The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 24 Idea
After a few days, the weather became hot.

The Jia family has a lot of rules. At mealtimes, only the old lady, Grandmother Jia, and her grandchildren eat together.

Daughters-in-law like Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Li Wan, and Wang Xifeng all had to stand and serve, and wait until the old lady finished eating before going home to eat with their husbands.

The men in the Jia family usually don’t come over for dinner, they eat alone.

Jia Baoyu is young and is the grandson, while Jia Lian is already married and is busy with matters inside and outside the mansion. In addition, there are differences between men and women, so he will not come to eat.

Jia Zheng and Jia She would not come to dine with women unless it was a holiday. They would either be out entertaining guests, or dining with retainers to build relationships, or dining with their concubines for pleasure.

The daughters-in-law not only get up early every day to greet their mother-in-law and the old lady, but also serve them.

I have very little time of my own, and if I am busy with matters at home, I will be even more tired.

Wang Xifeng served people with a smile every day and took care of the family, but she could not stop Jia Lian from cheating.

In ancient times, being a daughter-in-law was more tiring than working. Wang Xifeng didn’t feel that tired at first. After all, when she was at her parents’ home, she also sat and ate like the other ladies around the table.

They can sit down to eat because they have to stand after they get married.

Only after being a daughter-in-law for many years and finally becoming a mother-in-law can one be treated like Lady Jia.

But if her husband is not ambitious, he will not be treated like Lady Jia.

Wang Xifeng stood behind Lady Jia and watched the people at the table talking and laughing.

I suddenly thought of Ningguo Mansion.

She knew what was going on over there. Jia Rong never went to pay his respects to Youshi and he could sleep as long as he wanted in the morning.

She was not served at meals, and she ate with Yuanchun and Qin Keqing every day. She could stroll around the big garden at the back whenever she wanted. She had more money than she could spend, so she didn't need to use it as a dowry.

With a lot of money, little work and a close location to home, Jia Yuanchun married so well that Wang Xifeng envied and jealous her again and again.

But what is more hateful is not that I didn’t work hard, but that I didn’t pass the exam after working hard!!
I had taken the initiative to marry him, but he looked down on me and wanted me, the legitimate daughter of the Wang family, to be his mistress!

Even today, Wang Xifeng would spit in his face! !

When everyone was eating, Jia Zheng, who shouldn't have appeared, came over.

Jia Baoyu, who was joking while eating, suddenly became obedient.

When Jia Mu saw Jia Zheng coming, she quickly asked, "What happened?"

Jia Zheng said, "Today the emperor has issued an order for me and Qin Ye, the deputy minister, to lead the craftsmen from the Ministry of Revenue to build a warm house in the palace."

Grandmother Jia put down her chopsticks and looked at Jia Zheng.

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" The old lady felt that it was not a good thing.

Because her son would not be an official, she felt that good things would not be his for the taking, and building a greenhouse was obviously not a serious matter, so she felt like she was being excluded.

What a good-for-nothing son!

Mrs. Wang asked quickly, "Is it the thing that the son-in-law mentioned last time?"

Jia Zheng nodded and said, "It's a good thing. After I received the imperial edict, the Ministry of Revenue gave me some money to do the work. Several officials also came to ask about the matter. We had lunch together at noon."

When Lady Jia heard that they were going to have dinner together, she knew it was a good thing. A smile appeared on her face and the pressure in her heart disappeared.

My good son has finally made it!
Grandmother Jia praised and said, "This seems to be a good thing. If you have something to do and do it well, the wise emperor will naturally reward you and give you a promotion."

Jia Zheng said, "I don't know anything about building a house. Qin Ye is doing it."

After hearing these words, Wang Xifeng thought for a moment and said happily, "This is easy. I will go to Ningguo Mansion and ask the eldest sister, and let the second master go and ask Master Rong."

"We are all family. If you have anything to say, just talk about it and you will know."

Jia She was not there, and Mrs. Xing was serving on the side. She became curious when she heard it.

"It's not a big deal to repair the greenhouse, why are His Majesty and the officials asking about it?"

Mrs. Xing's words also made the old lady concerned.

"Yeah? What's going on?"

Yuanyang said quickly, "Madam, I talked about this with Baoqin. It was said that this was a boiler room for His Majesty and the military ministers to hold meetings in the winter."

Grandmother Jia asked curiously, "Why is it called a boiler room? It sounds like a place for cooking."

Jin Yuanyang smiled and said, "It means that governing a big country is like cooking a small fish. If you govern the country in a boiler room, the country will be peaceful and prosperous."

Grandmother Jia was delighted. "No wonder the emperor ordered Master Zheng to do the job. This shows that he thinks highly of him!"

Mrs. Xing smiled and said, "Building a house for His Majesty and his ministers must be a good job."

Everyone knows that officials make money, so they just laugh it off and don't take it seriously.

Grandmother Jia told Mrs. Wang, "You should also go and see Yuanchun, and ask her to help ask. I think your son-in-law has a lot of ideas and will be a good official." Mrs. Wang nodded and said, "Yes, don't worry, old lady."

