Chapter 112: Clearing the Mansion's Woodworms

Jia Jing saw that Jia Baoyu's affair was settled, then said:

"Jia Baoyu's matter ends here; let's discuss the next item!"

"What? There's still something?"

Jia Mu's face showed a hint of alarm as she blurted out the question.

She now had a startled reaction to Jia Jing, feeling that as soon as this grandson spoke, nothing good would come.

Jia Jing did not answer Jia Mu's question, but instead signaled with his eyes to the eager Wang Xifeng beside him, and said:

"It's just a small matter, merely cleaning out the moths in the mansion; the mansion's treasury has long been in deficit—let Sister-in-law Feng and you speak!"

Jia Jing's glance came over; his fierce gaze made Wang Xifeng's heart jump, and she quickly lowered her eyes.

But she had just seen Jia Jing's imposing presence before Rong Qing Tang, and was secretly imagining herself in that scene.

At this moment, being looked at by Jia Jing, her heart actually pounded and she felt breathless.

Immediately, Wang Xifeng secretly scolded herself for being useless; she usually acted recklessly in the mansion, when had she ever felt so flustered?

Moreover, there's nothing improper between me and the third brother—what's there to be nervous about?

Wang Xifeng quickly gave herself a pep talk, then faced Jia Mu's inquiring gaze, weighed her words, first nodded, then said:

"Because the mansion's accounts have shown income failing to cover expenses in recent years, resulting in losses, I and Jia Lian have been examining the mansion's accounts these days."

"Originally I just wanted to see where the biggest expenditures were, cut what could be saved, as long as the old lady isn't made to suffer."

"After all, there's no logic in eating tomorrow's grain today; besides, we should think of ways to increase income and reduce expenditure, and we must manage the household well."

"Who would have thought? Not checking, you don't know; once checked, we were shocked to find many problems in the accounts of the mansion's purchasing, grain store, and silver treasury."

"Wu Xindeng, as head of the silver treasury, manages accounts that are chaotic, with many instances of withholding and corruption."

"While Shan Daliang, who manages the grain store, substitutes inferior goods, tampering with purchasing, storage, and distribution to benefit himself at the public's expense."

"Qian Hua, in charge of purchasing, even more so falsifies prices, colludes inside and out, and embezzles benefits."

"Only then did I realize that the mansion's deficit was actually due to a group of conscienceless stewards below who manipulated things, lined their own pockets, and stole the master's silver."

Feng Jie's remarks were quite sophisticated, and were also talking points she and Jia Lian had discussed privately many times.

It stated that she was not specifically going to audit accounts, but rather to revitalize the household's income and expenditure.

It also specifically named the three stewards in charge of purchasing, the silver treasury, and the grain store, pointing out that they were not targeting Jia Mu's trusted Lai family, nor Lady Wang's trusted Zhou Rui family.

Moreover, she changed her usual crude style, using several idioms in this passage—a high-level performance.

After Feng Jie finished speaking, Lady Wang's face darkened further; when had Feng Jier gotten involved with this concubine's son?

Moreover, having to deal with Wu Xindeng and these few servants of hers, perhaps the pretense of disciplining servants is false, and the real aim is to seize stewardship authority!

Although Wu Xindeng and the others are not her close confidants, they have always been respectful toward her; if they were removed and replaced by the main branch's people, the mansion's financial and purchasing powers could fall into the hands of the main branch!

This Feng Jier... is not a good person either!

And Jia Mu furrowed her brows, the worry in her heart easing slightly.

She had thought Jia Jing had come this time to settle accounts with the Lai family, but didn't expect Feng girl's mouth not to mention the Lai family at all.

As for Wu Xindeng, Shan Daliang, Qian Hua and the others, although they are also long-serving servants of the mansion,

but they are not as closely related to her as the Lai family; if we investigate, we should just look into them, otherwise we might not be able to fool this grandson!

At the same time, she felt alarmed by the mansion's deficit situation; previously, Feng Jie and Lady Wang always reported good news, not bad, so she didn't know the household's finances had gone awry.

She herself had once managed the household, so how could she not know that a shortfall in a family's silver is an extremely serious matter?

Without silver and money, what can be done?

How will the mansion's food, clothing, and daily needs be handled? How will the etiquette with relatives be managed?

As the illustrious Rong Guo Mansion, we surely cannot learn from those petty households, scrimping and saving, tightening our belts just to get by!

Therefore, this has become a major issue concerning the mansion's core interests; now to speak of benevolent treatment of subordinates would be somewhat untimely!

We certainly cannot let the servants live well while we masters end up eating chaff and drinking thin gruel!

Jia Mu remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply and spoke softly:

"These Wu Xindeng, Shan Daliang, and Qian Hua are indeed at fault; it's also that I have been lenient with them over the years, letting them forget the rules..."

Jia Mu's implied meaning, though not explicitly stated, was already an agreement to let Jia Jing and Feng Jie deal with those few.

Upon hearing this, Feng Jie's heart leapt with joy; as long as she could get rid of those few,

she could rearrange her own people to control the Rong Guo Mansion's treasury, grain store, and purchasing authority; this time, relying on her third brother's influence, she had indeed picked up a great advantage!

Then she only needed to wait for old Jia She to die, for Jia Lian to inherit the title, and she would become the true matriarch holding real power in the Rong Guo Mansion.

Feng Jie's phoenix eyes lifted, her face full of spring, her bright eyes gleaming, she smiled and comforted Jia Mu:

"The old lady's heart is benevolent, her tolerance toward subordinates is absolutely correct; who in the mansion doesn't say you manage the household well?"

"It's only those wicked slaves who fail to understand your pain; seeing silver, they forget their own surnames and reach out recklessly."

"Now, as long as we send them away, the mansion will thereafter be peaceful!"

Saying this, she again turned her gaze toward Jia Jing, as if saying: Third brother, did sister-in-law do well this time?

Jia Jing couldn't be bothered to glance at Wang Xifeng, that foolish woman; did he really return to the mansion just to straighten the household in order to deal with Wu Xindeng and Shan Daliang, those lowly servants?

With his backing, Wang Xifeng couldn't even seize such a good opportunity, yet she was still playing her game of pulling one faction and striking another.

Not daring to offend Jia Mu and Lady Wang, she didn't even mention the Lai family, the biggest tumor among the mansion's servants!

To undertake great deeds while cherishing one's life, to see small profit and forget righteousness—truly not fit for counsel!

This household probably can't continue to be managed by Wang Xifeng!

Jia Jing immediately narrowed his eyes and spoke coldly:

"Not just Wu Xindeng and Shan Daliang; the mansion has many servants who embezzle, break the law, eat inside and out, bully with power, evil slaves oppress masters, lean on age to sell themselves, spread idle gossip—this has long been more than a day or two!"

"This band of lawless, fearless wicked slaves—where is there any semblance of a servant left!"

"Back when I was in the East Wing, the Wang Shanbao household once went to such lengths over a few fans as to ruin a family and destroy lives!"

These people are blinded by greed, oblivious to life or death, their methods are vile, they ruin my family's reputation everywhere!

In recent years, the mansion has stressed benevolent household management, which was originally well-intentioned, but who would have thought it would indulge this gang of servants into becoming lawless calamities! Simply outrageous!

Jia Jing's words were full of a stern expression; evidently this time he intends to deal harshly with the household servants.

Jia Mu's heart jumped upon hearing this; she silently thought: Here it comes! After all, it has arrived!