Chapter 810

Lady Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

How could Wang Lady not see Qin Linjiang Xian's wife's intentions?

She said, "You shouldn't have such a narrow vision, feeling that working in the manor is a loss of face."

"You know clearly in your heart that your son has a lot of gossip in the mansion; recently, I heard rumors that he has taken a fancy to a singing girl and caused quite a stir."

Qin Linjiang Xian's wife's face changed, and she forced a smile, "These are all rumors spread by outsiders; the mistress must not take them seriously."

Wang Lady waved her hand and said, "I don't care what outsiders say, as long as it doesn't lead to a lawsuit."

"You are an old person in the mansion; you should know that the Master values etiquette and rules the most."

"If you let your son work in the mansion, and he is restless by nature, coming and going every day, what can be hidden from people?"

"If the Master hears rumors, does he still want his little life?"

Qin Linjiang Xian's wife trembled in her heart when she heard this; she, as his mother, knew best what kind of goods her son was.

The Second Master was the most decent person, loving face and valuing reputation, and he did not tolerate sand in his eyes.

It was precisely because her son was not working in the mansion that the Second Master had not paid attention to this person.

If he were really working in the mansion, walking under the Second Master's nose, with his usual dog-shit behavior, bad rumors would spread sooner or later.

Just like yesterday, he was called out to drink and didn't return all night; she didn't even know where he was fooling around.

If he were working in the mansion with this character, something would happen sooner or later.

Wang Lady said, "I won't let your son dig earth and farm when he goes to the manor to work; I will give him the job of managing firewood."

"He won't have to spend much effort, just directing others to do the work; it is both quiet and decent, much better than crowding with people in the mansion."

"You know the situation in the mansion now; the first branch is managing the family business; I still have to beg for the old lady's favor to arrange things for your son."

"If you still don't like it, then forget it; I'll save myself from owing a favor."

Qin Linjiang Xian's wife felt a chill in her heart; now the whole family relied on Wang Lady for food; if she didn't know what was good for her, how would they live in the future?

She hurriedly apologized with a smile, "It is our shallow vision; how could we think as thoughtfully as the mistress?"

"Just do as the mistress says; I will let Yong'er kowtow to the mistress tomorrow."

Wang Lady's expression relaxed, and she said, "If you two work diligently for me, I won't treat you unfairly."

"The monthly money in the manor is managed by the West Mansion; I am after all an elder, so don't let Phoenix girl make an exception."

"Since you have been doing things well recently, I will add two taels of monthly money for you; you don't need the West Mansion's public treasury to pay it, I will allocate it from my private purse."

……

Although Qin Linjiang Xian's wife was somewhat unwilling for her son to work in the manor, it was a matter of helplessness.

Hearing that Wang Lady was adding two taels of monthly money for her, she was overjoyed; even if her son worked in the mansion, he would definitely not earn two taels of monthly money.

She naturally understood Wang Lady's intentions, hurriedly knelt down to kowtow to Wang Lady, and said a pile of words of gratitude.

The unhappiness of her son being sent to the manor to work vanished in an instant.

Wang Lady saw her expression and felt relieved in her heart.

Sending Qin Yong far away to the manor was exactly what she wanted; not only would she not see him and be annoyed, but it would also reduce gossip and rumors, saving trouble.

She said, "I am going to Rongqing Hall to pay my respects to the old lady, and I will handle this matter while I am at it; keep an eye on your son and let him be peaceful before the end of the year."

"When he goes to the manor to work after the New Year, you two can also be at ease, without having to worry about him all the time."

……

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Wang Wang Xifeng got up early, dressed, and did her makeup, handed over the daily housework to Ping'er and Liu Wuer, and took her maid Feng'er to Rongqing Hall to pay her respects.

When the old lady saw her, she smiled and said, "You sent a message through the maid yesterday that you were going to distribute the monthly silver today; Sister Yuanyang just went out."

"How many people went to your courtyard to pay respects today? The housework must be very complicated; it is truly strange that you can spare the time to come out for a stroll."

Wang Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Look at what the old lady is saying; should I be destined for a life of toil? Now I also have helpers."

"In previous years, only Ping'er was mixing with me, but now there is also the capable Liu Wuer."

"I naturally entrust everything to them, so I can steal some leisure to come and chat with the old lady."

The old lady smiled and said, "I am naturally happy that you are willing to come; those sisters of yours are all young ladies, and it takes time to get up, dress, and do their makeup."

"They will come over to walk around later; I am bored all by myself."

"It is the twelfth lunar month now; the monthly allowance being distributed is the last one of the year; how is the income and expenditure of the public treasury this year? Is there any deficit?"

……

Wang Wang Xifeng said, "The old lady was also a housekeeper, and these words hit the nail on the head; I have a belly full of bitterness to pour out here."

