During special periods like the Lunar New Year, Pei Yun would feel a sense of unease.
She desperately didn't want to face people in this awkward situation, but she also thought that her mother was no longer useful, and if she and Pei Qian couldn't stand up for themselves, their future would only become more and more difficult.
Pei Qian has a small brain capacity and usually only has his own little schemes in his mind.
For example, whether he has money to spend, where his classmates and friends at the academy invite him to drink, and the mundane things that happen after he develops physical maturity.
For Pei Qian, the New Year's Eve dinner was just a meal, at most a slightly better one.
But he was never short of food or clothing, so this little bit of food held little appeal for him. He just wanted to finish quickly so he could go back to his room and spend some quality time with his pretty maids.
In this respect, Pei Qian is indeed exactly like his father.
If you could extract the contents of Pei Qian's mind, you'd find they were essentially a copy-paste of what was in Master Pei's head. Aside from the difference in size, the content was identical.
There was no way around it; after all, Lord Pei had lived for several decades longer, and the amount of rubbish accumulated in his mind was considerable.
Pei Hanren sat at the dining table, but his mind was on his conversation with the housekeeper that afternoon.
The current properties and accounts of the Earl's mansion are managed by two stewards. Ironically, the fields and shops that Liu brought with her as part of her dowry have also been handed over to the stewards to manage together by Earl Pei.
It's unclear how Lord Pei reached an agreement with Pei Yun and Pei Qian, or whether they were simply not informed at all.
The two things Liu pursued for most of his life were wealth and titles. In just a few years, they all vanished like smoke, scattered by the wind. It's truly laughable, lamentable, and tragic.
Master Pei had been indulging in drinking and pleasure for years, and his health was deteriorating day by day. He was seeing doctors and taking medicine much more frequently than before, a fact that the steward was well aware of.
To be honest, if it weren't for Pei Han being the only capable one in the family, the two stewards would have already emptied the entire mansion.
Anyway, the manor is full of a bunch of fools who have no understanding of the world. As long as they make the accounts look good, these people might even help count the money after being sold out!
But Pei Han saw himself rise rapidly in rank and gain astonishing power. This time, he returned with a more composed and reserved demeanor, having shed his youthful arrogance.
Even if he doesn't speak, just standing there quietly, the official aura he exudes, nurtured by power, commands respect and makes people dare not act recklessly or lie in front of him.
The two stewards respectfully and truthfully reported the various income and expenditures of the manor, and also attached a fairly detailed account explanation.
It's not hard to see that the manor's businesses were originally doing quite well, but the father and son, Pei Boye and Pei Qian, couldn't control their extravagant lifestyles and squandered their money, causing some shops to become unprofitable.
If they continue to squander the money like this, the Earl's mansion will likely face severe financial difficulties.
Pei Han silently pondered a solution. This matter couldn't be handled openly; after all, the current master of the Earl's Mansion was still his father. He needed to come up with a proper method.
Min Yueqing and Pei Ji were completely absorbed in enjoying the food. If they tasted something delicious, the mother and son would exchange glances without even realizing it, making the meal a very enjoyable one.
After the meal, the family dispersed on their own, and no one wanted to talk to anyone else.
As is customary, people stay up all night on New Year's Eve, so the family of three did not rush back to Hejing Courtyard. Instead, they strolled around the mansion for a while, enjoying the scenery and digesting their food.
The three of them strolled hand in hand.
Min Yueqing had noticed Pei Han's absent-mindedness during the meal earlier, and now that she had nothing else to do, she looked at Pei Han and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
This was a family matter, and there were no outsiders around, so Pei Han didn't shy away from telling Min Yueqing the truth.
Min Yueqing said easily, "That's easy to handle. Since these things will only be squandered by them anyway, why don't you secretly find someone to buy them at a low price?"
The unspoken message is also quite clear: you are the buyer and seller, so how you operate is entirely up to you.
Furthermore, with the two stewards being so pragmatic, Pei Han could easily send them away the moment they received the money. By the time Lord Pei discovered it, they would be thousands of miles away, and he wouldn't be afraid of their impotent rage.
As the legitimate eldest son of the Earl's Mansion, Pei Han originally had the right to manage money. Didn't you see how skillfully Pei Qian managed it?
If we really investigate, Pei Han wouldn't be the one to suffer.
These words were truly a wake-up call; Pei Han suddenly understood.
In truth, Pei Han's thinking was still limited. After all, the Earl's Mansion was his family, and when he discovered that the mansion's finances were in dire straits, his first thought was how to manage these businesses well, which led him into a dead end.
Min Yueqing was different. She had no feelings for this manor, which allowed her to think more freely. That's why she could say this move of cutting off the enemy's supply line so easily and naturally.
As soon as Min Yueqing returned to Hejing Courtyard, Xiao Wei, who had woken up but couldn't find her, quickly rushed to her side, nuzzling and acting coquettishly.
Thanks to Xiao Wei, all the servants in the courtyard huddled in a corner, not daring to block the way of this Tiger Master, or even appear in front of him.
Only Amei, Azhu, and Shitou in Hejing Courtyard were able to remain calm, but that was all they could do—not be afraid.
If they were asked to communicate with Xiao Wei and tell him that Min Yueqing was only temporarily away and would be back soon, they neither had the ability nor the courage.
Fortunately, Xiao Wei has gotten used to this short separation after waking up to some extent. Although it will search the whole yard for people every time, it will not get angry if it cannot find people for a short period of time.
Min Yueqing lay on the couch, patiently stroking Xiao Wei's fur. This "child" couldn't accept New Year's money, so stroking its fur was its New Year's money.
Fortunately, the bed in Hejing Courtyard was big enough that Min Yueqing and Xiao Wei could squeeze in and lie down; otherwise, Min Yueqing would have had to sit on the floor to complete the task.
Xiao Wei lay on his stomach in front of Min Yueqing, habitually covering her feet with his belly, warming her feet while enjoying a full-body massage, making gurgling sounds in his throat.
Upon seeing this, Pei Ji immediately felt envious.
However, there was simply no room for him to squeeze into the bed on Min Yueqing's side, so he could only look to Pei Han for help.
Pei Han was naturally reluctant to let his son suffer, so he personally went forward to move the small table off the couch and instructed Amei and Azhu to find a soft cushion of the right size.
Amei and Azhu were dumbfounded. This was the first time they had ever seen the old man move the small table off the bed and then brazenly ask for a soft cushion.
But since Pei Han had given such instructions, the two had no choice but to do as he said.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com