Geng Scroll Chapter 180 There is only harm when there is comparison
As the atmosphere relaxed, Shen Yixiu exchanged glances with Xue Baochai across from him, and then Shen Yixiu nodded to Xue Baoqin with a smile to show goodwill. The New Year's Eve banquet of Feng Mansion was officially on track.
Tusu wine, acacia soup, wishful cakes, and auspicious fruits were brought to the table first. These were items that foreshadowed good weather and good health for the family in the coming year. Naturally, they had to be the first to take the lead. The tables had already been set up and ready for visits. The good ones were The scarlet embroidered doilies had also been laid out, and following Duan's instructions, the servants began to bring out various dishes.
In addition to the table of masters, there will be many other tables next to it. Some pretty girls and pretty girls are right next to the table of masters, and people like Feng Shou, Feng You, Ruixiang, Bao Xiang and other male servants sat in the middle courtyard across the door because of the differences between men and women.
In addition to the four auspicious omens, the first items served were various snacks, such as lotus root powder and cinnamon sugar cake, pine pulp and goose oil rolls, crab meat dumplings, date paste and yam cake, etc., and then cold dishes, such as bad duck letter and bad goose feet. , marinated quail, bacon cheeks, pickled catfish, etc., filed in and quickly covered the table.
By the time the snacks and cold dishes were almost served, it was time for the servants to come and pay New Year greetings to the wives and grandmothers.
For example, Minglang Minghuan had already prepared gold and silver needles for the Duan family. Qingwen Yunshang, Ying'er Xiangling and Lingguan also prepared the same gold and silver coins for Shen Yi, Baochai and Baoqin. Of course, the rewards for things and things cannot exceed those of wives and concubines.
Compared with the New Year's greetings for the ladies and grandmothers, another important thing is to distribute the annual calendar. This is also a habit brought back by the Feng family from the army. If you want the people below to work hard for you, this level at the end of the year is indispensable.
There were not many servants in the Feng family before, mainly a group of close followers who followed Feng Tang, and a few old servants of the Feng family. However, as the Feng family settled in the capital city, Feng Ziying got married and had two wives, and both male and female servants There has been a sharp increase, but this habit has continued. Of course, this will be distributed according to each person's status and role, but compared to other families, the Feng family's rules are strict, but the treatment is not bad.
This year's annual quota has been distributed on the first day, which also allows people to make arrangements as early as possible. Many of them have to send the money home, and they also need to make arrangements in advance.
Seeing groups of servants coming up to celebrate the new year, Mrs. Duan was all smiles, especially the wet nurse who brought her direct granddaughter out and walked around, which was a sign to the whole family that the Feng family had another little master, Duan. I feel better.
"Minglang, please tell me, this year we have a new family in our house. In addition to Chai Yatou and Qin Yatou, I also have a granddaughter. We also have the third generation of the Feng family. Well, I will be here in front of you today. We are all here, Wanjun, Baochai, Baoqin and the second sister and the third sister. After tonight, it will be next year. I hope that you can spread the branches and leaves of the eldest and second bedrooms as soon as possible and continue the fragrance of the Feng family. , so this year’s lucky money is 30% more, which can be regarded as a blessing for my granddaughter, and bless her safety. I also hope that there will be a few more people in the house at this time next year..."
People naturally cheered as soon as he did it.
Originally, the Feng family had strict rules and good treatment. During the holidays, including the birthdays of the servants, the family would express it, because many of the servants in the Feng family came from the Jia family and had connections there, so naturally
There is a comparison.
The Jia family has been deteriorating in recent years. No matter it is monthly or year-end, or even the small New Year's money, there has been no increase, and they have found various excuses to withhold and reduce it.
For example, some of the earliest small festivals in the Jia family will have their own expressions, such as the Dragon Head Raising its Head on the second day of February, the Flower Festival on February 15th, the Cold Food Festival, the Shangsi Festival on March 3rd, Qixi Festival, and the Ghost Festival, etc.
Silver and copper coins were given to buy a piece of clothing for everyone, but in the past two years, almost all of them have been cancelled, and the rewards for several major festivals have also shrunk a lot, so in comparison, the situation in the Feng Mansion is much better.
It was also the first time for Baochai and Baoqin to live like this in Feng Mansion. Although they had asked about the customs in advance and their wife and concubine had explained it, Baochai and Baoqin were still a little surprised. They had lived in Rongguo Mansion for so long.
During the New Year, I naturally knew the rules and routines of the Jia family. If you look at the Feng family’s New Year’s money alone, it was almost twice as much as the Jia family’s money.
This is not a small amount, and they have also heard that the Feng family also gives rewards on ordinary small festivals, and they are not light. It is no wonder that during this time in the Feng family, they felt that the Feng family's rules were particularly strict.
For example, men are absolutely not allowed to enter the inner courtyard, and boys and girls are not allowed to go out casually. If you want to go out, you need to get approval from the wife or grandmother in the house, and you must report and record before you can go out; there are three shifts of patrols and inspections at night.
