The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 188 Reward

Grandmother Jia was essentially someone who loved lively gatherings.

In the past, if relatives came to visit, they would definitely be welcomed.

But now...

Grandmother Jia glanced at Wang Xifeng.

Although she was fairly satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law, with her second daughter-in-law, Wang, in the picture, she couldn't completely put her mind at ease.

After all, she was satisfied with her second daughter-in-law back then.

Even in her heart, her second daughter-in-law, Wang, was an honest, kind-hearted woman…

Who would have thought she could be so wicked behind the scenes?
The old lady sighed inwardly, "Since we're relatives, let's treat each other like relatives."

The Jia and Xue families had a long-standing relationship.

They had a falling out with the Wang family, but not with the Xue family.

Moreover, the current direct descendants of the Xue family are orphans and widows.

Showing no leniency is also unseemly.

"Since they've arrived, just go ahead and entertain them. Don't worry about your second uncle's side."

Grandmother Jia felt that her granddaughter-in-law was the matriarch of the Rongguo Mansion, and she served her with utmost care. Grandmother Jia felt that she should give her some face when the time was right, saying, "If you can take care of her, then you should take care of her too."

It seems Wang Ziteng is about to make a comeback.

Even if Lian'er doesn't receive special treatment from the Armory, she will never be cheated.

"Okay! I'll do whatever you say."

Regardless of what she thought of her second aunt, Wang Xifeng was still very grateful that the old lady had openly asked her to take care of her.

The Jia family and the Xue family are not directly related.

The aunt from the second branch of the family lives in the small Buddhist shrine. The old lady allowed her to take care of the second aunt because of her reputation.

When the maids brought the dishes to the table, Wang Xifeng busied herself serving the old lady a bowl of green rice.

At this time, Wang, from Lixiang Courtyard, also received a steamed bun, a bowl of porridge, and a plate of boiled cabbage without any oil.

Everything was so dull and tasteless.

But if I don't eat, I'll get very hungry.

Although she was nominally the second wife, in reality, she went hungry at least once every two days, if not once a day.

Wang could not help but cherish the food she had obtained.

She once wanted to save a few steamed buns.

Unfortunately, Aunt Zhou never sent in much.

Wang suspected that the woman did it on purpose.

She still harbors resentment over what happened back then.

ho~
Wang's lips twitched slightly.

I took a small sip of the porridge.

Let's wait a little longer, until next year when Zhu'er passes the official examination and is sent out to work.

Since the Rongguo Mansion does not belong to their second branch, it is only natural for them to leave.

Even if the old lady and the eldest sister-in-law of the East Mansion disliked her, they still had to give her a meal for the sake of her children, let alone the master Jia Zheng.

If he wanted to live a proper and respectable life as a patriarch, he could only rely on his children.

Wang Shi hopes to leave the capital city, which has filled her with humiliation, with Jia Zhu next year.

As long as they leave the capital, whether it's Aunt Zhou or Aunt Zhao, they'll still have to make a living under her.

When Wang ate the steamed bun, every bite seemed to be the flesh of someone else.

Meanwhile, two doors down, Aunt Zhou was enjoying her four dishes and one soup.

She was very happy that she didn't have to go to the main house to serve Jia Zheng his meals.

That man... he damaged my body back then and can no longer have children.

Aunt Zhou picked up a piece of goose breast and found it incredibly delicious.

If Aunt Zhao wants to compete for the emperor's favor, then let her compete!

As the master's health improved, he began to think of Aunt Zhao's youthful body again.

snort~
man!

Aunt Zhou despised her, and she also despised her former self.

but……

The thought that the man said that next year, when Jia Zhu passed the exam and became an official, the whole family would go to take up their posts together made her lose her appetite again.

Why?
Why is it that the woman who harmed her son can have both a son and a daughter and live a life of wealth and honor?

Why should they not have to suffer for long even in the small Buddhist shrine?
Why is it that cold-hearted man who only cares about himself can go outside with his son and act as his patriarch?
Aunt Zhou put down her chopsticks after only a few bites.

She felt she should come up with a solution.

But when should it be done to cause the couple even more pain?

Aunt Zhou stroked her belly and slowly closed her eyes.

……

Another day, Shen Ning saw Xi Ren carrying a food box and delivering vegetables again.

The girl looks a bit thinner.

"How's the investigation of your brother's case going with the Shuntian Prefecture?"

After dinner, Shen Ning finally asked the question she had been wanting to ask.

"Replying to Madam, we haven't found out yet."

Xi Ren was flattered and overwhelmed.

She never expected that even this woman knew about her brother's affair.

"Where's your mother?"

My aunt went to keep me company.

In recent years, both families have been doing better.

Xiren was very grateful to her aunt's family for helping her at this time.

Do you own any farmland?

"There are two mu of medium-sized farmland."

Two mu.

Shen Ning mentally calculated her monthly allowance and potential rewards, then nodded slightly, "Your mother only has you as her daughter, from now on..."

"The clan has already discussed adopting a younger brother into my family."

If she couldn't adopt a younger brother, not only her mother but she herself would be like a rootless duckweed.

Xiren was very fortunate that her second mistress had asked Wang'er to accompany her home yesterday.

The Jia family had a good reputation, so the clansmen did not dare to make things difficult for them.

"...that's fine!"

Shen Ning said, "Baoyu, from now on, give your sister Xiren a holiday during festivals so she can go home and visit her family."

"Ok!"