"After this month's allowance is paid out, plus the silver reserved for the New Year, there is less than two thousand taels left in the public treasury."

"This silver has to support the expenses of the first and second months of the coming year, because the first harvest of the title-land fields will not be recorded until the beginning of the third month."

"So, all in all, there is no surplus in the public treasury this year, and it is thanks to the heavens that there is no deficit."

The old lady sighed and said, "I was also a housekeeper; now that the imperial court is implementing new policies, there are many more expenses for the spring and summer taxes."

"The West Mansion's title-land was downgraded, and there is a large amount of income missing; this family is indeed not easy to manage."

Wang Wang Xifeng said, "The old lady was a housekeeper; these words are absolutely correct."

"I have been scraping together everywhere this year, cutting expenses everywhere, and supporting it quite strenuously."

The old lady asked, "Younger brother Cong's East Mansion looks stable; second girl is managing the house daily, haven't I heard her say there are any difficulties?"

Wang Wang Xifeng said, "The old lady rarely goes to the East Mansion, so you don't know their details."

"Since younger brother Cong established the mansion, the East Mansion has bought fifty slaves, and they haven't added any more people since then."

"Including the personal maids of younger brother Cong and the sisters, and a few managing nannies, the total population of the mansion hasn't exceeded one hundred."

"They just eat the harvest from the East Mansion's Liaodong title-land, which is more than enough."

"Look at the situation in the West Mansion; although the title-land is more than the East Mansion, it is a limited amount, yet it supports several times the population; how can it not be tight?"

"This is still because the sisters in the family have all moved to the East Mansion, and their food and clothing are all supported by younger brother Cong, not costing the West Mansion a single tael of silver; otherwise, this granddaughter-in-law would be even less able to open the pot."

"Even so, this year has barely managed to get by; I'm afraid it will be even harder next year."

……

The old lady was startled when she heard this and asked, "Isn't the annual expenditure a fixed rule? If it could pass this year, wouldn't it be the same next year? Why would it be even harder?"

Wang Wang Xifeng said, "Old Lady, there are a few big events next year, and the West Mansion's expenses will increase by a lot, so it will naturally be even harder."

"The first thing is Bao Yu's marriage; the Xia family of Guihua is also a wealthy family; when Miss Xia marries into the family, the accompanying maids, nannies, and servants will definitely not be few."

"After these people enter the mansion, they will be the servants of the second branch, and the public treasury will have an extra monthly allowance expenditure."

"The individual monthly allowance alone is not enough; the food, clothing, and housing for these people will all cost silver."

"I have roughly calculated the accounts; after March next year, the monthly share for the East Courtyard will be twenty percent more than in the past."

"The second thing is Cai Xia raising the child; the old lady has descendants all over the hall, so you must know that raising a child is the most expensive thing; I don't know how much of my own private money I have put in since I had the eldest daughter."

"The young masters and young ladies in the mansion all occupy a share from the moment they are born; this is an old rule of several generations."

"The third thing is the eldest sister returning home next year; she is after all the eldest legitimate daughter of the second branch, and a young lady who has come out of the palace and seen the world."

"Her daily food and clothing expenses cannot be worse than the sisters in the East Mansion; this is also a large expenditure."

"Even if I calculate it tightly, the public treasury allowance for the second branch next year will be thirty percent more than in previous years."

"Old Lady, this granddaughter-in-law is worried to death now; the days next year will not be easy."

……

The old lady felt heavy in her heart; she had also been a housekeeper for half her life, so she naturally knew that what Wang Wang Xifeng said was not false.

Even if Phoenix girl was crying poverty, it was not much different from the real situation.

Now the West Mansion is the family business of the first branch; with the second branch having so many more expenses, how could Phoenix girl not feel heartache?

If it reached younger brother Cong's ears, I'm afraid it wouldn't sound too good...

That second daughter-in-law of hers is so stubborn and strong; Phoenix girl is trying to save money, but she is using all kinds of means.

Last time, she even cut the monthly allowance of Bao Yu's maids; if this trend continues, these two branches will only grow more resentful...

Wang Wang Xifeng said, "Third Brother handed the West Mansion to me to manage; no matter how incompetent I am as a sister-in-law, I cannot let my brother's family business be ruined."

"I am thinking of opening sources and cutting expenses next year; if there are redundant expenses in the mansion, I cannot be soft-hearted in cutting them, even if I offend people."

"If there is a surplus of population in the West Mansion, they can be sent to work in various manors; some can rely on relatives, and some can be released from their slave status."

"With fewer people in the mansion, the public treasury's expenses can be saved a lot; otherwise, in four or five years, the West Mansion will really have eaten up its foundation."