The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 201

There was a sudden silence in the third room in the west.

Neither Qin Niangzi nor Xu Fengjia spoke for a while.

Calculating intentionally and unintentionally, even if Qi Niangzi is usually cautious, even if Liufang can be said to be absolutely strong in the Pingguo Mansion, this situation is not easy to break after all. The fifth young lady arranged a trap for more than half a year, no matter how you look at it. It was perfect, and it seemed that it didn't make much sense to know or not to know. From the day Qin Niangzi asked to settle the accounts, she had already been caught in the game.

After a long while, Xu Fengjia breathed a sigh of relief, and complained sullenly, "You housewives, who live in rich clothes all day long, why don't you care about your blessings? You think about these harmful things all day long! Lost your blessings! Report it!"

Qin Niangzi couldn't help smiling, "I've never heard you mention the word blessing, why are you talking about old mothers now?"

She paused, and admitted, "That's how you got sick when you sat down to make calculations. Otherwise, your female relatives are weak and sick. How did you get so sick?"

The two fell silent again.

More than half of the wealth of the Pingguo Mansion's Wanguan family will be passed on to Liufang in the future. Even if the Pingguo Mansion itself has no money, Seventh Lady and Fifth Lady joined Xu's family successively, and the dowries they brought are enough to support the family Therefore, Liufang will never get angry in a hurry for money.

But for the rest of the houses, things are different. The reason why the Yang family is rich is because the old man has been sitting in the best position in the whole world, the governor of Jiangnan, for ten years. , It was also through such good jobs as Jiangsu Xuezheng and Jiangsu Chief Envoy that he sat on the way, and he was good at business management, so he accumulated such a huge family business.But the natal families of the other young wives are more expensive. If they are rich, they are definitely not as rich as the Yang family.

The rich die rich, the poor die poor, the young wives do not marry too much, and the few young masters will not inherit much property in the future. They live in this stately mansion full of luxury and luxury, but they can only end up rich in the future. , rather than the rich... Why doesn't Mrs. Wu want to count some money, why doesn't she want to take this family into her own hands and make money for a few more years?
It's not that Xu Fengjia can't understand this truth, he sighed again, and then said troubledly, "In this case, do you have any way to deal with it?"

Just listening to his tone, Qin Niangzi knew that this fearless major general on the battlefield had a bit of stage fright in the battle in the inner house.

This kind of insidious trick is indeed difficult for Xu Fengjia's personality. Of course he wants to make a fuss, but even he himself knows that making a fuss is the worst strategy, after all, five The young lady didn't leave any evidence for them to arrest.

Seventh Lady also sighed for a long time. She cheered up and comforted Xu Fengjia, "I told you, you have your battlefield, and I also have mine... I will handle the matter of the inner house, and you don't want to worry about it." I'm worried."

Xu Fengjia replied in a low voice. He grabbed Qiniangzi's hand, played with her slender jade fingers unconsciously, and asked softly, "What are you going to do?"

Seventh Lady shook her head and replied honestly, "I don't know yet."

She paused, sorting out the infinite thoughts in her heart, and then said dreamily, "However, we can try to analyze the situation in front of us."

She fumbled around for a while, lit the oil lamp, and took out a copper loose-leaf book that she specially found someone to type out from the small cabinet, moved the glass lamp to the bedside horizontal board, and moved the book over with difficulty , took out a small bottle of ink, and took out a quill from the small cabinet.

Xu Fengjia moved to the bed, looked at Qin Niangzi with interest, and said with a smile, "You are making a big fuss!"

A person like him who has made his way to wealth from the battlefield, of course, would not be thrown into chaos by one or two tricks by Mrs. Fifth Young Master. Ma'am, the tense atmosphere in the room has been somewhat relieved.

Seventh Lady gave Xu Fengjia a blank look, and explained softly, "I like to lean on the pillow and write something. Last time I entered the palace, I saw this kind of Western quill pen in Ning Concubine's place. I can write something casually. It is smaller than the ones we usually use. It's more convenient."

I just sucked a little pine smoke ink in the ink bottle, opened my notebook, and slowly wrote a few lines before I stopped to analyze it with Xu Fengjia.

"To see through Fifth Sister-in-law's plans, the first thing to figure out is whether Fifth Sister-in-law has used the housekeeper's past few years to enrich her own pockets with public interests."

Xu Fengjia lowered her eyes and said without hesitation, "No matter who is in charge of the family, it is a certain thing to use public affairs for personal gain. Fifth sister-in-law's dowry is not very large. I think it is [-]% out of [-]. There must be some. "

Seventh Lady also nodded, "Indeed, since that's the case, let's move on to the second question."

She casually drew the first circle on the paper, and then drew a few lines, "What method does Fifth Sister-in-law use to make a profit?"

You must know that although there are thousands of ways to make money in the world, as the woman in the mansion, Fifth Young Madam is not in charge of the business outside Xu's family. It can't be too big, and the ways for her to make a profit are very limited.

