The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 102 Everyone participates
"master!"

In the early morning, Shi Xiangyun opened her eyes in a daze.

As soon as I woke up, I heard the maid's voice.

Shi Xiangyun soon discovered that there was someone next to her, and when she turned around, she found a young girl sleeping with her.

It took Shi Xiangyun three or four seconds to recognize that it was Jia Xichun.

At this time, footsteps were heard, and soon Jia Rong walked in.

Shi Xiangyun quickly grabbed the quilt with both hands and covered her mouth.

"Big brother, why are you here..."

Shi Xiangyun felt a little shy and looked at Jia Rong uncomfortably.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I came back at one or two o'clock last night and saw you lying drunk in the hall. I sent you and Xichun back before I went to eat."

Shi Xiangyun said embarrassedly: "Thank you, big brother, you go out first, I have to get up and change clothes."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I know you drank too much, so you must have to pee. Wake Xichun up and wash yourself before going to eat. I asked the kitchen to make breakfast, and we can eat together."

"Yeah!" Shi Xiangyun nodded quickly.

After Jia Rong left Shi Xiangyun's boudoir, Shi Xiangyun quickly got up and went to the bathroom.

Jia Rong had dinner with the girls. Many of them had not yet woken up after the excitement last night.

Now they live in the house and courtyard that used to belong to Lady Jia and others. This was originally the place prepared by Jia Rong for his family, so it is easy for it to be filled with people.

Most of those who came yesterday are still here today, or they drank too much and didn’t get up.

After Shi Xiangyun cleaned up and came out, she found that there were still several tables of people and two long tables of food.

There were several pots of porridge on the table, as well as snacks, and meat patties with braised meat, fruits, and wild vegetables.

Shi Xiangyun went over and sat down. Soon the maid brought her her favorite steamed buns, meat patties and plum blossom porridge.

Nowadays, there are no plum blossoms in bloom, so we use porridge buckets made from plum trees and add some scented tea to make porridge.

There are now forty or fifty women and children in the Ning Mansion, and more than ten chefs are needed to cook, and this is just one kitchen.

There are a thousand people in the whole mansion. If we count the supplies from the shops outside and the streets, and the members of the Jia family who guard the house, there are basically two to three thousand people.

The whole lively family depended on Jia Rong alone for support.

Shi Xiangyun was eating meat buns and drinking porridge.

"Brother, the food here is delicious. It's much better than the ones at my house."

After hearing this, Jia Yuanchun smiled and said, "Then you can stay here forever and eat as much as you want."

Shi Xiangyun said, "Alas, when my uncle comes back, he will probably marry me off."

Jia Rong said, "You are only twelve, it is still early. I can also speak to your uncle, so you can continue to live here."

Shi Xiangyun said happily: "Okay! Thank you, big brother!"

Jia Rong reminded them, "Drink less wine in the future. I will make you some sweet herbal tea when I have time."

Although the alcohol content of wine in this era is similar to that of beer, and the girls drink hot wine, it is better to drink less of this stuff.

Jia Xichun became interested, "Sweet tea wine? Is it delicious?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "You offended me yesterday. Do you remember that you drank a little and became so drunk that you didn't know how high the heavens were and what you called me?"

Jia Xichun's eyes turned, and she quickly and obediently called out, "Brother-in-law!"

Jia Yuanchun didn't understand what was going on and looked confused.

Youshi smiled and said, "Great! You weren't drunk yesterday, you were just being drunk on purpose and pointing at the master and calling him nephew. Now that you don't drink anymore, you don't have the guts to be so bold!"

Jia Xichun hid beside Shi Xiangyun, and smilingly pulled her to share the disaster with her.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Forget it. I won't argue with you. It's been much colder since autumn. You should have a good rest. Sister Lin, don't stay up late in the future. It's almost time to rest. Change the bedding in the room. Yuanchun, you can go over and take a look later. I'll help you prepare anything that's missing."

Jia Yuanchun said, "Ben has been getting more and more naughty these days. He didn't change his ways even after I spanked him last time. He still doesn't study hard. I need to keep a closer eye on him. Let Sister Feng help me go to Sister Lin to check on him."

Before Lin Daiyu could speak, Wang Xifeng, who was eating at the next table, quickly said, "Leave it to me. No matter how big the matter is, it is not as important as the child's matter."

Jia Yuanchun's anger towards Wang Xifeng has subsided, and now she only wants peace at home.

Wang Xifeng is the head of the household, so she should just ignore what’s happening outside and not cause any trouble.

Besides, if the two of them quarrel, it will inevitably make the husband angry, so there is no need to quarrel over these things.

"Thank you, sister."

"Sister, you are so polite!"

