In Mrs. Wang's small courtyard, Mrs. Wang heard the movement outside, and she fell silent.
It's not that she can't see that Jia Lian and his wife are taking the opportunity to win people's hearts, but she can't stop them. Because the other party's reasons are very good. After major events, it is indeed the tradition of the Jia family to reward people based on their merits.
Therefore, not only could she not hinder him, she could only watch the other party take money from the official treasury here to win people's hearts.
Oh, it can no longer be said that it is the official treasury here. From the moment Wang Xifeng sent the unused money from Jia She's funeral to the treasury, Rongguo Mansion only had one official treasury.
Moreover, she felt that she suddenly lost control of the official treasury. Because the housekeepers are Jia Lian and his wife.
In the past, they helped her manage the house, so they had to report everything to her or Jia Zheng, but from today on, there is probably no need to report everything to them.
Unless he and Jia Zheng go out in person and compete with Jia Lian and his wife for stewardship...
But this is obviously impossible.
Therefore, Mrs. Wang felt a little uncomfortable. She finally realized why Jia Lian wanted to force them to agree not to separate their families. His intentions were so sinister!
In Rongqing Hall, Jia Mu looked at the girls and women around who could not hold back their composure, and sighed: "Go and receive the reward. Since they have said that everyone has a share, you are not allowed to follow me and still get the reward." Don’t let this light happen!”
All the girls and women immediately thanked Jia Mu, and then went away to receive the reward in batches.
Compared with the excitement here in Rongguo Mansion, Ningguo Mansion seems deserted and desolate.
The servants of Ningguo Mansion looked at each other, their eyes turning red with jealousy and dissatisfaction.
They had all contributed in the previous month, and they were busy with the uncle and grandma. Many of them thought that their contribution was no less than that of the people in Rongguo Mansion. Why did Mr. Lian and Mrs. Lian leave them alone at this time? Forgot?
In Ningxuan Hall, the main hall of Ningguo Mansion, Jia Zhen said very speechlessly after listening to Youshi's words: "In that case, let's reward him, otherwise, I'm afraid the slaves below will curse us."
After saying this, Jia Zhen couldn't help complaining that Jia Lian was unkind.
For Jia She's matter, they went back and forth and asked for help in vain, but now that the matter is over, they are still involved. I haven't told him in advance that if he doesn't show some blood in this situation, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to command the minions under him next time.
As he was talking, he suddenly saw someone coming from Rongguo Mansion saying: "Our second master and second grandma said that the uncle and eldest grandma, as well as uncle Xiao Rong and aunt Xiao Rong, have been busy taking care of our eldest master this month. ,Thanks for your hard work.
I have nothing to repay, I only prepared a small gift, which is not respectful, but I also ask the uncle and grandma to accept it. "
"Hahaha, you second master and second grandma are too polite. We are all a family. This is too unorthodox, isn't it..."
Jia Zhen glanced at the boxes of yellow ginseng that the maids had taken over, then went out to take a look at the wine being carried inside, stroking her sparse beard and nodding with satisfaction.
…
In addition to Ning Rong's second house, there are also family members who have been helping out for a month, such as Jia Yun, Jia Qiang and others. Jia Lian also prepared relatively generous amounts of money for the boys to send to their respective homes.
At this point, it can basically be considered as covering everything.
When the basket of money in front of him bottomed out, Jia Lian turned his head and looked to the other side and asked, "Have you finished paying out the money over there?"
Wang Xifeng glanced at the roster and smiled back: "Except for the old lady and some people in the lady's room who couldn't leave and didn't come to collect them, everything else has basically been released."
In fact, in normal Jia Mansion, the male and female servants are under separate jurisdiction, even the monthly payment is done separately.
But today, for convenience and to create a more sensational and grand scene, Jia Lian deliberately went inside and outside together.
On the wide corridor in front of the outer steward's room, he and Wang Xifeng occupied one side, set up a few tables, and made a good show. Wang Xifeng distributed rewards to maids, wives and mothers-in-law, and he came to distribute rewards to slaves and boys.
