The cost of Ningxiang Pavilion has also been reduced, but Yan Yan has kept a low profile recently. After listening to Mama Zou's report that there were reductions everywhere, she didn't say anything. Bought it for myself.
Yan Yan has been favored since childhood, and the small treasury is also quite sufficient. In addition, the daily ingredients of the small kitchen and the medicinal materials of A Mo are all delivered by the government of Zhenguo, and there are almost no major expenses in the Ningxiang Pavilion.
Therefore, when there were complaints outside, the days in Ningxiang Pavilion were still passing, and it was no different from the past.
In a blink of an eye, the sky became cold, the sky was covered with a layer of haze, and there were falling leaves. The little girls who cleaned the house had to clean the road several times every day.
At this time, Aunt Pei had even more headaches.
It's going to get cold soon, so everything needs to be prepared for winter. According to the custom of Weiyuanhou, the servants wear four sets of clothes a year, and the clothes for winter are thick, and the expenses must be a lot. And every winter heating, the house consumes at least 10,000 catties of charcoal, which is another big expense.
The clothes of the servants for the winter can be saved first, and the old ones are worn tightly, but the charcoal fire is indispensable, and it is impossible to wait for the snow to fall, and the servants and the masters are frozen. And charcoal is prepared in summer. The colder the weather, the more expensive the price. They are a little late to buy it at this time.
Concubine Pei decided to let her go, so she ordered the steward below to buy 5,000 catties of charcoal first. The old woman in charge of making winter clothes for the servants was still waiting outside, and Aunt Pei asked Xiang Liu to send her away first.
The old woman looked a little bad when she left. She has been here twice, and there is still no accurate word on it. Could it be true, as others have said, that Aunt Pei cut down her expenses in order to make money for herself
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion in the mansion, and there are many rumors and rumors, and Aunt Pei has also heard about it, but it has been repeatedly banned.
As soon as this thing was resolved, another thing happened.
People are all close and distant. Why does Aunt Pei rush to be a housekeeper? Apart from the fact that the housekeeper is a representative of status, there is another point that is convenient.
Aunt Pei treats everyone harshly, and it is impossible to treat her own children harshly. Yan Qian and Yan Hong grew up coddled, so when other girls and young men are fighting with their mothers for a bowl of bird's nest, clothes or other things , Yan Qian and Yan Hong did not have such troubles.
On this day, Yan Ru brought Yan Ling over to talk to Yan Qian, and the three of them could play together on weekdays.
Yan Qian and Yan Ru sat together to choose flowers, while Yan Ling joined in the fun.
At this time, a little girl came in with a small white-glazed porcelain bowl on top of a gold-painted and carved tea tray.
"Girl, use it quickly, so as not to cool down for a while."
The little girl put the porcelain bowl on the black lacquer embossed rosewood round table, and put a spoon in the bowl.
A look of boredom flashed in Yan Qian's eyes, she told Yan Ru to let her choose first, and got off the kang herself. Yan Ru nodded and focused on the pattern booklet, but her nose moved.
Over there, Yan Qian took the porcelain bowl handed over by the little girl, took two bites, and then threw it away. He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and went back to the kang.
Yan Ling, who was sitting on the edge of the kang, glanced over there and said with admiration, "Second sister is really a waste, this bird's nest is the best, look at this soup that is almost transparent and sticky, how can I throw it there after a bite? already."
Yan Qian glanced at Yan Ling, knowing that this fourth sister had always been scolded by her first-born mother, and she had never taken her seriously.
"If the fourth sister is hungry, you can help my sister eat that bowl of bird's nest. I use too much at noon, and I can't eat it now."
Yan Ling's big eyes flashed with fire, and she smiled innocently: "My sister is not hungry, but I think the second sister is a little wasteful." She glanced at Yan Qian casually, and said: "The second sister's aunt's housekeeper is with the sister. We are different, the second sister's clothes are newly made, so beautiful!"
Yan Ru's complexion has been bad for a long time, and now she looks at Yan Qian with a hint of anger.
Tonics such as bird's nest in the big room have long been discontinued. On weekdays, when ordering a dish, the kitchen has to push back three and four. Compared with Yan Qian, this seems to be casual, but it all shows that people don't care about this bowl of bird's nest at all. There was more anger in his eyes.
Looking at what Yan Qian was wearing, she was wearing pale pink with red cherry blossoms and a pair of waistcoats, and below it was a moon-white dress with stitching. A pair of white jade bracelets on his wrists, the bracelets are in excellent condition, and they are good things at first glance. The clothes were also brand new, and at first glance they were freshly made and had not been soaked in water.
Compared with herself, Yan Ru has not made new clothes for two months. Especially recently, she has cut expenses everywhere. Xue, who has always loved her, has also begun to control her. She no longer makes new clothes for her by her temperament. Just wear old clothes.
Yan Ru was wearing a half-washed satin embroidered orchid robe, and her skirt was also old, not to mention Yan Ling, who always picked up her sister's clothes and wore it.
Yan Qian hadn't noticed Yan Ru's expression yet, she glanced at Yan Ling with a hint of disdain, she had never seen the world!
"It's new, and the pattern on it was embroidered by the maid next to me with great effort. Does it look good?"
"It's so beautiful." Yan Ling's eyes were filled with envy that could not be concealed.
Yan Ling's flattery made Yan Qian feel very at ease, "I will wear it for you when I don't wear it after washing with water..."
Yan Ru suddenly threw the pattern booklet in her hand and sneered, "Everyone is a sister, the second sister doesn't need to be so shabby!"