The girls nearby, such as Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai, etc., were all very smart. Even Shi Xiangyun, Xichun, and Tanchun were not stupid. They could see that the eldest and second wives had made peace.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially for people like Yingchun, Lin Daiyu and Ping'er who don't want to offend either side, they don't have to worry about offending the other side by getting close to one side.

Jia Rong said: "The children need to be well disciplined. They should go to school in the courtyard before they are eight years old. Miss Lin will help teach them to read and write. Both boys and girls should go together."

"When they grow up, my son will go to a private school outside, and my daughter will continue to study in the garden."

"Those who help with teaching can receive extra wages every month."

Shi Xiangyun said happily: "I will teach them to read and recognize characters!"

Jia Rong said, "Let Yuanchun be busy first. You are good at handicrafts. You and Qingwen can help me make a new coat for the cold winter. It will be easier to walk on the frozen roads in winter. I have to go back to bury my grandfather."

Only then did everyone remember that Jia Jing had not been buried yet!
Not only was he not buried, but because Jia Jing's funeral overlapped with that of the retired emperor, it was held in a low-key manner during the national mourning period, saving a lot of money.

After dinner, some took a walk, some went home to take care of their pregnancies, some did housework, some worked, and some read.

Qingwen was assigned to Shi Xiangyun's room. Wang Xifeng and You Erjie also came with Jia Yuanchun to take a look.

Qingwen greets Shi Xiangyun.

"The master asked me to come and help. The master has been working in the palace to count things these days. I came here with sister Xiangyun to help the master make a robe."

Shi Xiangyun smiled and said, "Great! We are all people I have known for many years, so it will be more lively this way! But why haven't I heard that you are particularly good at needlework before?"

Shi Xiangyun is very good at needlework, can compose poetry and songs, and can drink, have fun and tell jokes. She is optimistic and versatile.

Qingwen is only clever and deft, but she is not as good as Shi Xiangyun in other aspects.

Comparing the two, they are really just a maid and a young lady.

Qingwen was going to be an aunt now, and she didn't hide the past. "It's because Xiren didn't let me do it. She would scold me several times when I made clothes for Master Bao. She was afraid that I would steal her aunt's spotlight!"

Qingwen and Xiren used to be competitors, but after Qingwen left Jia Baoyu, Xiren stopped saying bad things about her.

Xiren has a wide social circle. Not only does she know Yuanyang in the old lady's room and Ping'er in the second wife's room, she also has a close relationship with Mrs. Wang, and has a good relationship with Xue Baochai, Shi Xiangyun, Lin Daiyu and others.

Even Jia Yuanchun treated him as one of her own.

On the contrary, Qingwen has very narrow interpersonal relationships.

Jia Yuanchun didn't know about this, so when she heard it, she asked curiously, "Is there such a thing?"

Wang Xifeng saw this and said with a smile, "Madam, you are used to being a good person. Everyone else is a good person in front of you. You don't know much about the people and things in each room."

Jia Yuanchun was free, "What are they? I think only the maids in Baoyu's room are young and naughty, but the rest are all fine."

Compared to Qingwen, Jia Yuanchun obviously trusts Xiren more.

Qingwen herself has a lot of problems. Her daily words, actions, and dress do not seem like someone who is easy to talk to. She also has a relationship with the Lai family, so Jia Yuanchun does not leave a good impression on her. On the contrary, Xiren is more innocent.

Wang Xifeng was not speaking for Qingwen, she also did not like a maid like Qingwen.

"Grandma doesn't know. Not only are the maids in Master Bao's room not getting along, but the first wife and the mistress are also not getting along."

Jia Yuanchun did not refute this point, as it was something that everyone agreed with.

"It's all in the past." Jia Yuanchun admitted, but it didn't matter now, as Mrs. Xing had already returned to her parents' home.

Wang Xifeng continued, "The first wife and the wife don't get along, Master She and Master Zheng don't get along, the wife and the concubine in Master Zheng's room don't get along either, Jia Huan and Master Bao have had quarrels several times, I can't say anything about the others, anyway, there are a lot of quarrels in Rong Mansion."

"It's not just the masters, the servants are also the wet nurses, maids, servants and maids who form cliques and factions. If they have a good temper, they can't control those shameless old men at all."

You Erjie asked curiously, "Is there really so many things?"

Wang Xifeng smiled, her face cold, "Ask our eldest wife, she doesn't care about the matter, but the matter cannot be hidden from her, and those people in the west don't hide anything."

Qingwen added, "The maids in the mansion all know that there are many things going on in the Madam's room. Usually when the Madam is not there, we dare not go in, for fear that something might be lost and we can't explain it. Aunt Zhao's room is full of things that she takes from the Madam's room. If something is lost in the mansion, we can go to Aunt Zhao's room and find something."

