Chapter 1023
The Meng Family Makes Up Their Mind
Chapter 1023 The Meng Family Makes Up Their Mind
Beijing,
The front yard of Rongguo Mansion,
Wang Xifeng led Ping'er, Lai Wang and a few servants to the gatehouse in the front yard to check the expenditure account books. Several managers stood there with their heads lowered, not daring to breathe. Next to the table was the oil lamp that Ping'er had lit in advance. On the table, there were quite a few account books.
Wang Xifeng was dressed in plain clothes, with a golden hairpin on her head, a light-colored silk skirt, and a cloak to cover her graceful figure, especially her face, which somehow looked radiant. She reached out and flipped through a few pages, all of which were written according to her requirements. She nodded with satisfaction.
"Speaking of which, you guys have been working under me for a long time and you are in charge of the accounts inside and outside the palace. After a while, everyone said that you should use the experienced ones instead of the new ones, so I didn't plan to replace you. Now it seems that this is a good thing."
Seeing that the Second Mistress was satisfied, the stewards breathed a sigh of relief and yawned immediately. Qian Hua even smiled.
"Second Madam said it well. It will be convenient for the old man to use it. We, the servants, have kept in mind what Second Madam ordered and will never make any mistakes. Now the front yard is under construction and several side halls have been built first. As for the main hall, Master Craftsman Song said that it will take a few more days to prepare before construction can begin."
Among the people here, only Qian Hua dared to say that if the old lady had not shown mercy last time, he would have been given the position of manager long ago.
"Oh, Manager Qian is really efficient. If that's the case, why do you want to start the construction a few days later? I see that the side halls at the back have already been built. The speed is not slow."
He closed the account book, and found that the account book inside was exactly the same. If he calculated it this way, he would receive a hundred taels of silver every day. It would be a waste not to take the silver that fell from the sky. It could be considered to have alleviated his shortage of silver. He also wondered if Jia Yun had returned from outside the Great Wall.
"In reply to grandma, Master Song said that some of the wood needs to be taken care of and air-dried, and also needs to be coated with tung oil, which is really troublesome. Another thing is that the foundation is not solid and needs to be hammered, so we will not start the construction yet and assign the workers to those yards to repair them. It will only take a few days."
Qian Hua is now in charge of the expenses of the front yard. He is jealous of the money that passes through his hands. He knows that the Second Madam has taken a lot of benefits, but he doesn't want to do that. Not to mention the Second Madam's cruelty, at least he should give some to the servants. Although it is not much, it is better than nothing.
After listening to Qian Hua's words, Wang Xifeng finally understood the progress of the front yard. She had been fooling around with Jia Lian in the Pear Garden House these days and had not taken care of the things happening in the front yard. If Jia Lian's old subordinates had not come to bother her today, she might not have come out to take a look if she had gone to a banquet outside the mansion.
But as soon as I came out, I saw that the courtyard at the back had been almost completed. It was really beautiful. It was indeed built by the craftsmen of the palace.
"Okay, everyone should do their own job. Everyone should take care of their own business. If you have extra money, you can't just grab it carelessly. All the money that comes in and out must be recorded one by one. The things that are bought must also be checked. The waiters who eat every day must also go down to count the number of people. Those who eat at night and stay overnight must also be registered. Everything must be done carefully."
Now is different than before. With the previous experience of Ningguo Mansion, it is necessary to be on guard. The guards under his command are not idle either. They come out to guard the yard at night. No one is allowed to enter or leave, which saves a lot of trouble.
"Grandma is right. We servants dare not slack off. We have three meals a day, one for about 500 people, and one at night for about 150 people. If there are more people, they will be recorded on the roster. We dare not leave out a single person."
Qian Hua stood at the front, bowing and answering. He said that after joining the Second Mistress, although he had less money, he had more power and more respect from his subordinates. He was not as good as the rich, but better than the poor. He had fewer worries. The affairs of the mansion were all trivial matters. After so many years, he could complete the shopping with his eyes closed.
Wang Xifeng was a little surprised. There were 500 people dining at one meal. How could there be so many people? There were also 150 people at night. Aren't there only 80 people left to help? How could there be so many extra people?
"Why are there so many people? There are 500 of them for one meal. There shouldn't be that many people working, right?"
Since they dared to write it in the account book, it means that the number is correct and they are not afraid of being checked. But where did so many people come from?
