The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 4: Yuanchun is in Charge
There were eight or nine hundred people in Ningguo Mansion, a small number of whom were maids and old women, and there were only about four hundred men.

The only men in charge now are Jia Jing, who practices Taoism in a Taoist temple and does not take care of business, Jia Rong, who is currently in charge, and Jia Zhen’s adopted son Jia Qiang.

Jia Qiang and Jia Zhen were attacked on the same bed, and Jia Rong decisively sent Jia Qiang to study in a country farm afterwards.

Now there is only Jia Rong, the male owner, in Ningguo Mansion.

My grandfather Jia Jing had another wife, but she died after giving birth to a daughter. The Ningguo Mansion was not suitable for taking care of the child, so she was sent to the Rongguo Mansion for care.

The rest are Jia Zhen’s wife, Youshi, and two concubines.

But there were too many slaves.

After Jia Yuanchun started to manage the household, she quickly registered all the maids and servants in Ningguo Mansion and carefully calculated the monthly allowance.

Wang Xifeng also came to help every day. Her family was happy for her to learn these things in advance, so they didn't stop her.

Jia Rong read books and practiced calligraphy seriously every day. With the wisdom and patience from his previous life, he soon learned how to write and understood several books.

In addition to reading and practicing calligraphy, Jia Rong also worked with his servants to keep fit.

In particular, several managers and young people in Ningguo Mansion would practice martial arts with Jia Rong every day.

One day, just after he had beaten up several managers and servants, he saw Jia Yuanchun and Wang Xifeng coming over with their maids.

Seeing this, Jia Rong said to the housekeepers who were sitting or lying down, "Get up and go to work. Don't think I'm looking for trouble to bully you. You are all grown men. How can you take care of the whole family if you are not strong? When you work hard on your wife in the future, you will know that I urge you to exercise for your own good!"

Several housekeepers and servants stood up with a smile, "Yes, Master!"

These people quickly went downstairs to rest, and Jia Yuanchun came over.

Jia Yuanchun frowned and scolded: "You said you wanted to study hard, but you are here playing with swords and sticks all day long. No one is watching you, and you are acting ridiculous again!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Of course you need to be strong to study. If you are not strong, you will be blown down by a gust of wind. What will you achieve in the future?"

"Besides, I read a lot. I practice martial arts in the morning to strengthen my body, and read and practice calligraphy in the afternoon and evening. I read more books in one afternoon than I did in the previous month. Why do you have to be so strict?"

Wang Xifeng raised the corners of her mouth and said, "Mr. Rong is really good at talking. I see you must have read a lot of books, and your talking skills are quite powerful."

Jia Rong walked over and said, "Miss Feng, please don't look down on me. Managing money and land is a small matter. Without a strong man in the family, it is difficult to manage the people in the mansion, let alone the village head."

Jia Rong stood beside Wang Xifeng, lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Didn't you see that I just knocked down seven people by myself?"

Wang Xifeng shuddered, covered her ears with one hand, and quickly took a few steps back, looking at the smiling Jia Rong with a red face.

Soon Wang Xifeng became angry and ashamed. She usually bullied others, but today she was bullied by a boy who was younger than her.

"Okay! You're bullying me! Let me teach you a lesson!"

Wang Xifeng cursed and reached out to pull his ear.

Jia Rong ran out with a smile, "Come on! Come and chase me!"

Wang Xifeng ran quickly to catch him, but she couldn't catch Jia Rong no matter what. Soon she was leaning against the rockery, panting and unable to move.

Jia Rong walked up to Jia Yuanchun at this time and said, "Look, having a healthy body is so important. Having a healthy body is also necessary for having many children in the future."

How could Jia Yuanchun not see that her nephew was teasing her, but she was unwilling to bother with him.

"Your father just passed away a few days ago. I didn't want to make you sad, and I won't bother with your dirty words, but how can you be so playful every day? You are so frivolous?"

Jia Yuanchun frowned and taught this dandy boy a lesson.

Jia Rong raised his hands helplessly, "Good aunt! Our family doesn't say lies. I'm going to study. Don't be angry."

