I am a literary giant in Russia

Chapter 24 Serf Economics

When Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev entered the living room, his mother, Varvara Petrovna Lutovinova, was scolding a trembling servant.

This was a shrewd and strong middle-aged woman who looked very difficult to mess with. Although she was not tall and a little thin, when she started to lecture, the servant in front of her did not even dare to look at her. He just kept his head down, his body trembling a little, and occasionally he could utter a few vague words, but he was quickly swallowed back in fear.

But the servant did not just face scolding. When she got angry, the middle-aged woman in luxurious clothes stood up and slapped the servant twice in the face.

But if that were all, the teenage girl who was beaten could still accept it, and even felt a little relieved. After all, who in the entire Spasskoe-Lutovinovo estate didn't know the methods of the landlord Varvara?
Serfs would be whipped simply for not clearing snow in time or breaking dishes. On one occasion, she ordered a serf to be tied to a stable and whipped for several hours, leaving him disabled.

Then there were the cases of making a serf kneel on broken glass, standing barefoot in the cold winter, or making some people work in chains.

There was even one case where an elderly serf was exiled to a reclamation area in Siberia to work simply because he failed to take off his hat to salute her when she passed by, completely ignoring his family situation.

In short, the story about the landowner Varvara was known to everyone in the manor, but a little beating was really not a big deal.

In addition, to be honest, this situation is not uncommon in Russia today. It is not a big deal to say that it is almost everywhere.

Apart from anything else, if one party is very clear that the other party will be controlled by him, what will the relationship between the two parties be like?

Even in later generations, there are many leaders and superiors who have some power and treat their subordinates as their grandsons and bully them. So what will happen when the landlords have almost unlimited power over the serfs?
Let's get back to the point. When Turgenev came to the living room and saw this scene, he immediately asked:
"Mom, what happened?"

"Blind thing! I just came back from outside, and she refused to even pour me a cup of tea. I wonder if she's been blinded by the devil." Upon hearing her son's voice, the middle-aged woman slowly turned around, and the fierceness on her face suddenly receded. Although she still maintained her domineering and stern look, she did seem to have softened a lot.

"Dear Vanitchka (Ivan's nickname), what do you want from me?"

"Let her go down, let her go down! I'll pour you some tea, don't make things difficult for her over such a small matter!" The young man, who had always been gentle in nature, now seemed a little annoyed. While the servant was looking at him with gratitude and asking him to leave quickly, he also picked up the cup and prepared to pour a cup of tea for his mother.

Seeing his actions, although Varvara was unhappy because of her previous rebuttal, she finally acquiesced to this matter. After the young Turgenev placed the tea in front of his mother, he could not wait to say:

"I've read a fantastic novel, a very short one, Mom. Let me read it to you! You really should hear it!"

"Okay, Vanichka, you read it." Seeing her son so excited, Varvara did not dampen his interest. Instead, she nodded and listened attentively while drinking tea.

Seeing that his mother was concentrating her attention, the young man also gathered his strength and began to read the article in the magazine, hoping to convey a little of the poor child's expectations and cries.

"Nine-year-old boy Vanka Zhukov three months ago."

After reading it with great emotion, Turgenev could not wait to look at his mother, whose expression remained unchanged, and asked hurriedly: "Dear mother, what do you think?"

Varvara, who had been tempered by the years, naturally saw what kind of answer her son wanted her to give, so after hesitating for a moment, Varvara expressed her own opinion:

"This despicable couple should not treat this serf's grandson like this. This is not their property, how dare they treat him so harshly? He would never be treated like this in our manor."

"What makes you think that?"

Although he knew his mother's character very well, the young Turgenev still looked at her with disbelief at this moment:
"You are well-educated and well-informed. Can't you hear what the author really wants to express?"

"Vanitchka, isn't this answer enough?" Varvara, feeling the change in her son's attitude, replied impatiently, somewhat unable to bear it.
"What do you think the author is trying to say? Yes, about the plight of the serf's grandson, but is this what we caused? You know, I give alms to the poor and donate to the church, and many people I know don't do that.

And don't you know? Many people I know sell serfs and their children separately, and so far there have been no problems. Perhaps the reality is not as this inexperienced author describes. How can an adult understand the thoughts of a child? There are too many unbelievable elements in it.

"You are really confusing me." Turgenev looked at his mother again and for a moment forgot what he should say.

"You've been out there for too long and have forgotten how to manage your family's property." Seeing that the conversation had come to this point, Varvara simply shared her own experience:
"Do you think those serfs are easy to deal with? If you put down your whip, they won't work hard for you. If you slack off a bit, they'll dare to speak ill of you behind your back, steal all your property, and even want to trample on your head!"

If you don't find a way to deal with them and establish an image in their minds that cannot be defied, they will sooner or later come to deal with you!
But you have to have an idea of ​​how to deal with them. If you use the wrong method, they will unite with you."

"Stop it, Mom. Stop it." Unable to bear these words he had heard so many times, the young man's heart, already trembling because of the novel, became even more painful at this moment. He simply waved his hand and said:

"I have to go out for a while, and I have something to discuss with someone! Let's stop here for now!"

I really like my brother Tu, although he was almost scolded like a dog in Russia during this period (a moment of silence), I will talk about it later.

Then there are the recommendations from the last round, but this time there are several level 5 guys trying the water with me, and there are also quite a lot of level 4 guys. How can a newbie like me defeat them even if I try my best? (crying)
I am going to become the nutrition of the big boss (sad)
Please read the catch-up book on Tuesday in advance. I really don’t want to crash in the first round (bitter)

Finally, I would like to thank you all for your support, because this is a very niche subject and it is particularly difficult to write. After all, I have to balance many things, and take into account the fun and many other things. I have to spend a lot of time every day looking up information and reading the original texts of some Russian novels. Therefore, I was really not sure when I started writing the book.

I just wanted to give it a try, but the results so far have exceeded my expectations. Thank you all for your monthly tickets and strong support (heart)
Keep working hard, I will update more later.

Finally, I would like to thank "Fu Bo 137" and "Let's Drink" for their tips. I didn't expect to receive them. I am really grateful (rubbing my hands)
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(End of this chapter)