Chapter 3: Making a Move

The healthy woman was the personal maid of the main branch's matriarch, Mrs. Xing, from Wang Shanbao's household; among the servants of the Rongguo Mansion, aside from the Lai, Lin, Shan, and Wu families, and besides the personal maid of Lady Wang's household, Zhou Rui's household, she was the most formidable.

Especially in the east wing of the main branch, the servant women and maids basically all fell under her management, and she had thus cultivated an arrogant and overbearing nature.

Originally, Xiao Jiaoer was a maid in Jia Mu's chambers and was not under her control.

But who let Xiao Jiaoer have no one to back her up behind the scenes? Moreover, she now hangs out with Jia Jing, an insignificant nobody who can't show his face, and, having been scolded by Jia She that morning for incompetence and being in a bad mood, she naturally took Xiao Jiaoer out as a punching bag.

Flattering superiors and trampling inferiors has always been her survival rule.

But Xiao Jiaoer is only a few years old, already frightened out of her wits, and naturally dare not speak much.

"You lowly servant, your eyes grew in vain! The masters of the mansion don't even recognize you—why do you keep running here every day? Is there even a master here……"

Jia Jing listened quietly for a while, seeing that Wang Shanbao's wife was still there spewing ill words, endlessly scolding Xiao Jiaoer, and even taking the opportunity to point at mulberry trees while cursing locust trees—i. e., indirectly insulting him—her words thinly veiled mockery.

Jia Jing quickly stepped out of the courtyard gate, came to the outside, his expression indifferent, and shouted in a loud voice:

"What's all this commotion about first thing in the morning?"

Hearing Jia Jing's forceful shout full of vigor, the scene fell silent in an instant,

Everyone present turned to look at the approaching Jia Jing, exchanging glances.

"Third Uncle!"

Seeing Jia Jing come out, Xiao Jiaoer hurried a few steps to his side, crying out with a sobbing voice, like a wounded little beast.

Although she felt somewhat strange that Third Uncle seemed a bit different today,

but being still young, she lacked strong discernment,

she merely quietly hid behind Jia Jing, not daring to face Wang Shanbao's wife's grim expression again.

As for Wang Shanbao's wife, she looked at Jia Jing with eyes turned to the heavens, completely ignoring this insignificant master, and said in a sinister tone:

"Third Uncle's arrival is just in time; the old master this morning asked me about that Shi Aizi's matter—I don't know if you've settled it, Third Uncle?"

"If not, you're surely in for a beating! Don't you remember how Third Uncle was beaten by the old master last time and couldn't get out of bed for over two months?"

"If you get beaten again this time, don't expect the old women to wait on you—we're busy too!"

Having said that, Wang Shanbao's wife glanced at Jia Jing with a hint of smugness, wanting to see his fearful expression.

In the main branch, none of the children fail to fear Jia She.

Even the legitimate heir, Jia Lian, if he goes against Jia She's wishes, is often beaten to a bloody pulp—let alone Jia Jing, this concubine-born son!

In the past, whenever she mentioned the old master's name, Jia Jing would be frightened like a shrinking quail, his voice trembling.

Moreover, this time, because the Shi Aizi affair wasn't settled, Jia She had already scolded her that morning,

and if Jia Jing also failed to settle it, she would inevitably add fuel to the fire and push him out to take the blame.

"Oh? The Shi Aizi matter—wasn't it already clarified last time? He refuses to sell no matter the price; didn't you report back to the old master?"

Jia Jing said lightly.

This is also how he has differed in every way since his transmigration—handling affairs steadily, speaking pleasantly, which has drawn Jia She's attention,

so Jia She assigned him a task, sending him together with Wang Shanbao's wife to the Shi Aizi's place to "buy" fans.

This matter is also recorded in the original work: because of those twenty rare fans—Xiangfei, jade bamboo, and brown bamboo ancient fans—Jia She and Jia Yucun ruined the Shi Aizi's family, leaving them destitute.

As a modern person, Jia Jing naturally would not, like in the original, ruin a family over a few fans,

since the Shi Aizi said he wouldn't sell, Jia Jing also didn't press him.

But Wang Shanbao's wife naturally didn't think that way; having finally secured Jia She's assignment, she could throw her weight around outside the mansion—how could she give up just because the Shi Aizi said he wouldn't sell?

"Third Uncle Jing, you've got this wrong! The old master loves those fans so much; as his son, you should spare no effort to obtain them to fulfill your filial duty—how can you drop the task over a few words?"

Wang Shanbao's wife added with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"You were there that day—Shi Aizi said he wouldn't sell for a thousand taels or ten thousand, even if he starved or froze to death; you heard it too! What else could you do?" Jia Jing said.

"Just because Shi Aizi says he won't sell, he won't sell? Who does he think he is?"

"We have Jia Yucun in the government office; I've already had someone inform him of this matter, so he can directly find a pretext of theft or embezzlement of official silver to seize the Shi Aizi's ruined household, then confiscate his property—won't the fans then be ours?"

"By then we won't have to pay a single tael—what can he do?"

Wang Shanbao's wife's triangular eyes flashed with a vicious light as she spoke harshly.

Looking at Wang Shanbao's wife, Jia Jing also felt amused by this cunning servant's audacity.

A servant who at the drop of a hat seeks to ruin families—how vicious!

Of course, this is also the bad result of the Jia household being overly indulgent toward its servants.

Jia Mu, advanced in years, simply seeks pleasure and often grants the servants dignity.

Many matrons not only have authority over the young ladies and gentlemen in the mansion, but also often rely on the prestige of the Rongguo Mansion to bully others outside.

From what Jia Jing has learned these days, Wang Shanbao's wife is not doing this sort of wickedness for the first time.

Jia Jing suppressed his anger, expressionless, and asked: "Is this your idea or the old master's intention?"

"This is my idea, but I imagine the old master would also be willing; as long as we help him settle this matter well, we'll naturally reap benefits later……"

As Jia She's confidante, Wang Shanbao's wife naturally understands his meaning; she has also helped Jia She with this sort of trickery and plunder before!

Sometimes the old master doesn't speak, but we servants must be able to read his intentions.

In the past, they've done this many times; the old master knows and hasn't punished them—instead, each time they succeed, they receive rewards.

"Nonsense! You insolent servant, how dare you act in the master's name outside to engage in trickery and plunder, interfere with litigation and justice, and still claim it's the old master's intention? You're inviting disaster upon the Jia family! Who gave you the gall?"

Before Wang Shanbao's wife could finish speaking,

Jia Jing had no wish to waste words with this cunning servant; he stepped forward quickly and kicked her over, pointing at her and shouting angrily.

Wang Shanbao's wife never expected that Jia Jing, usually as soft as a boiled egg, would today rebel and dare to lay hands on her,

caught off guard, she was kicked in the stomach by Jia Jing, instantly collapsing to the ground and wailing in disbelief:

"You lewd bastard…… you…… you dare kick me?"

"I am the personal maid of the eldest lady, an elder of the household—striking me is striking the eldest lady's face; you're courting death……"

Jia Jing laughed indifferently, showing a mouthful of dozens of white teeth: "I not only hit you, I also slap you..."