The destiny of all heavens begins in the Red Chamber

As a result, the Rong family remained completely silent, as if nothing had happened.

Jia Huan could only exclaim "Awesome!" He was a typical example of someone who treated money like dirt!

It was only later that we learned that the bigwigs of the Rong family didn't actually want to make any moves, but rather that the resources they had wouldn't allow it.

The main problem is that they can't get enough food, and they don't have any way to sell it all.

Since we won't get any benefit from it, we might as well just pretend it doesn't exist.

Jia Huan was speechless. Did they really think money would fall from the sky?

If you do nothing, you will naturally gain nothing!

Although a locust plague was raging outside the city, the Rong Mansion continued its usual peaceful and prosperous life, unaffected by the situation.

The Rongqing Hall where the old lady lived was said to be bustling with activity every day, with people playing mahjong, listening to operas, and having all sorts of entertainment.

Now that Master Zheng was completely free, whenever he wasn't at the yamen, he would be in his study chatting with his guests. Anyone who didn't know him would think he was a wealthy idler.

Jia Huan naturally wouldn't let himself be too busy, so he went straight to the main study after entering the mansion.

After the Second Master Zheng and his guests finished their conversation, Jia Huan didn't mince words and said directly, "Master, the locust plague outside the city is quite severe recently!"

Lord Zheng Er nodded: "I know that. The current emperor is very troubled by this!"

"What, you don't mean you have some other ideas, do you?"

He knew that Jia Huan had some eccentric talents, but he did not want to continue to get involved in important matters of the court.

If it's just about giving advice, that's fine, but if you want him to be the one charging into battle, then forget it.

He had only enjoyed a few days of peace, and the constant anxiety he felt in the imperial court was something he truly couldn't bear to recall.

The Second Master Zheng has no intention of advancing further in the short term; his current position is quite good.

If I were suddenly given a busy new job, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to adapt for a while.

"Sir, you've misunderstood!"

Jia Huan laughed and said, "Isn't there a locust plague this year? I was thinking that we should reduce the amount of money we need to give to the household for locust control this year, perhaps?"

He was speechless. If he didn't bring it up himself, Wang Xifeng would probably really dare to ask him for the full amount of money by the end of the year.

Although Jia Huan certainly didn't lack the money, why should he, who could fleece the Rong family, be expected to offer tribute to them? Did he think he was so noble and virtuous?

"Well, how much silver do you think the household should waive?"

The Second Master Zheng was taken aback at first, but then quickly realized what was happening and said with a smile, "Don't think I don't know, the locust plague certainly won't last long!"

"Thirty thousand taels of silver, what do you think, sir?"

Jia Huan didn't bother with any nonsense and directly stated the figures, complaining about his poverty: "Last year's winter wheat harvest is estimated to be more than 50% ruined, and we still have to feed more than 3,000 people in the eight farms!"

"Not only that, but more than 70% of the grain and vegetable supplies for the manor are provided free of charge by the farms. The expenses are just too high!"

Chapter 161 The True Colors of a Jackal (Please Subscribe)

In Rongqing Hall, Master Zheng and his wife were discussing the eight major estates outside the city.

After all, the locust plague had already occurred, and Jia Huan had pleaded with Master Zheng. It was only right and proper to talk to the old lady about it, which could be considered as satisfying the old lady's spiritual needs.

Master Zheng is a truly filial son!

"I've said it before, entrusting the estate outside the city to Huan-ge'er is too reckless!"

The old lady said dismissively, "See? Now there's a problem!"

The main point of this statement is to emphasize how "awesome" it is.

Not to mention Master Zheng, even Madam Wang, Master She, and Madam Xing, who were sitting next to them, couldn't help but twitch their lips, gaining a new understanding of the old lady's unreasonable behavior.

Is a locust plague something that a little kid like Huan-ge could possibly affect?

The old lady didn't care about any of that and casually remarked, "Sometimes, when you're down on your luck, even drinking cold water can cause you to choke!"

"Mother, about the reduction of the allowance for the estate..."

The Second Master Zheng couldn't stand it anymore and forced Jia Huan to take over the eight major estates. However, he was the one who orchestrated it, and the old lady's sarcastic words were a slap in his face.

If you're so capable, stop just talking nonsense and take over all the estates outside the city!

"That's your business, it has little to do with this old woman!"

The old lady dismissed the question with a nonchalant air, saying leisurely, "I just hope that Huan-ge'er's luck won't continue to be bad, otherwise the manor will suffer a great loss!"

