Chapter Thirteen: The Infuriating Situation

  "Master, your house is a bit damp and dark, I think it's time for some renovation."

  "It's all right, Uncle is now in charge of the affairs of the Su family, and he's still thinking about which places need more money, it's already very good here."

  "Is the young master temporarily moving to the east wing to live?"

  Su Tiancheng shook his head, the east wing of the courtyard, where Su Huawen and Madame, Su Tianhao, Su Tianran and others used to live, was indeed much better, with plenty of sunlight, pavilions, corridors, small bridges and flowing water, a different world. He himself lived in the south wing with the servants. Although Su Huawen and Madame had left Pingyang Prefecture for Taiyuan Prefecture, this courtyard remained empty, uninhabited by anyone.

  As time passed, Su Tiancheng knew more and more about the situation. Fortunately, he was a traverser who had worked in national organs before and was at least a leading cadre, so he had experienced many storms. If it were an ordinary person, encountering such discrimination would have blown their top long ago.

  "Young master, regarding the situation at the Su residence that you asked about last time, I carefully recalled it. When I first arrived at the Su residence, I directly followed Third Madam. Third Madam is kind and good to us servants, but there are some things that as a servant, I shouldn't ask too much about, lest I overstep my bounds."

  "It's been so many years now, I've always missed my mother and thought about asking my uncle to know more about her situation. Unfortunately, I don't even know what she looks like."

  Su Pingyang also lowered his head, the young master was telling the truth, when he was just born, the third madam had already passed away, of course, it was impossible to see her, and it was also impossible to remember what the third madam looked like.

  "Alright, let's not talk about these things anymore. Uncle thinks that there are some things in this mansion that need attention."

  Su Pingyang raised his head, he was knowledgeable and naturally knew what problems existed in the Su Mansion. He used to be at the bottom himself, so he understood these situations more deeply. In recent days, after talking with the young master several times, he was surprised to find that the young master had some unconventional views. Of course, the young master was a scholar, and it was natural for him to be impressive. But the young master's personality had changed too much, being resolute and decisive, looking at problems very accurately, as if he had become a different person.

  Su Pingyang thought this was Third Madame's spirit in the underworld protecting Young Master.

  "Young master, I think it's still okay to maintain it this way for now."

  Su Tiancheng slightly furrowed his brow, this couldn't be blamed on Su Pingyang, the problems in the Su household were definitely there. However, Madame was still the one in charge at home, although she wasn't in Pingyang City, she remotely controlled and directed everything from afar. Even the servants in the household mostly listened to Madame, he hadn't been able to establish his own authority. At this time, Su Pingyang not speaking up about the situation was actually afraid that he would act rashly and stir up trouble, it was also for his own consideration.

  The situation in the Su Mansion must be changed. Since Father and Eldest Madam have moved to Taiyuan Prefecture, they won't easily return. This is where one's own life and career are based, at least until achieving success through imperial examination. Many things need to be done step by step. The most crucial thing is to firmly control the Su Mansion in Pingyang Prefecture in one's own hands. Think about it, the servants in the mansion appear to follow one's arrangements on the surface but actually take their cues from Eldest Madam. How can one feel at ease doing things?

  And this matter must be done quickly, cannot drag on.

  "Uncle, don't worry about it, isn't it just a matter of Auntie's place? If there's anything that needs to be done, I'll naturally take care of it. In the current situation, what needs to be done will be done."

  "The young master said that there are currently thirty-five servants in the mansion, all of whom are distributed in several key places. There are eighteen people in the kitchen, three by the young master's side, ten who sweep and clean the east wing, two who run errands, and the rest are stewards. This distribution is indeed somewhat improper."

  "Uncle says, what changes should be made."

  "There are too few people around the young master. Now I'm in charge of things in the mansion, and by the young master's side, it's actually just Er Tong. My wife is getting older and isn't as efficient at doing things anymore. The young master doesn't want her to do things either, so many things are done by the young master himself. It's really unbearable."

  "Uncle, don't say that. Auntie is old and has taken care of me for so many years, it's time for her to enjoy herself. As for taking care of me, it's definitely not necessary anymore. I'm still considering whether to arrange a maid to be by Auntie's side to take care of her daily life and meals."

  "Young master, you mustn't do this. No matter what, we are all servants. The young master doesn't even have a personal maid by his side, and yet maids are assigned to us servants. If word gets out, others will say I don't understand the rules."

