Gu Lin got up from the ground and ran to the outer courtyard to ask to see Lord Gu.
After Lord Gu learned the whole story, he did not see Gu Lin.
He said, "Madam will handle matters in the inner courtyard. Tell the fifth girl to go back to her room and rest, and not to interfere in these matters. Also, send someone to warn Aunt Bai that if she dares to use the fifth girl to cause trouble again, she will be taken to the Buddhist temple to reflect on her actions."
Butler Gu Quan was stunned. He never expected that Lord Gu would be so heartless to the woman he once doted on.
"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go."
Lord Gu glared at Gu Quan in dissatisfaction.
Gu Quan quickly bowed and stepped back to persuade Gu Lin.
When Gu Lin learned that Lord Gu refused to see her and warned her not to get involved in these matters, she looked frightened.
"No, how could father be so heartless? It must be fake. Father, father, I am Lin'er..."
"If Fifth Miss doesn't want to cause Aunt Bai to suffer, then shut up immediately. The master has already said that all matters concerning the inner courtyard are decided by Madam."
Gu Lin was devastated and burst into tears, covering her mouth. "How could this happen? How could my father be so heartless? Housekeeper, did you make a mistake? My father used to favor my aunt the most. Why did he become so heartless just after my brother left? I don't believe it, I don't believe it."
Butler Gu Quan sighed, "The master has always been like this. Fifth Miss will get used to it in the future."
Have you always been so heartless?
Gu Lin was stunned.
In her mind, the father who was so perfect turned out to be so cold and heartless.
It turned out that she had been deceived for more than ten years.
Gu Lin left crying.
Cui Liu's face was pale as she cautiously asked Gu Quan, "Housekeeper, what should I do with my aunt?"
Gu Quan said, "Just bear with it."
How long will it take for me to endure this?
Cui Liu felt desperate.
When the news reached Furong Courtyard, Xie burst into laughter, looking very proud.
"Mrs. Bai is courting death by fighting me. Chunhe, you did well this time. It's time to teach Mrs. Xie a lesson. Let her know that I am the one who has the final say in the backyard."
Chun He hid her selfish thoughts and said, "I am also angry about Aunt Bai's past. She caused Madam so much trouble. I want to take her life while she is sick. I can't let her go easily."
Xie nodded repeatedly, "You're right. That bitch Bai needs to be taught a lesson."
Chunhe went out and went to the tea room.
In the past, Concubine Bai relied on her favor and dared to slander her in front of the master. So she made Concubine Bai live a life worse than that of a servant.
It’s Chunhe’s revenge.
Aunt Bai ate food that even the servants were unwilling to eat. The food was either too salty, half-cooked, had bugs in it, or was like a stone when you bit into it.
Fortunately, she has good teeth, otherwise she would have become a toothless woman.
Not only that, the sewing room also arranged a lot of needlework for her to do, so much that she couldn't finish it even if she stayed up late with an oil lamp from morning to night.
Soon Aunt Bai's eyes could no longer bear it and she kept crying.
The doorman refused to let them leave. If they tried to leave, the doorman would hit them with a stick.
After suffering several times, Aunt Bai and her servants never dared to break into the gatehouse again.
I can only hope that Gu Lin will come soon.
Gu Lin suffered a blow from Lord Gu and was depressed for several days.
During this period, Gu Ban got married and married Xiao Zhang.
Xiao Zhang was a round-faced girl with a cheerful personality and loved to laugh.
The day after she came in, she gave everyone handmade needlework.
Gu Jiu said, "Sister-in-law's needlework is really good. I am far inferior to her."
"Second sister, you are too modest. With your intelligence and talent, if you spend some time, you will definitely be better at needlework than me."
"Don't praise me, sister-in-law. I'm really not good at needlework. But if you need new patterns, I can help."
Xiao Zhang smiled and said, "Then it's settled. I'll come to you someday to ask for some fancy designs."
As soon as little Zhang came in, the eldest wife, Zhang, took her with her to manage the household affairs.
In the meeting hall, the eldest wife, Zhang, very patiently introduced the situation in the mansion to the young lady Zhang, and the temperament of each of the housekeepers. She also brought out the old accounts and asked the young lady Zhang to learn how to calculate them first.
