Chapter 455: Stunning the Mountain
When Mrs. Wu realized what was happening, she immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Miss Zhiqing, Mrs. Zhou caused this trouble. What does it have to do with me?"
"If you want to target an old woman like me, you have to find a reason!"
A layer of cold sweat broke out on her forehead, her voice became louder and softer, and she didn't even straighten her back.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Lin Yangyang could tell something was wrong:
"Wait a minute, tell me clearly, who is targeting you?"
"Just now I thought you were quite wronged, but if I heard correctly, you said that my sister Qing was targeting you?"
"What's so special about you that he should target?"
When asked this question, Mrs. Wu rolled her eyes and said with her neck stiff:
"I was working in the garden and accidentally soiled Miss Asagao's skirt. She must be holding a grudge against me because of that!"
"Now, regarding the Jiang Tang matter, I clearly had no intention of causing trouble, so why did you hit me?"
Chao Yan frowned and looked at Lin Zhiqing: "I never told Miss about the dirty dress. Why are you targeting me or holding a grudge against me?"
"Chao Yan, no need to explain." Lin Zhiqing looked at Mrs. Wu calmly and said:
"Are you sure you don't intend to cause trouble about the ginger soup?"
Mrs. Wu swallowed, her eyes wandering, and she 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 someone else?"
When the others heard this, they quickly waved their hands.
"We didn't touch her. She came here with Mrs. Zhou!"
Mrs. Wu's eyes were flustered. She paused for a moment before speaking:
"Mrs. Zhou has framed me. Even though I am of low status, I cannot tolerate such slander!"
"If I hadn't followed, would I have just watched her frame me?"
Lin Zhiqing raised the corners of his eyes and said, "Then why didn't you say a word after you came here, and let Mrs. Zhou make trouble?"
"If you don't want to be framed by her, why don't you defend her when she opens her mouth?"
"This, this..." Mrs. Wu really couldn't answer this question.
Lin Zhiqing glanced at her and looked at the others:
"Just now, these two were singing the same tune, saying that they were clashing over Jiang Tang. But when they were allowed in to confront each other, they didn't mention Jiang Tang at all."
"On the contrary, they are very dissatisfied with my housekeeper."
Everyone else noticed Lin Zhiqing's point.
That's right, just now Mrs. Zhou kept talking about how Lin Zhiqing, a woman, was not suitable to be a housekeeper, and she rarely mentioned Jiang Tang.
From this perspective, Mrs. Zhou's purpose for coming today is quite intriguing.
After those who came with Mrs. Zhou and the others realized what was happening, they felt a chill on their backs and fell to their knees.
"Miss Zhiqing, I just followed to watch the fun. It's none of my business."
"That damned Mrs. Zhou is trying every possible way to get us to come together. She's trying to put pressure on the young lady!"
"Miss Zhiqing, we really didn't mean that. Mrs. Zhou, it was all done by Mrs. Zhou and Mrs. Wu!"
"You sons of bitches! You were agreeing with me just now, but now you change your tone?" Mrs. Wu couldn't help but curse.
Lin Zhiqing frowned and waved to the guards outside.
Soon, Mrs. Wu was dragged to the place where Mrs. Zhou was beaten.
The sound of the board rang out again.
After witnessing the fifty lashes, Lin Zhiqing slowly raised his teacup and looked at the remaining people:
"The Lin family has been thriving lately, and my grandfather and his family have returned from their hometown in Bianliang. Some people's minds have become active 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 approved by my grandfather."
"If it's because the rewards are too little, who can I blame? I've already given out more than ten taels of silver in rewards these days."
"People who are jealous don't do their job well, but only think about the little things in other people's pockets, and they even set their sights on me."
Having said that, Lin Qingshan also stood up:
"No matter who comes back, no matter who is here, only Lin Zhiqing can sit in the position of head of this family!"
"If anyone spreads rumors again, they will be beaten with thirty sticks and kicked out of the Lin family."
"Do you understand?"
"I understand, I understand!" Since Marquis Changning had spoken, the people below dared not say another word.
Lin Zhiqing glanced at everyone and spoke again:
"Also, the ginger soup in the east kitchen will be discontinued from now on."
After hearing this, the people below looked at each other and regretted their decision.
Originally, the free ginger soup gave everyone a taste of sweetness.
Now that it's suddenly gone, people can't help but have some opinions in their minds.
But they didn't dare to say anything, nor did they dare to blame Lin Zhiqing, so they could only transfer their dissatisfaction to the troublemaker.
Just as they were cursing Mrs. Zhou and Mrs. Wu in their hearts, Lin Zhiqing spoke again:
"From now on, the teas for cooling off in the summer and the ginger soups for keeping warm in the winter will all be converted into one penny and distributed monthly to everyone."
"I understand everyone's difficulties, so I asked the chef to make ginger soup. Since everyone is quite dissatisfied, I will directly exchange it for copper coins."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately began to calculate in their minds.
In Dasheng, a pound of ginger costs three cents, which is a bit expensive for ordinary people.
Moreover, the Lin family's ginger soup is made by adding some medicinal herbs and sugar.
If it is supplied every day, it should cost a lot of money in a month, definitely more than a penny.
Calculating it this way, everyone is actually at a loss.
Mrs. Zhou, it’s all Mrs. Zhou and the others!
Everyone once again felt resentment towards troublemakers like Mrs. Zhou.
Never mind. Although one penny is a little less, it is better than nothing.
"Thank you, Miss Zhiqing. Miss Zhiqing is so wise!"
Lin Zhiqing glanced at Chao Yan, and Chao Yan immediately took the person away.
Seeing that everyone had left, Lin Yangyang curled her lips:
"Sister Qing, you're too kindhearted. If it were me, I'd just cancel the supply of ginger soup. Those people can't blame you anyway."
"Yangyang girl, you haven't thought this through clearly." Lin Qingshan laughed.
Lin Zhiqing also curled the corners of his lips.
Lin Yangyang rubbed his head and said, "Stop laughing, why don't you think clearly?"
Lin Zhiqing didn't say anything.
Lin Qingshan spoke:
"If we cancel it directly, the servants will certainly resent Mrs. Zhou and the others, but in the end, they will still blame Qing Yatou who gave the order."
"Now, the servants' monthly bonuses are all distributed directly by Qing Yatou. If they are converted into cash, there is no need to worry about uneven distribution or personal gain."
"Besides, she not only solved the ginger soup problem but also made timely compensation. No matter how much those people blame her, they can't really blame her."
Lin Qingshan analyzed the interests involved in this matter.
Lin Yangyang nodded:
"Sister Qing is really thoughtful. This not only silences those who are dissatisfied, but also compensates those honest servants."
"The most important thing is, one cent a month is only a little over two hundred cents. Why not spend a little money to solve a big problem?" Lin Zhiqing said.
"This time, punishing Mrs. Zhou and Mrs. Wu is a warning to those who harbor evil intentions."
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