The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 30 Knocking on the Claws
Jia Jing had more private savings than Shen Ning had imagined.

Especially that box of silver notes of all sizes, ranging from a thousand taels to ten taels.

Jia Zhen looked at him with heartache.

Those ten taels of silver notes were all his.

He had fantasized about running away from home, but was afraid of being taken advantage of. So he spent half a year exchanging one hundred ten-tael silver notes.

The remaining twenty taels, fifty taels, and one hundred taels were all his.

My father's silver notes consisted of eight notes worth one thousand taels each and six notes worth five hundred taels each.

The boxes of silver and cash on the ground totaled about a thousand taels.

It's pitiful that his mother took 99% of their private savings.

Why are you so heartbroken?

Shen Ning closed the box full of silver notes and saw her eldest son clutching his chest. She couldn't help but ask, "Or do you, like your father, also have a lot of secret savings?"

what?
Jia Zhen was terrified, "No, no!"

He was practically swearing, "Don't you know what kind of person my son is? I'm not the kind of person who can save money."

After inheriting the title, his father stipulated that he could only receive two hundred taels of silver per month, and he has not dared to overstep that limit to this day.

Shen Ning was aware of this as well.

Last year, Jia Jingcai checked his accounts and found that around the end of each month, for about six or seven days, he didn't have any money to go out and play, and would stay home and eat a peaceful meal.

They're the kind of people who spend money when they have it, and stay home when they don't.

"..."

Shen Ning turned her head away speechlessly, "It's good that you know you can't save money."

Men become bad when they have money.

The eldest son is the best among them.

Now that Jia Jing is no longer in charge, she'll have to keep a tight rein on him. "Your father won't be involved anymore, and your mother... doesn't know how many months she has left. The West Mansion has donated a lot of money to bring good fortune to your sister, and you, as her older brother..."

Jia Zhen's face turned ashen.

He really didn't want to be the older brother.

However, these words could no longer be said, no matter what. "Then..."

Just as he was about to tentatively ask if donating half would be acceptable, Shen Ning had already made her decision: "Take out two thousand taels of silver and send it to the Mantou Nunnery. From now on, donate six hundred and sixty-six steamed buns every day until they are used up."

what?
How much money does he have left?
Four hundred taels?
How can you spread out two months' worth of expenses over a year?

What can this do?

Drinking with friends isn't enough, let alone gambling or anything like that.

But faced with his mother's piercing gaze, Jia Zhen could only obediently reply, "Yes!"

No wonder Uncle She and Uncle Zheng of the West Mansion wanted to fight. Now that the little brother has come out, he'll definitely have to give him a few more whacks.

"There must still be quite a few people watching our residence recently."

Seeing his honesty, Shen Ning sighed and said some soft words, "There are old people and young children at home. With you at home, I feel more at ease."

"...Mother, don't worry, your son won't go anywhere. He'll stay home and keep you company."

Jia Zhen suddenly realized, "That's right, his mother doesn't know that she's already being described as a shrew by outsiders."

If Second Aunt of the West Mansion dares to do such a thing, what if...

"You should also avoid going to the West Mansion as much as possible."

Shen Ning was very satisfied with Jia Zhen's attitude, and continued, "Your second aunt has always regarded the old lady's things as her own. Now that your father has taken away three of them, I'm afraid she might do something behind the scenes."

Even without today's incident, the Wang family would not have stopped causing trouble.

As a result, her attempt to steal a chicken backfired...

"In that mansion, she is the one who is truly in charge. The old lady and your second uncle Zheng, out of respect for Yuan Chun, Zhu'er, and Bao Yu, will not obey her in everything, but they won't be too far off."

Shen Ning looked at her eldest son and said the most crucial thing, "So, from now on, no matter what Grandma or your second uncle Zheng talks to you about, you are not allowed to agree immediately."

"Don't worry, Mother, your son isn't stupid."

Jia Zhen was still preoccupied with the rumors circulating outside. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, "Mother! There are still quite a few gossipy people in the West Mansion. You even stripped Father of his Taoist robe, over there..."

"Call me a shrew, go ahead!"

