The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 98 Division of the Family (Part Two)

Split up?

It really is a family split!
Standing behind Grandmother Jia, Wang Xifeng forcibly suppressed her joy.

Although judging from the old lady's demeanor, the eldest son's family will definitely suffer losses, but if they don't separate the family, they will definitely suffer even more losses.

Wang Xifeng didn't care about the three thousand taels of silver her father-in-law gave to Tan Chun, Bao Yu, and Huan Er for their dowry and marriage.

Since they are not separate households, the money will definitely come from their family.

Now that these wedding decorations are set aside, she and Lian Er will have less to worry about in the future.

Moreover, my father-in-law is a spendthrift. The family's money is gone, and a lot of the property has been divided up. He can't just buy things so recklessly in the future, can he?
After Wang Xifeng took over managing the household, she specifically checked the family's previous accounts, and what she found was truly shocking.

Income decreased year by year, while expenditures increased year by year.

Fortunately, the younger sister returned; otherwise, Wang Xifeng had no idea how much more money they would have had to spend.

Shen Ning seemed to be casually observing each of them.

Both Jia She and Wang Xifeng seemed quite fortunate to be able to separate their households, so fortunate that they didn't care at all about suffering a loss.

However, Jia Zheng and Wang Shi, who had already benefited from the division of the family property, were clearly still unhappy, even though from the very beginning, it was their second branch that benefited.

She admired Jia Zhu and Li Wan, though they calmly accepted the fact of the family division and even felt a pang of guilt.

They clearly understood that they were getting a better deal by renting a larger house.

"Mother, your son will miss you."

Jia Zheng beckoned to Baoyu, and the children rushed over.

His father and mother were both crying, and he couldn't help but cry too, "Grandmother, don't you want Baoyu anymore?"

The child cried and fell onto Grandmother Jia's lap.

The old lady couldn't resist and bent down to hug Baoyu. "Baoyu will live with me, and Yingchun and Tanchun will continue as before. Their expenses will come from my account and will no longer be covered by your two households' accounts."

She's showing favoritism, what can we do?

The second son had no title, and he had many children.

“Mother, Rongguo Mansion is your home. My second brother is here in the mansion, so you can naturally continue as before.”

Jia She spoke with genuine emotion, "If you were to come and provide for the flowers in your courtyard yourself, what kind of person would your son become? Would he be unable to even support his own child?"

He didn't care about the old lady's private savings; he had his grandparents' private savings in his possession.

What Jia She wanted was always his mother's attitude.

Now that the old lady has given it to him before he even considered dividing the family property, Jia She is very satisfied.

Therefore, Jia She was willing to make more concessions regarding property.

After all, even if he were to give it up, the title would still be his, the Rongguo Mansion would be his, and half of the public property would belong to him.

That's enough.

"good good good good!"

Grandmother Jia's heart tipped in favor of her eldest son. "The remaining public funds shall be divided into ten parts. She'er, you shall take sixty percent. The rest... take out three and a half percent for Zheng'er. The remaining half percent shall be used to select estates and hand them over to the clan for use as sacrificial land."

what?
Jia Zheng was stunned.

He doesn't even have 40%?
Why should his half-crown be transferred to the clan?
"Mother~"

His tears fell again.

"Niece-in-law, what do you think of this old woman's idea?"

Grandmother Jia seemed not to have seen her second son, so she turned to ask Shen Ning.

"Very good!"

Shen Ning smiled and said, "The clan school has a dedicated sacrificial field, but although there are seasonal sacrifices at the ancestral cemetery, there is no fixed amount of money or grain."

These two things are mentioned in the novel *Dream of the Red Chamber*. Qin Keqing appeared in Wang Xifeng's dream before her death, but unfortunately Wang Xifeng did not listen.

However, even if she listened, it probably wouldn't do any good.

The clan school is in such a terrible state that giving them money is a complete waste.

“Now that we are in a prosperous era, we have no shortage of offerings for sacrifices, but the moon has its phases, so I also intend to convert two of our estates into sacrificial fields.”

Shen Ning looked at Grandmother Jia with admiration, "I didn't expect that you, Aunt, had thought of this before me. In that case, let's do it together, and buy more farmland, houses, and land near the ancestral tombs. From now on, it will just be our two families..."

She thought for a moment.

The money for the sacrificial field was provided by both families. If other branches of the Raja family were to contribute, it would only encourage their desire to gain without effort.

"How about this? The clan still has a sum of money, right? Let's use it all to buy sacrificial land. In the future, all the branches of the family can join together as one share, and the two families can take turns managing the land, money, grain, sacrifices, and supplies for the year. This will be done every three years. Even if the family declines, the descendants can still go home to study and farm, and the sacrifices can continue forever."

Aunt, what do you think of this approach?

"...Good! Excellent!"

Grandmother Jia was pleased, for she had finally come to the same conclusion as her niece-in-law. "Let's do it this way," she said.

Jia Zheng: "..."

Wang: "..."

Both of them knew that this half-realized love was gone forever.

