Chapter 3 Taking Over the Marquisate
She had seen this thing in the Shangshu Mansion. Her stepmother had waited a full ten years to get the housekeeper key from her grandmother. From then on, she had been dominating and enjoying herself in the Shangshu Mansion.
And the key in front of you is the stewardship of the entire Yuanyang Marquis Mansion!
Oh my God!
How could a newly-wed bride, who hasn't even changed out of her wedding dress, get the housekeeper key that everyone dreams of?
It must be that she woke up in the wrong posture.
Xu Wan pinched herself quickly.
“Hiss… it hurts.”
It wasn’t a dream!
Zong Jincheng shouted in dissatisfaction: "Grandma, how can you give it to her? This housekeeper key is for the second wife's concubine Hong, but you can't give it to her!"
The old marquis only has a pair of twin sons. Eight years ago, the war caused his eldest son Zong Zhao to go missing, and the second son Zong Yan was killed in the battlefield. The second son did not get married before his death, but it was discovered this year that he had a mistress and an illegitimate child.
Having a mistress and an illegitimate child before getting married was a shameful thing, but the person was dead, and the old marquis was filled with the news that his second son had a child, so he quickly ordered someone to bring the child back to the mansion and put him on the clan record.
But the concubine, the Hong Yi Niang mentioned by Zong Jincheng, was of too humble a birth to be given the title of principal wife, and she was not even qualified to have the key to the housekeeping position.
The old lady said, "Jincheng, your grandfather is old, and this family will still depend on you and your father. Zhao'er is still missing, and you also need a mother to take care of you. When you grow up, the title of our Marquis's Mansion will be passed on to you, right?"
Zong Jincheng said dissatisfiedly: "But I don't need a mother."
He has been accustomed to living without a father and a mother since he was born, and now that he is eight years old, he no longer needs one.
What's more, she is my stepmother, not my biological mother.
Xu Wan snorted in her heart, I don’t even want you as my son!
Rebellious son!
The old lady put the housekeeper key into Xu Wan's hand and said, "From now on, you are the wife of the Marquis' Mansion. You will be in charge of the food, clothing, housing, transportation, food, clothing and other expenses of the people in this mansion."
Xu Wan, who suddenly held great power, looked at the butler key in her hand and suddenly felt that it was so heavy. How could the entire mansion be carried on her back?
Doesn't she want to just lie down and do nothing?
"I have no experience as a housekeeper." Xu Wan said truthfully.
Her stepmother didn't even want her to be the housekeeper, and she even wanted to starve her of food.
Although she was promoted to the position of team leader in just one year when she was the most popular person in the modern era, that team only had a few people. But now she is going to be in charge of the entire mansion, which has at least a hundred people.
The old lady said, "You can learn it if you want. It's easy to get started."
"Really? You didn't lie to me?" Xu Wan asked her seriously.
The old lady was amused by her: "Of course it's true."
Xu Wan thought for a few seconds and felt that she could accept the job. After all, it was a marquis's mansion, a wealthy and noble family. She would definitely live a comfortable life as the housekeeper.
"Okay, then I'll try... No, are there any additional conditions?" Xu Wan was about to respond, but she saw the old marquis was smiling so much that his mouth was almost reaching his ears. She subconsciously felt that there was a big trap!
The old lady shook her head and said, "There are no additional conditions. As long as you take good care of everyone in the mansion, we have no other requirements."
"The whole house..." Xu Wan twisted her words lightly, and when she turned her head, she saw the unconvinced boy staring at her.
Xu Wan suddenly realized: "There won't be another one, will there?"
Help! This little kid can’t be hit, who can take care of him?
The old lady smiled and said, "Jincheng is a very well behaved and intelligent child. As long as you teach him carefully, we believe he will definitely be able to get a top grade in the high school in the future."
"???"
Xu Wan was about to faint.
Not only do you have to take good care of the little devil, but you also have to help him get into the top of high school.
First Class, that’s first Class!
The top three in the imperial examination held every three years!
I’m afraid this brat Zong Jincheng won’t even be able to pass the exam to become a scholar!
Xu Wan tactfully put the housekeeper key back into the old lady's hand and said awkwardly, "Old lady, please calm down. You should keep this key for yourself. I am incompetent and cannot manage the entire mansion, let alone bear the burden of educating the children."
Are you kidding? Shouldn't the burden of this devil's study be borne by the teacher?
What does it have to do with her, an idle stepmother!
Seeing that she was knowledgeable, Zong Jincheng quickly said, "Yes, grandma, I also think that I don't need her to control me. I am very independent, so why do I need her to teach me? She looks like someone who has never been to school."
Xu Wan almost blurted out, "I have read more books than you have eaten salt, you little illiterate who hasn't even attended nine years of compulsory education!"
But having said that, I can no longer push away this burden.
Xu Wan endured it.
Unexpectedly, the old lady attacked again: "I have discussed with the Marquis and decided to increase your monthly allowance from 100 taels to 300 taels."
Xu Wan's eyes lit up instantly.
Even if one had no idea about ancient silver, one knew how valuable three hundred taels of silver were. The original owner had hidden his private money for more than ten years but had not managed to hide even one tael of silver, let alone three hundred taels of silver!
These three hundred taels are still three hundred taels every month!
The temptation is too great!
The old lady then made a ruthless move: "If Jincheng can get into the top three, the Marquis and I will give you another 50,000 taels."
Xu Wan: “!!!”
Fifty thousand taels!!
She felt like her head was being hit by gold ingots!
"If you can win first place, then the reward will be 100,000 taels."
After the old lady finished speaking, she looked at her with a smile.
The 100,000 taels that came out of her mouth seemed as casual as 10 taels.
Zong Jincheng was stunned.
He trembled and asked, "Grandma, are you going to give the entire mansion to her?"
He knew that his grandmother's family was the richest in Yancheng, and that their wealth was so abundant that it would take several lifetimes to spend it all, but they wouldn't be so generous as to throw money away like sand...
The old lady smiled and said, "Jincheng, you should know that if you become successful, the whole mansion will benefit from it. Then, we will be able to hand over the whole mansion to you without any worries, right?"
Zong Jincheng: “…”
Yes, it is, but it just feels like something is wrong.
Xu Wan understood immediately.
The old lady is drawing big cakes for two people at the same time.
No wonder she didn't send Zong Jincheng away.
The purpose is to make them both have the same goal, she for money and he for power.
When this brat realizes what's going on, he'll probably be thinking about how to kill her!
But is she a vegetarian?
Xu Wan quickly took the housekeeper key back from the old lady's hand and deliberately waved it in front of the little devil.
After receiving the angry look from the brat, he said respectfully:
"Thank you, mother. I will obey your orders."