A stew of the Red Chamber

Chapter 15 Spending a Little Money

Only when you have a healthy body can you exert yourself to the fullest.

Without cell phones, computers, or the internet, and without nightlife, Wang Qing's daily routine is still quite regular for now.

He was naturally unaware of the harmonious atmosphere inside the small kitchen, and even less could he know that the Liu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were using his position to their advantage.

Silent all night.

The next day, as usual, I stretched my muscles in the courtyard, changed my clothes, washed up, and went to the main room. There I saw Sister Liu with her back to me, bent over, setting the table.

She was not short, about the same height as Ping'er, with her thighs just level with the table. Perhaps because she was working in the kitchen, she didn't wear a dress like a proper wife, but rather a short jacket and trousers, which made her full and firm long legs stand out even more.

She wore an apron around her waist, the belt tied very tightly, clearly defining the top and bottom, creating a very good proportion.

Although she wasn't exactly slender, she had a well-proportioned physique and a rather robust and beautiful appearance.

Hearing Wang Qing's footsteps, Sister Liu quickly turned around and bowed, smiling, "I don't know what you like to eat, sir. I just picked out my best dishes and made these first. If you want anything else, just let me know."

Compared to yesterday, this breakfast was quite lavish.

Looking at the steaming duck porridge, two plates of delicate side dishes, and steamed buns and dumplings on the table, Wang Qing nodded in satisfaction and strode over to the table.

It wasn't noticeable from a distance, but now, as Wang Qing approached, the oppressive feeling brought by his size and height, along with the faint heat emanating from his exercise, made Sister Liu feel a little breathless.

She wiped her hands on the apron around her waist, her palms sweating slightly. She glanced nervously at Wang Qing, then lowered her eyes and said, "Grandma said that Master is a martial artist and has a good appetite, so she made a lot. She was worried that it would get cold, so she didn't serve it all. If Master feels it's not enough, please serve him some more."

Fearing that Wang Qing would question their extravagance, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law decided to shut him up beforehand by saying that martial artists have large appetites.

This was a prepared script, but feeling guilty and unsure of the other person's temperament, I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Hmm!" Wang Qing responded casually, then added after a moment's thought, "If we make too much in the future, don't waste it; just distribute it to the courtyard."

On the one hand, it was considered respectable for the masters to share their leftovers with the servants.

For Wang Qing, as long as it can be eaten, there is no waste. He is happy to do such a favor without spending any money.

On the other hand, he was merely an outsider staying at the mansion, not a proper master of the Rongguo Mansion.

Let's leave aside for now what the relationship is between the person in front of us and Liu Wu'er.

If she were stingy and unprofitable, even if she were Sister Liu from the small kitchen, why would she put her daughter in his room?

This is also the main reason why he gave an extra monthly allowance.

As for why he only gave five hundred coins, Wang Qing had his own reasons.

Although he was unaware of Granny Liu's complaints from the previous night, he knew that Granny Liu was eager to curry favor with Fangguan and wanted to send her daughter to the Yihong Courtyard.

They were worried that if they gave too much money, the Liu family might use it to bribe officials and find a way to get Liu Wu'er into Jia Baoyu's room. That would not only be keeping the other party hanging, but also aiding the enemy.

"This servant thanks you on behalf of everyone!"

Although Sister Liu was unaware of Wang Qing's ulterior motives, these words undoubtedly gave her a powerful weapon.

Immediately relieved, he thanked her profusely while secretly calculating his next move.

My mother-in-law and I racked our brains, but we couldn't match this man's quick thinking.

Thinking of this, he quickly lowered his posture even further and asked obsequiously, "Does sir have any other instructions?"

I had originally thought that I might get something unexpected by killing two birds with one stone.

Unexpectedly, there was a pleasant surprise.

Wang Qing glanced around the table and said in a deep voice, "From now on, boil a few more eggs in the morning."

"Hey! There are still some in the kitchen. It won't take long to boil an egg. I'll go and boil a few for the old man and bring them over."

The more requests Wang Qing made, the easier it was for him to ask for money to buy things. Liu's sister-in-law couldn't hide her joy and readily agreed.

Wang Qing shook his head and said, "There's no need for that today."

Although Sister Liu was somewhat disappointed, she knew that there was plenty of time in the future and she shouldn't dwell on the gains and losses of a single day. She was just thinking of going back to tell her mother-in-law the good news.

Unexpectedly, Wang Qing added, "I practice martial arts every day, so I sweat more than the average person. Later, find a room in the backyard, have someone tidy it up, and turn it into a bathhouse. Remember to boil plenty of hot water."

