On this day, Jia Congzheng, Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng were cleaning up the accounts of Liaodong Zhuangzi over the years.
Jia Cong kept all the grain produced in Heishan Village over the years, and basically transported it outside the Great Wall, with Xu Hua responsible for trading and distribution.
Jia Cong made a rough calculation and concluded that he would pay Rong Mansion 20,000 taels of silver every year, but he did not calculate it in detail.
When I came back this time, I cleared all the accounts.
As the saying goes, a good brother has a clear account.
If the accounts are never clear, it will make everyone worry and cause unnecessary troubles.
The more independent you are, the more you need to sort out the accounts clearly. What is given is given, what is given is given, and what is traded is what is traded. It must be clear and clear, and cannot be confused.
Jia Cong handed over the account books and documents recorded by him to Jia Lian.
Jia Lian also took out the documents sent back by Zhuangtou, carefully checked and compared them, and confirmed that there were no problems. Then the accounts were completely cleared, and the two brothers were settled.
Wang Xifeng watched the two brothers sort out all the accounts, and then took it over to take a look at it. There was indeed no problem.
He opened his mouth and said with a smile: "Brother Cong, my sister-in-law finds it a bit funny to see you two brothers calculating and calculating for such a small amount of accounts. You are brothers. Is this the case?"
Jia Cong rolled his eyes, this old woman was just making sarcastic remarks.
Why didn't you say it just now? Now that all his debts have been settled, you think it’s funny, so why did you go there so early?
If you really don't know clearly, the one who worries about you the most and the one who can't calm down the most is probably this Feng Lazi. Maybe you think you are taking advantage of her?
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Sister-in-law, we brothers have nothing to do with each other. I'm just afraid that you can't sleep because of your thoughts about my sister-in-law every day. If your sister-in-law gets sick, wouldn't that be your brother's fault?"
Wang Xifeng was not embarrassed when being told something that was on her mind.
He laughed and scolded: "Bah, you are talking nonsense. Is my sister-in-law such a short-sighted person? I don't believe in others, but I still believe in you, Brother Cong."
Jia Lian also smiled and said: "That's true. In the past, the land rent sent by Montenegro every year did not exceed 5,000 taels of silver. It was usually two or three thousand taels, plus some prey, and it was enough.
Since Congdi went to Liaodong and dealt with the two evil-hearted people, the harvest has increased countless times. Every year, there is an income of 20,000 taels of silver. This is all the credit of Congdi. Even if the accounts are not counted, brother still believes in you. . "
Speaking of the Wu brothers, Wang Xifeng said angrily: "That damn bastard looks honest and kind on the surface, but his heart is completely black.
We come here every year to cry out for poverty. We are either hit by floods, droughts, or hail. We are far away and don’t understand the situation, so we can only be deceived by them. Fortunately, Brother Cong took care of them. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have known. How long has it been since you were deceived? "
This is true. If he hadn't dealt with those two black brothers, Rong Mansion would only get two to three thousand taels of silver every year.
Jia Cong said: "One code means another code. The accounts still need to be clear. Brothers should settle the accounts clearly. Only when the accounts are clear will everyone feel better. This will also make it easier to get along and avoid guessing each other. In the end, Parted on bad terms.”
Jia Lian smiled and said, "That's true. Although Brother Cong is young, he is very thorough and understanding of these people. It is really rare. There is nothing to do today. Let your sister-in-law prepare some food and wine, and we brothers can have a good drink together."
Jia Cong thought for a while and realized that there was nothing important, so he nodded in agreement.
"Now that the second brother has spoken, the brother is not polite and bothers the second brother and sister-in-law."
Wang Xifeng said with a smile: "What's so annoying about this? My sister-in-law will have a few drinks with you later and tell her about your trip to the south of the Yangtze River. Listening to the fourth girls and the others will make everyone very envious." Ping'er also called over, and the four of us had a nice chat."
Jia Cong said: "Okay, then listen to my sister-in-law. You can arrange for someone to call Ping'er over."
Ping'er has been with Wang Xifeng since childhood, and the two have a good relationship.
Since Ping'er followed Jia Cong, the relationship between the two families has been good. The two are in charge of Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion respectively, and they have not stopped contacting each other.
Most of Sister Feng's shops sold Jia Cong's goods, and Ping'er came forward to give her a lot of discounts.
Let this woman, who is jealous of money, remember her as a favor.
The two of them get along like sisters, and Jia Cong is happy to see this happen. Jia Cong doesn't understand much about the friendship between women, so they can just interact with each other on their own.
If you really want to count, Sister Feng can be considered Ping'er's natal family.
Wang Xifeng arranged for her maid Feng'er to go to Ningguo Mansion to call Ping'er, and also asked someone to notify the kitchen to prepare a banquet. After the arrangements were made, the three of them sat together and chatted.