Although it was hard work to carry out the work in accordance with military regulations, these servants did not complain much. If they had done this in Jia's house, they would have made a fuss long ago.
Baochai, Baoqin and the others became members of the Feng family for the first time, so they would not be stingy in giving out New Year's money to the servants. Although there was a general rule, everyone would definitely be different due to their different identities and emotional likes and dislikes.
.
For example, there must be a difference between Ying'er, Xiangling, Ruiguan, and Douguan. Xiangling was taken over by Feng Ziying, so Feng Ziying naturally had to give him another share separately.
"No wonder the servants in the mansion are so active and willing to work. After all, compared with the Rongguo mansion, servants with the same status are almost twice as tall..."
Bao Qin whispered beside her sister.
"That's natural. If hard work is not rewarded, who would be willing to work early in the morning and late at night? Just because the reward is enough, if you want to take advantage of the owner's money, you must also consider that if you are found out, not only may you be punished and sent to prison, but also in this way
Is it worthwhile to lose a good job that earns you steady money? I heard my husband say that this is called high salary to support integrity, and there is indeed some truth to it, but my husband also said that this cannot be eliminated, and can only be avoided through strengthening the rules and regulations."
Baochai slightly nodded: "At four o'clock every night, the night watchmen in the mansion have to go out to watch the night. Those on duty can't sleep. I think the Rongguo Mansion also has these rules, but they have never been enforced.
However, the women who kept watch all night often secretly drank until they were dizzy. They just fell asleep and couldn't wake up even if there was thunder. But this has never happened in our house. It's a good night.
, just rest and sleep on the second and third days. I heard that many people would rather work the night shift."
"Sister is right, but it only requires enough money. If it were in Jia's house, I'm afraid..." Baoqin shook her head: "I heard that Second Mistress Lian is preparing to hand over the affairs of the public school. Is there still money over there?"
We haven’t decided who will take over. My aunt is interested in Tan Yatou, but she feels that Tan Yatou is difficult to convince the crowd. She wants Sister-in-law Zhu to take the lead, and Tan Yatou will assist..."
Baochai shook his head, but there was a complicated expression on his face: "It's difficult, it's difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. Neither Sister-in-law Zhu nor Tan girl can do this job well."
Just as the two sisters Baochai and Baoqin were talking and comparing the situation of the Jia family and the Feng family, the Rongguo Mansion was also celebrating the New Year.
After the whole family paid homage to the ancestral hall, everyone lined up to pay New Year greetings to their ancestors and wives. The gentlemen did not participate in these things. The servants each went to their masters, told jokes, and presented some small items made by themselves.
, if you find an opportunity to win the smiles of your ancestors or ladies, you can get good luck, and even the rewards can be a bit more.
Compared to the excitement in the Feng Mansion, although the Rongguo Mansion was also noisy and lively, there was a lingering feeling of being stretched.
Groups of servants kowtowed and offered good wishes, which made the ancestors smile and joke a few words. The ladies and grandmothers nearby also smiled and echoed a few words, and then gold, silver, and copper coins were distributed.
"Second sister-in-law, the gold and silver coins are still like this this year?" Tan Chun sat next to Wang Xifeng and couldn't help but frown: "Didn't you say that the government can't support it?"
"Humph, no matter how much we can't afford it, we will have to live this year. We can't even live this year. Isn't this the intention to prevent our ancestors from stepping down?" Wang Xifeng's face was like a spring breeze, and there was no clue, but
The words that came out of his mouth were like being squeezed out of ice: "Three girls, the gold and silver needles are a bit smaller than before. Everyone knows it, except the ancestors, or the ancestors have already understood it, but
Just pretend not to know, the house is in a difficult situation, everyone understands..."
Hearing what Wang Xifeng said, Tan Chun wanted to stab him. Isn't it your second sister-in-law who is the one who leads the batches of generals and officers redeemed from the capital city? Who else can you waste your efforts on?
Don't you want to take advantage of this kind of thing?
Many people in the house now know about this matter, even the wives and grandmothers know it. It is not clear whether the ancestor knows it, but based on Tanchun's speculation, it is estimated that the ancestor knows it and pretends not to.
You know, otherwise if Wang Xifeng is in a situation like this, if she doesn't find a way to find an opportunity to get more money in her hands, once brother Lian comes back, how will she live the rest of her life without the Jia family?
Because of this, Tanchun suppressed the urge to point it out directly and just sighed in his heart.
"Sister-in-law, what if this situation continues?"
"Third girl, my wife is determined to leave it to you to manage the company?" Wang Xifeng understood as soon as she heard this. "I'm afraid I have to explain something clearly to the master and my wife. Don't let the deficit get bigger and bigger in the end and become a
It’s a mess that I can’t explain.”
Tan Chun shook his head, with a hint of silent bitterness on his face, "No, my sister-in-law will still be responsible in the future. I just help Sister-in-law Zhu manage her accounts in my spare time, and strive to increase revenue and reduce expenditure..."
