My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 12

12

In the Listening Bamboo Hall, Ruan Zhi sat behind a screen, listening to a report from a woman in her twenties.

“Madam has two senior maids and two junior maids assigned to her. The senior maids receive a monthly allowance of two taels of silver, while the junior maids receive one tael. The kitchen steward earns four taels per month…” The woman spoke to Ruan Zhi, who occasionally corrected her, and the woman noted the changes with a brush on paper.

Gu Qingci listened in silence.

Ruan Zhi had given her a monthly allowance of two taels—the same as a senior maid.

Well, at least it was better than a junior maid.

“Wife, this is the new housekeeper replacing Nanny Qin, Madam Zhao.” After listening to the woman’s report, Ruan Zhi turned to Gu Qingci and said.

She had borrowed this person from the Ruan family.

Nanny Qin’s health was poor, and Ruan Zhi didn’t want her to overexert herself.

With a steward in place, Ruan Zhi could focus more on managing the family’s external business affairs.

Gu Qingci greeted Madam Zhao, and Ruan Zhi handed her a new account book, its ink still fresh.

“I don’t know how to read this. Could you explain the situation to me?” Gu Qingci said awkwardly.

Ruan Zhi glanced at her and instructed Madam Zhao to explain.

“Reporting to the lord, yesterday’s fines totaled one hundred and five taels. The horse you took from the Ruan family is worth forty-five taels, the groom fifteen taels, and building the stable cost three taels. That leaves forty-two taels remaining.”

“The Gu family currently owns two shops, one estate, and thirty acres of land. The shops are poorly managed—the rice shop has been operating at a loss for the past few months, losing two taels per month. The cosmetics shop barely earns five taels. The estate and land are managed together, requiring a monthly subsidy of two taels for the workers there. Since the crops aren’t ready for harvest, there’s no profit yet. Aside from the Xiuyi Garden, the Gu household has six servants, costing three taels in monthly wages. Additionally, the horse requires one tael for fodder, and the groom’s wages are one and a half taels…”

Madam Zhao laid out the Gu family’s financial situation in simple arithmetic.

Gu Qingci wanted to cry.

Although the number of servants had been halved, the expenses for the horse and groom were significant, keeping the total expenditures nearly the same as when there were twelve servants.

Income hadn’t increased, and the household was still operating at a monthly loss.

The original owner had cut staff but maintained a facade of luxury by tightening wages, still ending up in debt. With the Zhang family’s embezzlement, the family’s savings were nearly depleted.

Her pitiful two-tael allowance wasn’t enough to cover the losses.

Gu Qingci pouted. So poor!

And this calculation didn’t even include the expenses for the entire staff of Ruan Zhi’s Xiuyi Garden.

“If the lord wishes to dine at the Xiuyi Garden, it will cost an additional five taels per month. The ingredients used there are of the highest quality, and the purchases are recorded. The lord may inspect the accounts. The remaining forty-two taels will only last three more months.” Madam Zhao added.

“You don’t have to eat at the Xiuyi Garden. I’ve left the main kitchen untouched, promoting one of the former kitchen assistants to cook.” Ruan Zhi said coolly.

Ruan Zhi didn’t believe in losing money.

If Gu Qingci wanted to take advantage of her, she’d have to pay the price.

The accounts were laid bare to show Gu Qingci just how poor she was.

And Gu Qingci understood perfectly.

Her face fell completely.

Not eating at the Xiuyi Garden? Impossible!

That five-tael expense was non-negotiable.

“I don’t need servants. Can we reduce the staff? And if you manage the shops and estate, can we increase profits?” Gu Qingci asked Ruan Zhi.

“The Gu household’s six servants can be reduced by three. I’ll replace the shop managers with more capable ones to ensure higher profits. The estate steward also needs to be replaced. Dismissing the current managers and stewards and using my people will require funds. Your remaining silver will only last one more month. After that, if there’s still a deficit, I’ll cover it—but you’ll have to sign an IOU.” Ruan Zhi said.

This way, the Gu family would be entirely under Ruan Zhi’s control—both its people and finances.

If Gu Qingci stamped the agreement, Ruan Zhi would have another means to keep her in check.

If word got out, Gu Qingci would be ridiculed.

If she had any pride left, she’d have to think twice.

“Alright, let’s do as you say.” Gu Qingci agreed without hesitation.

Without money, her carefree life would be reduced to eating air.

She could only hope Ruan Zhi would multiply her shop profits.

Life in ancient times was tough.

