The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 10 Tips
The Jia family compound of the Rongguo Mansion.

After returning from school, Grandmother Jia stared at the tea leaves floating in her cup without saying a word.

As the most senior and highest-ranking matriarch in the Jia family, she had never been led by the nose by any junior before.

before……

Although things are different now than before, even when her brother-in-law from the East Mansion was still alive, Shen Ning wouldn't dare to speak to her like that. Now, however, she's become much bolder.

Grandmother Jia's brows furrowed unconsciously.

"Grandma, my sister-in-law is clearly targeting our Baoyu!"

She had to pretend to be virtuous in front of outsiders, but when she returned home, Wang still hoped to try her best. "Could you send someone to tell my elder brother that the children of our Ning and Rong families should not have to study at the clan school?"

Has Shen Ning forgotten that she's pregnant?
"Is that kind of 'bitterness-remembering-the-past-and-sweet-past-the-past' meal something our Baoyu can eat? Our ancestors worked so hard, risking their lives, so that their descendants could live a life of wealth and comfort, not so that their descendants could suffer the same hardships they endured. Sister-in-law, what you're doing..."

"Then why didn't you say that back then?"

I told you so, why would she let a distant niece-in-law lead her by the nose?
Coming to her senses, Grandmother Jia looked displeased. "What's the use of saying this now?"

They're good at scheming against their own family, but when it comes to outsiders, their brains seem to go blank, always a beat or two behind.

Grandmother Jia was most dissatisfied with this aspect of her second daughter-in-law. "Don't you know what kind of person your eldest brother is?" She would not only not stop the second daughter-in-law from doing things that would make her family suffer, but she might even add fuel to the fire.

Looking at Xing, who was engrossed in studying the patterns on the teacups, Grandmother Jia felt even more depressed.

Speaking of which, she once had a wife who was comparable to Shen Ning.

pity……

Grandmother Jia sighed inwardly, "Alright, Baoyu is weak, and I can't bear to see him suffer. From now on, I'll take care of the burden."

They could try to postpone it, but with the expenses for Baoyu plus the donations from the three of them (mother and daughter-in-law), the annual expenditure would increase by a thousand taels.

One thousand taels!
Madam Wang was both angry and heartbroken, and couldn't help but pat her chest.

The eldest son inherited the family title, so in her eyes, all the money belonged to her family.

In fact, her two sons were more successful than Jia Lian.

With Zhu'er studying at the Imperial Academy and having the support of her in-law, Lord Li, she's sure to pass the imperial examinations and become an official. Baoyu, though young, is also a promising student; the future of the Jia family will depend on her two sons to uphold its honor.

Shen Ning did this...

Madam Wang was so angry that she went back to her courtyard and lay down.

Madam Xing was no better off.

One hundred taels of silver, and her monthly allowance was only twenty taels of silver, this would take up almost half a year's allowance.

Oops~
Madam Xing also lay down on the couch, unable to eat dinner.

Wang Xifeng, on the other hand, coaxed the old lady with Baoyu until she smiled, and then returned to her own courtyard.

"Ping'er, investigate the gossipy old women in the manor."

Sister Feng has learned something new today: "Some of the maids and servants in the Ning Mansion will definitely not escape this fate either."

"Grandma means this matter isn't over yet?"

Ping'er was terrified today.

"over?"

Sister Feng frowned. "Judging from your expression, Auntie, this matter is going to cause quite a stir."

"But the old lady and the madam are not happy today."

Ping'er muttered to herself.

"...My aunt has almost lost her life once, would she care if someone is unhappy?"

Sister Feng sighed, "Just wait and see. If we don't deal with it tonight, we'll definitely hear from you tomorrow."

"Dealing with the maids and servants shouldn't have anything to do with our Rong Mansion, right?"

"..."

Fengjie glanced at Ping'er and said, "The servants of the two households are related by marriage. If the Ning family makes a move, given Aunt's temper today, the Rong family will definitely not escape."

With so much money donated, neither the old lady nor her aunt would dare to go against that aunt on trivial matters concerning servants.

"Then let's..."

Ping'er thought for a moment, "Should we tip off the people below?" "Absolutely not!"

Feng Jie originally just wanted to let the cat out of the bag.

She can also use all of her aunt's helpers.

But...

“Auntie is a shrewd woman. She didn’t interfere in things before, but that’s just because she didn’t want to. But not wanting to interfere doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what the people below her are like.”

Sister Feng actually admired that aunt quite a bit. "Sister-in-law You has been managing the household for almost four years, but look at today, with just a glance from the aunt, those maids and servants know what to do and what not to do."

If you try anything underhanded at this time...

Sister Feng hissed softly, "They might not even know how they died one day."

That auntie was really daring to take action.

Look how swiftly and decisively things were handled today. Not to mention those who were beaten and fined, even the family that had to pack up and leave probably wouldn't dare utter a single word of complaint.

Sister Feng felt she should learn from her aunt.

"We can discuss this between the two of us. As for the rest... we'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Anyway, she's only been married for less than six months.

No matter what it is, it's impossible for her to be involved. "There are old ladies and other women around."

They couldn't handle it, yet she stuck her neck out... Qing, you're just asking for death!
"Feng'er!"

Jia Lian rushed in hurriedly, "Quick, come with me to find the old lady and the madam."

"what's wrong?"

Sister Feng was shocked.

The young couple were newlyweds, deeply in love, when she suddenly noticed her husband's expression change. Fearing he might also be in trouble and get beaten, she asked him a question while scrutinizing his buttocks.

"Don't even mention it, the master wants me to go to school too."

What?
When they saw Jia Lian slap his thigh, both Feng Jie and Ping'er were stunned.

Am I cut out for studying?

His family holds a noble title, so he doesn't need to suffer the hardship of studying at all!

Jia Lian grabbed Feng Jie, "Feng'er, I'll go and cry to the old lady, what do you say?"

Ok?
Sister Feng blinked, barely suppressing the laughter in her eyes, "I'm afraid that won't work!"

Studying is good; if you study, you won't have time to compete with her for control of the household.

"The old lady felt sorry for Baoyu and wanted him to suffer, as you saw. She didn't want to agree to it at the time, but her aunt persuaded her, and in the end, they even lost a thousand taels of silver. Now you go there crying and saying you don't want to go to school..."

Fengjie thought for a moment, “The old lady is reluctant to get angry with Baoyu, but she can’t do anything about the already drawn-up rules, so she will definitely take it out on the master. You know the master’s temper. If he is not happy, no one will be happy. In the end, you will be the most unlucky one.”

Jia Lian: "..."

There is no way out.

Jia Lian wanted to cry.

“Honey, I think you should go to your aunt instead of begging the old lady.”

Looking for Auntie?
Jia Lian looked at his wife.

"The school will definitely hire another teacher, but can an outside teacher manage all the school's affairs?"

A special light flashed in Fengjie's eyes, "If Jiao Da can't do it either, then... why don't you talk to your aunt and Brother Zhen about having him study while managing all the affairs of the clan school?"

The clan school is now quite wealthy.

Even in the past, there was a lot of silver.

"Or directly manage all affairs within the clan academy."

Looking at her husband, if he really wanted to study, he'd probably get beaten eight out of ten days.

Sister Feng still felt a little sorry for him. "If you, an official's nephew, go and ask her, your aunt will most likely agree."

(End of this chapter)