Gu Lin got up from the floor and ran to the outer courtyard to request an audience with Gu daren.
After learning the whole story, Gu daren refused to see Gu Lin.
He said, “The matters of the inner courtyard are for taitai to handle. Tell wu yatou to return to her room and rest, she is not to interfere in these affairs. Also, send someone to warn Bai yiniang: if she dares to use wu yatou to stir up trouble again, she will be sent to the Buddhist hall to reflect on her behavior.”
The steward, Gu Quan, was momentarily stunned. He never imagined laoye could be so ruthless to a woman he had once doted on.
“What are you standing there for? Go at once!”
Gu daren shot a dissatisfied look at Gu Quan.
Gu Quan quickly bowed and left to console Gu Lin.
When Gu Lin learned that Gu daren refused to see her and had warned her not to meddle in these affairs, she looked shocked.
“That can’t be… Father wouldn’t be so heartless. It must be a mistake. Father… father… it’s Lin’er…”
“Wu guniang, if you don’t want Bai yiniang to suffer, then keep your mouth shut. Laoye has already said the affairs of the inner courtyard are entirely in taitai’s hands.”
Gu Lin was devastated, covering her mouth and crying. “How could this happen? How could Father be so heartless? Steward, are you mistaken? Father used to dote on Bai yiniang. As soon as my brother dies, why has Father become so ruthless? I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it.”
Gu Quan sighed. “Laoye has always been this way. Wu guniang will get used to it in time.”
Always so heartless?
Gu Lin froze.
In her mind, her father, so perfect and kind, was actually cold and ruthless.
For over ten years, she had been deceived.
Gu Lin walked away, crying.
Cui Liu, her face pale, cautiously asked Gu Quan, “Steward, what should we do about my yiniang?”
Gu Quan said, “Endure it.”
Endure… until when?
Cui Liu felt despair.
The news reached the Furong Yuan. Xie shi laughed loudly, a triumphant look on her face.
“Bai yiniang thinks she can compete with me? She’s asking for death. Chun He, you did well this time, you taught her a lesson, let her know that the inner courtyard is still under benfuren’s authority.”
Chun He hid her personal feelings and said, “Nubi was also upset about Bai yiniang in the past. She caused taitai so much trouble. Now that she’s weak, we can’t let her off lightly.”
Xie shi nodded repeatedly. “You’re right. Bai shi, that wretched woman, deserves to be taught a lesson.”
Chun He left for the tea room.
Bai yiniang had previously relied on being favored to slander her in front of Gu daren. Now, she ensured that Bai yiniang lived a life worse than a servant’s. This was Chun He’s revenge.
Bai yiniang had to eat food that even servants would reject. It was either too salty, undercooked, infested with insects, or had stones hidden in it.
Luckily, her teeth were strong; otherwise, she would have ended up toothless.
Moreover, the sewing room assigned her endless needlework, so much that she couldn’t finish it even staying up all night by the oil lamp.
Soon, her eyes couldn’t take it and she kept crying.
The gatekeepers forbade her and her maid from leaving. If they tried, the gatekeepers would strike them with sticks.
After suffering a few times, Bai yiniang and her maid no longer dared to challenge the rules.
They could only hope that Gu Lin would come soon.
Gu Lin, having been shocked by Gu daren, was listless for several days.
Meanwhile, Gu Ban’s wedding took place, and he married Xiao Zhang shi1.
Xiao Zhang shi was a round-faced girl with a cheerful personality and a love for laughter.
The day after she entered the household, she personally delivered her needlework to everyone.
Gu Jiu said, “Dasao’s sewing is amazing, I could never match you.”
“Er meimei is too modest. With your intelligence and talent, you could easily surpass me with a little practice.”
“Dasao, don’t flatter me. I really can’t sew. But if you ever need new designs, I can help with that.”
Xiao Zhang shi smiled. “Then it’s settled. I’ll come to you for some new designs another day.”
When Xiao Zhang shi entered the household, Zhang shi led her and her steward to learn the household management.
In the council room, Zhang shi patiently explained the situation in the residence and the temperaments of all the stewards and housemaids. She even brought out past accounts to teach Xiao Zhang shi to calculate them herself.