Jia Zheng did not stay for dinner either. He left after saying that he would not be home for a while.

After leaving Lady Jia's place, Mrs. Wang didn't even bother to eat. She hurriedly took her maid and went to Ningguo Mansion in a sedan chair.

After arriving at Ningguo Mansion, the group naturally invited the lady to Yuanchun's room.

Jia Yuanchun and his wife were having dinner together. When they saw this, they ordered an extra pair of bowls and chopsticks.

Mrs. Wang is the daughter of the Wang family. She is a vegetarian and worships Buddha, but she turns a blind eye to the unruly behavior of her son-in-law's family.

Anyway, as long as her daughter doesn't suffer any loss, it's enough. As a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Wang also knows the hardships of being a daughter-in-law. Seeing that her daughter is spoiled by Jia Rong and is not subject to those rules, she naturally will not force her daughter to stand and serve Youshi at meals.

Everyone knows that Youshi has a low status, but just as Jia Rong doesn't care about the affairs of Rongguo Mansion, Rongguo Mansion doesn't care about the affairs of Ningguo Mansion, and no one speaks for Youshi.

After sitting down, Mrs. Wang didn't talk about anything else and directly explained the purpose of her visit.

"The emperor asked your father to come to the palace to build a boiler room. How could the master know how to do this? I came here to ask what's the key to this?"

Although he was talking to Jia Yuanchun, it was obvious that he also wanted to ask Jia Rong.

Jia Rong explained: "I have already told Uncle Qin everything that needs to be said. It's OK if Uncle Qin and Uncle Qin talk about it. It's just right that one is the principal and the other is the deputy, one is in charge and the other is in charge."

Mrs. Wang was relieved and looked at Qin Keqing again. She only found out in the past few days that Qin Keqing's father and her master were colleagues.

Their fathers were both officials in the same place, and they both served the same man.

It’s a bit awkward to say it’s a good story, and it’s not that shameful to say it’s a shameful thing.

Mrs. Wang was too embarrassed to say anything about such matters, and like everyone else she tried not to mention it.

Jia Rong explained: "It's a good thing to work in the palace. I don't have to interact too much with those eunuchs who are trying to get money from the palace. I just need to take care of the Ministry of Works."

"There aren't many places to spend money, and the profit isn't much either, but once the ministers are satisfied with the house this winter, they may need it at home. By then, the people in the Ministry of Works will definitely have something to do, so their hard work won't be in vain."

"So this time when you are doing things for the palace, you must do it better. Pay more attention when doing things and use good materials."

"It's a little warmer, and the feeling of living inside will be different. Don't lose the big picture for the small."

"I have asked the tribesmen to prepare some materials in advance. If we are in a hurry in winter, we can build heaters for the dignitaries quickly, and we can earn a lot of money."

Madam Wang nodded and said, "Okay, I'll remember all of this and tell your Master Zheng when I get back."

Jia Rong said, "Yuanchun and the others are not able to go out these past few months, so we won't go to the old lady's place for the time being."

They weren't going anyway, and there was nothing others could do about it.

It's reasonable and logical, as Mrs. Wang may not go back to her parents' home once a year, let alone every day.

Old lady Jia Mu hasn't been back to her mother's family, the Shi family, for many years. Does she have the nerve to criticize others?

Jia Rong actually had his reasons and grounds for not letting his wife go home, and others could not use this to criticize him, as it would make him look unruly.

Now that Jia Rong had added another explanation, Mrs. Wang naturally went down the stairs as well.

"It's okay, Yuanchun, just stay here at your husband's house and take good care of your pregnancy. You don't need to worry about the family."

Jia Yuanchun also breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she no longer had to be in a dilemma.

Mrs. Wang ate a little and then left. It was not because the food was not to her appetite, but because Jia Rong was still willing to give it to his wife.

Mainly because it was not suitable to stay for too long, Mrs. Wang quickly went back in the sedan chair.

Next, Jia Rong took care of his business outside, went to the Ministry of Revenue to check on the situation, and then he settled down at home to study and practice martial arts.

After two months of abstinence, Jia Yuanchun successfully gave birth to a son, and her status as the first wife was unquestionable.

Two months later, Qin Keqing also gave birth to a son.

Wang Xifeng gave birth to a daughter.

In the cold winter, Jia Yuanchun became pregnant again because of Jia Rong.

At the same time, after the cold weather, it was discovered that the boiler room was very effective. Jia Zheng was rewarded for his contribution in building the greenhouse and was promoted from a fifth-rank Yuanwailang to a fifth-rank Langzhong.

Baoqin, who had just become an aunt, was also honored as a target. She did not work for the whole day and just kept touching her belly and smiling foolishly.

This year, someone in the Jia family was promoted, someone became pregnant, and a male child was born, which was naturally a good omen.

During the New Year, the eighteen-year-old Jia Rong, as the patriarch of the Jia family, led the eight branches to worship their ancestors.

At the age of eighteen, Jia Rong began to study seriously and became less sentimental.

The women in the family gradually adapted to the outrageous atmosphere of their home and enjoyed themselves.

(End of this chapter)