Jia Yuanchun's expression improved a little and she didn't want to say anything to him.

At this moment, Wang Xifeng approached Jia Rong quietly from behind.

When he got closer, he suddenly stretched out his hands and grabbed Jia Rong's neck.

The other maids and servants naturally saw it, but did not remind Jia Rong.

Even Jia Yuanchun was at a loss for words, but Jia Rong could hear what was going on behind him.

Wang Xifeng grabbed him and shouted happily, "I caught you!"

Unexpectedly, Jia Rong turned around and hugged Wang Xifeng who rushed over.

"Sister Feng, you are walking into a trap!"

"Bah! Who is your sister! Let me go!" Wang Xifeng was hugged by Jia Rong and couldn't help humming.

Jia Rong let go of the hot girl and said with a smile, "I'm going to study now, is there anything else?"

Jia Yuanchun came here not only to remind Jia Rong to study hard, but also to discuss other things.

Ningguo Mansion has always belonged to Jia Rong. It is true that Jia Yuanchun came to be the head of the household and take care of the accounts, but every penny must be recorded clearly.

"I think there are too many servants in this mansion. You are studying and don't need to go out. Would it be better to dismiss some of them?"

This is the first time that Jia Yuanchun is in charge of the Jia family, and it is not her turn to take charge of the power of the Jia family. Now she goes back to Rongguo Mansion every day to report some things and get guidance from her mother, Lady Wang, and the old lady Jia.

Jia Rong already had a clear idea of household affairs and understood the management system of large companies better than Jia Yuanchun.

"No need. Each maidservant gets less than one tael of silver per month. Men have to support their families so they get more, but it's only eight or nine thousand taels a year. Add in the money given to you and Miss Feng, and there's not much left."

"I can spend less on food and clothing, and I don't spend much money if I don't go out to fool around. Now, in addition to being frugal, it is more important to spend money wisely."

Jia Yuanchun said, "A few thousand taels is not money? Save as much as you can."

Jia Rong smiled.

Jia Yuanchun felt very uncomfortable when she saw this. Wang Xifeng beside her said loudly, "What are you laughing at? What's wrong with what you said?"

"That's what women say." Jia Rong smiled and said, "You know how to be frugal, but you don't know how to make money."

"There are many corrupt officials in Ningguo Mansion, and countless people use the mansion's money to support their own families. The heads of the farms outside also feel that I can't control them. Even my father doesn't have the ability to make them do things honestly."

"But I talked to a few managers and told them to give them a little more money, so they can't take what they shouldn't take."

"If you take it again, I will definitely not be polite!"

Jia Yuanchun was stunned, "You..."

Wang Xifeng did not expect this. She did not expect that Jia Rong had already made plans.

Jia Yuanchun decided to listen to Jia Rong's opinion.

"What do you think it should be?"

Jia Rong whispered, "I've asked my servants to go around the various villages. Even though there are only a few hundred of them, as long as the village heads know that I'm watching them, they won't dare to go too far."

"Servants need to be used. Otherwise, they will steal money and things when they are idle. It will be difficult to control them after a long time."

"Having more people is not a bad thing. What's important is knowing how to use them."

Jia Yuanchun felt that what Jia Rong said made sense.

Not only Jia Yuanchun, but even Wang Xifeng and her maid Ping'er looked at this young man in surprise.

Jia Yuanchun quickly said, "Since you understand everything about this mansion, it would be great if you could be the head of the household."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I still need to study. You get two taels of silver a month in Rongguo Mansion, and I will give you twenty taels in Ningguo Mansion. Just take care of the accounts for me, and I will trust you!"

Wang Xifeng felt a little jealous after hearing this. She didn't know who had said that he wanted her to be the head of the family some time ago, but she gave up because of her father's will.

Jia Rong pretended not to notice Wang Xifeng's look and continued, "Don't worry about Ningguo Mansion. I'll stay in the mansion. If anyone dares to disobey you, I will not let him off!"

Jia Yuanchun nodded and said, "Then I will help you manage the accounts. If I don't manage them well, don't blame me."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Of course not, you are a good girl who is in charge of the family!"

(End of this chapter)