Chapter 64 Each with their own thoughts
He tried to explain but could only utter a single syllable: "This..."
Madam Ning smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Our estate is a little different. Didn't I tell you before? Besides, it only happens once a year. Although it cost some money, the people on the estate are doing well, which is a great deed for our family."
Lu Yunzhang quickly echoed what Old Madam Ning said, "Yes, yes, that makes sense. It's not necessary to spend so much money. I'll take a good look around the market later and I'll definitely save money. Whatever's left after this is done will be returned naturally."
Yu Qingci smiled and said, "Of course we trust our eldest cousin. Thank you for your hard work, eldest cousin."
Lu Yunzhang quickly took his leave.
Lu Yun Chu immediately said to Old Madam Ning with dissatisfaction, "Mother, you are too easy to talk to. He asked for five hundred taels of silver and you gave it to him directly. Who knows how much benefit he got out of it? I don't believe he can spend much of that silver on the estate."
Madam Ning said helplessly, "You child, you are not allowed to speak so recklessly in front of your cousins anymore. Things are not like before. Our eldest son's family is now just the three of us, a widow and her two children. We can only rely on your eldest cousins to take care of those trivial matters outside. It only costs some money, but it saves us a lot of trouble."
Yu Qingci glanced helplessly at her mother-in-law. This mother-in-law was too easy to talk to. To put it nicely, she was kind-hearted; to put it bluntly, she was easy to manipulate.
Just moments ago, he was complaining to his sisters-in-law about the family's financial difficulties and how they were spending more than they earned. But the moment he turned around, he gave away five hundred taels of silver without batting an eye. This was in line with his principle of keeping the peace and avoiding trouble by spending money.
Yu Qingci: "It is indeed hard for my eldest cousin to manage the general affairs, but it is also obvious that his ability is mediocre. In fact, I think there are a few servants in our family who look quite good, such as Steward Lu, and the others under him. They all look like they are used to running around outside."
Madam Ning: "The people you mentioned all followed the General on the battlefield for many years. Later, they were all wounded and retired to work in our household. They are the most reliable people."
Initially, the family's estates and shops were managed by loyal people chosen by Steward Lu. After they started generating profits, the second and fourth branches of the family became restless and repeatedly pestered the General. The General got impatient and simply let them take over the management. Now, it will probably not be easy to take it back.
"Sigh, we'll see."
Yu Qingci: ...
After a moment of silence, Yu Qingci asked seemingly casually, "Is it so convenient for my eldest cousin to enter Mother's room now that he doesn't even need a maid to announce his arrival?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yunchu looked up at her mother. Madam Ning also frowned, trying to recall how Lu Yunzhang had entered earlier.
In large families, it is customary for younger members to pay their respects to elders. If they are male, they usually have to wait for a maid to come in and report, and only after the elders give permission can they enter. This is because etiquette cannot be disregarded, especially for a nephew from a different branch of the family.
Madam Ning couldn't recall when it started, but her nephew no longer needed her permission to come to her place; most of the time, he would just walk in directly.
Seeing that the two were silent, Yu Qingci also remained silent, deciding to stop there. Some things needed to be figured out by the old lady herself before she would take precautions.
After the two women left Songbai Hall, Yu Qingci, arm in arm with her sister-in-law, casually asked:
Does my eldest cousin often come to Mother's place to ask for money like this?
Lu Yun Chu secretly rolled her eyes: "It's not just my eldest cousin, those people are really greedy. They're not satisfied with the monthly allowance from the public treasury, and they always come up with other excuses."
My second and third uncles used to frequently ask my father for money. After my father passed away, they were too embarrassed to ask my mother directly, so they persuaded my two aunts to come instead.
My mother is too easygoing; I've tried to persuade her several times, but she doesn't take it seriously.
Yu Qingci: "Then what was the pretext for my second aunt and fourth aunt to come asking for money?"
Yun Chu: "Fourth Aunt is just using Fourth Uncle as an excuse. For example, if he sees a piece of calligraphy or painting he likes outside, that's a refined matter and it's not appropriate to stop him."
My second uncle was even more speechless. A year ago, he took a fancy to another woman outside and asked my mother for money, intending to take her as a concubine. Just then, my father returned, found out about it, and scolded my second uncle, which finally made him give up the idea.
Yu Qingci came to her senses: "Father-in-law won't agree? And why is that?"
Since both my second and fourth uncles have concubines in their backyards, why are they not allowed to have concubines this time?
Lu Yun Chu: "I'm not too sure either, but I later heard that the girl married a young military officer under my father."
Yu Qingci seemed to be deep in thought when she asked, "So, Second Uncle just lets that girl marry someone else?"
Lu Yun Chu: "My second uncle was punished by my father in front of everyone in the mansion, and then locked in the courtyard for several months before being released. After he was released, my second uncle was very quiet for a long time."
So, is there really such a thing as bullying men and oppressing women here?
Yun Chu actually shared such private matters with her, which clearly showed that she didn't consider her an outsider and wanted her to know more about the people in the manor.
However, since this is something done by elders, it's best for younger generations to refrain from discussing it.
Back at Guanlan Pavilion, seeing Yu Qingci's furrowed brows, Granny Pei anxiously told Bai Shao and Mulan to fetch hot water, and personally brought over a cup of freshly brewed jujube and goji berry tea to Yu Qingci, saying:
"Young Madam, the Master just had two potted plants brought in as compensation for you. I had them placed in the room."
Upon inspection, Yu Qingci was surprised to find that Lu Yunzhang had sent two pots of camellias in full bloom. Her mother had previously grown this type of flower in the house in Youyang, so Yu Qingci quickly recognized that one of the two pots was called "Yinianhong" and the other was "Yingsongbaixue," both of which were top-quality camellias and were even more valuable than the pot of broken begonias.
Yu Qingci casually said, "Since it's been delivered, let's put it in the house."
Seeing that her mistress was in low spirits, Granny Pei asked cautiously, "Did the young mistress suffer again today?"
Today, Tong'er, who had been following her mistress the whole time, chimed in, "That's right! Not only the young mistress, but even I feel exhausted listening to this."
As she spoke, she glanced at Yu Qingci, who lazily gave her a look, clearly not wanting to say another word.
Tong'er understood and immediately told Granny Pei a general account of what she had heard and seen in Songbai Hall.
After hearing this, Granny Pei understood perfectly and exclaimed, "This gentleman appears to be kind and reliable on the surface, but he has quite a few ulterior motives inside."
Then, with some concern, she asked, "Given the old lady's personality, she probably already has a very good impression of this gentleman. If this continues for a long time, who knows, the old lady might soften her heart one day and give in."
Yu Qingci: "If no one is there to remind me, this might really happen, but don't worry, Granny Pei, I will keep an eye on it."
This matter is not to be taken lightly. The fact that Mo Yunzhang could enter and leave Songbai Hall so easily today is enough to show that most of the servants around the old lady have been bribed by him.
It's not that these servants would listen to the second branch of the family and actually do anything bad to the old lady. As long as they do favors for the second branch in daily life or speak well of the master to the old lady, the old lady will inevitably be influenced over time.
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