For Sister Liu, consuming a few more eggs each day was already a pleasant surprise, but unexpectedly, it added another expense: charcoal.

After being showered with surprises, she was so overwhelmed that she forgot to reply for a moment.

Wang Qing assumed she was annoyed by his fuss and deliberately asked, "Isn't it too much trouble?"

"No trouble at all! Leave this little thing to me..."

Sister Liu shook her head vigorously, as if the ground was shaking violently. Wang Qing quickly stuffed a dumpling into his mouth, swallowed it in one gulp, and muttered, "Hmm, that's good!"

Sister Liu tentatively suggested, "However, I'm afraid there might not be enough charcoal. We servants can't really speak up inside. Do you think... we should let Second Madam know beforehand?"

Originally, Sister Liu would have been content to have gotten away with the extravagance and waste.

Seeing that Wang Qing was so easy to talk to, she became bolder and thought that she should strike while the iron was hot and settle the charcoal and silver first to secure the money.

This also allowed them to test Wang Qing's attitude, laying the groundwork for later asking for money to buy rice, noodles, and vegetables.

She certainly didn't want Wang Qing to speak to the household, so she deliberately raised the threshold.

Although Wang Qing was unaware of Sister Liu's little scheme, he was happy to put on airs and said with a face full of disdain, "If it can be solved with money, then it's not a big deal. Why make a fuss and bother Second Sister-in-law? When you're done, just ask me for some money and buy some more."

As she spoke, Sister-in-law Chongliu waved her hand and said, "Go and call everyone over. I have something to say."

These words undoubtedly reassured Sister Liu. She no longer cared why he had summoned the servants in such a grand manner. She quickly agreed and happily ran out to spread the word.

In no time, he herded all the servants in the courtyard to the backyard like ducks.

As the group reached the center of the courtyard, Liu's wife, who had been lagging behind and whispering with Granny Liu, quickly stepped forward from the back of the group to the front.

Adopting the air of a steward's wife, she directed everyone to line up in the corridor before approaching the door, poking her head inside, and respectfully saying, "Sir! We've brought everyone."

"good!"

Wang Qing pushed aside the empty bowl in front of him, casually scooped up a few strings of copper coins from the edge of the table, and walked out.

Seeing Wang Qing swinging the copper coins in his hand, making a crisp "clinking" sound, Sister Liu was suddenly stunned. She immediately understood why he had suddenly summoned everyone.

She sighed, "Old ginger is spicier; my mother-in-law was right after all."

He was extremely annoyed. If he had known that Wang Qing was going to give out rewards, even if he couldn't take this cushy job and accept bribes, he could at least have earned a favor for free.

But then I thought, if my mother-in-law and I can get two portions, it's not too bad.

While she was still in a daze, Wang Qing had already stepped over the threshold. Seeing that Sister Liu was still standing there, completely oblivious, he could only wave his hand at her: "You go down too, I have something to say."

"Hey! Hey!" Sister Liu finally snapped out of her daze and sheepishly stood in front of the crowd.

Wang Qing then cleared his throat and got straight to the point: "I never mistreat my own people. Although you are guests in my household and not your proper masters, you are still working in my courtyard."

While it's inappropriate for me to overstep my bounds and distribute the monthly allowances for the household, I also can't let you do this hard work for nothing. For now, I won't exceed the household's monthly allowance; aside from the five hundred coins for the Liu family, the remaining amount will be three hundred coins per month.

At this point, Wang Qing paused, then continued, "This is the first time. From now on, the money will be paid in advance. Consider the extra few strings of cash as my treat for you to tea."

Upon hearing this, everyone expressed their gratitude, but Sister Liu felt a mix of emotions.

Although she still stood out from the crowd, earning two hundred more coins than others, that once unique privilege was no longer there.

A sense of superiority is always derived from comparison.

Wang Qing's actions not only diminished his unique honor but also narrowed the gap, so one can imagine the disappointment he felt.

Not to mention that the two rewards I was supposed to receive were suddenly gone in half.

Thinking about this, even the extra 300 yuan monthly allowance from her mother-in-law didn't seem so appealing anymore.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, he saw Wang Qing slightly raise the hand holding the copper coin in his direction.

Sister Liu quickly forced a smile, stepped forward, and accepted the strings of copper coins with both hands. She swallowed hard and said, "We thank you for your reward, sir!"

She knew very well that if anyone showed the slightest dissatisfaction at this moment, it would only reveal the true state of her family.

He turned to the crowd with feigned humility, straightened his back, and said, "The old man is kind, and we should repay his kindness. When we do things, we can't be lazy or cheat!"

……