The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 6: Xifeng Refuses to Be a Minimalist

When Jia Yuanchun returned home, she learned from the maid that her mother was talking in the old lady's room.

So they went to the old lady’s Rongqing Hall again.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw the old lady, Madam Wang, Madam Xing, and the widow Li Wan talking there.

Beside them were the maids and old nannies, as well as Jia Rong's aunt, Jia Xichun.

When Grandmother Jia saw the eldest girl she was most satisfied with coming over, she smiled and said, "No need to be polite. Come and sit down. Have you finished your work at Ningguo Mansion?"

Jia Yuanchun sat next to her grandmother. Her younger brother Jia Baoyu was not here today.

"It's not finished yet..." Jia Yuanchun was too embarrassed to say what Jia Rong had said, so she evaded the question by saying, "It will take quite a while."

Grandmother Jia smiled.

Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "Girl, what can't you say? What does Jia Rong think of you? Can he deceive the old lady and us?"

Jia Yuanchun's maid Baoqin said quickly, "Madam, Madam Rong said that the young lady should wait for another three years. He must study hard now and cannot let women delay his imperial examination and become an official. He also said that only by becoming an official can the Jia family be protected from wind and rain."

When Jia's mother heard this, her eyes lit up and she hurriedly asked, "What else did you say?"

Baoqin quickly told Jia Rong about the three rules he had set, including the plan of taking a concubine in the future.

The old lady sighed after hearing this.

"There has been some progress in Ningguo Mansion. Finally, there is someone who is sensible."

Jia Yuanchun was also smart and knew that there should be no problem with this marriage.

Mrs. Wang smiled at her daughter's shy look.

There is no suspense about the inheritance rights of Ningguo Mansion. Although the old lady does not like Jia Rong's previous behavior of quarreling with the elders, she also does not want the Ningguo Mansion to be extinct.

Nowadays, marriage is a good thing. There are not many men in the two families, so it would be better to have more children.

In particular, Jia Rong has a decent style. He practices martial arts and studies every day without any delay, and he does not play with men like other young people.

Mrs. Xing's expression was not very good, and she looked at Jia Yuanchun with her head tilted.

"I heard that last year, Ningguo Mansion received 50,000 taels of silver in rent from the farm and the street alone?"

Jia Yuanchun nodded, "About the same. We spent quite a bit, and every year after the New Year, we would have a surplus of 7,000 to 8,000 taels to store in the treasury."

Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion together make up the Jia family, but it is not just the East and West Mansions. The Jia family in the capital is actually a branch, and everyone's original hometown is still Jinling, and they still have old houses and ancestral fields in Jinling.

The real Jia family has a total of twenty branches, eight of which are in the capital.

These are all descendants or relatives of the two Dukes Ning and Rong, and the current Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion are inherited by the legitimate sons from generation to generation.

Whether it is the Eight Houses in the capital or the Twelve Houses in Nanjing, they all belong to the large Jia family, and the patriarch is Jia Rong, the only son of the Ningguo Duke, who has been passed down from generation to generation.

It is also because of this that if Jia Rong wants to change his surname, it would be tantamount to the head of the Jia family taking the lead in digging up the foundation of the Jia family and losing its legitimate ruling power. Jia's mother does not dare to fight him to the death.

However, Jia Rong not only makes money for himself now, but also supports his clansmen, helps build the ancestral hall in his hometown, runs a clan school, and helps orphans and widows in the family.

Even so, there is still some left, which is enough to show his ability and the tacit cooperation with Jia Yuanchun.

"Seven or eight thousand taels..." Mrs. Xing's expression suddenly turned bad, and she quickly looked at the old lady.

The old lady said before she could speak: "Ningguo Mansion has few people, and they are frugal in eating and drinking. Our Rongguo Mansion has more people and is more lively, and there are two useless men who eat and drink lavishly all day long. The food and drink expenses of a group of ladies, young ladies and maids cannot be saved much."

"Besides, he doesn't have a single maid by his side, and he lives frugally with Grandma You, so he only has two maids by his side. Can you do it?"

Now the Jia family is headed by Mrs. Wang, but Mrs. Wang and Jia Zheng are second in command, while Jia She and Mrs. Xing are the eldest.

The eldest daughter-in-law is not the head of the household, but the second daughter is, and the old lady, Lady Jia, lives with the second daughter's family.

The brothers Jia She and Jia Zheng did not get along well, and naturally they did not like their wives. They were fighting for family power, especially money.

Ningguo Mansion does not have as much land and properties as Rongguo Mansion, but its income is much higher than Rongguo Mansion.

Mrs. Xing's questioning of the money issue naturally meant she was questioning Mrs. Wang's ability to manage the household.

The old lady said that there was no problem at home, so she was naturally speaking for Mrs. Wang.

Although the three had different opinions, they reached a consensus on the matter of Jia Yuanchun and Jia Rong.

Jia Rong is a difficult person to talk to and is not one who will suffer any injustice. If you don't do what he wants, he will definitely make trouble.

Besides, the matter of entering the palace had been delayed, and Jia Yuanchun was already old, so it was time for her to get married.

But I couldn't find a suitable marriage, and I felt it would be better to marry my daughter to someone closer to home.

In the past three years, Jia Rong did not disappoint anyone. Although he did not visit the Rongguo Mansion often, he still showed due respect and courtesy.

