Song Wenjing had just finished writing an article when he saw Changshun bring in a box. He glanced at it and asked, “What is it?”
Changshun respectfully placed the box on the table. “Madam asked me to get this. It contains the shop’s revenue from last month.”
Song Wenjing spent his days at the academy, so he didn’t spend much money. He asked Changshun to put the silver notes in the bookcase.
He picked up his pen and began to annotate the article he had just read.
He didn’t know how much time had passed before he finally put down his pen and moved his slightly sore neck.
Several exclamations came from a distance outside the door, and Changshun went out to see what had happened.
He returned shortly afterward.
“Third Master, it’s nothing. It’s just that it’s snowing outside, and the maids are overjoyed.”
This is the first snowfall of the winter this year. In previous years, the Song family would give the servants a small reward after the first snowfall of winter so that they could use it to prepare some warm clothes to keep warm.
After Changshun finished speaking, he stood to the side.
Song Wenjing suddenly remembered his wife, who seemed different from usual these past few days.
Especially last night…
Although it surprised him greatly, it also delighted him.
He was in a good mood, remembering the silver notes that Changshun had put in the bookcase earlier.
“Distribute the reward money to the people in the courtyard, according to their monthly allowance.”
They’ll pay you a full month’s salary right away!
Even Changshun was taken aback.
That’s a really big investment.
…
Mei Yun returned from outside, and it started snowing as soon as she entered the mansion.
At this moment, the master and servant were sitting in the room, and Mei Yun was sitting on a small stool peeling chestnuts and eating them.
Rong Shu sat on a slightly higher embroidered stool and counted the silver in her hand.
It weighed a little over three ounces.
This amount of silver was nothing to a family like the Song family, but she usually spent little money, so it would be enough for her for a while.
Mei Yun peeled a few chestnuts and placed them on a small plate, then presented them to Rong Shu, saying, “Madam, please try them. This year’s chestnuts are especially sweet and tender.”
Rong Shu picked up a small one, ate it, and praised, “It’s not bad.”
Mei Yun smiled, and hearing the sounds of the maids running happily outside the door, she reminded them, “It snowed today, so we should also distribute reward money in our courtyard.”
There was a similar incident last year. At that time, Rong Shu had just married into the family, and Xie Shi specially sent someone to deliver a message and gave her a bag of loose silver to bribe the servants.
At that time, she had not yet taken over the businesses under Song Wenjing’s name.
She had completely forgotten about it today, and now she was in a bit of a predicament…
I wish I hadn’t handed over last month’s revenue to Changshun so quickly.
In that case, the reward money would definitely come from Song Wenjing’s money.
Although she didn’t actively take Song Wenjing’s money, she deducted the monthly allowances for the servants of Songtao Garden from Song Wenjing’s revenue.
Last month’s allowance was paid out a few days ago, and next month, when the farm’s revenue comes in, she plans to use that money.
Who would have thought it would snow today? And coincidentally, it happened right after she gave the silver notes to Changshun.
Rong Shu counted the silver in her hand. Mei Yun glanced at it and said stiffly, “You wouldn’t be thinking of…”
Rong Shu didn’t speak; of course, she didn’t want to.
This is the money she earned after embroidering for more than half a month.
Moreover, it’s because her embroidery skills are so excellent that she can command such a high price.
If she didn’t want to ask Song Wenjing for it, she could distribute the money she had first and then take it back from the account next month.
She clutched the silver tightly, still undecided.
Just then, a burst of laughter came from outside the door. Mei Yun, curious, put down the chestnuts in her hand and stood up: “This servant will go and see.”
Mei Yun returned shortly after, beaming with joy, and said, “Third Master gave everyone a reward, enough for a whole month!”
Upon hearing this, Rong Shu was taken aback, then relaxed and carefully wrapped up the silver in her hand.
He must have looked at the ledger and found that there were no regular expenditures, so he knew that she didn’t have any extra money left.
This was excellent news for her.
She looked at Mei Yun and said, “Then go and get it.”
Mei Yun calmly sat down on the low stool again and continued peeling chestnuts: “This servant asked Han Yan to help me collect them.”
She peeled another chestnut and handed it to Rong Shu.
“Madam, our young master should be taking the imperial examination for children in the next few days.”
Rong Shu took the chestnut from her and said, “It’s tomorrow. We should receive news in a few days.”
She had no worries at all, as Jiang Yu had passed the preliminary examination for the imperial examination in her previous life without any problems.
Presumably, this time will be the same.
Mei Yun said, “Our young master is diligent and studious, he will definitely pass the exam. When he has an official title, let’s see who dares to look down on our family.”
Moreover, having a younger brother with official rank would give Rong Shu more confidence from her family.
Thinking of her younger siblings, Rong Shu was in a good mood.
She chatted with Mei Yun, her head slightly lowered, a gentle smile on her lips.
Song Wenjing saw this scene from outside the door.
The master and servant were enjoying their chestnuts and chatting, and he didn’t want to disturb them.
He thought for a moment, then turned and went to the outer courtyard.
…
Although Song Wenjing was at home, Rong Shu’s life was relatively peaceful.
In the East Courtyard, Madam Xie had just had Granny Zeng distribute reward money to all the servants in the courtyard when she sat down and immediately thought of Songtao Garden.
“Has the money been sent to the third son’s wife yet?”
Granny Zeng said, “I inquired and found out that it was distributed a long time ago. I heard that it was Third Master who asked Changshun to distribute it, and it covered the entire month’s worth.”
Xie was slightly surprised, but quickly smiled again.
“I don’t need to worry about that.”
Granny Zeng chimed in, “Even if the Third Master didn’t pay, the Third Madam wouldn’t be unaware. She only entered the manor last year, so naturally she didn’t know what was going on in our manor. But she certainly won’t forget this year.”
Mrs. Xie nodded in agreement: “She has become a bit smarter lately.”
As the two were talking, several little girls outside the door were chattering away, and a faint sound of crying could be heard.
Before Madam Xie could even speak, Granny Zeng went out with a stern face to ask what had happened.
Today, the host is giving money to everyone in the household, so crying and wailing at this time is likely to offend people.
What’s all the noise about?
When they saw Granny Zeng coming over, the maids all stopped talking.
The one who was crying bowed, focusing only on wiping away her tears, and dared not say another word.
Granny Zeng pointed at her and asked, “Why are you crying on such a joyous day?”
The little girl wiped away her tears, and tried to speak but burst into tears as soon as she opened her mouth.
A maidservant standing nearby, unable to bear it any longer, explained for her: “Hong’er’s older sister works in the Fourth Madam’s courtyard. Their father fell up the mountain a few days ago and broke his leg; he’s barely clinging to life. They were hoping to use the reward money from the manor to hire a doctor for him, but…”
The maid glanced at Granny Zeng, her voice growing even softer.
After all, reward money is different from monthly allowance; it is more or less the intention of the master. If you say too much, you will inevitably cause trouble.
Granny Zeng raised her chin: “Continue.”
The maid said, “Everyone in the Fourth Madam’s courtyard only received four copper coins today. They were hoping that Hong’er’s reward money would only be enough to call a doctor, not enough to buy medicine, which is why she cried…”
After learning what had happened, Granny Zeng went inside to report to Madam Xie.
Madam Xie could easily tell that Gu Zhen was being stingy with reward money for her servants because she had taken back the shop.
She laughed in exasperation: “This fourth son’s wife is truly wonderful.”