Xiao Zhang shi picked up an abacus and calculated the accounts personally.
As expected, she had practiced before; her abacus skills were smooth.
Zhang shi secretly nodded in approval.
Xie shi watched all this, feeling sour. She wanted to ridicule Zhang shi.
She said, “Dasao is too hasty. The new bride just entered the household, hasn’t even completed her first month of marriage, and she’s already managing the household? Isn’t that improper?”
Xiao Zhang shi stopped using the abacus and smiled. “Er shenniang doesn’t understand the situation, that’s why there’s a misunderstanding. This nephew’s wife asked pomu to help manage the household and relieve the elders.”
Zhang shi cheerfully said, “Weiwei, this child, has always been active. She wants to help, and that’s filial. As a mother-in-law, I wouldn’t suppress a child’s enthusiasm. When the younger generation becomes mothers-in-law, I’m sure they’ll have the same mindset.”
Xie shi: Heh…
When she becomes a mother-in-law, she’ll have to set rules for her daughter-in-law. Want to manage the household? Not a chance.
As Xie shi imagined imposing rules on her future daughter-in-law, Xiao Zhang shi came to contradict her.
“Er shenniang, the kitchen accounts don’t match.”
Xie shi snorted, her face stern. “Where doesn’t it match? Dalang’s wife, mind your words and actions. You’ve only been here a few days and dare to pick a fault with me?”
Xiao Zhang shi first smiled demurely, then said calmly, “From what this nephew’s wife understands, Furong Yuan’s meals were reduced by 80%, yet the kitchen accounts still show the old standard for meals and tea. Where did the reduced 80% go? I ask er shenniang to clarify.”
Xie shi’s face darkened. “How dare you!”
Xiao Zhang shi smiled faintly. “If the accounts aren’t clear, they can’t be handled carelessly.”
Xie shi gritted her teeth and said, “Household matters of the Second Branch, what right does a junior have to interfere?”
Xiao Zhang shi slightly lowered her head. “Of course, this nephew’s wife has no right to meddle in the Second Branch’s affairs. But since the accounts are unclear, I had no choice but to ask.”
Gu Jiu raised her eyebrows. Indeed, Xiao Zhang shi had guts, just a few days after arriving, she dared to directly contradict Xie shi.
Was she trying to provoke conflict between the First and Second Branches?
Gu Jiu glanced at Zhang shi.
Zhang shi’s face was expressionless; she merely sipped her tea.
It seemed that Xiao Zhang shi’s little display today had been tacitly coordinated with her mother-in-law.
Gu Jiu spoke up, “Dasao, may I take a look at the accounts?”
Xiao Zhang shi readily agreed. “I’ve heard er meimei is fast and accurate with accounts. Today, I’ll finally see it for myself.”
Gu Jiu took the account book, picked up the abacus, and began calculating.
Gu Yue said darkly, “Er jiejie, you should think carefully about which branch you belong to.”
Gu Jiu laughed. “Don’t worry, san meimei. I know exactly which branch I belong to, better than you do.”
Slap!
Xie shi slammed her palm on the table. “Dasao, is this how you educate your daughter-in-law? She’s a junior, and she dares to question her elders. Where are the rules?”
Zhang shi said, “Weiwei’s conduct is proper. Moreover, she isn’t questioning dimei; she’s questioning the accounts. When the servants compile the books, mistakes are inevitable, so checking is necessary. And as for the kitchen, filth inevitably accumulates. It should be cleaned once in a while.”
As the two sisters-in-law spoke, Gu Jiu had already started calculating.
Clack-clack!
The crisp sound of the abacus echoed through the council hall.
Xiao Zhang shi secretly gasped.
She prided herself on her speed and accuracy with accounts, unmatched in her natal home. Yet she hadn’t expected someone even more skilled.
Gu Jiu calculated faster, more accurately, and with a graceful, pleasing demeanor.
Xiao Zhang shi thought: no wonder Gu Ban always praised Gu Jiu so highly.
Soon, Gu Jiu finished the accounts.
The sound of the abacus stopped.
Zhang shi asked, “Xiao Jiu, are the accounts clear?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Yes. The actual expenses at Xiangsi Yuan don’t match the books. For instance, the old hen soup listed here likely ended up in some kitchen maid’s stomach but was accounted to Bai yiniang.”