Xiao Zhang picked up the abacus and did the math herself.
It turns out that he has practiced and is very good at using the abacus.
When the eldest wife Zhang saw this, she nodded secretly.
Xie was sour when she saw this scene and wanted to mock Zhang.
Mrs. Xie said, "Sister-in-law is too impatient. The new daughter-in-law just came into the family and hasn't even had a month of honeymoon yet, and you're already asking her to run the household. This isn't very appropriate."
Little Zhang stopped calculating and said with a smile, "Second Aunt doesn't know the situation, so it's no wonder there's a misunderstanding. It was my nephew's wife who begged my mother-in-law to take me in as the housekeeper to help the elders."
The eldest wife, Zhang, said cheerfully, "Weiwei has been restless since she was little. She wants to share our worries, which is also a filial piety. As a mother-in-law, how can I discourage a child's enthusiasm? When my younger sister-in-law becomes a mother-in-law, I'm sure she will share the same idea as me."
Xie: Hehe...
When she becomes a mother-in-law, she will have to set rules for her daughter-in-law. Want to manage the household? No way.
Just as Mrs. Xie was fantasizing about how to set rules for her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhang came to slap her in the face.
"Second Aunt, the kitchen accounts are not right."
Xie snorted coldly, her face stern as she asked angrily, "What's wrong? Dalang's wife, please be more steady in your words and actions. You've only been here a few days, and you dare to find fault with me?"
Xiao Zhang smiled and then said calmly, "According to my niece's wife, the food at Xiangsiyuan has been reduced by 80%. Why do the kitchen accounts show that Xiangsiyuan is still providing food and tea according to the previous standards?
"Is this 80% reduction reduced or not? If it was reduced, where did the 80% of the food expenses go? Please teach me, Second Aunt."
Xie's face turned pale, "How dare you!"
Little Zhang smiled faintly, "The accounts are unclear, we can't just let it go."
Xie gritted her teeth and said, "As a junior, what right do you have to interfere in the affairs of the Second House?"
Little Zhang lowered her head slightly. "Naturally, my nephew's wife has no right to ask about the second house's affairs. It's just that the accounts are not clear, so I have to ask."
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows. Little Zhang was indeed brave. She had the guts to slap Xie in the face just after entering the house for a few days.
Is she trying to stir up a fight between the first and second wives?
Gu Jiu looked towards the first wife, Mrs. Zhang.
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, had no expression on her face and was just drinking tea.
It seems that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had already had a tacit understanding about Xiao Zhang's incident today.
Gu Jiu said, "Sister-in-law, can you let me see the account book?"
Little Zhang agreed happily, "I've heard that my second sister is very good at calculating accounts, and today I finally get to see it for myself."
Gu Jiu took the account book and picked up the abacus to prepare for the calculation.
Gu Yue said sinisterly, "Second sister, you have to think clearly, which family are you from?"
Gu Jiu laughed and said, "Don't worry, Third Sister. I know which family I belong to better than you."
Bang!
Mrs. Xie slammed her hand on the table. "Sister-in-law, is this how you teach your daughter-in-law? She's a junior, and she dares to question her elders. Are there any rules?"
The eldest wife, Zhang, said, "Weiwei's manners are very good. She's not questioning my sister-in-law, she's just questioning the account book. When the servants keep the accounts, there are bound to be omissions, so we have to check the accounts. And this kitchen is bound to be full of dirt, so it should be cleaned every once in a while."
While the two sisters-in-law were talking, Gu Jiu had already picked up the abacus and started to calculate the accounts.
Crackle!
The crisp sound of an abacus rang out in the meeting hall.
Little Zhang secretly exclaimed.
She prided herself on being a quick and skilled accountant, a master in her family, and believed no one could match her. However, she never imagined that there was always someone even better than her.
Gu Jiu calculated the accounts faster and better than her, and his posture was graceful and pleasing to the eye.
Little Zhang thought, no wonder Gu Ban always said how outstanding Gu Jiu was. There was indeed a reason for it.
Soon, Gu Jiu finished calculating the accounts.
The sound of abacus stopped.
The eldest wife, Zhang, asked, "Xiaojiu, have you settled the accounts?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "I've figured it out. The food expenses at Xiangsiyuan don't really match the actual situation. For example, the old hen soup above probably went into the stomach of a kitchen maid, but was charged to Aunt Bai."
