Rong Shu didn’t eat much after finishing her breakfast.
She was quite hungry, and while she was in the East Wing, she thought that she would definitely eat a good meal when she got back.
Because Song Wenjing was there, she couldn’t figure out why he was having breakfast so leisurely today and why he had called her back from the east courtyard.
Usually, because he always went to the academy early, he would have breakfast in the study and not with her.
Rong Shu couldn’t understand what was wrong with her.
She used to think that a real couple was someone who ate together, slept together, discussed everything, and stood together through thick and thin.
However, it is obvious that Song Wenjing will not be a normal couple with her.
Now, just because she lit Lanwu Incense that night, Song Wenjing has become very different.
She should be thankful, at least this way she will have an easier time getting pregnant.
But she could never ignore the little bit of discomfort buried deep inside.
After finishing his meal, Song Wenjing didn’t say anything and went to his study to study.
Before he left, Rong Shu asked him, “What would you like for lunch, Third Master? I’ll have the kitchen arrange it.”
Song Wenjing, who was about to leave, turned back and glanced at her: “Do as you please.”
Rong Shu agreed, but she already knew what was going on in her heart.
He probably won’t be going to the academy today.
…
Song Wenjing went to the study, while Rong Shu went to the main hall to meet with the managers of several shops.
Song Wenjing was different from his other brothers. Although the others also studied, they did not intend to pursue a career in government. Most of them focused on business after the age of fifteen.
Although he was single-mindedly focused on his studies, Xie still allocated several shops to him.
Before they got married, Song Wenjing arranged for several trustworthy managers to run the shop. Unless it was a major event, Changshun, who was by his side, would usually help out.
It wasn’t until Rong Shu got married that Madam Xie brought up the matter of these shops and asked Song Wenjing to entrust them to her management.
In her previous life, it took Rong Shu three years to go from being completely clueless to becoming adept at these things.
At this time in her previous life, there were some things she was still unaware of.
She had the old woman take several managers down for tea, while she herself sat in a grand chair, slowly and methodically looking at the account books.
As she watched, she recalled events from this time in her previous life.
After the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, she had roughly recalled the whole story.
Several managers were summoned and waited respectfully for instructions.
Rong Shu closed the ledger and spoke to the person closest to her.
“Heyilou’s accounts were down 30% last month compared to the previous two months. Is there any reason for that?”
Manager Ding was in charge of Heyilou Restaurant. He had a round face, and when he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits, making him look very honest and simple.
“Madam, since autumn this year, two or three new restaurants have opened in the city, which has dispersed the flow of people, so our business has naturally become a bit quieter.”
He glanced at Rong Shu’s expression as he spoke, then added, “But our business is still the best, incomparable to any other.”
Rong Shu knew, of course, that two or three new restaurants had opened in the city.
She had investigated in her previous life and found it to be true, which is why she hadn’t taken it to heart.
However, after winter, Heyilou’s business not only failed to improve, but actually got worse and worse.
A year later, business was so slow that she had to close down. When Xie found out, she said some things to Xie.
A perfectly good business can’t just lose its customers just because two or three new shops have opened in the city.
Rong Shu knew that this matter was to be investigated. If she wanted to stay in the Song family and rely on them to support herself and her younger siblings, she naturally had to have the ability to leave no room for criticism.
She outwardly agreed, “In that case, you should put in more effort. It’s inevitable that business will be slower these days as it gets colder. Take advantage of this time to research more dishes and drinks, and things will probably get better when the weather warms up.”
Manager Ding lowered his eyes and agreed, and no one could tell what was on his mind.
The other shopkeepers also had some problems, but none of them were serious. Rong Shu asked them a few questions and then sent them all back.
After everyone had left, she took out her abacus, reread the account book, counted the silver notes handed over by the shopkeepers one by one, put them in a sandalwood box, and locked it with a small lock.
When Mei Yun came over and saw the familiar box, then looked down at the one in her hand, she felt a pang of sadness.
She walked over and said, “Madam, the Third Master’s businesses are quite profitable. You’re already working hard managing them, why don’t you…”
Rong Shu stopped her: “My father once said that one should not covet what is not one’s own.”
Mei Yun found it hard to understand: “How can you say that? You and Third Master are husband and wife, isn’t his yours? Aren’t the Second and Fourth wives the same?”
“It’s different,” Rong Shu murmured.
Back in Zhao County, she was forced into a corner by that rich man Cao, so she shamelessly went to the Song family’s door.
Ultimately, she didn’t dare to complain about Song Wenjing’s coldness towards her at the beginning of their marriage because she felt in her heart that she was the one who had wronged him.
Even if she were to live a second life, she knew that if she didn’t want to continue living with him, and if she divorced him and returned to Zhao County, there would be no Master Cao, but there would be Master Li or Master Wang.
Just because she wants to live a secluded life doesn’t mean others will leave her alone.
This world is just too difficult for a woman like her.
She knew perfectly well that staying with the Song family was the best option for her at the moment.
So even if she could do it all over again, she would still choose to betray Song Wenjing, forcing him to live with this wife he disliked.
In her previous life, she never coveted Song Wenjing’s or the Song family’s wealth.
Because she knew that behind her back, many people said that she was only after the Song family’s money when she went to ask for the marriage.
She did have ulterior motives, but not for money.
Perhaps because of her father’s upbringing, she didn’t want others to talk too much about her parents, which is why she didn’t want other people’s words to be true.
She did take the monthly allowance from the government, since it was meant for her.
As for the other properties under Song Wenjing’s name, her accounts have been clean for a long time; she hasn’t touched a single penny.
Moreover, Song Wenjing never said that he would give her this money.
Mei Yun hesitated, feeling that she was too stubborn.
Rong Shu pointed to the box in her hand and said, “It might snow later, so give this away now and buy a bag of roasted chestnuts on your way back.”
Roasted chestnuts are Mei Yun’s favorite food, and hearing about them filled Mei Yun with mixed feelings.
I decided to stop trying to persuade her; my daughter has always been this way since she was still a young lady.
The person appears gentle, even somewhat vulnerable, making one want to bully them.
In reality, she possesses remarkable resilience; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to support the family for over two years after Mr. Jiang’s passing.
If there hadn’t been absolutely no other way, they wouldn’t have taken the initiative to bring up the marriage with the Song family.
Mei Yun sighed inwardly, but still left the mansion with the box in her arms.
Rong Shu went outside and asked the old woman to call Chang Shun over.
Changshun will arrive soon. Once the tea is brewed in the study, there’s usually nothing else to do.
Rong Shu said, “Last month’s revenue, ledgers, and bank drafts are all here. You can give them to Third Master.”