Chapter 73: Managing Household Affairs
As dawn breaks, a cool autumn breeze sweeps across the ginkgo trees in the courtyard, turning their leaves a pale golden hue.
Su Wanrou woke up earlier than usual. After washing and dressing, she specially chose a begonia-red dress with lotus and floral patterns, over which she wore an apricot-yellow jacket embroidered with plum blossoms. Her hair was neatly styled, adorned with a gold and kingfisher feather hairpin, and pearl earrings dangled from her ears. The person in the mirror still had a touch of childishness in her brows, but her gaze was calm, and she possessed an undeniable air of dignified composure.
"You look radiant today, Madam," Yunbin said with a smile as she straightened her clothes.
Su Wanrou smiled faintly: "Today I'm meeting with all the stewards, so I must appear spirited." After sending the letter home, a great weight was lifted from her heart. She knew she couldn't wallow in longing; the more than one hundred people in the household all depended on her, the mistress of the house. With her husband fighting on the front lines, she had to protect this home.
After breakfast, I went to Mingxuan's courtyard first. The little guy had already gotten up and was having breakfast with his wet nurse. When he saw me, he immediately put down his spoon and respectfully called out "Mother".
"Xuan'er, be good, eat slowly, no rush." Su Wanrou patted his head and gently reminded him of some things to pay attention to when he was doing his homework and playing. Then she led her maids and servants toward the flower hall where they would hold a meeting.
Inside the main hall, the stewards of the Duke's mansion were already standing in order. The head steward, Gu Liang, stood at the front, followed by a dozen or so stewards responsible for purchasing, the kitchen, carriages, the storerooms, the estates, and repairs. Upon seeing Su Wanrou enter, they all bowed in unison, saying, "Greetings to Madam."
Su Wanrou sat down in the main seat in the center, her gaze calmly sweeping over everyone. She could see that some people looked respectful, some scrutinized, and some, perhaps because of her young age, held a hint of indifference in their eyes. She was neither surprised nor angered. She simply picked up her teacup, gently stirred the foam, and said in a gentle yet clear voice, "Rise, all of you. The Duke is away on a distant expedition, and all matters in the manor require your utmost cooperation. From today onward, everything will continue as before, but if there are any important matters, you must report them to me for my decision. Do you all understand?"
"Yes, madam, we will obey your command," everyone replied in unison.
“Alright,” Su Wanrou put down her teacup and looked at Gu Liang, who was standing at the head of the table. “Steward Gu, you will start. Tell me about the important matters that have been happening in the manor recently.”
Gu Liang was an elder in the household, about fifty years old, with his hair neatly combed and a serious expression. He stepped forward and reported the recent situation of the household in a clear and organized manner: the autumn harvest on the estate was nearing its end, how was the harvest? The storeroom reserves; the monthly salaries for the staff to be paid next month; and several buildings that needed repair, etc.
Su Wanrou listened attentively, occasionally asking questions that always hit the nail on the head. For example, when asked about the farm's harvest, she would inquire in detail about comparisons with previous years and the tax situation; when asked about repairing the houses, she would ask about the estimated construction period and costs, as well as the recruitment of craftsmen. Her tone remained calm throughout, yet it carried an air of unyielding authority.
Gu Liang initially intended to simply report to the "women of the inner quarters," but seeing that this young lady, though not very talkative, asked every question that hit the nail on the head, he couldn't help but abandon his contempt and answered with increasing caution and detail.
After Gu Liang finished speaking, Su Wanrou nodded slightly and turned her gaze to Qian Huai, the steward in charge of purchasing: "Steward Qian, it is already late autumn and winter is approaching. Have you started preparing the charcoal, cotton clothes, food and other items for the winter in the mansion?"
Qian Huai was a plump middle-aged man with a shrewd look on his face. Upon hearing this, he quickly stepped forward with a smile: "Reporting to Madam, preparations have already begun. However, the price of charcoal this year is 15% higher than in previous years, and cotton is also more expensive..."
Su Wanrou listened quietly without interrupting until Qian Huai finished his rambling, then slowly spoke up: "I have heard about the price increase. But the Duke's mansion has always had established procedures and channels for procurement. Steward Qian, please send the detailed accounts of previous years' purchases, as well as the quotations from the several merchants we have contacted this year, to my room this afternoon. Since it is a necessary use, the money that should be spent must be spent, but it should also be spent transparently and at a good value."
Qian Huai's smile froze for a moment, then he nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Madam, you are wise. I will bring the account books and price lists this afternoon."
Next, Su Wanrou inquired about the kitchen's daily expenses, the dispatch of carriages and horses, and the shift arrangements for maids and servants. She asked questions at a measured pace, yet with meticulous attention to detail, causing the stewards who had initially thought they could get away with it to secretly break out in a cold sweat.