Baoyu nodded vigorously. "Thank you so much for your kindness, Madam!"

Xi Ren hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to Shen Ning.

"Get up quickly!"

Shen Ning glanced at Qingzhu.

Qingzhu understood immediately, turned around and went into the house to get the reward.

“Baoyu is still young, and the old lady is old.”

Shen Ning didn't mention Jia Zheng and Wang Shi anymore, saying, "His affairs are things that others wouldn't think of. You are his personal maid, so you have to think of them."

"Yes!"

Xi Ren nodded hurriedly.

As Baoyu's head maid, she wasn't afraid of her masters caring about Baoyu; she was afraid that everyone would choose to ignore him because of the master and mistress.

"You've been doing a great job; I was just giving you a piece of advice."

As Qingzhu emerged, Shen Ning said, "Qingzhu, reward me!"

Perhaps it was her butterfly effect.

Otherwise, how could Hua Zifang have died?
Although the Hua family's life eventually improved entirely because of Xiren, Qingwen's hairpins, jewelry, and other valuables totaled five hundred taels of silver after her death, so Xiren's fortune must have been considerable as well.

In Dream of the Red Chamber, the old lady of the West Mansion was still living the good life that the Jia family had enjoyed during its heyday, and Wang Shi and Wang Xifeng had to put on a brave face for her.

"Thank you, Madam Xie!"

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Baoyu also chimed in with a comment.

His aunt is giving him a facial.

Baoyu couldn't help but move closer to Shen Ning.

Shen Ning patted his little shoulder, "You're getting older. With your parents like this, you'll have to take care of things in the house yourself. You'll have to keep track of all the gifts from outsiders and the rewards from your family during holidays."

"Ok!"

Baoyu nodded vigorously.

My cousin Min and the others said the same thing last time.

They also told him to put away the good things.

If you can't collect it, just leave it there and ignore it.

The wet nurse couldn't be allowed to act tyrannically in his room.

“My cousin Min brought me an account book from outside, and I’ve already started keeping accounts.”

He has a lot of good stuff in his house.

They also receive a lot of lucky money during the Lunar New Year every year.

They were all put in one box.

"is it?"

Shen Ning was very interested. "Bring it over sometime so I can take a look."

This aristocratic young master in Dream of the Red Chamber, who seems detached from worldly affairs, can actually keep accounts?
It's so rare.

Shen Ning decided to take a look.

"Okay, I'll bring it over tomorrow."

As he spoke, Baoyu glanced at Rong-ge'er, who had finished cleaning up all the dishes on the table, and asked, "Does Rong-ge'er also keep accounts?"

"Hmm~"

Jia Rong nodded, "I have several account books there."

They were all created this year.

before……

Not to mention.

Before my mother passed away, almost all of her dowry was given to my maternal grandfather and uncles to help them make a living.

Later, his grandparents moved into a separate courtyard outside the Taoist temple and rarely came back, making his life very difficult.

If it weren't for Granny Tang protecting her all the time...

Compared to now, Jia Rong has no idea how she got through it all back then.

The servants fawned over the powerful and looked down on the weak. When they saw the steward, Lai Sheng, he was the one who would bow first.

He had no money and couldn't give tips, so all the servants in the courtyard, those with connections, left.

"You have to keep a record of all the money, including silver and copper coins. You have to keep a record of how much you spend, how much you earn, and how much you save in a year. Try not to spend money unnecessarily in the future."

Jia Rong taught him, "Don't listen to others coaxing you when you're out. Never do anything that will leave you penniless after just one trip. Anyone who tries to coax you out of your pocket is not a good person."

His family is doing well now; after several cleanings, most of those glib-tongued people have been eliminated.

However, the cleanup in Xifu was not thorough.

Jia Rong sometimes felt quite worried for this Uncle Bao.

The old lady said she loved him and had been letting him live in her courtyard, but this was against the rules.

It's fine for the old lady to support her paternal aunts and cousins, but Uncle Bao is a boy, and it's not good for him to spend so much time with girls.

Fortunately, his grandmother allowed him to come and learn martial arts.

Rong-ge felt that this uncle could still be saved.

Under Grandpa Jiao, they are obedient and can endure hardship.

"They just want your money."

"Well, I see."

The two were an uncle and nephew; the nephew taught the uncle.

Seeing how attentively one was teaching and the other was listening, Shen Ning couldn't help but smile.

These two children are going down a different path than those described in the book.

that's nice!

……

Yangzhou, the Salt Commissioner's Office.

Lin Ruhai picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Jia Min.

"My beloved wife, it is as if you are seeing me in person as I read this letter..."

He talked on and on about his daily life, trying to put Jia Min at ease.

But in reality, even Lin Ruhai himself couldn't feel at ease.

I just finished purchasing kitchen supplies the day before yesterday.

The time before last, the tea he usually drank had problems again.

Fortunately, the investigation was thorough, otherwise he might not exist today.

Lin Ruhai was worried about his wife and children in the capital, and repeatedly said that there was no need to go home, but to stay at home and take care of his mother-in-law.

The Ning and Rong mansions are connected, and although there are many and varied servants in the mansions, some people from Jiangnan do not dare to extend their reach there.

"At the beginning of the year, let Chang'an attend the affiliated school of the Jia family. Whatever Rong-ge'er in the East Mansion is learning, let Chang'an learn it too!"

If Jia Rong can endure hardship, then Chang'an in their family can certainly do the same.