Xie shi glared at Gu Jiu with venom.
Gu Jiu remained calm, facing Xie shi without flinching. “Taitai has been busy preparing the dowry for san meimei, so the kitchen was neglected, allowing the kitchen maids to exploit the situation. That’s understandable. But the senior maids around taitai should have reminded her, rather than letting the kitchen maids deceive her unnoticed.”
Chun He, catching Gu Jiu’s signal, quickly stepped forward. “It’s all nubi’s fault. When nubi got busy, and forget to supervise the kitchen, allowing the maids to take advantage. Please punish nubi, da taitai, taitai, and young mistress.”
Zhang shi smiled. “I won’t punish you. Let your taitai do it. Dimei, once a problem is found, it must be corrected. Every bit of food consumed by the master and servants at Xiangsi Yuan must be accounted for; you can’t continue using outdated standards to deceive people. Comparing past and present, quite a lot of silver has ended up in the hands of the greedy and rotten-hearted.”
Xie shi smiled. “Dasao is right. Dalang’s wife is so capable. She detected the account discrepancy right after entering. Why didn’t er yatou notice the kitchen accounts?”
Gu Jiu: Now I’m being blamed.
Gu Jiu said, “It was my oversight. I thought the kitchen maids were honest but didn’t expect them to be a group of shameless opportunists. I suggest severely punishing the guilty kitchen maids.”
Xie shi glanced at Gu Jiu. “If the kitchen maids are all punished, who will cook for everyone? er guniang, you must think things through.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Taitai is right. Not all kitchen maids should be punished. Just catch the ones who embezzled the money, give them a proper beating, and expel them.”
“That’s right,” Zhang shi nodded approvingly.
Xie shi’s face slightly changed.
Everyone knew that the person overseeing kitchen accounts was her trusted aide. Punishing the embezzlers meant punishing her people.
That girl, Gu Jiu, was clearly siding with the First Branch, intentionally making trouble for her.
Xie shi said with a stiff face, “Of course the kitchen maids must be disciplined, but consider their effort, even if they contributed nothing. You needn’t worry about this, I will handle it myself.”
Zhang shi looked at Xie shi with a faint smile. “I trust that dimei will properly manage the kitchen. You won’t disappoint me, will you?”
Xie shi forced a smile. “Dasao, rest assured. I won’t disappoint you.”
“That’s good.”
After making a bit of a scene, Xiao Zhang shi quieted down and no longer picked fights with Xie shi.
Once her business was done, Xie shi swept out with a flick of her sleeve, clearly still holding some anger.
Zhang shi left shortly after.
Gu Yue tidied up the scholar’s desk and stopped Xiao Zhang shi, who was about to leave.
“Dasao.”
“San meimei, what is it?”
Gu Yue gave a cold smile. “Can you stop meddling in matters of the Second Branch? You’re worrying about how much was spent on Xiangsi Yuan, but this money should all go to our Second Branch anyway.”
Xiao Zhang shi spoke firmly, “San meimei, I cannot agree with that. Our First Branch and your Second Branch haven’t split yet. The finances are shared, and every account should be clarified. Once the branches are separate, even if Xiangsi Yuan’s expenses were cut by eighty percent, or if the servants didn’t eat a single grain, the First Branch would not interfere.”
Gu Yue scoffed. “You’re really meddlesome.”
Xiao Zhang shi frowned. “San meimei, speak politely. After all, I am your elder sister-in-law. I’m sure you don’t want a reputation for being ill-mannered, right?”
Gu Yue’s face darkened, but she quickly laughed. “Dasao, you are worthy of being called a housekeeper. Farewell!”
Xiao Zhang shi was furious. She was in her prime, yet in Gu Yue’s mouth, she became a mere “housekeeper.”
She grabbed Gu Jiu’s arm. “Er meimei, do I seem old?”
Gu Jiu couldn’t help but laugh. “Dasao, don’t mind san meimei’s words. Her mouth is foul; don’t take it seriously.”
Xiao Zhang shi touched her own face. “I shouldn’t look old, right?”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Dasao is beautiful as ever. Anyone saying otherwise is blind.”