Yan Qian was stunned for a moment, and then she reacted, "I'm a poor person to wear clothes for the fourth sister? The fourth sister picks up your old clothes and wears them every day, why don't you tell me?!"
Yan Ru blushed and rebuked loudly: "You're not a humble person, you don't eat the rest of your food for Yan Ling, how can you appear rich? No matter how much skin you put on, you're just a concubine, really If you think you are a real phoenix, if you have the ability, you go to show off in front of the third sister, that is your second wife's serious daughter, what kind of thing are you?"
The relationship between Yan Ru and Yan Qian is actually not very good, but Yan Yan in the second room is arrogant and never plays with them. The two girls in the third room are too young, and the rest is Yan Qian. Forget Yan Ling, Yan Ru and Yan Qian are only a year apart, one is the concubine's daughter from the big house, and the other is the concubine's daughter of the second house. The identity comparison is similar, but Yan Ru claims that she is the direct daughter, while Yan Qian But it came out.
However, Yan Qian, who was born from the concubine, usually spends the same amount of food and clothing as her, or even better. The two grades are not big, and they both like to say goodbye to each other. One more new clothes. The Xue family has always spoiled Yan Ru, which also caused the resources of the big house to be tilted. Even Xue's body was not bright, but Yan Ru was constantly wearing new clothes.
Yan Ru was already arrogant, how could she endure this comparison? !
Yan Qian was also angry, "eldest sister, what are you talking about? I don't want to eat food for the fourth sister. Why don't I see her greedy?"
Yan Ling pouted and said aggrieved: "I'm not greedy, I just think Second Sister is a waste, our big house bird's nest and other precious things have long been broken, I'm just a pity."
When the little girl on the side sees the big girl quarreling with her own girl, she must speak for her own girl, "What's so rare about this thing, our girls never lack it, and we are tired of eating it."
Yan Qian's brows were filled with pride, "That's right, you guys are so shabby, you really think others are the same as you!"
This sentence completely ignited Yan Ru's anger. She glared at Yan Qian with red eyes and turned away with a sullen face. Yan Ling is not easy to delay, she also followed behind with her head down.
Yan Qian snorted disdainfully, "Compare me!"
…
Yan Ru rushed all the way back to Yusheng Courtyard, and started crying when she entered the house.
The Xue family gave birth to two sons, and this one girl was naturally the favorite. Yan Ling shrank her neck and didn't dare to say a word, Yan Ru just cried and didn't speak.
Xue had no choice but to turn her head and glance at Yan Ling sharply, asking her what was going on.
Yan Ling told the truth, and she did not hide her envy for Yan Qian. She is young, and it's nothing to envy her sister who lives a good life. Xue's would naturally feel that she was trying to sow discord, but at this time, Yan Qian's actions not only hindered Yan Ru's eyes, but Xue's can't stand it either. Gas, especially Yan Qian also said that the big house is shabby.
Now it is no longer a person's business. She Yan Qian is not only shabby and Yan Ling, but shabby Yan Ru, and the whole big room.
"Mother, they are really deceiving people too much. Even if the father is from a concubine, he is also the son of the grandmother. She Yan Qian is something, a concubine. The jewelry is changed, our bird's nest has been broken long ago, others are good, and it is boring to eat, what did the little girl say? Ru cried.
Xue's face was ugly and uncertain.
In the past, she naturally wouldn't provoke Aunt Pei. She was the niece of the old lady, but now she actually slaps the big house in such a bright light, that Aunt Pei has made public anger again because of the reduction of expenses...
She pondered for a while and said, "Don't cry, Ru'er, I'll go find your third aunt."
Xue went out, Yan Ru was still sobbing, Yan Ling stood aside, gloating in her eyes.
Anyway, what is cut or not cut will not reach her. They are happy to make trouble, and she is happy to watch the play.
…
"What are you talking about, third brother and sister..."
In the main room of Songbo Courtyard in the third room, Mrs. Xue was sitting on the red lacquer-painted gold Wanfu group flower square chair, complaining to Mrs. Chen, the third wife.
"Then Concubine Pei said that she ordered to cut down the government's expenditure, and we didn't say anything. Life is difficult, but now I doubt whether it is because she is falsely spreading the word and making money from it. I have counted it for so many years. It can be seen that this Aunt Pei is not a fuel-efficient lamp..."
Chen shi looked hesitant, "She doesn't have such courage, does she?"
In fact, Mrs. Chen had also heard of such rumors, but she never cared about troubles, so she ignored it.
"But think about it, we go to Rong'an Tang every day to say goodbye, but mother didn't mention it, she was just doing shit down there. She has been in charge of the house for so many years, and the management below is all promoted by her, who knows if she ordered it or not. ?"
"This-"
"We are frugal, people are eating spicy food, and eating something as good as bird's nest, we threw it away... You don't know, that child Ru'er came back to tears. It doesn't matter if we adults feel wronged, but our own child It's our hearts and souls, my mother's heart hurts..."
Mrs. Chen recalled that the sixth girl wanted to eat crab roe buns the day before yesterday, but the kitchen wouldn't make them. She even sarcastically said, 'I still want to eat crab roe buns, I really know how to eat them', and she used to use a top-quality bird's nest every day. Gone…
Mrs Xue wiped her tears and said sternly, "I came to you because no one told me. This time I can't bear it anymore. I'm going to talk to my mother, why do we have to be restrained when we eat anything? , the girl raised by her aunt Pei, eats gold and expensive, and is so humble!"
She stood up, was about to go and stopped, and asked, "Third siblings, do you want to go together?"
It seems to be just passing words.
Chen Shi, who has always been alone, stood up, "I'll accompany my sister-in-law to take a look."
As long as you go, Mr. Xue thought to himself.