To live leisurely, she had to cling to the thigh of a powerful figure.

“Stamp your seal here, and I’ll have someone handle the rest.” Ruan Zhi said, watching Gu Qingci.

Such an arrangement would be outrageous in any ordinary household.

The old Gu Qingci would’ve flown into a rage, feeling her dignity insulted.

But the current Gu Qingci promptly stamped the document with her seal.

Seeing that Gu Qingci didn’t even read the contents, Ruan Zhi took out a few more contracts for her to stamp.

Using Gu Qingci’s noble status could secure slight discounts on certain goods.

After stamping several documents, a maid announced that the shop managers Gu Qingci had summoned had arrived.

Ruan Zhi began hearing their reports.

Her shops were part of her dowry from the Ruan family, some located in the county town, others elsewhere.

Just hearing a fraction of the accounts made Gu Qingci green with envy.

One of Ruan Zhi’s restaurants alone earned hundreds of taels per month!

No wonder she was so wealthy.

“Reporting to Madam, this month’s profits are down by ten percent. The transit tax has increased from fifteen percent to twenty percent, and the trade tax from three percent to five percent. Additionally, the court has imposed a new tax on merchants—a public construction tax, taking two percent of profits. With the conflicts in the southern and northern borders, a security tax of three percent is being levied on certain goods…” one manager reported after submitting the accounts.

Gu Qingci, who had been snacking on pastries, suddenly perked up.

“Why are taxes so high?” she asked. Combined, they amounted to nearly thirty percent—and that didn’t even include income tax.

“Reporting to the lord, merchant taxes have always been high. With the recent unrest at the borders, they’ve increased further.” the manager explained.

“…” Gu Qingci was speechless.

Heavy taxation was the court’s way of suppressing merchants.

Thinking of her own shops’ meager profits, half of which would go to taxes, made her heart bleed.

“Is there any way to reduce the taxes?” she asked.

“Reporting to the lord, if we’re fortunate, we can hire a scholar to accompany shipments. Paying them a commission exempts us from transit taxes. If we have a trusted scholar, registering the shop under their name exempts us from trade taxes.” the manager replied.

Gu Qingci fell silent.

When the manager saw she had no further questions, he continued reporting to Ruan Zhi.

After reviewing the accounts, Ruan Zhi made arrangements for the shops’ future operations, including Gu Qingci’s two.

Once the meeting concluded, Gu Qingci stood and stopped Ruan Zhi as she was leaving.

“Does my wife have something to say?” Ruan Zhi asked.

“Madam, may I attend the academy?” Gu Qingci asked.

“The lord is already a student there. Of course, you may go.” Ruan Zhi said, studying her expression with slight suspicion.

Just earlier, Gu Qingci had claimed she didn’t want to go. Why the sudden change of heart?

Then Ruan Zhi remembered something.

The brother of the woman Gu Qingci had wanted to take as a concubine was at the academy.

Along with several of her disreputable friends.

“Madam, starting tomorrow, I’ll attend the academy. If I can pass the imperial exams and become a scholar, exempting our family from some of the merchant taxes, could you increase my allowance?” Gu Qingci asked, looking at Ruan Zhi with hopeful eyes.

The manager’s words had sparked an idea.

Scholars enjoyed such excellent benefits—it’d be a waste not to take advantage.

That was hard-earned silver on the line!

“Very well. If the lord can become a scholar, your allowance will increase to ten taels. Additionally, you’ll receive one percent of the tax savings.” Ruan Zhi said, tossing out the offer casually.

She was even more suspicious of Gu Qingci’s motives now.

Illiterate, unable to read account books, ranked at the bottom of the academy’s lowest class—and now she wanted to become a scholar?

The exams were just days away.

Who was she trying to fool?

“Great! I’ll start preparing immediately! I’ll study day and night!” Gu Qingci, unaware of Ruan Zhi’s thoughts, said excitedly.

One percent of Ruan Zhi’s tax savings was no small sum!

A hundred days of hard work for a lifetime of leisure.

Once she became a scholar and reduced the taxes, her allowance would increase, and she could live a carefree life off the dividends!

Gu Qingci clenched her fists, filled with motivation.

Ruan Zhi glanced at her, said a few words to Madam Zhao, and returned to the Xiuyi Garden.

“My lord, Madam says you need not stay the night tonight. Meals will be sent to the Mojin Pavilion.” Madam Zhao informed Gu Qingci.

Gu Qingci’s face fell.

Was she no longer allowed to sleep on the little couch she’d just spent one night on?