Qin Niangzi wrote while thinking, "Bring out the kitchen to buy and store, and the two immortals to preach the word, falsely report the cost, and profit from it... This is what the fifth sister-in-law wants us to doubt."

Xu Fengjia also helped her add, "Purchasing population is also something that can be manipulated, not to mention the annual clothing, jewelry... the monthly money in each courtyard, the annual gift sent to the palace to honor the aunt... In short, money comes in and out. There are hands and feet that can do it."

"At that time, my mother handed over the external affairs to the elder brother, and the internal affairs to the fifth sister-in-law. In fact, many abuses of love have been avoided." Seventh lady frowned slightly, and gently stroked her chin with the soft hair on the tip of the quill pen, Biting her lip and thinking for a while, she said, "It's just that she hasn't taken over the family affairs for a few years. Although my mother is in poor health, she hasn't reached the point where she can't manage things at all. It can't be too big. To make a profit from it, I think it will take a year." If you can buy 8000 taels, it will be the end. This is not counting the bonus for a few friends..."

Xu Fengjia suddenly frowned and asked, "The fourth sister-in-law said that the fifth sister-in-law earned at least 5 taels. Is this figure accurate? Do you think she..."

He fundamentally overturned an important piece of evidence: Seventh Lady's current conjectures are all based on what Fourth Young Madam said is true.If you don't believe the number of 5 taels that the Fourth Young Madam said, then all guesses will have to be overthrown and start over.

Seventh Lady shook her head without thinking, "Sister-in-law-in-law would not help sister-in-law to lie to me. As long as I say a word, mother-in-law can lock her in the mansion and never go anywhere for the rest of her life. She There is no need to deceive us because of Fifth Sister-in-law, and besides, the figure of 5 taels is much larger than we thought, if it was at Fifth Sister-in-law's instruction, she would make the number smaller."

It is indeed very difficult to lose as much as 5 taels just from purchasing the warehouse. If the fourth young lady wants to help the fifth young lady and say 3 taels casually, the effect will be as terrifying, but it will be much more credible.

"She has been hanging around Madam Tai all these years." Seventh Lady analyzed it to Xu Fengjia, "Shensitang and Shendutang are next door, and the two sides have frequent exchanges. There is a lot of news that cannot be kept secret. Maybe I heard one ear. It is hard to tell. With Fourth Sister-in-law's temper, Fifth Sister-in-law wouldn't be particularly wary of her..."

When this kind of news is flying all over the sky, and it is hard to tell whether it is true or not, one must not panic and dare not believe any news.If you should believe, you should be sure. This is not only trust in others, but also confidence in yourself.

Xu Fengjia bit her lip and thought for a while, then nodded affirmatively. "you are right!"

He added, "When it comes to being careful, I'm really not as good as you."

Saying this sentence now, the little bit of unconvinced feeling at that time is gone.

The smile on Seventh Lady's lips was fleeting.

"Judging from the 5 taels of silver, the fifth sister-in-law must have found a special way to make money..." She suddenly tapped her forehead lightly. "I'm so stupid! With so much money in her hand, and with the backing of the government, she secretly put out a usury loan. The interest rate will not take two years, but the interest is another 6 to [-] taels. ——Such a wicked thing , that’s why Mrs. Zhang did it!”

As long as there is money to be made, someone will do the decapitation business, not to mention usury. Like the fifth young lady who relies on a big tree, no one else dares to take her capital. She has no risk at all—— Not to mention putting it as high as eight cents, but putting it in interest of three cents a month, she took ten thousand to go out and move around, and in the past few years, she has earned more than fifty thousand?Fifty thousand, that's all to say the least!
Of course, lending usury has always been the most smearing thing. Even when it is at the end of the mountain, the rich will never make profits by such crooked ways: once the interest is repaid, the creditors will force them to sell their children. Selling women and fields to repay debts is commonplace.Only country bullies who bully men and women and run rampant will get involved in such a business!
Xu Fengjia's breathing became heavy immediately, and he suddenly said, "No, Beijing is at the foot of the emperor, and this kind of thing has always been strictly controlled. If the fifth sister-in-law has a hand in it, Feng Zixiu will definitely not get wind of it, He will tell you as well..."

Seventh Lady sneered slightly.

"Do you think she would be so stupid as to use the Xu family's name to lend money? Although there are not many bankers in Sijiu City, there are always 20 people. She invested her money, and she was afraid that the bankers would swallow it privately? There is the Xu family. The golden signboard is in front, this business is stable and profitable, and she has no conscience, why not do it?"

Under the three words usury, she drew three lines fiercely, and said unquestionably, "Unless I misunderstood Fifth Sister-in-law, she must have made profits this way. For such a heartless person Said, she has no reason not to take this safe and profitable road!"

"According to what you said, Fifth Sister-in-Law must have gotten back the capital at the end of last year, and quietly settled the account." Xu Fengjia also agreed with Qin Niangzi's opinion, and he continued to advance steadily. "This kind of thing doesn't need too many people. It's enough to have a confidant in the accountant."