Qian Hua was also a little stunned. Second Madam didn't know and didn't dare to say more. She explained;
"Grandma, this is still too few. There is a page at the back. Every day, we need to prepare food for at least twenty people. There are 350 people working during the day, plus the servants in the front and middle yards of the mansion. They will all be moved from the kitchen to eat here. I dare not make the decision on my own. I have to register them all. Also,"
Qian Hua lowered his voice and took out a separate account book and placed it on the table.
"Grandma, there aren't many people in the East Courtyard now. Except for Madam You who has started a small kitchen in her yard, the rest of the people haven't started a fire either, so the servants in the East Courtyard should also come over to have a bite to eat.
This list is counted separately, and the money is also recorded separately. The rest of the people are nothing more than the young men in the alley who help out, in groups of two or three. For example, Jia Qin and his group also come here to eat a few meals. There are 80 helpers at night, plus the guards around grandma, and many night guards, so 150 people are not many. "
Qian Hua answered everything in detail. He did not stop those who came to have a bite to eat. People from the school also came here in groups of three or four to eat many times. Just keep a record. This explanation made Wang Xifeng a little more curious. People from the East Palace also came here to eat. The eldest sister-in-law is now starting to save money. She wanted to find an opportunity to talk to her about something, but she didn't know what to eat to be effective.
As she thought about it, she drifted away and stopped talking. Once the surroundings quieted down, the atmosphere became dull. Qian Hua felt a little uncomfortable, not knowing what he had said to upset grandma. He glanced at her and hesitated, but saw Second Grandma close the account book and throw the East Mansion account book to Lai Wang.
"Manager Qian has taken care of this matter. I'll take this account book first. If anyone else from the East Palace comes to eat here, you should keep it in mind. Since the kitchen staff are asked to come with us, the money from the mansion will be less. Please also calculate how to allocate the meat and vegetables you bought. There is nothing else to do. I'm going back."
After saying this, Wang Xifeng waved her hand and prepared to go to Rongqing Hall, surrounded by her beloved. The steward behind her quickly responded;
"Farewell, Second Madam."
Together with the servants, they looked quite impressive. Even Lai Wang, who was following behind them, felt a little awkward.
As the group walked towards the inner courtyard, Lai Wang, who was behind them, took two quick steps.
"Grandma, Rong'er broke his leg in the East Palace and did not go south. He then asked Jia Qiang to go south on his behalf. Rong'er's family paid for it and took the Marquis's Chamber of Commerce passenger ship to the south. It has been a few days since he left. When I was delivering the goods, the steward there informed me. I dared not delay and only remembered to reply today. Please forgive me, Grandma."
When I mentioned this before, I had forgotten when I would set out. I only remembered it this morning, but Jia Qiang had already been gone for several days and was about to reach Jiangnan.
"Just go. No one will ask. Don't make a fuss in the mansion. We are all from the Ningguo Mansion. It doesn't matter who goes. Just take care of the funeral affairs and rush back. No one will ask about these things."
How could Wang Xifeng be thinking about these things? Since the old lady wanted to keep it secret, she would not mention it. She had stayed in Jinling, so who would think about it?
"Yes, grandma, I understand. Also, Manager Yu from the Red Mansion sent a visiting card early in the morning, saying that he would go to the Meng Mansion sometime to take a look. After getting the news, he would come to the mansion to report to you. Manager Yu left a message, saying that if the Meng family agrees, the marriage should be arranged first or later. If they don't agree, what should we do about it?"
Lai Wang was sweating on his forehead. That shopkeeper Yu was a famous matchmaker in the capital. Now that he had spoken, the matter was clear. But how could Lai Wang dare to talk nonsense? Which servant dared to gossip about Master Bao's marriage?
Wang Xifeng, who had already walked to the central courtyard, slowed down her pace and recalled the last time she went to look for Shopkeeper Yu. Because there were too many talented men and beautiful women in the Red Mansion, she didn't see the real one. Although she had given him something to say, she was still a little uneasy in her heart. Since Shopkeeper Yu had replied, she was afraid that he would have to come to his house.
Since we have come here, we can always come to an agreement. If the Meng family agrees, the old lady will be happy. But if they don't agree, it will be bad for the reputation of the two families. After thinking about it, she replied;
"No hurry, let's see the old lady first,"
"Yes, I was too talkative,"
As if no one was around, the group entered the corner gate and headed towards the inner hall.
