RATMOFANF: Chapter 44

 Character Glossary

· Shen Jingxiu (沈静姝): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife. The new matriarch of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

· Uncle Fu (福叔): A senior steward of the manor.

· Shunxi (顺喜): An accountant in the manor's accounts office, a confidant of Guo Shi.

· Laiwang (来旺): An accountant in the manor's accounts office.

· Guo Shi (郭氏): Li Xian's mother, mistress of the second branch. Acerbic and difficult, currently at the family temple.

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Chapter 44: Managing the Household (1)

The autumn sun was brilliant. Jingxiu sat upright in the main seat of the conference hall in the Zhenguo Duke Manor's rear courtyard. Uncle Fu stood below her, accompanied by two accountants.

The two accountants were named Shunxi and Laiwang.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

This Shunxi was the nephew of the son-in-law from the impoverished maternal family of a granddaughter-in-law from a distant relative of Second Aunt Guo Shi. Although his connection to the Zhenguo Duke Manor was extremely remote, that distant relative had pleaded with Guo Shi. As Guo Shi managed most of the household affairs, finding Shunxi a position within the manor wasn't difficult. Seeing he was literate and could keep accounts, she ordered Uncle Fu to assign him to run errands in the accounts office.

This Shunxi was an ingratiating sort. Whenever he had an opportunity, he would go to flatter and curry favor with Guo Shi. Over time, he was promoted to accountant, becoming a top-tier figure among the servants and a confidant of Guo Shi.

Jingxiu addressed the men, "I've been reviewing the manor's accounts from the past few days. I've summoned you all today to discuss a few things."

Uncle Fu replied respectfully, "We await your instructions, Madam."

In his heart, Shunxi sneered. The Zhenguo Duke Manor was so vast, with monthly expenditures flowing like water, immensely complex. How could anyone sort it all out in such a short time? This new mistress was only seventeen or eighteen. Although she didn't seem incompetent, she was still young. How could she possibly make sense of it all in just a few days?

Over the years, because he managed the accounts, he had secretly helped Guo Shi embezzle plenty of silver. Of course, while Guo Shi got the lion's share, he got the scraps; he had also profited quite a bit from it.

But the accounts themselves had been balanced by any means necessary.

Not to mention a young girl, even the shrewd and experienced Uncle Fu couldn't detect anything.

Just as Shunxi was lost in these thoughts, the woman above asked, "Which one of you is Shunxi?"

Shunxi collected himself and hurriedly stepped forward. "Madam, this humble one is Shunxi."

Jingxiu nodded at him and beckoned. "Come here for a moment."

Shunxi approached. "What are your orders, Madam?"

Jingxiu handed him a stack of account books. "Take these back and look them over carefully again. I noticed a few places that aren't recorded clearly."

Hearing Jingxiu's words, Shunxi's heart skipped a beat: Those falsified accounts were all balanced. 

Could this little girl have actually spotted something?

A moment later, his mind turned, and he realized: This young mistress must have found out privately that I'm Guo Shi's person. Is she suddenly doing this to trick me?

Shunxi steadied his mind and replied respectfully,"Reporting to the Madam, this humble one has managed accounts for many years and has always been cautious. These accounts were all sorted out clearly by me before being submitted to Steward Fu for your review."

Jingxiu said, unhurried and calm, "I've circled the problematic areas inside. You'll understand once you look."

Shunxi opened the account books with trepidation. Sure enough, he saw dense circles and markings inside, making his scalp prickle with tension.

Not a single one of those accounts he had been so confident were balanced had escaped detection.

Beads of sweat gradually appeared on Shunxi's forehead. He stared dumbfounded at the account books in his hand for a long while before looking up incredulously at the young mistress before him.

Her face was calm as she looked blandly at him, not a trace of emotion visible.

It made him feel even more uneasy.

It seemed he couldn't hide the fact that he had helped Guo Shi falsify accounts and line their pockets.

He just didn't know how this young mistress would deal with him.

According to the Zhenguo Duke Manor's household rules, he would have his personal property confiscated and be driven out of the manor.

If that happened, his good days would be over. Shunxi's heart felt icy cold. With a mournful face, he shot a pleading glance towards Steward Fu beside him.

Guo Shi had been punished and sent to the family temple; it was clear she was beyond hope. Hoping that, for the sake of their years working together, Steward Fu might at least plead for leniency for him if the young mistress decided to punish him.

