one dares to compare with her.

Although the Old Lady heard it, she didn't agree. Otherwise, if this matter really happened, and outsiders who didn't know the background heard it, they would mostly laugh at the Jia family's chaotic rules..."

Lin Zhixiao's wife listened to Wang Xifeng's words, her eyes flickering, lost in thought.

She echoed: "What the Second Young Mistress said is all reasonable. With a master like the Cong Sanye in the family, standing in a high position, yet still managing the family so simply, this is the atmosphere for the family business to last long.

We all do things according to the Cong Sanye's style and temperament. There is no reason why the East and West Mansions wouldn't be prosperous."

Wang Xifeng said: "I have to find a gap to talk to the Old Lady about this. Although the Old Lady and the Mistress pamper Baoyu, it's always good to be restrained in some things.

First, the family saves some expenses, and second, it avoids leaving handles for people outside. You also help me see which places in the mansion are still short of manpower, so we can adjust them in the future."

Lin Zhixiao's wife already understood and said: "Second Young Mistress, don't worry, I will definitely keep this in mind."

The Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

In the blink of an eye, it was approaching the middle of the third month. Between the days before and after, there was continuous spring rain in the Divine Capital.

The plants and trees in the courtyard were moist, and the winding path extending from outside the courtyard had crystal-clear water light on the bluestone slabs.

The blue-tiled eaves pointed silently to the gloomy sky, and the blue-black carved cylinder tiles kept splashing down eaves drops. The pleasant sound of water added a different kind of quietness to the spring afternoon.

On the long table in the main room of the courtyard, Daiyu and Lingguan sat side by side, writing with brushes.

One had a fairy-like appearance, phoenix eyes moist, elegant and peerless; the other was in the early years of youth, pretty and bright, her movements full of charm.

And their eyebrows and temperament were actually seven or eight points similar, like sisters on the same stalk, reflecting each other interestingly. Anyone who saw them would look a few more times.

Because Jia Cong would be sitting for the Spring Imperial Examination in a few days, Daiyu picked out a few high-quality purple-tipped lake brushes, preparing to let Jia Cong take them into the examination hall for backup.

Even top-tier brushes would feel raw when first used. Daiyu came from a scholarly family and was immersed in literature, so she naturally knew this principle well.

As the time for Jia Cong to enter the examination hall approached, Daiyu would come over every day for the past two days, bringing Lingguan to ink the new brushes.

These high-quality purple-tipped lake brushes, using the delicate and soft hand strength of a girl to write two or three hundred characters with ink, would reach the best state of toughness and flexibility.

After that, they could be cleaned and packed in a box, and Jia Cong could take them into the examination hall to write essays. They were first-class good items.

Lingguan wrote honestly, using the copybook Jia Cong gave Zhen Ying Lian.

Daiyu wrote casually, copying back and forth a few old poems written by Jia Cong.

Before long, light footsteps sounded in the courtyard. Seeing Tan Chun came in with a paper umbrella, followed by the maid Shi Shu, who was also carrying a wooden box in her hand.

Daiyu looked up and asked with a smile: "What good thing has the Third Sister brought?"

Seeing Tan Chun took the wooden box from Shi Shu and smiled: "I brought a high-quality Duan inkstone. It was a birthday gift from the Old Master a few years ago, and I couldn't bear to use it.

Last year, when the Third Brother returned from Jinling, I guessed that he would definitely sit for the Spring Imperial Examination this year, so I took this inkstone to use.

Later, the First Old Master passed away, and I originally thought the Third Brother wouldn't be able to sit for the Spring Imperial Examination. Fortunately, the palace issued a grace, allowing the Third Brother to sit for the examination.

This inkstone has been on my desk for half a year, the rawness has gone, and now it is at its most mellow when grinding ink and moving the brush."

Seeing Tan Chun took out an exquisite Duan inkstone from the wooden box. The inkstone was not large, overall in a smooth gourd shape, polished as smooth as jade, exuding a dark, deep light.

At the head of the inkstone, there was a pale yellow stone eye, carved into a bright moon with a clever color, and a fine pattern of clear springs and osmanthus trees was engraved under the moon.

Daiyu played with the inkstone back and forth and smiled: "It really is a good thing, and the shape is also light and convenient, just right for the Third Brother to take into the examination hall. And this pattern has a good meaning, breaking the osmanthus in the toad palace, and you have raised it for half a year in advance. The Third Brother using your inkstone will definitely be on the gold list. The Third Sister really has a heart."

Behind the study, Zhen Ying Lian was organizing the books on the shelves, returning the books that Jia Cong read daily and didn't have time to put back.