And that sum of money in the clan...

They originally wanted to find a way to save Yuan Chun!

Unexpectedly, they were all gone just like that.

For a moment, both of them looked rather ashen.

"Zhen'er, you don't have any objections, do you?"

The old lady suddenly remembered Jia Zhen, the clan head, and hurriedly asked him another question.

"Don't dare!"

Jia Zhen always agreed with his mother's decisions, "I would do whatever the old lady and my mother told me to do."

The old lady and my mother were indeed thinking further ahead than they had imagined.

He personally experienced the family's misfortunes, and even his title was two ranks lower than Uncle She's. If his descendants couldn't take the imperial examinations, this was their only way out.

"Then it's settled."

Grandmother Jia was refreshed and in high spirits.

She has left something for her descendants to live on, hasn't she?
"Divide the household items into ten portions, and then divide one portion in half. Once you've done this, She'er, sign it and let your second brother draw a portion. Of what he draws, six portions are yours, and half a portion goes to the clan."

"Yes!"

Jia She agreed very readily.

By dividing the family property in this way, he didn't suffer any loss.

“Baoyu, you’re going back with your grandmother today. Tomorrow…” Grandmother Jia looked at Shen Ning, “Will they be able to go home tomorrow?”

"of course can."

Shen Ning smiled and said, "Dividing the family property is a big deal!"

With the internal strife within the Rongguo Mansion resolved, everything else is a minor matter.

Shen Ning stood up. "Zhen'er, be a witness for your two uncles."

"Yes!"

I can finally sleep in a normal bed again.

Jia Zhen was also happy, saying, "Take care, old lady, take care, mother."

The industries in Xifu cannot be sorted out in a short time.

The old lady is getting on in years, and his mother has just finished her postpartum period, so neither of them can stay up late.

Jia Zhen personally escorted them out of the ancestral hall before turning back.

At this moment, in the ancestral hall, Jia Zheng was still somewhat dazed, but Wang Shi had already stopped crying and was looking at the list that Jia She had assigned to Yingchun.

The amount allocated by the eldest brother to Yingchun must be allocated to Tanchun, Baoyu, and Huan'er.

Although only Baoyu was her biological son among the three children, she was also the legal mother of Tanchun and Huan'er. If the property was transferred to them, it would be equivalent to transferring it to the second branch of the family.

The Wang family couldn't help but care.

She had her own private savings for Yuan Chun, Zhu Er, and Bao Yu, but Tan Chun and Huan Er had their own property. After the second branch of the family divided their assets, they would no longer be counted.

This division of the family property... was not in the Wang family's budget, but it was still manageable.

At least, Yuan Chun and Zhu'er each received nearly ten thousand taels of silver from the public funds through their marriages.

Although Baoyu is less than a few, he has an old lady.

Madam Wang knew very well that the old lady's dowry and private savings were at least a third of the Rongguo Mansion, if not half.

Those things were enough for her precious jade. Lady Wang had been in charge of the household for many years and knew exactly what Jia She had taken away.

Wang Xifeng was also listening attentively, paying close attention to every word.

The Jia family's assets, including several large estates, were all bestowed by the imperial court. Later, two generations of dukes acquired several more. After taking over the family business, she kept track of everything.

The items now being given to the younger sister-in-law and younger brother-in-law were all confiscated from the Lai family and Zhou Rui's family.

It was free to pick up anyway.

Wang Xifeng mentally estimated how much 60% of her own money would be if she gave it to them.

After a while, she personally served a cup of tea to her busy in-laws.

This night was destined to be a sleepless one for the people in the ancestral hall.

Having not slept well for many days, Grandmother Jia finally felt relieved and slept very soundly.

Shen Ning is the same.

With the two biggest problems of the Jia family resolved, she only needs to exercise a little more restraint in the future.

On May 17th, early in the morning, the two masters of the mansion staggered out of the ancestral hall and invited Shen Ning to go to Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

The reason the property could be divided so quickly was mainly because after the Lai family and Zhou Rui's family were raided, Jia She redid the accounts to prevent Wang Shi from stealing from their homes again.

Now, all that's needed is to remove the children's share and divide the rest into ten portions.

"Sister-in-law, please come with Mother and be our witnesses."

The slips have all been written; now it's up to my second brother to see if he'll be lucky enough to draw the best one.

Shen Ning glanced at the slips of paper numbered one to ten placed on the green-glazed lotus-patterned porcelain plate, and gently brushed them aside. "Auntie, I'll have the maid rewrite the slips of paper numbered one to ten. Is that alright?"

"……it is good!"

If you get a different one, no one can accuse the other of being a ghost.

Grandmother Jia nodded after only a slight hesitation.

Shen Ning gave Qingzhu a look, and she gave a slight curtsy before quickly going into the inner room. When she came out a short while later, she had eleven neatly stacked sticks.

The tenth and eleventh sticks were placed separately and were also drawn by Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng had already been hinted at by Lady Wang, but now...

He bowed slightly to Jia She and said, "Thank you, elder brother."