Qin Niangzi bit her lower lip and nodded, she also slowly figured out a little way.

"If it were me, I would directly buy the two biggest stewards in the internal accounting room, Wu Xun's family and Cai Le's family. Only these two big stewards can get access to the money in the warehouse and make the accounts without any trace. Zhang Zhang A small manager like the one at home has too little energy to be of much use. The two big managers bribed one, the account was settled, the money was in place, and there was no trace at all."

She suddenly figured out another joint. "And this steward can come in handy now. If I haven't taken the bait and checked on Fifth Sister-in-law, it's time for her to make a move."

In ancient times, there were no professional audit institutions. The so-called accounting, in fact, means that these two big stewards are the masters.These two people have never recognized their relatives on the surface, and have no relationship with any house, so of course they also have a little credibility.If it wasn't for Qiniangzi who had some auditing experience after all, and specially invited two outsiders from Yangzhou to come over to look at the accounts, she could only trust the audit results given by these two housekeepers.

"Fifth Sister-in-law has considered all aspects very well." She couldn't help but feel sincerely, "No matter what I think, she has a plan waiting for her... It's my honor, Yang Qi, to meet such a master."

Xu Fengjia laughed and said, "You're not bad either! You can see the twists and turns here. I see the whole family, and you're the only one."

He quickly changed the topic to Mrs. Fifth Young Madam, "Since that's the case, I'm afraid it won't be so easy for you to find out Fifth Sister-in-law's pigtails. It's already July, and if she has money, she can naturally settle the account slowly." It’s so flat that you can’t see it. Even if you see it, there are rumors... This road won’t work.”

Seventh Lady bit her lip, staring at the countless clues she had written in front of her, the quill was scribbling on the snow-white coral paper, drawing lines one after another, and she thought of Mrs. Tai's abnormal guilt in concern this morning .

It is said that the older the world, the less courageous, but Mrs. Tai is by no means such a character, but Jiang Gui's character, old and spicy.

If the Fifth Young Madam has already settled the account and arranged this difficult situation, why is Madam Tai so worried?

Qin Niangzi weighed this idea for a while, and dropped this clue again.

What Xu Fengjia said was right, if Mrs. Wu really used usury to make profits for herself, then even if she was guessed by herself, she would not be able to do anything to embarrass Mrs. Wu.The deadlock in front of her still can't be solved: check, knowing that nothing can be found out, and if she doesn't check, it means she is incapable.No matter whether they investigate or not, the high-level members of the Xu family... no, Duke Ping will not be satisfied!
Mrs. Wu spent more than half a year to give her this trick, just like the spring rain in the south of the Yangtze River, dense and moist, moistening things silently. Involuntary taste.

In the two lives before and after, only the fifth young lady can make the seventh lady feel such a strong sense of crisis.

She first took it easy for half a year, and she probably started to make arrangements at that time, transferring Zhang's accountant away to confuse Seventh Lady's sight-this trick of idle chess actually worked.Afterwards, the layout is terrible for the scene, and it will not be announced if it is not for the scene, and it will not hinder the fifth young lady.It's good to be able to fall into the trap, but if you don't fall into it, you will expose the chess piece in the account room to force Qinianzi into the game, and you can still make money with a small gain.

No matter from which point of view, this is a terrible opponent.The only advantage I have now is the status of the son-in-law.If she were to change places, she would be the daughter-in-law of the Fifth Household, and Mrs. Zhang would be the wife of the Shizi. I am afraid that Seventh Lady would not even have a chance to turn things around.

But now, there are still many factors that she can use. Although the fifth young lady's calculation is a coincidence, she may not be able to count her as dead.

She calculated her bargaining chip in the bottom of her heart.

Mrs. Zhang didn't know that Qinianzi had hired two accountants to check the accounts. In everyone's mind, Qinianzi was now looking through the account books by herself and was familiar with the Xu family's bookkeeping methods. The real audit would take a few days before it started.Seventh Lady usually maintains a low-key personality, which gave her the most precious contingency time.

And those who would stand by her side unconditionally, there were Nine Brothers, Feng Jin, Xu Fengjia, those who gave her support conditionally, and the Elder Master, Eldest Wife, Mrs. Xu, Concubine Xu, and Sixth Lady.

She unconsciously drew circles on these chaotic names, and kept picking out many ideas, all of which were rejected by Qin Niangzi herself.

After all, this is the Xu family's housework. Duke Pingguo Xu Heng stands in the way. If outsiders want to intervene, it is not only impolite, but also unreasonable...

Qin Niangzi's eyes suddenly lit up, she turned a page, dipped some quills again, and began to scribble on the delicate rice paper.

"Fifth sister-in-law's move is good for everything, after all, it hurts so delicately..." While writing, she chatted with Xu Fengjia. "There are many things, and it's not enough to have just one clever word."

(End of this chapter)