Jia Cong sat at the desk reading notes, wearing an ivory-colored dark-patterned tribute silk robe, with only a carefree headscarf tied on his head, and a pair of brand-new thick-soled black-faced cloud-stepping boots on his feet.

These new boots were just made by Yingchun, specifically for Jia Cong to wear during the Spring Imperial Examination. Because she was worried that the new shoes would rub his feet, she specifically told him to wear them a few days early.

Because the Spring Imperial Examination was approaching, Jia Cong no longer practiced eight-legged essays and policy questions every day as he used to.

Instead, he turned to ponder the exercises and notes from the past half year, further consolidating the results of his hard study over the past half year.

Reducing essay practice during this period was also to alleviate the sense of staleness and fatigue accumulated from long-term essay writing.

Letting himself maintain abundant freshness and drive when entering the Spring Imperial Examination was also an experience gained from later generations of examinations.

However, he had been to Mount Luocang more frequently during this period than in the past. He would study by himself for two days, then go to the Liu residence to ask for advice, solving the difficulties in his heart.

!

He put down the essay notes in his hand and asked: "Zhen Ying Lian, where did you put the books I brought back from Jinling?"

Zhen Ying Lian, who was busy, replied: "They are all on the third shelf on the left. Cong Sanye read them once after the New Year. Do you want to read them again now?"

Jia Cong smiled: "These books were specifically listed by the teacher before I went to Jinling, asking me to study them carefully, and they were used as the foundation for policy questions.

The teacher is a master of the imperial examination. The books he recommends must have great principles. Before I go in, I'll take them out to read again; it's never wrong."

He went to the bookshelf, pulled out five or six books from the left side of the third shelf, returned to the desk, and casually picked one to read.

After reading until he felt a bit tired, just as he was about to get up to loosen his hands and feet, he heard footsteps at the door of the study, and Seeing Tan Chun was walking in with a smile.

Jia Cong smiled on his face and put down the book in his hand. Seeing Tan Chun handed the inkstone in her hand to Jia Cong and told him the reason and use.

She saw that Jia Cong's desk was full of pen, ink, and notes, and the book he had just put down was written with "Liu Jichuan's Essays," which must also be a book for the imperial examination.

Seeing Tan Chun smiled: "Third Brother really only reads the books of sages behind closed doors, and does not hear things outside the window."

Jia Cong was slightly stunned, seeing Seeing Tan Chun's smile charming and pretty, and it seemed there was something in her words, so he smiled: "The East Mansion is managed by the Second Sister, and the West Mansion is watched by the Second Sister-in-law. What idle affairs do I need to manage?

Has the sister heard any stories?"

Seeing Tan Chun's expression was a bit hesitant. Jia Cong smiled slightly: "What's wrong with the Third Sister? What words are there that two siblings can't say to each other?"

Seeing Tan Chun said: "Because of the things that happened some time ago, now Lin Meimei goes to the West Mansion only to pay respects to the Old Lady, and she doesn't go anywhere else, always coming and going in a hurry.

The Second Sister hasn't been feeling well these past few days, and she hasn't gone to the West Mansion either, so they don't know much about the things these past few days.

Whenever I go to pay respects to the Old Lady, I also go to Baoyu's place, so I heard some things.

Yesterday, Baoyu's two small servants, Chuyao and Tiaoyun, were gambling and fighting outside the courtyard, and finally fought.

The matter reached Feng Sister's ears, and she immediately asked Lin Zhixiao to press the two of them down, gave them fifteen boards each, and then tied them up and locked them in the woodshed.

Chuyao's mother entrusted someone to bring a message to Baoyu, and he was also scratching his head, not knowing what to do. This matter mostly reached the Old Lady, which is fine, but if the Mistress knows, I'm afraid there will be more things..."

Jia Cong felt a bit strange when he heard this and said: "When I lived in the West Mansion, I knew that Baoyu had been pampered by the Old Lady since he was a child, and he was equipped with many maids and small servants.

His room is famous for having many people and few things to do. When Wu'er was young and sickly, she couldn't do heavy work. Liu's wife heard about this benefit and wanted Wu'er to serve in Baoyu's room, which is a glimpse of it.

Sister, you are often in the inner courtyard and don't know many human reasons. Once people are too idle and loose, they will definitely cause some things.

Not to mention Baoyu's small servants, they are all young and bloody, just at the age of causing trouble.

Besides going to the clan school, how many times can Baoyu go out? Those small servants of his are too idle, and they occupy Baoyu's name, so others dare not assign them casually. It would be strange if they didn't cause an accident.

However, such things probably haven't been few in the past, and I've never heard of the Second Sister-in-law getting so angry."