Xiao Zhang shi laughed. “Er meimei, you really know what to say. By the way, has san meimei always had such a foul temper?”
“Her? Dasao, just observe her a few more days and you’ll understand.”
It seemed Gu Yue’s temper was truly terrible.
Xiao Zhang shi said, “San meimei will soon marry into Haixi bo fu. With her temperament, can she adapt to the intrigues of that household?”
Gu Jiu replied, “That, I cannot say. Let’s see how fate treats her.”
Gu Zhen’s wedding was set for July, twenty days before Gu Yue’s.
Zhang shi worried about finances.
This year, the household had at least four weddings to hold. Gu Ban’s wedding was already over, and all the money had been spent.
Next was Gu Zhen. Then Gu Yue. By the end of the year, it would be Gu Jiu’s turn.
Dowries and weddings cost considerable sums.
There were far more expenses this year than usual, making it very likely the household would run a deficit.
Hence, Zhang shi had to reprimand Xie shi, urging her to be more restrained. One cannot be so blatantly greedy.
The communal funds were running low; the year’s income would only be recorded by year-end.
Both da laoye and Gu daren had large expenses. The sons working outside always had spending.
Every day, the household saw money going out, but not coming in.
Flipping through the accounts, Zhang shi worried.
It seemed they could only request the profits from the shops and estates for the first half of the year to handle the second half’s expenses.
Zhang shi instructed Shaoyao, “Go ask er taitai which guests the Second Branch plans to invite for Zhen yatou and Yue yatou’s weddings. How many tables will be set?”
Shaoyao obeyed. “Yes. Nubi will go immediately.”
The Second Branch members were at Furong Yuan.
The Xu family sent betrothal gifts totaling three thousand taels, delighting Hu yiniang and Gu Zhen.
With this, Gu Zhen’s dowry finally reached over ten thousand taels, a very respectable sum.
Today being an auspicious day, Haixi bo fu also sent betrothal gifts worth ten thousand taels.
Gu Yue was overjoyed.
With this ten thousand-tael gift, plus the twenty thousand-tael dowry prepared by Xie shi, her total dowry could reach thirty thousand taels.
Thirty thousand taels, one hundred sixty sets, a truly grand affair.
Xie shi looked at the Xu family’s gifts: mostly silk, cotton, jewelry, and jade.
She said calmly, “Move these betrothal gifts to Zhilan Yuan later. Laoye has ordered er yatou to prepare the dowry for Zhen yatou; I won’t interfere.”
Gu Jiu stepped forward. “Thank you, taitai. I’ll have someone move the gifts immediately to free up space.”
Xie shi chuckled. “They do take up space. And compared to Haixi bo fu’s gifts, these seem quite modest.”
Hu yiniang’s expression shifted slightly; she looked at Gu Zhen worriedly.
Gu Zhen didn’t care at all about Xie shi’s sarcasm.
As long as the dowry was secured, Xie shi’s attitude didn’t matter.
Being of shu birth, she was already satisfied with a dowry of ten thousand taels.
It didn’t matter that it was less than Gu Yue’s.
Gu Yue’s dowry was even less than Gu Jiu’s. In terms of embarrassment, Gu Yue was far worse off.
Qing Mei and the housemaids entered to register each betrothal gift and then carried them to Zhilan Yuan’s storage.
“Mother, take a look at the betrothal gifts from Haixi bo fu,” Gu Yue said, unable to hide her excitement.
Xie shi flipped through the gift list, only moderately satisfied.
“Open the boxes and register them.”
The trunks were opened, and Gu Yue leaned forward to inspect them.
Xie shi frowned. “Yue’er, behave properly.”
Gu Yue smiled sheepishly and returned to her place.
Xie shi ordered the maids to count the gifts: silk and fabrics, jewelry, cash reserves, and even a separate courtyard.
Gu Yue was thrilled.
- This Zhang shi is the niece of the elder Zhang shi, Gu Jiu’s elder aunt. Just like Wei lao taitai and Wei shi in the hou fu. So I’ve decided to style the sister-in-law as Xiao Zhang shi and the aunt as just Zhang shi. ↩︎
T/N: I panicked seeing my dwindling stockpile, so I’ve scheduled this in a hurry. Let me know if there are any mistakes.
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