IBTSOME Chapter 44 Part 2: Extorting Money

I BECAME THE STEPMOTHER OF MY EX-HUSBAND

 

Chapter 44 Part 2: Extorting Money

 

 ^^

Lin Wei Xi saw that the granny had finally stood up properly, flipped through the book in her hand, and asked: "The livestock used for the winter sacrifices and New Year celebration are all ready?"

 

The book showed the farming situation of the estate in Daxing. How much land the estate had, how many tenant farmers leased this year, and how many chickens, ducks, fry, cattle, sheep and even wild deer were raised in the early spring were all clearly stated in the book. Every spring, each farm hand over a roll, and at the end of the year, the better products produced within the year would be sent to the mansion, and the rest would be sold at the market. The money from the transaction would be sent to Yan Wang Mansion at the end of the year. Calculating how much they should make each year became the test for the mistress’s eyesight. For so many years, the estate under Yan Wang Mansion had operated like this.

 

Speaking of the topic, just now the granny still looked all around the place, all of sudden she became at ease. She rubbed her hands and smirked: "Reporting to Wangfei, to be honest this old slaves also want to send things to the mansion, the more the better. It’s just that this year’s harvest is really bad, and the weather this winter is really cold. Our family went out to look for fish in the pond every day, in the past few days almost no different from living next to the fish ponds. But the fish in estate are still not energetic. This old slave knows that it’s impossible for the mansion to leave out the whole fish feast at the end of the year, but the fish in the pond are not lively. Soon will be the end of the year, this old slave is also anxious..."

 

The scale of this estate in Daxing was not small, there were more than 100 acres of land around the estate area and the farmer family on the ground were all the property of the mansion. Yan Wang Mansion actually had many similar estate. However the real specialty of Daxing’s estate lies in its unique geographical location.

 

This farmland was backed by hills, and there were mountain springs not too far away. The land was rich and fertile, suitable for digging fish ponds and raising fish. At the annual banquet in the Yan Wang Mansion, half of the dishes were freshwater fish, so this estate had become irreplaceable, and the steward also had some face. This granny dared to come and say that the fish in the estate were not energetic, wasn't it because the mansion could not lack freshwater fish. It's almost December, and obviously impossible to buy fish and shrimps on the market in the winter, so they dare to be so confident.

 

Lin Wei Xi had seen these scenes of collusion between inside and outside steward of the mansion, and they acted as each other horns. She was not in a hurry, just put down the produce book and looked at the audience with clear eyes: "What did this steward means?"

 

The granny laughed more and more cheerfully: "It's almost the twelfth month. The annual offering and New Year ceremony are important events. This old slave also knows that this is a big deal. So these few days urging our family to quickly manage the fish pond. Wangfei doesn’t have to worry, our whole family has been looking after the estate for a long time, and we have the most experience. We will definitely be able to deliver the fresh fish before the twentieth of twelfth month. However, Wangfei also know that this matter is too sudden, fish and shrimps this kind of living thing are different from the seedlings. It's really hard to maintain. The silver in the estate is not enough. If the fish pond is arranged in a hurry, I am afraid that the turnover will not come..."

 

After all, it came down to money. Lin Wei Xi smiled lightly. She looked at the other stewards in the room and found that everyone was bowing their heads and didn't intend to say anything. Being able to manage an estate that covers the area of ​​one hundred acres and produce specialty that extremely important, it was conceivable that this steward couple had a lot of connection in the mansion. They must have bribed other people when they came to the capital to ask for money this time around.

 

These servants may had been in the palace for 20 or 30 years. They were as slippery as a loach. Everyone took the money together, breathes together, and acted as a horn for each other. This was the way to survive together. As for the silver they corrupted from the master family... Anyway, the mansion had a huge business, and one or two thousand taels to throw into the water was nothing. How could they care about this small one or two hundred taels? As long as there was no shortage of produce in the end and no major troubles arise, then this was nothing.

 

Lin Wei Xi said: "Year ends offering and New Year's celebration are both major events, and there should be no delay. Then to look after the matter, the turnover need how much silver?"