Seeing Tan Chun's expression was also a bit awkward, and she said with a wry smile: "I just said that the Third Brother reads behind closed doors and doesn't care about things outside the window, so naturally he doesn't know the idle talk that has spread in the West Mansion recently."

Jia Cong's expression was curious, and he said: "The Second Sister-in-law is a decisive person, and the servants in the mansion have always respected her. Is there anyone chewing their tongue for no reason?"

Seeing Tan Chun sighed: "Feng Sister is indeed a formidable person, and this idle talk has nothing to do with her, so it spread.

These days, there are old servants and women in the West Mansion chatting privately, saying that the Old Master and Mistress have moved to the East Road Courtyard, and even the Da Da Jieyi-in-law and Lan'er have followed.

Even if Baoyu moves out early out of filial piety and etiquette, he continues to live in the Rongguo Mansion because of the Old Lady's compassion and pity.

But Baoyu's room is now equipped with more than a dozen maids, and ten small servants outside. The display is even bigger than the Old Lady's.

And the Third Brother has a title and an official position, and is now the head of the family. With such a noble status, the maids and small servants he uses are not even a handful, not even a fraction of Baoyu's.

In comparison, Baoyu's display is a bit too presumptuous...

I don't know who started this talk, but it's been circulating in every room of the West Mansion, and now we can't find the source.

In addition, Baoyu's room has many people and few things to do, and the maids and small servants talk nonsense with others, often having conflicts and friction with others, so once the talk starts, there is even more discussion."

Seeing Tan Chun actually sighed in her heart when she said this. Baoyu staying in the West Mansion, although it doesn't conform to family etiquette, can't be considered a crime. It's just the Old Lady's pampering.

The Third Brother is a person who does big things, and he doesn't go to the West Mansion often, so naturally he can't be bothered to care about these sesame-sized things.

But he doesn't care about this matter, which doesn't mean that the family etiquette can be ignored by others. In the final analysis, the West Mansion is now the Third Brother's family business.

The Old Lady is the ancestor, and she has the status of a grandmother. If she doesn't mention these things, it's not easy for others to say anything.

But the Mistress is now the mistress of the East Road Courtyard, and she is Baoyu's own mother. With the Mistress's thought and city, how could she not know these etiquettes, and how could she not care?

If the Mistress was alert and neat enough, she would have reduced Baoyu's maids and small servants early, so that the West Mansion would have less consumption.

Even if Baoyu lived in the West Mansion against etiquette, and the Third Brother didn't care, others wouldn't be able to pick any faults for a while. Now that the matter has been stirred up, it's not easy to clean up.

The Third Brother entrusted Feng Sister to manage the West Mansion, and Feng Sister has always been a person with means...

Seeing Tan Chun's voice was a bit low, and she said: "Actually, I had already guessed that such things would happen sooner or later.

I heard that a few days ago, Feng Sister went to discuss with the Old Lady about the Third Brother's room affairs.

Coincidentally, the Mistress also came to Rongqing Hall and asked the Old Lady for Yuanyang, wanting Yuanyang to enter Baoyu's room.

I heard that Yuanyang knew about this and showed her attitude, saying she would absolutely not agree to this and wanted to serve the Old Lady until she was old.

Sister Yuanyang has a very good relationship with the servants in the West Mansion. Perhaps someone was holding injustice for her, so they picked on Baoyu's faults, which is also unknown..."

Jia Cong's expression was slightly stunned when he heard this.

Seeing Tan Chun looked at him and said with a smile that was not a smile: "Third Brother, Sister Yuanyang has made shoes for you. You heard this matter, and you won't go and manage it?"

Jia Cong smiled: "Sister Yuanyang has a firm idea in her heart, and there is the Old Lady, so this matter won't happen. Why should I come out and talk nonsense?"

Seeing Tan Chun's eyes were slightly confused. Although she was intelligent and shrewd, there were some things she didn't know, so naturally she couldn't understand Jia Cong's tone.

Jia Cong said: "Baoyu rarely goes out, he lives in the inner courtyard, and how many things can he have? Being equipped with so many maids and small servants is indeed a bit extravagant.

Ever since I inherited the Rongguo title, the West Mansion has had less estate income, and the public treasury has had less income. The Second Sister-in-law manages the West Mansion's family business, and she considers the surplus and long-term stability.

Even if it is to guide the situation and use this to cut redundant personnel, it is not unreasonable."

Jia Cong looked at Seeing Tan Chun and said with a smile: "I know the Third Sister is worried about him because of the sibling relationship, but she is powerless. I know this heart.

Even if the Second Sister-in-law does what you and I guessed, first, there is the reason for rectifying the family business, and second, it is not without benefit to Baoyu.

Sister, don't be upset because of this, just let the Second Sister-in-law handle it..." (End of chapter)