Shen Ning didn't care about the reputation. "So what if I'm tough? At least I can eat and sleep well now, and I'm happy with myself."

"..."

Jia Zhen was speechless. Did his mother's behavior mean she wouldn't care about the rumors circulating outside the mansion?
Thinking of this, he coughed lightly, "Ahem~" and said cautiously, "My second aunt is petty. If rumors get out..."

"Then I have to thank her."

Shen Ning smiled slightly, "With this reputation, there will be fewer people in the clan who can mess with me in the future."

Even Jia Jing was dealt with by her, so from now on, the clan elders will be more obedient about what their eldest son does.

Anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't fight to the death with someone who's willing to risk everything to be the 'head of the family'.

Not smart...

She's the only one who can handle him.

Jia Zhen: "..."

He had nothing to say.

Suddenly I realized that his parents were slowly becoming abnormal in silence.

His father was disillusioned with the mundane world, so he turned to seeking immortality and enlightenment.

His mother is also desperate, so now if I'm having a hard time, nobody else should have a good time either.

After leaving his mother's courtyard, Jia Zhen kept rubbing his face.

He hadn't gone too far astray yet. Not particularly clever but not completely muddle-headed either, he still felt sorry for his parents. So he turned around and went to find Madam You, asking her to slowly leak out some of the rumors circulating outside.

The West Mansion is a sieve, and Mother should know this. It's normal that the fact that she stripped Father of his Taoist robe eventually got out.

Please take good care of your mother.

Jia Zhen thought to himself, "Let's just get through these next few months first."

"Don't worry, sir."

Madam You smiled gently, "I'll keep an eye on Mother. But as for the West Mansion..." She hesitated for a moment, "...it's not good to let Second Aunt keep making such a fuss."

Ok?
Jia Zhen looked at her.

"Thankfully, my mother managed to stay calm today."

Madam You's own mother died early. Although she had a stepmother, the stepmother would definitely love her biological daughter more. It was a rare blessing to meet her mother-in-law, who was like a mother to her. Seeing her being bullied, how could she not be angry? "If we get too angry, it will be too late for us to regret it."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Second Aunt is too cruel," she thought. The old lady was of a higher generation, and she dared not make a move against her, but Wang Shi…

“You shouldn’t have left those maids for her when you attacked the Lai family last time.”

Jia Zhen: "..."

He was a little regretful, but the servants in the manor all agreed to let Zhou Rui and the others go, so he had no choice.

But Jia Zhen knew that it must have been done by his second aunt or his second sister-in-law, Wang Xifeng, who was now the housekeeper.

"Isn't Zhou Rui in charge of the rent for the West Mansion in spring and autumn?"

Aren't you short of money?
Then knock her hand off the silver.

A ruthless glint appeared in Madam You's eyes. "His son and daughter haven't entered the household either, so it's impossible for him to be clean. If we take him down, Zhou Rui's wife will also fall, and Uncle She can seize the opportunity to place his people in line."

Everyone said that the magistrate was muddle-headed, but when the school had an accident, he didn't use his status to say a single harsh word.

Later, during the raid on the Lai family and at today's family banquet, Madam You realized that he still cared for her father-in-law and was close to their family. "Uncle She is the rightful head of the West Mansion. You are the clan leader. If you help him, no one can say anything."

Jia Zhen: "..."

It makes sense.

But Jia Zhu...

He wasn't afraid of Yuan Chun.

Without the support of her family, Yuan Chun would never have been able to rise in the palace.

That Consort Zhen might not want the Jia family's daughter to follow in her footsteps.

After all, now that the Jia family's daughter has risen to prominence, the Jia family will only help its own members.

"Let me think about it." He nodded and said, "Let's think of a way to make Zhou Rui walk right into our trap, so it has nothing to do with us."

He listens to his mother, so Jia Zhu will naturally listen to his mother too.

If the relationship between the two governments is to be maintained, Jia Zhu must not be allowed to see it.

Jia Zhen paid no attention to his uncle Zheng, who was clueless about worldly affairs.

Zhou Rui likes to drink.

Madam You said softly, "Isn't it just perfect for a drunkard to boast and have the officials overhear him?"

(End of this chapter)