  Su Tiancheng smiled.

  "Uncle, don't worry so much. Identity isn't fixed, there are some things I can handle quickly. I have an idea, take a look and see if it's suitable."

  "Young master just say it, I'll go and do it."

  "Uncle is getting old, having been in the Su family for so many years, and being familiar with all situations. See if what I say makes sense. There are 36 people in the Su household now, including me. Uncle takes care of everything in the house, Auntie can rest assured, Su Er follows me around, leaving 32 people behind. Su Jun is still nominally in charge of the household, including Yu Huan, which leaves 30 people. Sweeping the east wing courtyard requires 10 people, this arrangement is simply absurd! Two people are enough to sweep, and since no one lives there, it doesn't need to be swept every day, at most once or twice a month would be fine."

  Su Pingyang looked at Su Tiancheng with an incredulous expression. Young master, what's wrong with you? Are you daring to pull out the tiger's whiskers?

  "The Su residence covers nearly three hundred mu of land. Such a large place, it's said that thirty or more people are far from enough, but I've thought about it, and only useful people will do, otherwise even ten people would be too many. My consideration is that everyone needs to be reassigned, the kitchen doesn't need so many people, at most five people, not many people eat there anyway, eighteen people cooking for eighteen people to eat, if large households were arranged like this, I reckon the kitchen wouldn't be able to fit anyone."

  "As for how to arrange, I haven't thought it through clearly. As for the affairs of the mansion, I'm not very familiar with them, and I didn't care about them before. Please ask Uncle to worry more, Uncle doesn't need to show up, think of something and tell me, I'll do it. More than 30 people in this mansion will be arranged to go to Taiyuan Prefecture."

  "Master, don't do this, if the mistress gets angry, it will be hard to clean up."

  "Haha, Uncle, what are you worried about? Are you saying that if the mistress doesn't give me money, I won't be able to survive? Such a small matter, can't even resolve it myself, how can I possibly stand firm in the Su Manor? I think it's better for the madam to come to the manor earlier, there are some things that need to be thoroughly clarified."

  Su Pingyang, who was sitting at the bottom, almost couldn't hold on. Could it be that Young Master is going to do business in the future? This absolutely won't do! Young Master should still focus on studying.

  "Young master, old master has been in business for many years, I think it's best if you don't consider such things."

  "Uncle has something to say, from now on just speak clearly, Uncle is worried that I will neglect my studies and focus on doing business instead."

  Su Tiancheng smiled and shook his head.

  "I still have to take the imperial examination next year, so I definitely can't afford to neglect my studies. I don't agree with just reading books blindly. Some people say that 'in books there are golden houses and jade maidens', but I think that's not true - in books, there is no food; if my stomach is empty, or I'm wearing too few clothes and feeling cold, then staring at a pile of books is definitely not the right approach. Learning for practical application is the real way to study."

  Su Pingyang was somewhat excited, and he completely understood what Young Master said.

  "I understand what you mean, young master. However, for so many years, you have been diligently studying and I still think that after you participate in the imperial examination, we can consider other matters. If there's anything going on in the mansion, I'll take care of it directly, even if the first wife were to blame me, I'd bear the responsibility together with her."

  "If one's own house is not swept clean, how can one sweep the whole world? Uncle, don't say anything more, I've already made up my mind."

  Su Pingyang looked at Su Tiancheng and found that Su Tiancheng's eyes were clear, with a hint of determination.

  "It's already October now, and the grain harvest has been over for a long time. I don't know how much grain is left in storage at the mansion."

  "The stored grain is sufficient. I have cleaned up these days and there are still 30 dan of rice, 50 dan of wheat flour. If we save some, it can be maintained until September next year."

  Su Tiancheng closed his eyes and calculated that one stone was equivalent to 189 catties, and the mansion still had more than 15,000 catties of grain. If it were evenly distributed among everyone, each person would get about 420 catties of grain. However, considering this amount could only last for a year, the possibility was not great. Moreover, Su Tiancheng also wanted to recruit some people, and this amount of grain would definitely be insufficient.

  In the following years, there were several famines, and the government had to store enough grain, and also make money through grain transactions. Before taking part in the imperial examination, other things could not be done on a large scale, and making money was absolutely indispensable.

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