 

Sure enough, the estate granny rubbed her hands and smiled. This new Wangfei was as beautiful as a goddess, but she looks young and knew nothing about the estate. This was the first time the Wangfei had come in contact with year ends offering, celebration and other things. When she heard that something was wrong, she must have lost her soul. As long as it could be solved with money, then quickly get the money out.

 

Thinking about this, the granny smiled more and more sincerely: "Reporting to Wangfei, the time is tight. If you want to catch up with year ends festival, I am afraid that you will have to spend more money to ask an experienced person to come and look after it. This old slave has calculated, if Wangfei give this slave one hundred taels in advance it will be enough."

 

One hundred taels... Lin Wei Xi couldn't help but laugh in her heart, she really dared to say it. The expense of a family of five in a year was only ten taels, and one hundred fifty taels could buy another estate, including the land under their feet. This old woman was asking one hundred taels, which showed how arrogant and rampant these wicked slaves that were seizing their mistress’ stuff in their pockets.

 

Seeing Lin Wei Xi’s face turned cold, the estate granny quickly added: “It’s cold these days, and the fish in the fish pond are not lively. If we don’t remedy it, I’m afraid we will have to delay the New Year's banquet. You know, Wangfei, the New Year's Banquet in Yan Wang Mansion the half of it are all freshwater fish. The capital is located inland. It is not easy to eat fresh fish and shrimps. Our estate have been staring at the ancestors in the pond without blinking our eyes for a year. This one hundred taels maybe nothing for Wangfei, but the fish in the pond cannot wait. This winter is cold, and it’s extremely hard to reorganize the fish pond in the cold winter. I’m afraid our family will not be able to close our eyes for half a month after we return..."

 

Gao Ran also heard that this granny was greedy for money in the name of the New Year, but when she heard that she only need one hundred taels, she suddenly felt that it was nothing. Yan Wang mansion’s annual income was more than tens of thousands of taels, one hundred taels of silver, Gao Ran had long ago despised. Although these old slaves were greedy, a hundred taels was not too much. As long as they could handle the errands, these flaws would pass with them.

 

Not only Gao Ran, but the other people in the room also felt that one hundred taels was not too much. Lin Wei Xi's outfit was far more than that. Yan Wang liked freshwater fish, and the dishes at the annual banquet could not be delayed. Since it could be solved with one hundred taels, then just give it.

 

Lin Wei Xi picked up the tea cup and took a sip. After putting down the celadon cup, she said very casually: "Since it's so troublesome, then don't send it. Just raise it this winter and wait until next spring to fatten it up. Take it to the market and sell it, to save you from having to fix the fish pond without sleeping for half a month. Since it’s exhausting, then don't do it."

 

The estate granny was shocked, never expected Lin Wei Xi to say this. She smiled stiffly: "Thanking Wangfei for being compassionate. This old slave is the slave of the mansion. It’s only right to work hard for the mansion. It's just that the New Year's banquet is a major event. The fish and shrimps are indispensable for the New Year's banquet. Nowhere to buy..."

 

Even dared to threaten her with it, Lin Wei Xi said lightly: "Since the steward can't deliver the things on time, it's okay to cut a few fish dishes on the menu. Wan Xing, take the menu."

 

Wan Xing was stunned, Wan Yue had to poke her from behind before she hurried out to get the New Year's banquet menu. The estate granny was panicking a little bit, and she looked at granny Zhao, who had been bribed before, for help. Granny Zhao was Bu Mama’s right-hand. Now that Lin Wei Xi really wanted to change the menu to remove the fish, she quickly stepped forward and said: "Wangfei, the New Year's banquet menu was set by Wangfei Shen¹ that year. It has been in use for many years. I am afraid that it would be inappropriate to change it rashly."

---

1 Previously I write it Shen Wangfei or Lin Wangfei, but from now on I will change it to Wangfei Shen and Wangfei Lin, because the Yan in Yan Wangfei is the title, same as that annoying Zhao Wangfei, while Shen and Lin is the maiden name, to differentiate it the title at the front and maiden name at the back of Wang. ^↩

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