Looking at the unconscious Wen Shi, Madam Pei felt increasingly disgusted with her.
Something that can't be presented in public!
The old lady waved to the head maid and the storeroom maid, "Carry your mistress away and fetch a doctor for her. Now that the storeroom has been re-registered, she has worked hard and deserves to rest in her room for a few days. She doesn't need to pay her respects to me every day. I, an old lady, prefer peace and quiet."
The head maid and the storeroom maid both understood the old lady's disdain, and dared not speak out, helping Madam Wen downstairs.
When Wen finally woke up, he was furious.
"That little bitch Jiang! How dare she call me an old fox! I'll tear her mouth apart!"
"You slut, you slut, you slut!!!"
Seeing that Madam Wen was so angry that she smashed everything in the room, the two old women were at their wits' end. They felt good about smashing things now, but they would feel bad about it later when they came to their senses.
"And that little bitch's sister!"
"Her sister is one thing, at least she has the old lady as her backer, but who does she think she is, daring to mock the Wen family for being lowly?"
"Shameless slut!"
"This is absolutely infuriating!"
"The aunt is a fool too. Her son married such a disgraceful woman, and she has the nerve to show her off in public!"
"I'm so angry! I'm so angry!!"
"Ouch! My head hurts so much..."
Suddenly, Wen screamed, clutching her head. Her head felt like it was about to explode, and the pain was unbearable.
"Madam, Madam..."
Two nannies anxiously called out and tried to help her up, but she shook them off.
"My head hurts so much, my head hurts so much..."
Wen screamed and rolled around on the bed.
She's been incredibly busy lately, spinning like a top, juggling a constant stream of trivial matters in the household, leaving her exhausted.
Now, this series of misfortunes is like adding insult to injury. He was so angry that he suffered physical and mental damage and actually fainted from the pain.
When she woke up again, she looked haggard and pale, as if she had aged ten years.
On the other side, in Madam Pei's courtyard.
The aunt was still picking out the hides.
As she picked out items, she praised Jiang Shuwan.
"The Crown Prince's wife is the most filial. She always thinks of us elders when there are good things. It's a pity that some people don't know how to enjoy their good fortune. They are always either biased towards this person or suppressing that person."
"If you ask me, we all come from the same womb, so we should treat each other equally and live in harmony."
"Good child, you've been wronged!"
The aunt held Jiang Shuwan's hand, her heart truly aching for her.
The third and fourth wives nodded in agreement. If they had such a capable daughter-in-law, they would wish to be hands-off managers and would never suppress her like this.
Moreover, Wen Shi was also a man of deep cunning.
When Jiang Shuwan first entered the family, Madam Wen pretended to be a good mother-in-law for a while, showing all sorts of kind faces and giving her bracelets and fine tea.
Later, they gradually realized that Wen Shi was not being sincere, especially after Jiang Shuwan took over the management of the shops and estates in the mansion. Sometimes, Wen Shi didn't even maintain a semblance of politeness towards her.
The servants in the house were divided into factions, and they were irreconcilable enemies. Although they lived their lives confined to their rooms, they still knew about the affairs of the mansion.
They knew that the struggle for control of the household had reached a fever pitch.
Jiang Shuwan already had the upper hand; she was good at managing the shops and overseeing all the household affairs, and later she even sidelined the storeroom nanny.
In this way, it can be said that they have a great advantage, especially in terms of household expenses. Putting aside other things, just take the time when they make clothes in the spring. Originally, the proper mistresses would have five new clothes and the concubines would have two. But when Jiang Shuwan said that the shop was doing well recently, she could make an extra one for the aunts, and they immediately got an extra one.
Don't underestimate the power of just one extra item; with so many different people using it, it can cost a fortune.
Especially considering that the various prefectures have not been doing well in recent years and everyone's spending has been decreasing, while theirs has increased instead of decreasing, they are naturally very satisfied with the contrast. Wearing spring clothes, they go out with their heads held high and chests out, feeling quite proud.
His fondness for Jiang Shuwan naturally increased by a factor of ten.
Now they know from Madam Bo that Jiang Shuwan has set up another Donglai Street, and she seems unstoppable. Although it is her own private property and not included in the public funds, it makes her seem even more capable.
As a result, people's hearts leaned even more towards her.
With popular support and being both capable and tactful, it's likely that Madam Wen won't be able to remain the head of the household for long.
Moreover, the reason why the annual rent of 200,000 to 300,000 yuan on Donglai Street did not fall into the Hou family's hands was simply because Jiang Shuwan was not the mistress of the household.
If she were the mistress of the household, why would she need to borrow money from Old Madam Pei? She could directly use the public funds. Wouldn't the 100,000 taels of silver she earned from trading the real estate of the four food streets also become public funds?
If this money is used to operate Donglai Street, then the 200,000 to 300,000 yuan in rent from Donglai Street each year will go to the public funds, right?
Two hundred thousand a year, two million in ten years, four million in twenty years...
Good heavens, the Marquis's mansion has suffered a huge loss this time!
As they calculated this enormous fortune, the third and fourth wives felt their chests pounding and their faces flushed red.
You don't realize how much money it is until you calculate it; it's such a huge sum!
No wonder the Wen family acted so blatantly, trying every possible way to siphon this business off to the public treasury...
Gongzhong's annual income is only 100,000 taels now. If they had this much silver, they would have 300,000 taels a year. With such a mountain of gold and silver, they could spend it all.
Thinking about it, the third and fourth wives looked at Jiang Shuwan with burning desire, wishing they could put her in charge of the household immediately.
We missed Donglai Street, but with the Crown Prince's wife being so good at business, maybe there will be Xilai Street and Beilai Street as well.
Both of their wives lived under the patronage of the first wife. Although they didn't hold power, they could still benefit from the prosperity of the household.
In particular, the fourth wife, during the winter, because Wen Shi withheld her charcoal, Jiang Shuwan helped her appeal her grievances and get the charcoal back.
This also prevented the Wen family from retaliating against her. Jiang Shuwan also took good care of her only daughter, Pei Shushu. Naturally, she wanted Jiang Shuwan to take charge of the household even more than the third wife.
So, the fourth wife took the white fox pelt and hurried to Madam Pei's side. She knelt down and showed the pelt to Madam Pei while laughing.
"Grandma, this white fox fur is also very nice. It'll be perfect for making a forehead band for you. You won't be afraid of the wind in winter."
"Good, good, you're a filial son too."
Madam Pei was very pleased. The fourth wife covered her mouth and laughed, her laughter as melodious as silver bells. "Why are you thanking me, Madam? I'm just passing on your kindness. The truly filial daughter-in-law is right here!"
As the fourth wife spoke, she pulled Jiang Shuwan, who was standing in the middle of the room, in front of Old Madam Pei.
"This is truly the most filial daughter-in-law in our Marquis's household!"
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