Xie stared at Gu Jiu viciously.
Gu Jiu's face was calm as he faced Mrs. Xie calmly, "Madam has been busy preparing the dowry for Third Sister recently and has neglected the management of the kitchen, allowing the kitchen maid to take advantage of the situation. This is unavoidable. However, the sisters around Madam should also remind her that they cannot stand by and watch her being deceived by the kitchen maid."
Chun He received the signal from Gu Jiu and quickly stepped forward, saying, "It's all my fault. I was so busy that I forgot to send someone to watch the kitchen, and the kitchen maid took advantage of the opportunity. Please punish me, Madam, and Madam."
The eldest wife, Zhang, smiled and said, "I won't punish you, I'll let your wife do it. Sister-in-law, now that the problem has been identified, it must be corrected. Masters and servants in Xiangsiyuan are only charged for what they eat. We can't use the old standards to fool people anymore. Comparing the past and present, there's a big difference in the money, and it all went into the pockets of those wicked people."
Mrs. Xie laughed. "Sister-in-law is right. Dalang's wife is really capable. She found the problem with the accounts as soon as she came in. Second girl is usually so capable, how come she didn't notice the problem with the kitchen accounts?"
Gu Jiu: It’s my fault.
Gu Jiu said, "I was negligent. I thought too highly of the kitchen maids. I didn't expect them to be such a shameless bunch, willing to embezzle money any chance they got. I suggest that they be severely disciplined."
Xie glanced at Gu Jiu and said, "If we discipline the kitchen maids, who will cook for everyone? Second girl, you have to think things through."
Gu Jiu laughed, "Madam is right. We can't discipline all the kitchen maids. We should just catch those who embezzled money, beat them with a stick and drive them out."
"That's right." Mrs. Zhang nodded in agreement.
Xie's expression changed slightly.
Everyone knew that the person who was in charge of the accounts in the kitchen was Xie's confidant. Catching him for corruption was like arresting her.
It turns out that that damn girl Gu Jiu is in cahoots with the first wife, and they are all here to make trouble for her.
Xie said with a stern face, "Of course the kitchen maids must be punished, but we must also consider that even if they have no merit, they have worked hard. Don't bother with this matter, I will handle it myself."
Mrs. Zhang, the eldest wife, looked at Mrs. Xie with a half-smile. "I believe my sister-in-law will definitely take good care of the kitchen. Will my sister-in-law not let me down?"
Xie smiled wryly, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. I won't let you down."
"That's good."
After Xiao Zhang became famous for a while, she calmed down and stopped picking on Xie.
After finishing her work, Xie left, clearly still fuming with anger.
The first wife, Zhang, left afterwards.
Gu Yue packed up the four treasures of the study and called out to Xiao Zhang who was about to leave.
"Sister-in-law."
"What's the matter, Third Sister?"
Gu Yue smiled coldly, "Can you please stop interfering in the affairs of the Second House? You don't care how much she eats and spends at Xiangsiyuan. Anyway, the money should be given to our Second House."
Little Zhang said righteously, "Third sister, I disagree with what you're saying. Our first wife and your second wife haven't split up yet, and all our money is shared. We should keep every account clear. When we split up in the future, let's not even talk about reducing Xiangsiyuan's expenses by 80%. Even if the masters and servants of Xiangsiyuan don't eat a single grain of rice, our first wife won't ask."
Gu Yue sneered, "You are so nosy."
Little Zhang frowned. "Third sister, please be more polite. I am your eldest sister-in-law after all. I don't think you would want to be known as someone who doesn't know the rules."
Gu Yue's face turned pale, and then she laughed, "Sister-in-law is worthy of being the housekeeper. Goodbye!"
Xiao Zhang was so angry that she died. She was in the prime of her life, but in Gu Yue's mouth she became a housekeeper.
She pulled Gu Jiu and asked, "Second sister, do I look old?"
Gu Jiu couldn't help laughing, "Sister-in-law, don't mind what Third Sister said. She has a foul mouth, so don't bother with her."
Little Zhang touched her face and said, "I shouldn't look old, right?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "Sister-in-law is as beautiful as a flower, how can you look old? Those who say you are old are just blind."