This is both a preventative measure and a way of planting seeds of trouble in the mind of the Second Master Zheng.

If there are any more natural disasters next year, then we need to seriously consider whether Jia Huan is just unlucky. Perhaps we should let someone else manage the estate; maybe things will improve then.

Older gingers are more spicy!

With a casual gesture, a time bomb was planted for Jia Huan, which could explode at any moment.

"Lian's daughter-in-law, let's set the allowance for the estate outside the city at thirty thousand taels this year!"

Master Zheng Er said to Wang Xifeng, "Of course, the supply of rice and vegetables to the manor should not be reduced. This is the duty of the estate!"

Wang Xifeng, who had been standing next to the old lady as a background figure, suddenly came to life at this moment, chuckling and nodding in agreement, feeling a bit sorry for Jia Huan's bad luck.

Look, just because of a locust plague, he was belittled as an unlucky guy by the old lady.

She had a deep understanding of the devastating power of locust plagues.

Don't forget, Wang Xifeng had her own dowry estate, which was also affected by the locust plague.

Not long ago, the head of the village came to complain that the harvest had been drastically reduced due to the locust plague.

I estimate that it's probably not even 30% of what it should be!

It's safe to say that Wang Xifeng's dowry estate won't generate any income in the first half of this year; in fact, it might even need subsidies. Otherwise, the tenants on the estate will be struggling to survive, which would be a real problem.

Considering the eight large estates outside the city, one can't help but think that Jia Huan was living a miserable life.

She knew perfectly well that no matter how much the old lady complained about Jia Huan's bad luck, if her people were to manage the estate, it would be impossible for the estate to yield any harvest.

Even the government offices had to contribute several thousand taels of silver as subsidies.

Want your share of 30,000 taels of silver from the eight major estates? Dream on!

It's only because the old lady is of high seniority and prestige that Wang Xifeng would have given her a piece of her mind. It's easy for her to talk when she's not in the situation. If she's so capable, she should take over this mess of the estate right away.

When Jia Lian returned home from his official duties, Wang Xifeng told him about what had happened at Rongqing Hall, as if it were a joke.

"Second Madam, please don't meddle in this matter!"

Exhausted, Jia Lian, who had been extremely busy lately, said weakly, "Huan-ge'er is no pushover either; he's been making a fortune lately!"

"Oh, does Brother Huan have the leisure to do other things?"

Wang Xifeng became interested and urged, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"What else could be going on?"

Jia Lian said impatiently, "That kid predicted there might be a locust plague long ago, and he colluded with that idiot Xue Pan to transport grain from the south to the north. Every time, they make a lot of money!"

Wang Xifeng's eyes turned red, and she said unhappily, "This kid has such a good opportunity to make money, but he didn't even tell us about it. It's really annoying!"

"He told Second Madam beforehand, but would she dare to place a large bet?"

Jia Lian chuckled and said, "Buying grain from the south is no cheap!"

"If this kid makes a wrong judgment and the grain he bought can't be sold at a high price, then he'll have basically worked for nothing!"

"Losing money is unlikely, but making money is also impossible!"

“Transporting grain from the south takes at least one or two months to sell, and thousands or even tens of thousands of taels of silver are invested. If nothing is earned, can Second Madam agree to that?”

Wang Xifeng thought for a moment, then subconsciously shook her head, realizing she might lose her temper.

"How could Huan-ge'er possibly discuss something with Second Madam that involves such considerable risk?"

Jia Lian chuckled and said, "All I can say is that this kid has guts. Even if the estate really has no harvest, it will be enough to meet the household's allowance requirements!"

"This kid is really bold!"

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "I'm afraid they've even laid down their last savings to do grain business, haven't they?"

"how is this possible?"

Jia Lian waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Huan-ge'er has plenty of ways to make money!"

"The docks and artificial waterways under his control alone can continuously supply him with silver!"

"Even if the grain business fails and he loses all his money temporarily, he can still accumulate a considerable fortune in no time. This kid is something else now!"

Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up and she said directly, "How about we snatch the money-making opportunities from Huan-ge'er?"

She didn't care about her business dealings with Jia Huan; as long as there was enough profit to be made, what did it matter if she just robbed Jia Huan?

Jia Lian was startled and hurriedly said, "Second Madam, please don't do anything reckless!"

Wang Xifeng glanced at him and said, "What, could it be that Second Master is afraid?"

"I'm really scared!"

Jia Lian said with a wry smile, "If I dare to steal Huan-ge'er's way of making money, I won't dare to go out easily in the future!"