Shen Ajiao didn't want to mock Madam Wang, but she couldn't resist the invitation, and she swore she really, really didn't want to go.
"Oh dear, Mrs. Lin, let's go. I've prepared some melon seeds and snacks for you, all of which you like." Wang Xifeng went straight to the mansion to grab someone, insisting on taking Shen Ajiao to the Jia family as a guest, under the guise of congratulating Madam Wang on entering the palace.
"I'm not going, that's not right."
Wang Xifeng retorted without any politeness, "What's wrong with her? When you scolded her for being worse than a peasant woman in the village, you didn't say anything bad about her."
Shen Ajiao immediately jumped up, "Who? Who betrayed me?"
Wang Xifeng flicked her handkerchief, somewhat embarrassed, "Look at you, always so easily startled. Such a fun thing, and I can't even hear it?"
Shen Ajiao snorted coldly, "You traitor, you've even stuck your ear to my side."
Wang Xifeng quickly denied it, "How could I have such ability? What spies do you have in your household? Aren't they all people chosen by your master?"
"I got the news from the Jia family. You know I was worried about you."
This is true; she is genuinely worried. Her aunt is not easy to get along with. She knows her enemy well, and nowadays, no matter what happens in the Jia family, she can't be kept in the dark!
"What else have you heard?" Shen Ajiao was also a gossip, but unfortunately she wouldn't waste people going to the Jia family. What if they were led astray?
Wang Xifeng, with a mysterious air, pulled Shen Ajiao along while talking about the recent excitement in the Jia family, especially Baoyu's management of the household.
Hearing this, Chen Ajiao ate two handfuls of melon seeds. "Really?"
Wang Xifeng spat out a melon seed shell. "How could this be fake? I heard that Baoyu is very generous, so many people are trying to find fault with their families. One said that his money was stolen when he went out, another said that his house caught fire and his money was burned, another said that he bought a bunch of junk and passed off inferior goods as superior ones, and some even ran away with the money. There are countless cases, only things you can't imagine."
"Why is Baoyu managing the household? Didn't you say he was studying hard a while ago?" Shen Ajiao was a little confused. Who encouraged this rich second-generation who knew nothing to start a business?
The rich kids make money without doing anything!
Wang Xifeng was extremely glad that she had run away quickly, otherwise she would have been the one cleaning up the mess, unlike now, where she could drink tea and watch the excitement unfold.
“Mrs. Lin, you don’t know, Baoyu almost burned down the study when he burned books a while ago. Who would dare to discipline him now?” Wang Xifeng sighed. If Baoyu’s father were still alive, he might have given him a beating and disciplined him for a few days. But now no one cares about him, and he’s practically ruined.
When the two arrived at the Jia family's residence, the stewards were gathered in Madam Wang's courtyard, demanding an explanation from her because there was no money left in the accounts!
The subsequent fundamental engineering work simply could not proceed.
"Madam, really, if we can't come up with the money in the account, we'll be in trouble. We need to pay the workers the remaining funds!"
"The project is almost ready to be completed, but... what should we do?!"
The managers were only on sick leave for a few days, thinking they would make things difficult for Master Bao, and then after a few days everyone would give in, they would continue to manage things. Unexpectedly, while they were sitting at home, the workers came knocking on their door!
Only after inquiring did they learn that something terrible had happened: Master Bao had taken away ten thousand taels of silver from the account!
I thought Master Bao had a plan, but when I asked, I found out that the accounting department only had Master Bao's signature, and there was no record of who Master Bao assigned the tasks to.
Because there were too many people in the courtyard, Baoyu remembered what each person did with the money at the time, but after playing around for a few days, he remembered nothing.
All he remembers is people constantly telling him that their money is lost or burned. At first, Baoyu didn't care, but later, every time someone came, they would tell him about the money...
He's still being held up in the yard by the manager, who's demanding he write down the names of the people who took the money so they can get it back.
A few honest people could still find the source and get their money back, but most of them were determined not to admit it. Some even ran away with several hundred taels of silver, and couldn't be found at all, so the only option was to report it to the authorities.
Now these people are gathered in Madam Wang's courtyard, demanding an explanation.
Lady Wang was truly exhausted at this moment. Originally, she had entered the palace to show off, but as soon as she left, she heard that her Yuan Chun had been confined to her quarters.
She had to be carried home; as soon as she got there, she was surrounded by this group of troublesome people.
"What explanation do you want! Baoyu is the master, and you bunch of servants, why didn't you remind him!"
"I think you're deliberately framing him, trying to manipulate Baoyu. How vicious you are!"
Madam Wang was so angry that she almost vomited blood. She lay half-reclined on the bed when a servant brought her a bowl of medicine. "Madam, it's time to drink your medicine."
"Get out!" With a wave of her hand, she knocked the medicine bowl from the maid's hand. The porcelain bowl cut the maid's hand, and the maid couldn't help but cry out. Madam Wang immediately slapped her, "You wretched hussy, what are you yelling about? It's just a little cut, what's the big deal!"
Wang Xifeng and Shen Ajiao listened with great interest. If one were to see a veiled criticism, one should look to Madam Wang.
The managers were all shrewd; how could they not understand what Madam Wang was saying? They were there to do things, not to sell themselves. How could they not lose face if they were insulted like that?
When their master makes a mistake, they try to find ways to resolve the issue, but their master doesn't appreciate it, and they feel wronged!
Sure enough, the managers outside objected the next second.
They all resigned.
Madam Wang was furious. "Get out! All of you, get out!"
Chen Ajiao gave a thumbs up, "Well done!"
Originally, Yuan Chun was supposed to return home to visit her family on the 16th, but she was confined to her quarters and the date was changed. Now, it's only been half a month, so it's really clever to get rid of the person in charge at this time.
Upon hearing this, the managers' faces all froze. They had already given each of them a way out, but now they actually wanted to drive them away?
The managers took a deep breath. "Madam, are you really going to kick us out?"
When Madam Wang heard this, she laughed in anger. She couldn't afford to use a servant who dared to challenge his master. Was she going to keep him around like a master?
Baoyu handled things haphazardly, and those two were trying to find fault with their master and use it to blackmail him—no way!
The fact that she didn't report them to the authorities and arrest them was already the greatest act of mercy she could show!
"Do you intend to pay me back money?!"
Upon hearing this, the managers were furious and stormed off.
Seeing Wang Xifeng and Shen Ajiao outside, they politely greeted each other before leaving. Wang Xifeng generously rewarded everyone with silver, saying, "It's quite cold at the end of the year, so take this money and use it for drinks."
"Thank you very much, Second Grandma."
Wang Xifeng's hearty laughter carried directly into the inner room. Madam Wang gritted her teeth. How dare they come to watch her make a scene? These stewards must have been bribed by her to go, which is why they are so unreliable!
The more Madam Wang thought about it, the angrier she became. A feeling of suffocation lingered in her chest, unable to dissipate, and she eventually fainted from the pressure.
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