Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 455 Knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger
After realizing what had happened, Granny Wu immediately knelt down and said, "Miss Zhiqing, this was all caused by Granny Zhou. What does it have to do with me?"

"If you want to target this old woman, you'd better come up with a reason!"

A layer of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, her voice was sometimes loud and sometimes soft, and she didn't even straighten her back.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Lin Yangyang realized something was wrong.
"Wait a minute, explain yourself clearly, who is targeting you?"

"I thought you were being wronged just now, but if I heard correctly, you said that my sister Qing was targeting you?"

"What is it about you that he could target?"

When asked this, Granny Wu's eyes darted around, and she stiffened her neck and said:
"I was working in the garden and accidentally dirtied Asagao's skirt. She must be holding a grudge against me because of that!"

"Regarding the ginger soup incident, I clearly had no intention of causing trouble, so why are you hitting me?"

Asagao frowned and looked at Lin Zhiqing: "I never mentioned to Miss that your dress was soiled, so why are you targeting me or holding a grudge?"

"Asagao, no need to explain." Lin Zhiqing looked at Granny Wu calmly and said:

"Are you sure you don't intend to cause trouble regarding the ginger soup?"

Granny Wu swallowed hard, her eyes darting around, and nodded quickly.

"Heh." Lin Zhiqing sneered.
"If it has nothing to do with you, how did you get outside Shuqing Pavilion? Were you brought here by others?"

Upon hearing this, the others quickly waved their hands.

"We didn't touch her; she came with Granny Zhou!"

Granny Wu's eyes darted around nervously, and she paused for a moment before speaking:
"Granny Zhou is framing me. Even though I am of lowly status, I cannot tolerate such false accusations!"

"If I hadn't come along, would I have just stood by and watched her frame me?"

Lin Zhiqing raised an eyebrow: "Then why didn't you say a word after you came over, letting Granny Zhou cause trouble?"

"If you don't want to be framed by her, why don't you defend her when she speaks?"

"This, this..." Granny Wu really couldn't answer this question.

Lin Zhiqing glanced at her, then looked at the others:
"Just now, these two were talking in unison, saying that they had a conflict over the ginger soup, but when they were let in to confront each other, they didn't mention the ginger soup at all."

"On the contrary, they were very dissatisfied with my housekeeper."

The others realized this about Lin Zhiqing.

Indeed, just now Granny Zhou kept saying that Lin Zhiqing, a woman, was not suitable to manage a household, and she mentioned the ginger soup very little.

In this light, Granny Zhou's purpose in coming today is rather intriguing.

Those who had come with Granny Zhou and her group felt a chill run down their spines and immediately knelt down.

"Miss Zhiqing, I just came along to watch the fun, it has nothing to do with me."

"That damned old woman Zhou, she tried every means to get us to come together, just to put pressure on Miss!"

"Miss Zhiqing, we really didn't mean that. Granny Zhou, it was all Granny Zhou and Granny Wu who did it!"

"You sons of bitches! You were all agreeing with me just now, and now you're changing your tune?" Granny Wu couldn't help but curse.

Lin Zhiqing frowned and waved to the guards outside.

Soon, Granny Wu was dragged to the spot where Granny Zhou had been beaten.

The sound of the clapper rang out again.

Only after watching fifty strokes of the cane being delivered did Lin Zhiqing slowly pick up his teacup and look at the remaining people:
“The Lin family has been thriving lately, and my grandfather and the others have returned from their old home in Bianliang. Some people’s minds have started to wander again.”

"My position as the head of the family was handed to me personally by my eldest uncle and fourth uncle, and it was also with my grandfather's approval."

"If it's because the reward money is too little, who can be blamed? I've already given out more than ten taels of silver in rewards these days."

"Envious people don't do their jobs well; they just covet the meager profits in other people's pockets, and they've even started eyeing my territory." At this point, Lin Qingshan also stood up.
"No matter who comes back, and no matter who is here, only Lin Zhiqing can sit in the position of head of this family!"

"If anyone stirs up trouble again, they will be given thirty lashes and thrown out of the Lin family."

"Did you understand?"

"Understood, understood!" Since Marquis Changning had spoken, no one below dared to utter another word.

Lin Zhiqing glanced at everyone and spoke again:
"In addition, the ginger soup in the East Kitchen will be discontinued starting today."

Upon hearing this, the people below looked at each other, filled with regret.

The ginger soup, which didn't cost any money, had already given everyone a taste of its benefits.

Now that it's suddenly gone, some people can't help but have some opinions.

But none of them dared to speak out or blame Lin Zhiqing; instead, they directed their dissatisfaction at the troublemakers.

Just as they were cursing Granny Zhou and Granny Wu in their hearts, Lin Zhiqing spoke again:

"From now on, summer tea to cool you down and winter ginger soup to keep you warm will all be converted into one coin and distributed to everyone once a month."

"I had the chef prepare ginger soup because I was considerate of everyone's difficulties. Since everyone has some complaints, I'll just change it to copper coins."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately started calculating the costs in their minds.

In Dasheng, a pound of ginger costs three copper coins, which is a bit expensive for ordinary families.

Moreover, the Lin family's ginger soup was made by adding some medicinal herbs and sugar.

It's supplied daily, so it should add up to a considerable sum over a month, definitely more than a penny.

By this calculation, everyone seems to have lost out.

Granny Zhou, it's all Granny Zhou and her group!
People's resentment towards troublemakers like Granny Zhou resurfaced.

Well, a penny is a little little, but it's better than nothing.

"Thank you, Miss Zhiqing! Miss Zhiqing is wise!"

Lin Zhiqing glanced at Chaoyan, who immediately took the person away.

Seeing that everyone had left, Lin Yangyang pouted:
"Qing, you're too kind-hearted. If you ask me, we should just cancel the ginger soup supply. Anyway, those people can't blame you."

"Yangyang, you haven't thought this through," Lin Qingshan laughed.

Lin Zhiqing also curled the corners of her lips.

Lin Yangyang scratched her head: "Don't just laugh, have you thought this through?"

Lin Zhiqing remained silent.

Lin Qingshan spoke up:

“If it is canceled directly, the servants will certainly resent Granny Zhou and the others, but in the end they will blame Qing, who gave the order.”

"Nowadays, the servants' monthly allowances and bonuses are all distributed directly by Qingyatou. Since they are converted into cash, there is no need to worry about uneven distribution or embezzlement."

"Furthermore, she not only solved the ginger soup problem but also made timely compensation, so no matter how much those people blamed her, they couldn't blame her."

Lin Qingshan dissected the stakes involved in this matter.

Lin Yangyang nodded:
"Sister Qing is so thoughtful. This not only silenced those who were dissatisfied, but also compensated the honest servants."

"Most importantly, it's only one coin a month, which adds up to a little over two hundred coins. Why not solve a big problem with a small amount of money?" Lin Zhiqing said.

“This time, punishing Granny Zhou and Granny Wu is a warning to those with bad intentions.”