About an hour later, the daily report session finally ended. Su Wanrou gave a few concluding remarks, which were nothing more than encouraging everyone to perform their duties diligently and cautiously, before dismissing everyone.
The managers filed out, and only after they had walked away in twos and threes did people start talking in hushed tones.
"This young lady is remarkable. Despite her young age, she is quite shrewd and resourceful."
"That's right, those questions hit the nail on the head. Fatty Qian has probably run into a snag today."
"She is indeed someone the Duke has taken a liking to; she is far beyond the reach of ordinary young ladies..."
Gu Liang walked at the back, listening to the discussions ahead with a calm expression, but in his heart, he had a new assessment of this young lady. Perhaps, the Duke's entrustment of family affairs to her was not entirely out of marital affection.
After finishing her daily affairs, Su Wanrou returned to her main room, rested briefly, and then instructed Yunbin to fetch the household's account books. Having taken on this responsibility, she couldn't just listen to reports; the accounts were the foundation.
A thick stack of account books lay on the desk. Su Wanrou calmed herself and carefully flipped through each page. She had grown up in the Yongchang Marquis's mansion, where her mother had taught her how to read accounts and manage a household. However, the Marquis's mansion was far inferior in status and scale to the Duke's mansion. Faced with this enormous amount of accounts, she initially found it somewhat difficult. But she had a tenacious nature; when she didn't understand something, she would ask the accountant sent by Gu Liang or consult past precedents, and she slowly managed to make sense of it all.
In the afternoon, Qian Huai indeed arrived with several account books and price lists. Su Wanrou told him to put the things down and didn't say much, only telling him to come back tomorrow for a reply.
After Qian Huai left, Su Wanrou immediately buried herself in the account books. She listed and compared the quantities, prices, and suppliers of winter charcoal and cotton purchased over the past three years, and carefully checked this year's price list. Sure enough, she found several suspicious points: the prices quoted by the merchants Qian Huai had contacted were all too high, and one of them seemed to be a new merchant with no precedent to follow.
She hesitated for a moment, then summoned Gu Liang and instructed him, "Steward Gu, please have someone secretly inquire about the market prices of these items, especially the prices quoted by those old-established shops in the West Market. Remember, be discreet."
Gu Liangxin understood immediately and replied, "Don't worry, Madam, this old servant understands."
After finishing these tasks, it was nearly dusk. Su Wanrou rubbed her throbbing temples, just about to rest for a moment, when a maid came to report that Granny Liu from the old lady's courtyard had arrived.
Su Wanrou hurriedly invited her in. Granny Liu, a trusted servant of the Old Madam, greeted her with a beaming smile and said, "The Old Madam sent me to inquire of Madam, since the Old Madam of Anyuan Marquis's 70th birthday is in three days, how should the birthday gifts be prepared? In previous years, it was the Duke or the Old Madam who made the decision, but now..."
This is yet another test. The Marquis of Anyuan's mansion and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion are old friends, and the weight and value of the birthday gifts are related to the friendship between the two mansions and the reputation of the Duke's mansion.
Su Wanrou pondered for a moment and calmly replied, "I'll trouble you to make this trip, Granny. The Marquis of Anyuan's family is a close friend of ours, so the birthday gifts cannot be taken lightly. I remember there seems to be a white jade Guanyin statue from the previous dynasty in the storeroom. It has an auspicious meaning and a warm, smooth texture, which is suitable for an elderly person. I'll also add a string of South Sea pearls, a set of sandalwood walking sticks with auspicious and longevity patterns, several bolts of fine brocade satin, and some precious medicinal herbs and tonics. Granny, is this list appropriate? If it is, please assist Steward Gu in retrieving and preparing everything from the storeroom according to this list."
This birthday gift is both valuable and tasteful, taking into account the old lady's preferences and practicality, and the quantity is just right. A hint of appreciation flashed in Granny Liu's eyes, and she smiled and said, "Madam has considered everything very carefully. This birthday gift could not be better. The old lady will surely be pleased to hear it."
After seeing Granny Liu off, Su Wanrou let out a soft sigh of relief. These social interactions, though seemingly simple, are actually full of intricacies and require careful attention to detail; there is no room for error.
At dinner time, Mingxuan chattered excitedly about the day's events, and Su Wanrou listened with a smile, occasionally serving him food and asking about his studies. The small dining room was filled with warmth because of the child's laughter. She suddenly realized that although these days of managing the household and raising the child were busy, they were also fulfilling. She was gradually becoming the true mistress of this home.
At night, as usual, she would review the account books under the lamp, or peruse the gift lists and visiting cards of the household, familiarizing herself with the network of relationships in the capital. Occasionally, she would look up at the dark night sky outside the window, towards the direction of Shuofang City, and a feeling of longing would well up in her heart. But this longing was no longer the initial bewilderment and helplessness; it had transformed into a steadfast strength.
