Chapter 23: Two more of his helpers were captured

"Twenty taels."

Xu Wan was surprised: "So many?"

She had thought that a bastard's monthly salary would be less.

The illegitimate sons of the Shangshu Mansion received only five taels of silver per month; even her beloved younger sister Xu Lian'er received only fifteen taels a month; the original owner also received fifteen taels according to the rules, but after various deductions, there was little left.

In contrast, Zong Wenxiu's life was actually quite good.

But... I can't tell at all...

Cuizhi nodded: "Yes, the monthly salary of a concubine's son is usually no more than ten taels, but Master Xiu has lived a hard life outside for nine and a half years, and the old lady felt very sorry for him, so after he returned home, she gave him a lot of gold, silver, silk, and expensive writing instruments, and her monthly salary was also raised to twenty taels."

"Then why is he still dressed so... simply?" Xu Wan saw him wearing linen clothes every day. Although they were clean and tidy, they were definitely not more comfortable than satin.

Xu Wan only accepted the little devil's education plan and never interfered in the affairs of the mansion. Everything was still going on as before, so she always thought that this was the treatment he received in the mansion.

Cuizhi said, "Master Xiu said he was not used to wearing it, so the old lady did not force him and just let him do it."

Xu Wan nodded.

Children from slums, who are on the brink of life and death every day, suddenly become rich children. Generally, there are only two results:

One is that they have a nouveau riche mentality, and they indulge in vengeance and even become excessive in their consumption. This is the result of being overwhelmed by material things, and it is quite common.

The other type is people who have extremely high moral standards. Because they have seen too many sufferings and struggles of the lower classes, they feel guilty that they should not live such a licentious and extravagant life.

Zong Wenxiu is the second type of person.

Xu Wan suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, Cuizhi, has Wenxiu been to the slums again since he returned home?"

After leaving a place like that, I'm afraid no one would want to go back, but...

"Back then, Master Xiu would go there once a month," Cuizhi was a little confused when she mentioned this, "Every time he went, he would ride in a huge carriage. I don't know what was in it."

Cuizhi was afraid that her words might be misinterpreted, so she quickly added, "But nothing has ever been lost in the mansion, and Master Xiu has always been a clean man."

"Hmm?" Xu Wanmin noticed something unusual and headed towards the inner courtyard before turning back to the account office. "Let's go check the account book."

"Ah? Account book?"

In the accounting room.

"The carriage was loaded with sorghum steamed buns, which are the cheapest kind of steamed bread. They have never appeared in the homes of the rich because they don't taste good." The accountant answered truthfully based on his findings.

Cuizhi and Cuiliu looked at each other.

They seemed to understand what Master Xiu did every month.

It is so...

"Let's go."

Xu Wan looked up and called them: "It's time to discipline the naughty kid."

The green branches and green willows nodded in unison and followed quickly.

After waiting for another cup of tea, Zong Jincheng's patience gradually ran out. He turned up his coat and was about to go out to ask Xu Wan for the bill. However, before he even left the door, he saw Xu Wan and her group coming over.

Zong Jincheng raised his head and said, "If you didn't come back, I would have thought you were going to run away. I tell you, I won this time. If you don't abide by the agreement, then... Hey, hey, hey, why do you have that expression? What are you going to do?"

The little devil's brisk steps led him to take a step back in fear when he met Xu Wan's long face.

Speaking of this notorious eldest grandson, he actually responds to tough measures and does not respond to soft words. He has been coaxed by a group of people in a nice way since he was a child, so he doesn't know his place. Only when he suddenly encounters a hard problem does he learn to reflect on himself.

Why does this woman look like she's going to settle the score with him later?

Xu Wan just found out about Zong Wenxiu's secret, and when she looked at Zong Jincheng again, she found that nothing about him was pleasing to her. They both have the same surname, Zong, but how come this guy looks like such a devil?

With this control group here, it's really hard to keep my emotions stable.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and opened them again. Her pretty face regained its calm look, as if the woman who was full of oppression just now was not her.

The little devil was smart. After sensing the change in her aura, he immediately shouted at her: "Give me back my people and money."

Xu Wan tilted her head to indicate.

Cuizhi ordered two servants to be brought up, both of whom were former servants in Zong Jincheng's room.

"Madam, everyone has been arrested."

"San De found the lard, and A Chang replaced the ink. The young master asked them to help him do this."

Zong Jincheng: “???”

How did they know!!!

The little devil turned around and glared at Shunzi. No one else knew the inside story!

"It's not me!" Shunzi was so scared that he quickly waved his hands, and was so panicked that he almost put the word "accused" on his face!

Zong Wenxiu was stunned watching from the side. Although his brother's skill of using lard to get away with it was very clumsy, his wife actually checked everyone out in such a short time...

So horrible!

Xu Wan stood at the door with her back to the light, and half of her face slowly emerged from the darkness: "Jincheng, you are very smart, but don't treat others as fools. Our original agreement was that you should keep up with Wenxiu's progress. You are now at best surpassing him in memorization."

"Although there is still a big gap between you and your goal, you should be encouraged. So I agree to return your monthly salary to you. According to the standard of children from aristocratic families, I will give you twenty taels of silver every month."

"Twenty taels?" Zong Jincheng had probably never heard of such a small amount of money. When he treated his friends to a meal, he would spend more than this amount!

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!

"Grandma never cared about my monthly salary before, and now you deduct twenty taels from me, and you still have the nerve to say that you are returning my money. How can you be so shameless!!" The little chicken was obviously furious and started howling.

Xu Wan's head was buzzing because of his noise. She plugged her ears with both hands, trying to reduce the noise from the outside world: "If you want to spend money at will, you have to meet our agreement, otherwise forget it."

Xu Wan's attitude was very firm.

Zong Jincheng was so angry that his face turned red and his body was heaving violently. If he didn't know martial arts, he would have jumped up and chased the person away.

"You tell me! What exactly do we have to do to catch up with him?" Zong Jin's face darkened, he clenched his fists, he was so angry that all his cuteness disappeared, only ferocity remained.

It’s just writing, how difficult is that!

He has the ability to memorize something after reading it once, so naturally he can write it after reading it once!

What the hell is there to understand the meaning? He can just continue to recite it!

It would just take one more month, it's not like he doesn't have the time!

The little devil's inner roar was written all over his face. Xu Wan felt that God was too biased. Such a naughty child had a photographic memory and could quickly get out of it just by rote memorization.

The goal of becoming a top-ranked player is still so far away, she certainly can't let Zong Jincheng escape so quickly, she has to make him realize the importance of studying.

Xu Wan asked, "Cui Liu, is the carriage ready?"

"I'm ready."

"Well, let's go." Xu Wan gestured to the two children, asking them to follow.

Zong Wenxiu followed obediently.

Zong Jincheng was not so obedient and asked directly: "Where are you going? I still have to study at home, so I don't have time to play with you!"

Humph, this woman had better say a few nice words to him quickly, so that he might be willing to take her around the capital. After all, he knows a lot of luxurious and fun places!