"Oh? You can recite the Three Character Classic? Recite it for me." Shen Qingqing was quite surprised.
Lvyun began reciting, quite fluently and without a single mistake.
"How do you know the Three Character Classic?" She didn't believe anyone had specifically taught her—that couple wouldn't be so kind, and Yang Wanqing certainly wouldn't either.
"My older brother was reciting this, and I learned it after hearing it a few times." Since the mistress liked her cleverness, she wanted to appear clever.
"What a smart child. So you can recite it but don't recognize the characters, right?" Shen Qingqing patted her head. Her hair was still dry, yellowish, and coarse—it would take some time to nourish it back to health.
She nodded, "Yes, I don't recognize the characters, but I learn very quickly!"
Hearing her repeatedly refer to herself as "this servant," Shen Qingqing felt uncomfortable. In this lifetime, she would absolutely not let anything happen to her!
Since she could recite the Three Character Classic, she would start teaching her with it.
Shen Qingqing wrote down the three characters for "The Beginning of Humanity."
"These are the three characters for 'the beginning of humanity.'"' Today, you'll learn these three characters. You not only need to recognize them but also know how to write them."
Holding Lvyun's hand, she guided her stroke by stroke. Lvyun was dazed. She had often fantasized about being held like this by her mother, but her mother never held her—she only hit her and made her work. So this was what it felt like to be held so tenderly—it was truly blissful.
"Focus when you're writing," Shen Qingqing said gently.
"This servant will remember," Lvyun replied, not daring to let her mind wander, and concentrated on learning to write.
"Your grip on the brush must be correct. Use the strength of your wrist."
Shen Qingqing had given her a thin brush so her small hand could hold it steadily.
"Practice for a while. Your hands are still injured, so don't practice for too long."
Lvyun nodded.
Meanwhile, Shen Qingqing wasn't idle either. She began designing clothing.
Although the weather was still cold, it would warm up soon. She wanted to design a batch of clothes suitable for spring flower-viewing and outings.
**
Song Zhu Study.
"Fangqiao, go ask Manager Chen for a hundred taels of silver," Yang Wanqing instructed.
"This servant will go right away."
She ran to find Manager Chen. "First Madam needs a hundred taels of silver for a purpose."
Manager Chen frowned. "There isn't much left in the accounts."
"How is that possible? Such a large Marquis Manor can't produce a hundred taels of silver?" Fangqiao found it hard to believe.
"Do you think I'm unwilling to give it? First Madam probably hasn't even looked at the account books since taking charge, has she?" Manager Chen said sarcastically.
Since taking over the household, she had only known how to take money and spend it, without doing anything else. Meanwhile, his workload had increased significantly.
Fuming, Fangqiao returned and relayed Manager Chen's words to Yang Wanqing, adding some embellishments. "Does Manager Chen only listen to that one? Does he not regard you, First Madam, at all?"
"How dare he!" Yang Wanqing was so angry she smashed the teacup in her hand. "Let's go find him!"
She confronted Manager Chen directly. "Do you look down on me? Do you think that without my husband's support, you won't even give me a hundred taels of silver? I'm the one managing all affairs in this household now!"
Manager Chen's expression darkened. When Shen Qingqing was in charge, she had never treated him with such an attitude—she had always been polite. Coldly, he retorted, "First Madam, perhaps the servants are spreading rumors? What I said was that there's no money in the accounts. If you don't believe me, you can check for yourself."
He directly handed her the account books.
She simply refused to believe there was no money left in the accounts, yet when she saw the ledger clearly stating in black and white: Remaining silver, forty-two taels and seven hundred thirty-five coins.
"How could there only be this little money left?"
"There was originally some money in the accounts, but you withdrew quite a bit recently, leaving only this amount," Manager Chen replied truthfully.
"I didn't spend that much before," Yang Wanqing found it absurd. She had only spent around two hundred taels recently—how could such a large Marquis Manor have so little money?
Manager Chen sneered inwardly. This was the classic case of someone who'd never managed a household not knowing the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt. The moment she took charge, she flaunted her status through extravagant spending—truly incomparable to the Madam.