She wondered if the food delivered would be the same as what she’d eaten with Ruan Zhi.

“Madam has assigned you a study attendant, Shimo. He’s literate and familiar with the academy. He’ll accompany you there.” Madam Zhao said, presenting a young boy.

Gu Qingci pushed aside her thoughts, greeted Shimo, and returned to the Mojin Pavilion.

She needed to review the original owner’s handwriting and study materials to prepare.

Back in her study, Gu Qingci ignored the unfinished romance novels and instead looked for the original owner’s calligraphy and books.

Seeing the messy handwriting, she felt somewhat relieved.

She could practice and improve—no need to worry about mimicking the script.

But the classical texts gave her a headache. Classical Chinese was already a sleeping aid for her, and the traditional characters made it even harder.

Sure enough, she began yawning after just a short while.

“My lord, the Old Madam requests your presence at the Jifu Garden.” Dongxue’s voice woke her.

Gu Qingci suddenly remembered she had a mother.

Yesterday, she’d told Xue Sanniang about their conflicting fates but hadn’t yet reported the dream’s outcome.

Rubbing her eyes, Gu Qingci followed Dongxue to the Jifu Garden.

Xue Sanniang was seated in the main hall.

“Leave us. I wish to speak with my daughter alone.” Xue Sanniang said to the tall, sturdy maidservant—one Ruan Zhi had assigned to watch over her.

The woman bowed and left.

Once alone, Xue Sanniang began dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Qingci, what kind of bewitchment has that woman cast on you? How could you let her manage the household? A merchant woman overseeing the house—if word gets out, you’ll be a laughingstock. And look, she’s even sent that servant to monitor me, forbidding me from leaving. Such insolence! Qingci, you’re an alpha, a noble of Jian’an. Your great-grandmother was a princess, your great-grandfather—” Xue Sanniang ranted uncontrollably.

Gu Qingci’s lips twitched, her face burning with secondhand embarrassment.

A low-ranking noble who couldn’t even exempt taxes, yet Xue Sanniang made it sound like they were royalty.

Xue Sanniang was entirely consumed by classism. If she acted arrogantly in front of Ruan Zhi, she’d be begging for trouble.

Gu Qingci felt as if a sword hung over her head, ready to drop at any moment.

“Mother, Ah Zhi is right. Last night, I dreamed of Father. He said if you don’t go to the estate, you must stay in the Jifu Garden. Mother, you wouldn’t want to watch me meet a bloody end, would you? To bury your own child?” Gu Qingci said tremulously, her face etched with fear.

“Qingci, have you decided against taking young lady huan as a concubine?” Xue Sanniang paused, her lips trembling.

“No concubines. What’s the point if I’m dead?” Gu Qingci shook her head.

“Qingci, I don’t want to go to the estate. I’d rather go to Mingxia Temple to pray for your fortune and have monks perform rites for your father.” Xue Sanniang said after a moment.

Gu Qingci considered it. Whether to the estate or the temple, Xue Sanniang’s temporary absence was for the best.

“Fine. I’ll have the servants prepare. You’ll leave for Mingxia Temple tomorrow.” Gu Qingci agreed.

Seeing Xue Sanniang’s despondent expression, Gu Qingci softened. After all, she was this body’s mother.

“Mother, here’s ten taels. Take it.” Gu Qingci said, handing over the largest bill she had—part of Ruan Zhi’s payment to her.

Xue Sanniang wiped her eyes and said a few more words before Gu Qingci left.

She instructed Dongxue to inform Ruan Zhi of Xue Sanniang’s impending departure.

That afternoon, a maid delivered meals to the Mojin Pavilion.

The dishes were decent, but eating alone lacked the flavor of dining with Ruan Zhi.

That evening, Gu Qingci practiced calligraphy, mimicking the original owner’s handwriting, and struggled through classical texts until drowsiness overtook her.

After washing up, she retired to her hard bed.

Once Gu Qingci was asleep, her study attendant Shimo slipped through a side gate to the Xiuyi Garden, carrying a few sheets of paper.

“Aside from visiting the Old Madam, the lord spent the entire afternoon reading and writing, though she yawned frequently. She’s now asleep.” Shimo reported from behind a screen.

So much for “studying day and night.”

Ruan Zhi examined the newly written calligraphy—full of errors, with strokes like a child’s, lacking finesse or structure. The handwriting was indistinguishable from the original fool’s.

“Burn them.” Ruan Zhi said dismissively, handing the papers to Lian Rui.