And outside the house,
Judefang, North City, Beijing,
The Meng Mansion was located at the west end of Judefang. After Meng Li finished his court session, he hurried back, entered the mansion, and headed towards his wife's room.
When I entered the house, I found my wife and daughter sitting on the kang, embroidering. The sky was gradually getting darker, and the light and shadows in the room were a little blurry. I comforted them with a word,
"Madam, the moon is overcast and the sky is dim, so there is no need to rush your needlework,"
This comforting sound also made the mother and daughter look up. Madam Meng put down her needlework and asked in surprise, "Why did the master leave the court so early today? He is taking a rest."
It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned the government office. Instead, Meng Li looked unhappy. He sat down on the chair and sighed.
"How can it be so easy? The government office is not peaceful right now. Jiangnan submitted a memorial a long time ago, and now another memorial has been submitted. The key is that everything described is reasonable. The Censorate can only submit the memorial, but if it is not handled properly, it may cause a stir in the court."
Thinking about it, not only did he have a headache, but even several senior officials in the government office were worried. The affairs in Jiangnan were all handled by the people above, and even Luo Yunhou got involved. The one who submitted the most memorials was Xu Changwen. The key point was Brother Feng's son-in-law. How could he speak frankly?
Mrs. Meng was a little surprised. The master's reaction was unusual.
"Master, no matter how difficult the affairs of the government are, there are still several masters who make the decisions. You don't have to worry about it. Besides, what memorial can make you so worried?"
After putting down her needlework, she also took her daughter's hand and put down the work in her hands, then got up from the kang, picked up the teapot, served a bowl of tea to the master, and sat beside him. She was wearing a bright yellow silk skirt. Although she was over fifty years old, she still had the gentleness of a beautiful girl from a small family.
"It would be fine if everything was just as Madam said. Unfortunately, it was Jiangnan who caused the trouble, and Brother Feng's brother-in-law was also involved. He dared to sue his superiors. Sigh,"
When I think of what was written in the memorial, I realize that the words were too bold and showed no respect to the superiors, which was obviously a taboo in the officialdom.
"Brother Feng's son-in-law is the new champion. He just went to Jiangnan. At most, he is the magistrate of a county. How could such a thing happen? It has only been a short time."
Mrs. Meng was a little skeptical. Even if a small county magistrate made a fuss, he would not submit the memorial to the capital. Moreover, without the covert help of the people in the government office, the memorial could not leave the Jiangnan area. These words did not escape Meng Yueyun. The daughter of an official family must understand.
"Who said it wasn't true? Unfortunately, every word he said makes sense. There are witnesses and evidence. There is no reason not to investigate. And he is not the only one. The new Supervisory Commissioner Su Chong has also submitted a petition. And the first-placed County Magistrate Xu Dong of Lord Nan has also joined in the fun. He is really a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger. I wonder if Brother Feng knows that it is said that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. Even this new first-placed County Magistrate, after gaining power, is still unpredictable."
At the end, she looked at her daughter. Perhaps, she really couldn't find those new nobles. If they were too ambitious and caused such a mess, who could clean it up? Perhaps, it would be better to find a son of a noble family and have him be her wife, as she thought.
Thinking of the visiting card handed by the concierge, she took it out and put it on the table. Mrs. Meng was a little curious and took a quick look. It turned out to be from the shopkeeper Yu of the Red Mansion. She was delighted and asked:
"Master, this belongs to Shopkeeper Yu,"
"Well, when I first came here, the concierge handed me a visiting card saying that Manager Yu would come to visit tomorrow. I was just too preoccupied with government affairs to take a closer look. I guess it was from Rongguo Mansion and they couldn't wait any longer."
As he spoke, he turned his attention to his daughter. Everything was good about her except that she was unlucky. Fortunately, Mr. Zhen died in Jiangnan.
Madam Meng was not slow in taking the visiting card and taking a closer look. The delicate handwriting was indeed written by Shopkeeper Yu. It seemed that Rongguo Mansion had already agreed. As for the master, she glanced at her husband and saw that he obviously did not disagree. This was considered a deal. She turned to her daughter and asked;
"Yueyun, what do you think? Is Jia Baoyu from Rongguo Mansion still worthy of your attention?"