His every move naturally didn't escape Jingxiu's notice, but she remained silent, neither speaking nor looking at him.

The hall fell into a terrifying silence.

Hot sweat poured from Shunxi's forehead.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Steward Fu was not unaware of the embezzlement by Shunxi and Guo Shi. Not just him, even the Old Madam knew perfectly well. It was just that he and the Old Madam had tacitly chosen to turn a blind eye.

It was merely for the sake of the deceased Second Master and the current Eldest Master, Li Xian, aiming for family harmony above all.

However, now a new mistress was managing the household. Her status was different, her standpoint was different. This matter...

Steward Fu tentatively said, "Madam, if there are problems with the accounts, this old servant cannot escape blame. What if... this old servant carefully investigates them again?"

Unexpectedly, Jingxiu replied, "That won't be necessary."

Steward Fu momentarily didn't understand Jingxiu's meaning and looked at her with a puzzled expression. Shunxi was even more frightened, not daring to breathe heavily.

Jingxiu looked at Steward Fu, then at Shunxi, and said calmly, "There are no major problems in these accounts. Only two or three unclear places. Have Shunxi sort them out later, and that will be fine."

A flicker of understanding passed through Steward Fu's eyes. He inwardly admired the Old Madam's good judgment: To be able to sort out these accounts clearly in just a few days shows this young mistress is capable. What impressed him even more was how this young mistress, despite her youth, handled matters with such measured tact.

Take the current situation, for example. If it were an ordinary young wife, a severe one would make an example of someone, punishing harshly without mercy to intimidate the servants; a slick one would gloss over it, figuring these were old accounts anyway, simply doing a favor and offending no one.

But this young mistress managed to subtly blend authority and generosity without showing off. She both intimidated people and avoided making enemies.

Uncle Fu replied with a single "Understood."

Then, he turned to Shunxi and said, "Did you hear the Madam's meaning clearly? Go back and properly sort out the problematic accounts."

Shunxi verbally assented repeatedly, but in his heart, he was confused.

This young mistress directly gave me the account books. Steward Fu didn't see exactly how they were marked inside, but I saw clearly when I opened them just now.

How could it be just one or two places as she said? They were densely covered. Every single falsified account was identified without exception.

Jingxiu looked at Shunxi and said, "I heard you are a relative of Second Aunt?"

Hearing Jingxiu mention Guo Shi, Shunxi hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes! To be precise, this humble one should address Lady Guo as 'Great Grandmother'." Then, he offered Jingxiu an ingratiating smile. "By that generation ranking, since Lady Guo is this humble one's Great Grandmother, then this humble one should also address you, Madam, as 'Aunt'."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu did not respond. Uncle Fu shot him a glare and scolded in a low voice, "Stop making such presumptuous connections here."

He had merely seen a chance to turn the situation and was hastily trying to flatter and cozy up to Jingxiu. Hearing Uncle Fu's scolding, he came to his senses: He was at least a dozen years older than this young mistress. Calling a young girl 'Aunt' was indeed rather inappropriate.

Then again, even though he was so much older than her, he still hadn't been able to outsmart her. All those falsified accounts he had painstakingly created were seen through by her in just a few glances.

All these years, he might as well have not eaten those meals, actually losing to a young girl.

Shunxi's mind was a tangled mess of thoughts, but his face was piled with smiles as he bowed and scraped, trying to show goodwill towards Jingxiu.

Jingxiu didn't get angry at his inappropriate words. Her expression remained unchanged, and her tone betrayed nothing. She looked at Shunxi and said, "Since you are a relative of Second Aunt, you are also a relative of our manor. In terms of personal connections, you are naturally closer than outsiders."

Shunxi nodded repeatedly, smiling as he chimed in, "The Madam speaks rightly, the Madam speaks rightly."

Jingxiu continued, "The manor will not treat you unfairly." She paused, then looked at him meaningfully. "As long as you can work diligently."

Hearing Jingxiu say this, Shunxi's hanging heart finally settled.

This young mistress had ultimately spared him. He wasn't stupid; he could naturally discern the meaning behind her words.

It was for Guo Shi's sake.

Shunxi quickly knelt on the ground and replied reverently, "This humble one understands everything now. Thank you for your guidance, Madam. From now on, this humble one will definitely work honestly and faithfully in your service."

(End of Chapter)

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