"It's your own brother, you deserve it."

The second brother didn't cry and plead to force his mother to change her mind, and now that he's being so polite, Jia She is happy to give him face. "Go ahead and whip him!"

The two estates bestowed by Emperor Taizu were too large, and were recorded as six and eight respectively.

Jia She had initially worried that his second brother would memorize the folding marks on the paper, but now... if he were to draw it, it would be his luck.

Jia Zheng stepped forward, casually drew three large portions, and then drew one small portion.

His casual demeanor made Wang clutch her chest involuntarily.

"Seven, three, four."

Shen Ning looked at the slip of paper handed to her by the maid, read it aloud, and then showed it to Grandmother Jia, saying, "This half portion is eleven."

Wang's face turned pale.

Jia Zheng completely missed out on several of the best opportunities!

"Second sister-in-law, are you not satisfied with this?"

"satisfy!"

When Jia Zheng looked over with a gloomy face, Wang forced a smile and expressed her satisfaction.

"That's good."

Shen Ning smiled slightly, "Next, let's move the things according to the tags!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jia Zhen waved his hand, and ten maids each brought in an account book numbered one, two, three... eight, nine, ten.

"Third, fourth, seventh, and eleventh are returned to the second brother, Guizheng."

Shen Ning said, "Zhen'er, go with your uncle and Brother Zhu to the warehouse to move things!"

"Yes!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Auntie. Thank you for your trouble, Brother."

The brothers Jia Zhen and Jia Zhu spoke almost simultaneously.

"Second brother, I'll go with you too."

Jia She gestured for him to proceed.

Jia Zheng cupped his hands in greeting and quickly followed them out.

Congratulations, Auntie!

Shen Ning raised her teacup, "My niece-in-law, let's toast with tea instead of wine."

"Haha, you just can't bear to part with your delicious Royal Wine!"

Grandmother Jia slept well last night and felt that she had accomplished a major life event. Her mood had recovered, so she directly asked for wine. "I don't need Yue'er's dowry wine, but you have to take out three jars of the good imperial wine left by your father-in-law to make a family division wine for She'er and his brothers."

"Three jars are too many."

Shen Ning looked like she couldn't take it anymore, "Half a jar."

"How is it too much?"

Grandmother Jia laughed, "Just think about it, how many brothers, nephews, and nieces do they have?"

"Auntie, aren't you being a bit ungrateful?"

"Nonsense, I think you're just asking for trouble."

The old lady laughed loudly, "Feng girl, hurry up and go with your sister-in-law to get the wine."

Yu smiled, pursing her lips. "I don't have the key to the wine cellar."

"Don't look at me, I don't have any either."

As everyone looked over with a smile, Shen Ning spread her hands and said, "I sealed up the wine cellar and threw away the key. Before I threw it away, I took a jar of old imperial wine and gave two jin to Zhen'er, so now I can only give half a jar."

what?
Grandmother Jia was shocked, "Why did you seal the wine cellar so properly?"

"There's nothing we can do, we have a drunkard in the house."

Shen Ning laughed, "I won't seal it anymore. I'm always worried that Zhen'er will steal and drink all of Yue'er's dowry wine."

"...You, you!"

The old lady laughed heartily, "Zhen'er knows, are you trying to guard against him?"

"Knowing he's there, there's nothing we can do."

Shen Ning laughed, "Auntie, didn't you see? Before I started acting up, he was always acting up, but after I started acting up, he didn't dare to anymore, did he?"

"Puhaha, hahaha..."

The old lady couldn't stop herself from laughing so hard she almost fell over. "Stop talking! If you keep talking, I'm going to start learning from you."

No, it's not just her who wants to learn from her; all the wives in this family will probably turn the world upside down in the future.

"Feng girl, hurry up and snatch that half jar of wine from me."

"No, no, no, if you only take a little bit, it won't taste good."

Shen Ning brought it out because she wanted to taste the imperial wine, but she had only recently finished her postpartum confinement and hadn't dared to drink it yet. "Zhen'er got a batch of Yuquan wine from outside. I'll have him bring three jars over later."

The old lady asked with a smile, "So, are you planning to let your family's wine rats get their share of that imperial wine?"

"How can that be possible?"

Seeing You Shi pulling at Wang Xifeng, Shen Ning smiled and said, "Niece-in-law, you're going to drink it all yourself. From now on, half a cup of good wine every night will help you sleep better."

"..."

Wang, who hadn't left yet, couldn't help but glance at her.

She was heartbroken, but these people were laughing all the while.

Wang was furious.

She felt that Shen was trying to make the old lady laugh so that everyone could see her make a fool of herself.

She separated from the family, what the hell are they drinking and celebrating for!

Wang cursed inwardly, but her lips still curled into a smile, making it seem as if she were laughing.

"That's true."

Grandmother Jia was persuaded by Shen Ning, "Having a drink at night can indeed help you sleep better." She had drunk with the Duke when he was alive before. "No, you have to give me half of your imperial wine."