At this time, the maid came to report: "Second Grandma, Zhou Rui's family is bringing an old woman and a five or six-year-old child to see Second Grandma."
Wang Xifeng said: "Let the Zhou Rui family come in."
The maid went out to deliver a message, and the curtain bearer from Zhou Rui's family came in.
Seeing that Jia Cong was there, he quickly stepped forward and saluted: "I would like to pay my respects to the Duke of Guo. I didn't expect that the Duke of Guo is also here, which is a bit abrupt."
Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Zhou, there's no need to be polite. I'm here to visit my second brother. Just pretend I don't exist."
Wang Xifeng said: "You came here at this time, but you have something to do? Just tell me if you have something to do. Brother Cong is not an outsider."
Zhou Rui's family said: "Second Master, Second Grandma, that's what happened. The Wang family's grandfather recognized a distant nephew, and only his wife and uncle knew about it.
I haven’t moved around in these years, but today I found someone on my door, saying that I came to pay my respects to my aunt and asked me to introduce them. I still know this family, so after thinking about it, I brought them here. Would you like to meet my grandma? they? "
Wang Xifeng frowned and said: "I haven't moved around for many years, and this sudden visit, is there any difficulty or anything else?"
Zhou Rui's family said: "I used to live in the capital, but then I went to Zhuangzi, and my life must have been unsatisfactory. This time I came to my door, maybe I encountered difficulties. Although Grandma Liu didn't say it explicitly, I guess that's what she meant."
Wang Xifeng said: "Isn't your surname Wang? Why is your surname Liu?"
Zhou Rui's family said: "The child's name is Wang Ban'er, and he is the real owner. Grandma Liu is his grandma who brought the child here."
Hearing Grandma Liu's name, Jia Cong's heart moved. It seemed that this was Grandma Liu's first visit to Rongguo Mansion.
Grandma Liu seems to be stupid and often makes jokes, but in fact she is as wise as a fool and has a clear mind. She just deliberately cooperates with everyone's jokes and does not really know anything.
All this is done just to cater to everyone and get some extra benefits.
This is also forced by life and cannot be done, but this person understands kindness and knows how to repay kindness, but he is also a rare person.
Since they are relatives of Wang Xifeng and the Wang family, I can't say much. I can just wait and see what happens. Besides, with me here, the Jia family shouldn't be able to go that far.
Wang Xifeng said: "Since they are here, let them come in and meet them."
Zhou Rui's family nodded and went outside. After a while, they led an old woman and a five or six-year-old child in.
Grandma Liu came to the house and when she saw Wang Xifeng, she knew that this was the real owner and hurriedly stepped forward to salute and say hello.
Wang Xifeng saw that Grandma Liu was very old and did not accept people's courtesy, so she hurriedly shouted to Zhou Rui's family: "Sister Zhou, please help me and don't let me bow. I am young and don't really recognize her, but I don't know what generation she is in. No. Dare to call it."
Zhou Rui's family said: "This is Grandma Liu."
Wang Xifeng asked them to sit next to her, and Ban'er hid behind Grandma Liu, trying every possible means to coax him to come out and bow, but he refused to die.
Seeing this, Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "The relatives don't move around much and are all alienated. You know, you said that you dislike us and don't want to come often. I don't know that you are a villain, but you just treat us as if there is no one in our eyes." of."
Hearing Wang Xifeng's words, Jia Cong secretly smiled in his heart. Feng Lazi's mouth was always so sharp and unforgiving.
Grandma Liu said quickly: "Our family is in a difficult situation and cannot afford to walk. When we come here, we don't have to slap my aunt, even the housekeepers don't look like it."
Sister Feng said: "This doesn't sound disgusting, but I am just using my grandfather's false name to become a poor official. Whose family has what? It is just an empty shelf. As the saying goes, there are three poor relatives in the court. Not to mention you and me.”
He turned to Zhou Rui's family and said, "Have you returned to the second wife?"
Zhou Rui's family said: "Not yet, waiting for grandma's instructions."
Wang Xifeng said: "Go and have a look. If there's someone there, that's all. If you have some free time, I'll go back and see what you say."
Zhou Rui's family agreed and went down.
Sister Feng asked someone to grab a handful of fruits and give them to Ban'er. After just saying a few words, Zhou Rui's family came back.
He said to Sister Feng, "My wife said that I have no time to spare today, and the same goes for my second wife's company. Thank you very much for thinking about it. It's fine if you come here to hang out in vain. If you have anything to say, just tell my second wife."
Grandma Liu said: "I don't have much to say, but I just came to see my aunt and my aunt, and it's also a sign of friendship between relatives."
"It's okay if you don't have anything to say. If you have anything to do, just tell the second grandma. It's the same as the wife."