Gifts were also sent to the old lady on her birthday, as well as to Jia Yuanchun's younger brothers and sisters, father and mother.

Jia Xichun's child support was increasing. It started with one hundred taels, and now after three years it is three thousand six hundred taels.

Even the old lady can't bring herself to accept it because of her pride, not that she really doesn't want it.

Because of this money, Lady Xing and Lady Wang both took care of little Xichun as if she were their own daughter. Now Jia Rong and Jia Lian are about the same age. If Jia Rong marries Jia Yuanchun, then Wang Xifeng will naturally marry Jia Lian.

Although Wang Xifeng could also marry Jia Rong, Mrs. Wang already knew how much money the Ningguo Mansion had, so she naturally wanted her own daughter to take power. She and Wang Xifeng were not that familiar with each other.

Mrs. Xing naturally wanted her nominal son Jia Lian to marry the legitimate daughter of the Wang family. It would be a good thing to have one less rival.

Taking many aspects into consideration, the adults had already decided on the matter between Jia Yuanchun and Jia Rong.

Jia Yuanchun went back to bed quickly and got up early the next morning.

Jia Rong was practicing martial arts and keeping fit at home when he saw Wang Xifeng coming with two maids.

Seeing the person coming, Jia Rong wiped his sweat with a towel and asked, "Why are you here so early today?"

Wang Xifeng had a better relationship with Jia Rong in the past three years. She walked over calmly at this moment, but couldn't help but smile.

"I came early, why didn't Big Sister come?"

Jia Rong naturally knew what this little girl was planning.

Compared with Jia Yuanchun, Wang Xifeng is more proactive and more willing to be the housekeeper of Ningguo Mansion.

But Jia Rong felt that Wang Xifeng was not suitable.

Firstly, they are too jealous and will falsely accuse their husbands, not allow them to take concubines, or even report them.

Jia Rong, who has experience in modern society, is very afraid of this kind of wife.

Secondly, the housekeeper is incompetent. He is a bit aggressive, but squandering is also a problem, and he has a too strong temper.

Thirdly, he can't tell what money he can make and what he can't, and he won't listen even if you tell him. When he becomes an official in the future, this kind of wife who tells tales and makes a big deal out of things will be very annoying.

Marry a virtuous wife. Rather than a wife who is eloquent, Jia Rong would rather give the position of wife to a gentle and virtuous wife.

"After she got up, there were more than ten maids waiting on her. She had to wash and dress herself, and then talk to her family. This took up a lot of time."

When Wang Xifeng heard this, she was filled with envy. Her mother did not have so many maids to serve her at home, and her monthly salary was not as much as Jia Yuanchun's.

Wang Xifeng had been waiting for three years and quickly said, "This elder sister is the same. She has received so many benefits but she didn't come earlier. I can't stand it anymore."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Don't worry, it will be the same if you come back in the afternoon. I have been in charge for three years and there are no problems."

Wang Xifeng seemed to be thinking, "Yes, it's been three years."

She looked at Jia Rong carefully, and when she saw Jia Rong walking to the side, she quickly followed him.

"It's been three years, isn't it time for you to get married?"

Wang Xifeng was testing Jia Rong's feelings.

Jia Rong didn't want to drag his feet and said directly: "I told Yuanchun yesterday that I would marry her and let her help me manage the household."

After hearing this, Wang Xifeng felt that the thing she had been looking forward to for a long time suddenly disappeared, and she felt dazed for a moment.

"She's your aunt?!" Wang Xifeng opposed the marriage, "Is this reasonable?"

Jia Rong retorted, "She and I do not have the same father, mother, or grandparents, so our relationship is already distant. Aunt is just a title. When we get married, it is up to me whether I call her Big Sister or Big Sister."

Jia Rong found it quite entertaining to call his aunt while lying in bed.

Wang Xifeng became even more anxious, "You both have the surname Jia, this is not good, we have to avoid suspicion, people say people with the same clan and surname can't get married."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "You've said so much, don't you want to be the wife of Ningguo Mansion?"

Wang Xifeng blushed, raised her head and said, "How come I, the eldest daughter of the Wang family, am not worthy of you?"

Jia Rong said with a smile, "But I have already discussed the marriage with Yuanchun. How about you come and be my mistress?"

"Pah!" Wang Xifeng spat at him angrily, "Who would be your mistress?! No matter where I marry, I will be a lady, you heartless thing! Bastard! Pah!"

Just as Jia Rong raised his hand to wipe the saliva off his face with his sleeve, he was suddenly spat on by Feng Lazi.

Looking at Feng Lazi who left angrily with her waist twisted, Jia Rong didn't care.

"This woman is quite hot."

Not long after, Jia Yuanchun came. Jia Rong had no idea what shame was and told her about how Wang Xifeng had vomited on him twice.

After hearing this, Jia Yuanchun looked embarrassed.

"I was wrong. She was right. She should be the one to come."

Jia Rong walked over and put his arm around Jia Yuanchun's waist. "What are you talking about? Did I just get spitted at twice for nothing? She is such a fierce and overbearing person. She will definitely make a big move when she comes into the mansion, making it a mess."

"Don't worry about her. I need to concentrate on preparing for the exam this year. Just take good care of the household and try to go home less often. Just stay in Ningguo Mansion."

Jia Yuanchun nodded, "Okay."

(End of this chapter)