Madam Tong smiled slightly and said to her, “…This is the eldest young lady of the Gu family.”
The farm woman was startled and became very nervous. She had a bamboo basket on her arm with fresh corn inside.
She stepped forward quickly and kowtowed to Gu Jin Chao, saying softly, “I’m a farm woman from Lingbi Village. My husband rents land from your family…” She hesitated, struggling to continue, “Steward Zhao doesn’t collect fifty percent rent, but seventy percent. The master should have mercy on us…” The farm woman began to cry as she spoke, “This year there’s been too much rain, and the corn harvest isn’t good. We can barely manage the seventy percent rent, how could we possibly give more? I have four daughters, each one thin as a skeleton from hunger. I had no choice but to sell one as a child bride. I beg the master not to raise the rent again…”
After hearing the farm woman’s words, Madam Tong’s expression changed, and she whispered to Jin Chao, “Steward Zhao is going too far. Even fifty percent of rent is excessive, yet he’s collecting seventy percent. It’s as if he doesn’t want these people to survive at all!”
The farm woman continued, “I was originally from Liu Shuigouzi. I heard that the Gu family masters treat people well, which is why my husband and I came here. These past few years we haven’t been able to save anything, and have even lost money… Many people came to Lingbi because of the Gu family’s reputation, but now everyone regrets it. If the master raises the rent again, we truly won’t be able to survive.”
Madam Tong asked her, “What about the neighboring villages? Are they on the Luo family’s territory?”
The farm woman nodded, “We can’t leave even if we wanted to. All the surrounding land belongs to the Luo family, and they also charge seventy percent rent…”
After questioning the farm woman, Madam Tong gave her a handful of copper coins. The farm woman thanked her profusely and insisted on leaving the bamboo basket of corn with Madam Tong.
After hearing the farm woman’s story, Jin Chao was extremely angry. With a stern face, she walked back and boarded the carriage, ordering the maidservant to return to the estate. On the way, Madam Tong told her, “The Luo family was originally imperial merchants, but not anymore, though they still have money. They treat people with the utmost harshness. The mistress greatly disliked the Luo family’s practices and had instructed the stewards that the estate’s rent should never exceed fifty percent. If Steward Zhao is collecting seventy percent, he must be pocketing twenty percent for himself.”
It was Xu Jingyi who later married into the Luo family.
Jin Chao couldn’t help but feel fortunate that she had come. Seeing how evasive they were in her presence, she suspected that before her arrival, Steward Zhao had threatened and bribed them not to tell her these things. Though he was merely the brother of her mother’s wet nurse, he had reached such a position of authority. He used her mother’s reputation to attract these people, then treated them so poorly once they arrived. It was truly excessive.
After returning to the estate, as the sun grew hotter, Steward Zhao sent over some sour plum soup. Jin Chao said nothing. After lunch, Steward Zhao went out on business, and she called two elderly female servants from the estate to question them. They were hesitant and evasive, clearly indicating something was wrong.
Jin Chao knew they were in a difficult position and let them go. She sat alone by the window, looking at the ginkgo tree outside while thinking.
Her mother had always been indecisive, but she had no intention of keeping Steward Zhao. Someone who treated others so harshly could hardly be expected to manage affairs properly!
As she was thinking, Cai Fu came in and said, “…There’s a farmer outside who wants to see the Gu family steward.”
Jin Chao thought for a moment and said, “Please invite him in. Madam Tong can speak with him.” She couldn’t face him directly due to propriety between men and women.
She sat in the back of the main hall, watching. The man wore a short yellow hemp shirt tied with a belt. His straw sandals were dirty, so he refused to enter the main hall, forcing Madam Tong to go outside to speak with him. The man smiled awkwardly and took out a handful of copper coins to return to Madam Tong: “…I’m Qin Er. My wife doesn’t know any better—how could she take the master’s money? It’s right for the master to ask us questions, and I’ve already scolded her for it!”
Madam Tong smiled slightly and said, “It wasn’t given for nothing. We bought a basket of corn from her.”
The man became even more embarrassed, waving his hands and saying, “…The corn is barely worth anything. Even two copper coins would be too much! Besides, it’s a gift for the master—take as much as you want, there’s no need to pay for it!”
Jin Chao watched from inside, thinking this man was remarkably honest and sincere. Even with his family in such poverty, he remained so straightforward. After some thought, she beckoned Cai Fu over and had her give Madam Tong instructions.
After receiving the instructions, Madam Tong asked the man, “Keep the money. I have something else to ask you. Steward Zhao’s fruit trees were planted on the hillside. When we went out today, we saw that the fields on the flat ground hadn’t been flooded, so how could all the fruit trees on the hillside have rotted roots… What happened?”
The man hesitated for a long time, looked around to ensure none of Steward Zhao’s people were nearby, and quickly whispered, “I’ll tell the master secretly—those fruit saplings were perfectly healthy, but they’ve been dug up! I heard people say that Steward Zhao transported the saplings overnight to the Luo family’s neighboring estate, saying he had sold them!”
After speaking, he seemed very anxious and hastily bid farewell, picking up a pair of bamboo baskets to leave. Madam Tong had someone give him a thick bag of meat-filled flatbread. Qin Er declined repeatedly but finally accepted with a red face.