Little Zhang laughed. "Second sister, you're really good at talking. By the way, has Third sister always had such a bad temper?"
"As for her, sister-in-law, you'll know after observing her for a few days."
It seems that Gu Yue has a really bad temper.
Little Zhang said, "My third sister will soon be marrying into the Haixi Marquis's Mansion. With her temper, can she adapt to the swordplay and violence of the Haixi Marquis' Mansion?"
Gu Jiu said: "I don't know about that. It depends on her luck."
Gu Zhen's wedding was scheduled for July, twenty days earlier than Gu Yue's.
The eldest wife, Mrs. Zhang, was worried about money.
This year, there will be at least four weddings in the mansion. Gu Ban’s wedding has already been completed and the money has been spent.
Next, it’s Gu Zhen.
Next is Gu Yue.
It will be Gu Jiu's turn at the end of the year.
Dowry and wedding both cost a lot of money.
There are too many places to spend money this year, far more than in previous years, and it is very likely that there will be a deficit this year.
That's why Mrs. Zhang, the eldest wife, had to warn Mrs. Xie to be more restrained. She shouldn't be so blatant in her greed for money.
Gongzhong is running out of money, and this year's earnings won't be deposited until the end of the year.
The eldest master and Mr. Gu have huge expenses. The men working outside also have expenses.
In the mansion, only money is spent every day, but no money is brought in.
Looking through the account book, Mrs. Zhang, the eldest wife, was worried.
It seems that the only way to cope with the expenses in the second half of the year is to ask the shops and farms outside to hand over the profits from the first half of the year.
The eldest wife, Zhang, ordered her maid, Shaoyao, "Go ask the second wife, who will be invited to the banquet for Zhen and Yue'er's wedding? How many tables will be set up?"
Shaoyao obeyed the order and said, "I will go right away."
At this time, everyone from the second house is in Furong Courtyard.
The Xu family sent a betrothal gift of three thousand taels, which delighted Aunt Hu and Gu Zhen greatly.
With these three thousand taels, Gu Zhen's dowry finally reached tens of thousands of taels, which was very impressive to tell others about it.
Today is a good day. When everyone is happy, the Haixi Earl's Mansion also sent a betrothal gift of 10,000 taels.
Gu Yue was overjoyed.
With this betrothal gift of ten thousand taels, plus the twenty thousand taels of dowry that Xie prepared for her, the dowry would total thirty thousand taels.
Thirty thousand taels and one hundred and sixty units is also a very impressive amount.
Xie looked at the betrothal gifts sent by the Xu family, most of which were silk, cotton cloth, jewelry and jade.
She said calmly, "Move all these betrothal gifts to Zhilan Courtyard. The master ordered the second girl to prepare the dowry for Zhen. I will not get involved in this matter."
Gu Jiu stepped forward and said, "Thank you for your concern, Madam Lao. I'll have someone carry the betrothal gifts downstairs right away so they don't take up space."
Xie chuckled, "It does take up quite a bit of space. And compared to the betrothal gifts from the Haixi Marquis's Mansion, it's really shabby."
Aunt Hu's expression changed slightly and she looked at Gu Zhen worriedly.
Gu Zhen didn't care about Xie's ridicule at all.
As long as she gets the dowry, Gu Zhen doesn't care about Xie's attitude at all.
She was born out of wedlock, and she was very satisfied with her dowry of 10,000 taels.
It doesn’t matter if it’s less than Gu Yue’s.
Gu Yue's dowry is even less than Gu Jiu's.
In terms of shame, isn't Gu Yue more shameful than her?
Qingmei came in with her maid, registered the betrothal gifts one by one, and then carried them back to the warehouse in Zhilanyuan.
"Mother, let's first take a look at the betrothal gifts sent by the Haixi Marquis' Mansion." Gu Yue could not hide her excitement.
Xie flipped through the list of betrothal gifts and was reluctantly satisfied.
"Open the box and register."
The box was opened and Gu Yue came forward to look through it.
Xie frowned, "Yuer, be dignified."
Gu Yue smiled embarrassedly and returned to her seat.
Xie ordered her maid to count the betrothal gifts.
Silk fabrics, jewelry, boxes of silver, and even a villa.
Gu Yue was surprised.
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