After becoming the designated aunt, Qingwen, who was in the East Palace, was naturally not afraid of the aunt in the West Palace. She thought she was standing up for Jia Yuanchun by exposing Aunt Zhao's disrespectful behavior towards Mrs. Wang.

Shi Xiangyun, Xichun and Yingchun were all silent at this time, obviously not wanting to get involved in such things.

Jia Yuanchun frowned, "I always thought that there were some lustful things going on in my family. Now I think about Master She's communication with the foreign enemies, and the corruption in the various rooms and courtyards of the family, and the internal fighting. How can we hold on like this?"

Wang Xifeng comforted her, "Grandma, don't worry about these things. She is much better now."

Wang Xifeng gave face and did not mention the discord between the old lady and Mrs. Wang.

Jia Yuanchun looked at Wang Xifeng and said, "No wonder the master always said that a harmonious family brings prosperity. It turns out that I have known all this for a long time. I was confused. Sister, just call me sister from now on. We don't have so many rules in our family. If there is anything, we can sit down and talk it out."

"In the future, apart from the gifts from the Emperor, all the other things of the masters in the mansion will be shared by my son, so your share will not be missing."

Jia Yuanchun felt that her son was not a child anymore, so she tried to comfort the others in advance.

Wang Xifeng thanked him, "Thank you very much, sister!"

You Erjie also has children, and Qingwen and others will also have children in the future. When they heard Jia Yuanchun’s statement, they naturally approved of this big housewife.

Several young women sat down and chatted, mostly about their children.

The girls and wives without children listened while doing needlework, or those who didn't pay attention just chatted casually.

While we were chatting, Xiaohong came in from outside.

"Grandma, Madam and Grandma Zhu are here. They said they have something to ask you."

When Jia Yuanchun heard that someone from her mother's family was coming, her face did not look as happy as it used to be.

But he had no choice but to stand up, say goodbye to all his sisters, and go there with his maid.

The others didn't want to ask and just went about their own business.

Jia Yuanchun came to her own courtyard and entered the room to see Li Wan and Mrs. Wang sitting there with worried looks on their faces.

"Mother, has something happened again?"

Jia Yuanchun walked in and asked this first.

Mrs. Wang sighed and said, "We are running out of money at home, so I want to borrow some from you first."

Jia Yuanchun walked over and sat down. "That's not a big deal."

Jia Yuanchun quickly looked at the maid and said, "Go get a silver note worth 1,000 taels from Sister Baoqin."

The maid quickly went downstairs to get the money.

Both Mrs. Wang and Li Wan felt much more relaxed.

"Mother, please sit down and talk." Jia Yuanchun asked Madam Wang to sit down, and then asked curiously, "When the old lady returned at the beginning of the month, she gave father five thousand taels of silver for spending, which was enough for the New Year. Why is it gone so early?"

Mrs. Wang explained, "We spent a lot of money on cleaning the courtyard, and at the beginning of the month it was the old lady's birthday, so we spent a little more to make it more lively. Later, we spent a lot on Yingchun's maids, and moved to Lai Da's courtyard to renovate the house, and distributed some money to each courtyard."

"It's almost all gone." Mrs. Wang didn't care about the money and said directly, "Your father manages the money."

Although Jia Yuanchun suspected that someone was corrupt or stealing, she didn't want to continue asking about it.

"It would be better to let my sister-in-law manage the money." Jia Yuanchun looked at Li Wan. She was really worried about Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang.

One thousand taels is not a small amount. If you save a little, it will be enough to last until the New Year.

Xifu has no ability to make money now, and it can't bear to keep spending like this.

Jia Yuanchun didn't have much money of her own, so she couldn't just spend it all to fill a bottomless pit.

Li Wan smiled bitterly: "How can I take care of these things? Just the two maids and one son in my yard are troublesome enough. If the money is in my room, I am too timid to sleep at night."

Losing money is easy to deal with, but losing your innocence or life is troublesome.

Li Wan has been living in fear ever since her private money was stolen and has no sense of security at all.

He was dragged into the fire pit by the people from Xifu. Now there were a group of robbers in his family, so how could he dare to care about the money?

Jia Yuanchun understood it now, but she didn't want to meddle in other people's business.

Jia Rong didn't want to help with Li Wan's affairs at all. Now, no one in the West Mansion could tell who was a good person.

Jia Yuanchun had no idea about Li Wan's interpersonal relationships. She used to think she was a very good sister-in-law and was worried that Jia Rong would ruin her innocence.

But after Jia Rong disliked her, Jia Yuanchun began to wonder if there was something wrong with this sister-in-law.

Doesn't she have any contribution to the Rong Mansion's current decline?
(End of this chapter)