Lady Hou is reborn and, by pampering her illegitimate son, reclaims her life of wealth and privilege

Inside Moyou Hall, Jiang Huaiyu was carefully reviewing the account books.

In recent days, she has been busy with the Marquis's funeral, which has cost a lot of money.

Currently, I am finding it difficult to keep up with my cash reserves.

Although the Jiaxing Marquis's family possessed considerable wealth, it consisted mostly of rare antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and a dazzling array of jewelry accumulated over generations. While these valuable possessions were priceless, they were only to be used in times of crisis.

Almost all of the salary that the Marquis of Jiaxing had received over the years was misappropriated by Wei Dinglian for military expenses.

For many years, the Hou family's daily expenses, including food, clothing, and other necessities, have almost entirely relied on Jiang Huaiyu's dowry and the profits from several shops.

Jiang Huaiyu owned three dowry shops, while the Marquis's mansion owned four more, for a total of seven shops.

In addition, there are three farms in the suburbs of Beijing, including 100 mu of fertile land and 200 mu of secondary land.

The income from these shops and estates varied, with some generating substantial profits while others yielded relatively meager ones. When all these incomes were combined, the total annual revenue reached a staggering 7800 taels.

However, the expenses of the Marquis's residence were equally staggering. The residence employed nearly a hundred servants, including the master's personal maids, pageboys, second-class servants, menial laborers, as well as stewards, cooks, purchasing agents, coachmen, and guards. The monthly allowance alone amounted to 200 taels of silver.

In addition, these servants also need to be provided with clothing for all four seasons, including two sets of outer garments and two sets of inner garments each quarter, winter coats, shoes, and socks. These additional expenses should not be underestimated.

The Marquis's residence currently has six masters, each receiving a monthly stipend of ten taels of silver. The masters' everyday clothing costs nearly ten taels for a single set, while more exquisite sets cost seventy or eighty taels, or even close to one hundred taels. Each person must have at least five new sets of clothing made every quarter. This is in addition to the cost of purchasing writing implements, rouge, face powder, and other daily necessities.

With all these expenses accumulated, the annual expenditure reached nearly 10,000 taels. As a result, there was a deficit of nearly 3000 taels every year.

In the past, the two masters, Jiang Huaiyu and Wei Fengyun, held the highest positions. Although the household expenses did not fall into huge losses, they were still insufficient to cover the income.

The treasury was short of silver, which Jiang Huaiyu had to replenish herself. When she married into the family, she brought two silver notes with her as dowry money, but now that money had been completely used up.

Two taels of silver is by no means a small sum. The dowry for the daughter of an ordinary minor official is only two or three hundred taels.

Jiang Huaiyu was able to come up with such a huge sum of money because she came from a prestigious family. Her father held the official rank of third-grade textile commissioner, but unfortunately, both her parents passed away several years ago.

She also has an older brother who, although not particularly gifted in academics, inherited the family's vast business empire and is currently thriving in the Jiangnan region, living a very comfortable life.

Just as Jiang Huaiyu was deep in thought, Cuiying pushed open the door and entered, interrupting her thoughts.

"Madam, Granny Fang, the head of the kitchen, requests an audience."

"Let her in."

A middle-aged woman wearing a green cotton-padded jacket slowly entered and respectfully bowed.

"Greetings, madam."

Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly, "Get up, what is it you want to tell me?"

Granny Fang hesitated for a moment, then said haltingly, “Madam, there are only three taels of silver left in the kitchen’s accounts. Our Marquis’s mansion’s daily food expenses are about five taels. I’m afraid the current amount of money will not be enough to last a day.”

Jiang Huaiyu was taken aback upon hearing this and asked in confusion, "Didn't we always allocate you enough silver on time every month? Why is there a shortage this month?"

Granny Fang quickly explained, "The banquet held at the Marquis's funeral a few days ago cost a lot of money."

Jiang Huaiyu nodded slightly, took out her purse from her bosom, which contained only ten taels of loose silver. She handed the silver to Granny Fang, her tone firm yet gentle.

"Here is ten taels of silver. Take it with you for now. There is really no more cash in the manor at the moment. Also, from now on, the master's food expenses will be halved. This way, we might be able to manage for a while."

The masters of the Jiaxing Marquis's mansion enjoy exceptionally lavish meals every day; even if half the amount were reduced, the quality would still be superb. However, the servants' meals are barely enough to feed them; if reduced by half again, they would likely go hungry.

Therefore, Jiang Huaiyu decided to reduce only the master's food expenses.

Granny Fang accepted the ten taels of silver and quietly withdrew.

Jiang Huaiyu turned to Cuiying and instructed, "Quickly invite Granny Wu over here."

In Jiang Huaiyu's room, there was a first-class maid Cuiying, two second-class maids Hongxiu and Lüyou, and four third-class maids.

Granny Wu was Jiang Huaiyu's dowry wet nurse. Although she was old, she was still full of energy. She was entrusted with the important task of managing Jiang Huaiyu's private storeroom.

Before long, an old woman wearing a royal blue brocade robe entered the room.

"This old servant greets Madam. May I ask what Madam wishes to do upon summoning this old servant?"

Jiang Huaiyu said calmly, "I remember that among my dowry was a one-foot-tall white jade Guanyin statue. You can take it to a pawnshop and exchange it for two taels of silver. Right now, the household is short of working capital and needs some cash to keep things running."

Upon hearing this, Granny Wu couldn't help but sigh with regret, "Madam, that Guanyin statue was specially prepared for you as part of your dowry by the master before his death. It would be really not worthwhile to sell it."

Jiang Huaiyu pondered for a moment, "In that case, let's pawn that box of pearls. There are twelve pearls in that box, each worth 1000 taels, so the whole box can be sold for 20,000 taels."

Upon hearing this, Granny Wu felt even more heartbroken. "That box of pearls was specially brought back from the East China Sea by your uncle as a gift. Each pearl is the size of an egg, round and translucent, and priceless. You probably won't find another box of pearls as precious as that in the whole world."

Faced with Granny Wu's "stinginess," Jiang Huaiyu felt somewhat helpless and asked, "Then what exactly can be pawned?"

Granny Wu hesitated for a long time, but still couldn't give an answer.

Jiang Huaiyu waved his hand gently, "Alright, alright, let's pawn that jade Buddha then. We can redeem it when we have enough funds."

"Yes, madam." Although Wu was reluctant, she understood that her mistress's decision was beyond question.

Jiang Huaiyu knew he couldn't rely on past savings forever. After recovering his funds and deducting necessary daily expenses, he planned to use the remaining silver to purchase prime farmland or take over two or three more shops. After all, making money work for him was the only way to ensure long-term success.

Based on his past life's experience, he foresees a severe drought next year, causing grain prices to skyrocket. Jiang Huaiyu decides to stockpile a large amount of grain in advance, planning to sell it when the time is right in order to make a substantial profit.

Furthermore, those seven poorly performing shops would be better off rented out than continuing to lose money.

When the topic of renting a house came up, Jiang Huaiyu suddenly remembered a brothel that was about to open in the west of the city and was said to be doing very well, with its daily income flowing in like water.

A thought struck him, and he immediately summoned Cuiying to prepare the carriage, heading straight for the west of the city.

It was autumn, and the streets and alleys were filled with golden leaves. The wheels of cars drove over them, making a rustling sound, like a melodious autumn tune.