Ask directly,
Meng Yueyun blushed, thinking back to what she had seen that day, that Master Bao was indeed a rich man, and his mind was kind, but there were also many bad rumors from outside.
"I don't have any objections, but it's a pity that I didn't achieve any fame this time. It's also said that the Rongguo Mansion is run by the second mistress."
There was some worry in her words. She had been asking around these days, and there were all kinds of rumors, which made the mother and daughter a little unsure. Meng Li nodded, put down the tea bowl, and said;
"What you said is nothing. The title is passed down to the legitimate son, not the illegitimate son. The eldest son is the heir, not the youngest. The daughter-in-law of the Wang family is naturally the housekeeper, but once the family is divided, it will not be her turn. Brother Cun Zhou is an upright person. His eldest son died of illness, leaving behind an orphan, but the family tree has been marked and he has been transferred to the Ningguo Mansion line.
Therefore, Jia Baoyu is the only legitimate heir, and you will be the head of the family in the future. As for fame, Jia Baoyu went to the Imperial College to be a supplementary student, and there is a long way to go. His sister is, after all, the empress in the palace."
At the last sentence, Meng Li sighed heavily. He had already found out everything he could find out. He was also a good friend of Brother Cunzhou. If he asked directly about some things, Jia Zheng would tell him the truth. Originally, they were just a family of meritorious officials, but now they were royal relatives and imperial concubines. It was not an exaggeration to say that they had reached the pinnacle of heaven in one step. This marriage was too high a target.
At this moment, Meng Yueyun's heart was also a little confused. Her face was blushing and she nodded gently. Those without talent were not necessarily worse than those with talent. They were just the right age.
Seeing their daughter nod, Meng Li and his wife finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the marriage was settled.
On the Wei River in the northeast of Beijing,
The imperial army had already set up camp, with bonfires burning everywhere, lighting up the riverside like the stars in the sky, as bright as day. Soldiers sat around on the riverbank eating, and many camp commanders even danced with swords, making a lot of noise.
This scene opened the eyes of the four sect leaders. They had seen what the military camp looked like. When the time came, the soldiers had already sent an order to entertain the four sect leaders. The four did not dare to neglect it. They changed their clothes in their respective tents and went to the central tent together.
Qin Hao, the leader of the Tiger Roar Sect, was dressed in a yellow martial arts uniform, neat and tidy, with no decorations on his body. Song Wenshan, the leader of the Iron Palm Gang, was also dressed like this. Only Tang Weifeng, the leader of the Lingyun Pavilion, was dressed in Confucian clothing and a square scarf on his head. If you didn't know that he was the leader of a Jianghu sect, you would have thought he was a scholar. But the last one, the Palace Master of the Xuanbing Palace, was dressed in a pretty light yellow silk skirt, with a jade hairpin in his hair and blush on his face. The other three were a little shocked. He had really changed a lot.
There must be other reasons for going to the banquet like this.
suddenly,
The three of them knew what was going on, and unconsciously took a few quick steps to distance themselves from Sect Master Fang. Sometimes, it is best not to say anything.
inside the account,
Zhang Jinyu lazily sat in the main seat waiting, while King Jin Zhou Ding sat in his old seat at the east end. I don't know if he took a nap later, but he slept soundly and felt much better.
"Your Highness, have you been feeling better these days?"
Seeing Xia Yu bringing another bowl of medicine from behind the curtain, King Jin had no choice but to drink it with a bitter face. The medicine residue at the corner of his mouth made Zhang Jinyu feel bitter. This was not something that humans could drink. It was as thick as juice. What kind of medicine could be boiled into this state? He had to drink it three times a day.
"Ahem, much better."
Before he could answer, he quickly took a few sips of the honey water to calm himself down. Just as the two were about to say something, Lan Yue'er also brought a medicine bowl from behind the western curtain. Although it was not as thick as the medicine of His Royal Highness Prince Jin, it was black and still tasted bitter. Confused, Lan Yue'er put the medicine bowl on the table.
"My dear, the Taoist secret medicine is ready, try it."
Zhang Jinyu's face darkened, then reddened, and he remembered that he had eaten raw ginseng. He didn't expect that the decoction had been made in just a few days. It must have taken a lot of thought. He picked up the bowl and drank it all. Before he could taste it, he heard a message;
"Report, Lord, the four sect masters are already waiting outside the tent!"
(End of this chapter)