"Previously, when the Madam managed the household, she would supplement the expenses with her own dowry."
Yang Wanqing was shocked. Shen Qingqing actually used her dowry to cover household expenses? Had it been like this all these years?
"First Madam, now that you're managing the household, if you don't wish to supplement with your dowry, you'll have to spend more frugally."
She flipped through the account books and saw that last month Shen Qingqing had supplemented two hundred taels, the month before that one hundred fifty taels, and going further back, there were records every month—sometimes more, sometimes less.
The entire Marquis Manor relied on Song Lingxiao's Fenglu: twenty-eight taels per month, plus ten taels for meal subsidies, and an annual salary of five hundred sixty taels from the court due to his noble title. While this was a substantial sum for commoners, it was far from enough for a Marquis Manor.
The manors in the countryside were practically neglected, generating negligible income.
"First Madam, the money in the accounts must be reserved for paying the servants' wages," Manager Chen preemptively stated, worried that Yang Wanqing might even take this meager amount.
"Manager Chen, I was at fault earlier. It was all because my maid spread false rumors. Please don't take offense," Yang Wanqing immediately changed her tone. She couldn't afford to fall out with Manager Chen, especially since her position was still unstable, and most importantly, Shen Qingqing wasn't dead yet.
Manager Chen glanced at Fangqiao and chuckled lightly. "This humble servant is but a subordinate in the manor. How could I dare to hold a grudge against my master?"
Just as Yang Wanqing was about to exchange pleasantries, Manager Chen abruptly shifted his tone.
"However, First Madam should still discipline your subordinates properly. Last time, Mama Liu was disrespectful to the Madam, and this time, your maid spread false rumors. I'm concerned you might be implicated by those below you. After all, you are a fine mistress. In this regard, First Madam could learn more from the Madam—Mama Zhao and Miss Nanzhi both adhere strictly to the rules."
Both mistress and maid instantly turned ashen, their faces dark enough to drip water, yet they couldn't retort. Yang Wanqing even forced a smile. "Manager Chen's reminder is duly noted."
She then turned and left immediately.
After walking some distance, she couldn't hold back her anger. "Who does he think he is, daring to lecture me? A mere servant, and he thinks he can trample all over me? How dare he!"
"First Madam, could it be that the other one bribed him to deliberately make things difficult for you?" Fangqiao was also furious, relentlessly fueling the fire.
"Absolutely! Otherwise, why would he speak up for her and belittle me at every turn? Damn it!" Yang Wanqing's eyes gleamed with venomous resentment.
She strode toward the main courtyard.
Fangqiao thought she was going to confront Shen Qingqing and quickly grabbed her. "First Madam, she is still the Madam. It would be best not to clash with her directly."
"What are you thinking? I'm going to ask her for money!"
"It's really cold out. Walk in front and block the wind for me." She had left in a hurry without her cloak, and now her face stung from the wind.
The mistress and maid arrived at the main courtyard.
The servants here were well-disciplined, immediately going to announce their arrival upon seeing them.
"What is she here for?" Nanzhi was somewhat puzzled.
"Let her wait first." Shen Qingqing continued drawing unhurriedly, having discovered how comfortable it was to not handle affairs—it left her with ample personal time.
Nanzhi sent someone to deliver the message.
"Madam, do you know why she has come?"
She nodded. Having managed the household for several days now, it was likely they had discovered the silver was insufficient.
Two quarters of an hour later, Yang Wanqing could wait no longer and came directly to find her.
"Qingqing, what are you busy with? Do you need my help?" She kept calling out while speaking, and the servants dared not block her forcefully, only managing to obstruct while retreating step by step.
"Apologies for making sister-in-law wait so long. I just took a short nap." Shen Qingqing covered her mouth as she yawned. "What matter brings sister-in-law to find me?"
Yang Wanqing attempted to enter her bedroom but was stopped by Shen Qingqing, who pulled her toward the side hall of the main courtyard.
"I noticed that usually by mid-month, you would supplement the household expenses. Why hasn't the silver been provided this month?"
Shen Qingqing immediately covered her lips and laughed.