She wanted him to know that even when he wasn't there, she could manage the household perfectly, giving him peace of mind.
Two or three days later, the person Gu Liang sent to inquire about the market price returned, and the price he reported was indeed about 10% lower than what Qian Huai had quoted. Moreover, the background of that new business seemed somewhat unclear.
On this day, Su Wanrou once again summoned all the managers to the flower hall. When it was Qian Huai's turn to report, he still spoke with a smile about the preparations for the procurement.
Su Wanrou listened quietly, her face showing no displeasure. She simply asked, "Manager Qian, I've heard that the charcoal prices at 'Deshenglong' and 'Yongfenghao' in the West Market seem to be more affordable than those you've contacted. The cotton from 'Guangyuan Cloth Shop' is also of better quality, yet the prices are comparable. Why is that?"
Qian Huai's smile froze instantly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He stammered, "This... Madam, although Deshenglong and Yongfeng are long-established brands,... their goods this year seem to be of lower quality than in previous years. I was only thinking of the household's best interests..."
"Oh? Is that so?" Su Wanrou's voice remained calm, but her gaze fell sharply on him. "But I heard that Deshenglong's silver frost charcoal this year is of the highest quality, and there is even a surplus after supplying the palace. Who told Steward Qian that the 'quality is not as good as in previous years'? Or did you check it yourself?"
"This... I only heard it from others..." Qian Huai was sweating profusely, and his legs were even a little weak.
Su Wanrou did not press further, but instead turned to Gu Liang: "Butler Gu, in your opinion, for the household's expenses over the years, should we prioritize reputable and reasonably priced established businesses, or rashly try out new businesses with unclear backgrounds?"
Gu Liang bowed and said in a loud voice, "Madam, of course, we should prioritize safety. Deshenglong and Yongfenghao are both century-old shops in the capital. They have cooperated with the manor for many years, have an excellent reputation, and their prices have always been fair."
"Hmm." Su Wanrou nodded slightly, then looked at Qian Huai, whose face was ashen. Her tone remained calm, but carried an undeniable determination. "Steward Qian, you have been responsible for the household's procurement for many years. Even if you haven't made any great contributions, you have certainly worked hard. However, procurement is related to the household's expenses, and the most important thing is 'fairness.' You will no longer need to handle the procurement this winter. For now, hand over your current affairs to the deputy steward and go home to rest for a few days."
She didn't speak harshly or immediately investigate the accounts and convict Qian Huai, but her simple phrase "go home and rest" was practically tantamount to stripping Qian Huai of her power. This demonstrated the authority of the mistress of the house while leaving some room for maneuver, preventing the matter from going too far.
Qian Huai knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Madam, please forgive me! Madam, please forgive me! It was my foolishness! I will never dare to do it again!"
Su Wanrou waved her hand, and immediately two old women stepped forward to help the limp Qian Huai out.
The flower hall was eerily silent; you could hear a pin drop. All the stewards stood with their heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound. This young lady, who usually appeared gentle and kind, was unexpectedly decisive and efficient in handling matters, with such sound reasoning and logic that no one could find fault with her.
Su Wanrou's gaze slowly swept over everyone, her voice clearly reaching each of them: "The Duke has entrusted his family affairs to me. I know I am young and inexperienced, and I will need your strong support in the future. My principle is simple: those who wholeheartedly serve the family will be rewarded; but if anyone tries to take advantage of the Duke's absence to fish in troubled waters and line their own pockets, don't blame me for being ruthless. Do you all understand?"
"Yes! We will follow Madam's teachings!" the crowd replied in unison, this time with a deep sense of awe in their voices.
After this incident, Su Wanrou truly established herself in the Duke's mansion. Everyone in the mansion understood that this young second wife was no ordinary person who could be easily fooled.
As the days went by, Su Wanrou became increasingly adept at handling the affairs of the household. She not only managed the daily routines meticulously, but also began to make some subtle adjustments: for example, she reorganized the shifts of the maids and servants to allow the elderly to rest; she adjusted the menu in the small kitchen to focus more on seasonal health; and she even inquired about the education of the servants' children, hiring experienced tutors to teach them.
These measures, though seemingly minor, made the atmosphere in the mansion more harmonious, and the servants were completely convinced of her worth and extremely grateful.
Occasionally, she would feel tired, but whenever she received a letter from Gu Yangui from Shuofang and read his concise yet caring and subtly proud words, all her fatigue would vanish.
As autumn deepened, the ginkgo leaves in the courtyard turned a brilliant golden yellow. Su Wanrou stood under the veranda, gazing at the autumn colors filling the courtyard, a sense of peace and steadfastness filling her heart.
My dear husband, everything is well at home, and I am well too. I hope it is for you as well.
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