While Zhou Rui's family was talking, they gave Grandma Liu a look.
Grandma Liu understood, but she was a little embarrassed to ask her to ask for help. She didn't want to say anything, but when she thought of the purpose of her trip, she still blushed and said, "I shouldn't have said anything when we first met today. I just ran all the way." You are getting old, so you have to say less.
I took your nephew with me today for no other reason than his parents didn't even have anything to eat and the weather was cold, so I had no choice but to take your nephew with me to your hometown. "
Sister Feng is so shrewd. She immediately understood that she was here to beat the autumn wind.
Seeing Grandma Liu encouraging Baner to speak, the boy was just eating and was not obedient at all.
He smiled and said: "No need to say it, I understand. It's dinner time. Sister-in-law Zhou, take them down to eat. Brother Cong is here, so I won't make amends. They must eat well." .”
The maid took Grandma Liu's grandparents out, and Wang Xifeng said to Zhou Rui's family: "I just returned to the second wife, what did the second wife say?"
Zhou Rui's family said: "My wife said that they were not from the same family. Their ancestors and their great master were officials in the same place, so they were connected to the clan. They have not moved around much in the past few years. When they came, they never Empty pass.
It's his kind intention to come to see us now. Don't neglect him. If you have anything to say, just ask the Second Mistress to make up her mind. "
Wang Xifeng nodded after hearing this.
"Sister-in-law Zhou, please take them to eat first, and then bring them over after eating."
"I know, Second Grandma."
Zhou Rui's family agreed and turned around to go down.
At this time, Ping'er also rushed over and said with a smile: "Why did grandma remember that she was hosting today?"
Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "I have been very busy during this period, and I finally have some free time. It happens that their brothers are also here, so we just get together and talk together."
Wang Xifeng asked people to serve food and wine, and the four of them sat together and chatted.
Wang Xifeng picked up the wine glass and said: "Now the entire Jia family almost belongs to you two brothers. From now on, your second brother and I will have to rely on brother Cong to take care of us. Come, sister-in-law, I propose a toast to you."
Jia Cong picked up the wine glass and had a drink with Sister Feng, and said with a smile: "A family doesn't speak the same language, so my sister-in-law's words are a bit foreign. We are all our own people, there is no need to be so foreign.
Besides, our Jia family is not very crowded, and we are all brothers, so we should naturally support each other. Sister-in-law, don’t worry, as long as there are brothers here, the Jia family will be safe. "
Jia Lian smiled and said, "With Brother Cong here, what else can you worry about? Can't you understand what we were like before and what we are now? With Brother Cong standing by us, our Jia family can be rich and prosperous for decades." .
Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. It's rare to be happy today. Let's have a few drinks and talk. "
Next, the four of them drank and chatted, talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was quite happy.
During the dinner, Jia Cong told some interesting things about his trip to the south of the Yangtze River, some places of interest, etc., which made several people envious.
Ping'er smiled and said: "Master, next time you go out, you must take me out to see the world."
Jia Cong said: "Don't worry, we are still young and there are plenty of opportunities. I will definitely take you out to broaden your horizons next time."
Wang Xifeng said with an envious look: "Ping'er, you are such a heartless person. You only think about yourself. You don't have me in your heart at all, and you don't even think about taking me with you."
Ping'er said with a smile: "Grandma, if I really want to ask you to go, are you willing to leave this big stall at home? Can you trust others to hand it over?"
Not to mention, Ping'er knew Sister Feng well, and now she was talking about her Achilles' heel.
Wang Xifeng finally gained real power, and the Rongguo Mansion was getting richer and richer, and had returned to its peak. At this time, she really didn't feel comfortable handing over the power to others.
But he said: "What's the point? I went out to play for a few days and came back. Is there anyone who dares to usurp the throne?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Sister-in-law, you want to go out for fun. It's just a matter of words. My second brother has plenty of time. It won't be troublesome to take you out for a while. It's much freer than my brother. I'm an errand now and there is no emperor." If you open your mouth, you won’t go anywhere.”
Wang Xifeng said: "Then it's better to pull me down. I hope your second brother will take me out. Don't even think about it in this life. He will just go out on his own and have a good time. How can he take me out?"
Jia Lian smiled awkwardly and said, "What are you doing with Congdi talking about this? Come on, let's have a drink."
After the meal, Wang Xifeng met with Grandma Liu again, gave her twenty taels of silver, and sent them away.
Although twenty taels of silver is not much for the Jia family, for the farmers, it is enough to live a prosperous year.
Grandma Liu did not expect that she would really gain a lot from this trip. She was very satisfied and took Baner home happily.
Jia Cong also said goodbye to the two of them and took Ping'er back to Ningguo Mansion.
