The fourth wife teased, "Grandma should really reward the young master's wife. Heaven has mercy on her. She just got some good skin and then thought of us elders. Not only did she not receive any praise, but she was also slandered by the madam, who said some hurtful things about her not being in the Marquis's mansion. It's so unfair to our young master's wife."
"Yes, yes, the young master's wife is too pitiful. The old lady must comfort her, otherwise the young master's wife won't give us any good things in the future!"
Hearing what the fourth wife said, the third wife also rushed over.
The two of them were joking around, seemingly teasing each other, but actually helping Jiang Shuwan to express her grievances and ask for a reward.
“It is hard for the mistress to manage the household, but no matter how hard it is, it is just about the personnel of the household. If the servants do well, they will be rewarded; if the servants do not do well, they will be punished.”
“A generous reward will surely attract capable people, and it won’t take much effort.”
"The one who has really worked hard is our young master's wife. She works in all kinds of weather every day, running around for the future of the manor. Look at her, old lady, she's lost some weight."
"Poor thing, she had some flesh on her face when she married into the family, but now she's all thinner. You can see how hard she's worked."
The two ladies poked Jiang Shuwan's cheek as they talked.
Jiang Shuwan was very embarrassed. She hadn't lost any weight at all. In the past six months, she had been eating and drinking well and had even grown three centimeters taller. She looked a little thinner in the face, but it was just that she had lost her baby fat.
Thinking this to herself, Jiang Shuwan remained silent on the surface, knowing that the two ladies were trying to get a reward for her.
“You are right, she should be rewarded.”
Madam Pei was also considering what to reward Jiang Shuwan with.
Jiang Shuwan's private wealth generated twice the annual income of the Marquis's mansion, so she couldn't be rewarded with worldly things like silver and jewelry.
She is now popular, powerful, and respectable, so there's no need to give her face...
Therefore, the only thing that can be rewarded is the power to manage the household.
Madam Pei frowned and pondered carefully. The third and fourth wives were all looking at her expectantly. If they could get Jiang Shuwan the power to manage the household, Jiang Shuwan would definitely be grateful to them in the future, and her life would definitely get better and better.
On the other side, Madam Pei's expression changed, and after much deliberation, she made a decision.
"Wan, come here."
Madam Pei grasped Jiang Shuwan's hand and stroked it affectionately. Just as she was about to speak, a servant suddenly came to report from outside.
"Grandma, something terrible has happened! Madam has fainted again."
"What's going on?" Old Madam Pei frowned.
"It seems that Madam is really ill. The royal physician said that she fell ill due to extreme anger and exhaustion. Madam can't eat or drink her medicine. The Marquis has already sent someone to fetch the imperial physician."
"Madam is still insisting on seeing the eldest daughter, and the Marquis has sent someone to invite her."
Madam Pei suddenly tightened her grip. "She works so hard for the household, so she should hire the best imperial physician. Chang Mama, take my invitation and go to the palace with the Marquis's men. Tell them that you are asking the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital to come over for my sake."
"Yes, old lady."
After Chang Mama left to carry out her orders, Old Madam Pei's gaze returned to Jiang Shuwan, her eyes filled with kindness. She stroked Jiang Shuwan's hand with affection.
“Wan’er, you are a good girl, capable and smart. I also prefer you to manage the household. However, your mother-in-law has managed the household for twenty years. Even if she has not made any great contributions, she has worked hard. She has not made any major mistakes. Even if it were me, it would be inappropriate to take away her management rights.”
"How about this? I used to manage the household accounts. Whenever there were large expenditures, Madam Wen would have to come to me to report before the money could be withdrawn. I'm getting old and don't want to deal with these trivial matters anymore. You're a capable person, so how about I hand this matter over to you?"
Jiang Shuwan lowered her eyes, knowing that she would not be able to obtain the power to manage the household now.
"Thank you, Grandma. I will definitely do my best."
"Alright, I'm tired too. You guys can go back now."
After everyone left Madam Pei's courtyard, the third and fourth wives still surrounded Jiang Shuwan, lamenting the loss.
"Why were only the accountants given the authority?"
"If personnel matters are not handled properly, the Madam is still in charge of the household."
"The old lady is giving the madam too much face. It was already a done deal for her to take over the household, but as soon as she heard that the madam was sick, she immediately changed her mind."
"Well, what can we do? She's the lady of the house. She's managed the household affairs for over twenty years. We have to give her face. Besides, Pei Jing is marrying into the Liu family, which means she'll be the Duchess in the future. She's even higher up than the heir apparent's wife."
The two ladies comforted Jiang Shuwan, saying, "Don't worry, Your Highness. Although the mistress is still in charge of the household, you are in charge of the accounts. If the mistress has any large expenditures, you have to approve them. This is equivalent to holding the mistress's lifeline in your hands. You don't need to be afraid of her anymore."
"That's right, that's right. Even when the madam spends money, she has to watch your expression. It's no different from you running the household."
Of course there is a difference.
Once she becomes the mistress of the household, all sorts of visiting cards from various mansions will be sent to her courtyard. In this way, she will be able to represent the Marquis's mansion in social interactions, and it will be much easier for her to gather information about the imperial court than it is now.
Ultimately, she was still worried about the Sun family.
In my past life, I also won the Northern War, though it was a Pyrrhic victory.
Even a Pyrrhic victory is still a victory. General Sun lost both legs in the process and was unable to walk for the rest of his life.
Not only did the imperial court not reward them, but it also hastened the decline of the Sun family.
Although General Sun caught the traitor and won a great victory in this life, she still could not let her guard down.
This is not only because she has a friendship with the Sun family, but also because she and the Sun family have partnered to open a glass workshop.
Thinking of the glass workshop in the North, Jiang Shuwan's eyes darkened even more.
After she decided to become the president of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, she received a letter from Sun Wanwan from the north, wishing her peace and safety.
She wrote down the glassmaking method on a piece of paper, along with the necessary tool drawings, and sent it back to the North. On the surface, it was an ordinary letter with Sun Wanwan, chatting casually, but in fact, most of it was about glass.
The glass workshop was too profitable to open in the capital, and she had no connections anywhere else. The only family she could trust was the Sun family in the north.
General Sun guarded the border for decades, and it can be said that he had the final say in the entire northern region.
With his endorsement, Liuli Gongfang is not afraid of being taken over by others.
Moreover, General Sun was in charge of production and transportation. The northern region was far from the capital, and there were often bandits causing trouble along the way, which made her feel even more at ease.
If nothing unexpected happens, their two families will definitely have a better and better life.
However, she was always thinking about how General Sun had returned victorious in her previous life but met a bad end. Therefore, she had to take control of the household and go out to socialize as the mistress of the household so that she wouldn't be completely ignorant of the affairs of the court.
When the emperor is enraged, millions will die.
She can't control others, but the Sun family must never fall.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shuwan didn't say anything, only listening to the two wives comforting her, nodding or smiling from time to time.
It's okay that I didn't get control of the family this time.
Anyway, the usury issue is going to be exposed by the end of the month.
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