Madam Tong returned to report to Jin Chao. After hearing this, Jin Chao laughed and said, “My mother probably has many such people under her, who think they can fool me because of my inexperience…” When she came to the estate, Steward Zhao had been determined to profit, showing no fear at all, simply treating her as an unworldly young lady.
After some thought, she said to Madam Tong, “Call in the guards sent by Grandmother. We need to make an example.”
Madam Tong smiled and went to summon the men.
Meanwhile, Cheng Shi had been out for about an hour, walking around the area and getting a clear picture of the situation. Having followed Ji Yao for so long, he knew how to gather intelligence and what to look for, moving much faster than Gu Jin Chao’s group. When he returned to report to Ji Yao, the latter was reading Dong Sibai’s “Rongtai Collection” and didn’t even lift his eyelids when Cheng Shi came back.
Cheng Shi told him about the situation at the Lingbi estate, “…Your servant was wondering why Steward Zhao was acting so suspiciously. It turns out he’s been colluding with the Luo family! The steward from the Luo estate has already spoken with him, promising that if he transfers the assets from the Lingbi estate to the Luo family, he’ll recommend him for a position with the Luo family, with at least double the salary he gets from the Gu family. Steward Zhao was very tempted and practically gave away those ten-plus acres of fruit saplings to the Luo family for nothing.”
Ji Yao merely said, “…I see.”
Cheng Shi, however, was anxiously scratching his head. He had heard so much about this steward and was amazed that such an ungrateful scoundrel existed in the world! The Gu family had treated him so well, yet he tarnished their reputation and now eagerly wanted to work for the Luo family! The Gu family’s eldest young lady knew nothing about farming—how could she possibly understand these matters? The villain Steward Zhao would surely gain the upper hand!
Just thinking about it made him uncomfortable, yet the Second Young Master showed no interest in helping!
Cheng Shi paced around the room for a while, feeling a knot in his chest. Now that Gu Jin Chao had come to the estate, the Old Madam was so concerned that she sent guards and female servants with her. Some time ago, when he followed Ji Yao to the estate, there were just the two of them. The steward, knowing they were ignorant of such matters, had taken advantage of them many times. Eventually, the Second Young Master managed to bring those people under control, though he lost weight in the process.
…Why didn’t he care about his cousin?
Seeing his expression, Ji Yao smiled and said, “I understand, but helping or not helping are both problematic. If you want to help, go speak to Cousin yourself, but don’t bother me.” If both helping and not helping were wrong, then he would do what suited his interests.
After speaking, Ji Yao lowered his head and continued reading. Cheng Shi thought for a long time. It wasn’t his place to interfere, but if he didn’t help, not only would Steward Zhao triumph, but the Old Madam would likely not spare the Second Young Master when they returned… Finally, gritting his teeth, he headed toward Gu Jin Chao’s quarters.
…
Steward Zhao had just returned from the Luo family’s estate, where he had been discussing the persimmon grove to the west. He wanted to sell it to the Luo family for ten wen per tree, with the grove still full of ripening persimmons—practically giving them away. Thinking of this, Steward Zhao snorted softly. Judging by the Gu family’s eldest young lady’s demeanor, he doubted he could extract much money from her. It was better to join the Luo family, who after all had once been imperial merchants.
He had been dissatisfied with the Gu family for a long time. His sister was Ji Shi’s wet nurse and had devoted nearly half her life to Ji Shi before retiring to her hometown. Yet Ji Shi had repaid kindness with enmity, not only sending him to manage the worst estate in Xianghe but also cutting his wages in half. If he hadn’t been taking a little extra from the estate… he wouldn’t even have the face to speak of it outside! The way he treated the Gu family was merely their retribution.
Unexpectedly, soon after entering the door, before he could even take a sip of water, the eldest young lady’s maid came to summon him.
…She probably had more questions. Steward Zhao straightened his collar and followed.
Gu Jin Chao was brewing tea. After the first pour of water over the purple clay teapot, the second pour yielded clear tea, which she poured for Steward Zhao.
Steward Zhao didn’t even dare to sit, let alone drink the tea brewed by Jin Chao’s hand. Trembling, he said, “The young lady honors this servant too much—how could I possibly accept?”
Jin Chao smiled and said, “You’ve toiled for the Gu family for so many years. It’s just a cup of clear tea—what’s not to accept?”
Only then did Steward Zhao take the teacup.
Jin Chao said languidly, “I went out for a stroll today. There’s been too much rain this year, so the corn harvest will likely be worse than previous years. In bad years, you collect two hundred dan, which is too little. This year, collect seventy percent of rent, and use the extra grain to exchange for a batch of tree saplings to plant—date trees would be good.”
Steward Zhao’s heart jolted upon hearing this. The young lady looked delicate and gentle, but who knew she could be so ruthless? But if she wanted to collect seventy percent rent, how could he take his cut? If he added another twenty percent to make it ninety percent, the tenants of Lingbi would certainly all flee.
Cheng Shi, having come from Ji Yao’s place, arrived just in time to hear this exchange. Finding no one to announce him, he stood outside the window listening. Hearing this, he was shocked… He thought Steward Zhao was black-hearted, but their cousin wasn’t much better!
Jin Chao looked up and, seeing Steward Zhao silent, changed tack with a smile, “I was thinking this way when I happened to see a farm woman, and mentioned to her about adding twenty percent to the rent. Guess what she said to me, Steward Zhao?”