"In that case, there is no need to distribute the rest. We can just send them to others later."
Jia Lian said to Wang Xifeng.
When the onlookers saw this, they thought it was over and were about to leave when they suddenly heard Jia Lian calling: "Butler Shan."
"The slave is here..."
An old slave who looked to be in his forties or fifties, lean but somewhat potbellied, walked forward with a smile.
"Butler Shan seems to have received a lot of rewards today, right?"
"Hehehe, it's all thanks to the second master and second grandma. I have indeed received a lot of rewards today..."
These housekeepers in Rongguo Mansion basically existed from Jia Mu, and they have great status in the entire Jia family.
Take Lai Da as an example. Even Jia Qiang, the decent great-great-grandson of Ningguo Mansion, would respectfully call him "Grandpa Lai" in person. The status of these stewards is evident from this.
Although this Shan family cannot be compared with the Lai family, it was one of the four major housekeepers in the Rongguo Mansion. Its status was only ranked below Lai Da and Lin Zhixiao. It was also one of the people who Jia Lian relied on the most as the housekeeper.
"Oh, how does it compare to Butler Shan's greed and kickbacks over the past month?"
Jia Lian looked at Shan Daliang and asked with a smile.
As soon as this question came out, the people around who were originally casual were stunned, and some people suspected that they heard it wrong.
But Shan Daliang did not hear wrong, he said in a coquettish tone: "Second, the second master was joking. I have always been diligent and conscientious in doing things for my grandparents. I am afraid that I will die but cannot repay the kindness of my grandparents. Where, where?" Dare to be greedy, let alone take kickbacks, the second master really unjustly sentenced this slave to death..."
Jia Lian chuckled, picked up a booklet next to him, and said, "I have recorded here a total of eleven things that happened to Shan Guan Guo in the past month, or were personally responsible for, large and small. This includes purchasing lamp oil and candles, gold paper binding, hiring nuns and Taoists, finding stone materials to compile inscriptions, etc.
Judging from the number of things he has done, Shan Guan is indeed a diligent person.
If, as you said, you have not been greedy at all and have not taken any kickbacks, then you are the biggest contributor this time. I am afraid that the reward I just gave you is not enough to commend you for your achievements. "
Shan Daliang felt that his vest was starting to sweat.
The posture in front of him made him feel bad, but he could only bite the bullet and said: "What I did is all part of my job, it is nothing, and the Second Master has already rewarded me enough..."
"What a good thing!"
Jia Lian suddenly snorted coldly, and Shan Daliang trembled, forcing himself not to move.
"He Chunfang Zhang's family purchased a total of five hundred kilograms of lamp oil, paid thirty taels of silver, and returned five and a half taels.
Hahaha, it seems that each kilogram of lamp oil costs more than sixty cents. I don’t know what kind of lamp oil is so valuable. Your second master and I can’t help but want to sell lamp oil..."
As soon as Jia Lian said this, there was a burst of laughter in the courtyard illuminated by lanterns.
For ordinary slaves, who don't get much luck on weekdays, they can't wait to see these high-ranking, extremely wealthy housekeepers and stewards being ruined and dealt with!
If they weren't afraid of being cheated afterwards, many people couldn't help but want to tell Jia Lian. However, they were still not sure whether Jia Lian just wanted to beat Shan Guang Guan or not, so they didn't dare to act rashly for the time being.
Shan Daliang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and explained: "The latest secret lamp oil made by the Hechunfang Zhang family that I asked you to buy is made of high-quality pine nuts. When it burns, it has the fragrance of pine nuts. , that’s why it’s so expensive.
If the second master doesn't believe it, he can send someone to ask the Zhang family. If the slave dares to lie, the second master will beat the slave to death without any complaint! "
Shan Daliang felt that with Jia Lian's status, it was impossible to ask outsiders for these twenty taels of silver. Isn't this an obvious way to make people laugh at the government's inability to manage the family?
Besides, he had also negotiated with the eldest young master of the Zhang family. Even if someone asked, he probably wouldn't betray him.
Huh, if the second master thinks that he can be convicted in this way, he is looking down on them.
