“Yes!” Qing Wen visibly brightened.
Being able to manage money meant she was at the heart of things.
She wanted to go to Bao Er Ye's side, wasn't it because she wanted to climb the ladder of power?
She hadn't expected Xuan Si Ye to let Xiang Ling manage the accounts and instead entrusted her, someone who had just arrived, with the task.
But soon, a frown appeared on her face.
She mumbled, "Xuan Si Ye, I can't read…" with a lack of confidence.
"That's easily taken care of. Have Xiang Ling find the textbooks I used to teach her. She'll teach you the basics of Pinyin and numbers for two days and you'll be all set."
Xiang Ling simply said, "Oh…" in a daze.
"Master, have you had enough to eat? Would you like me… should I go with Qing Wen and get some more food?"
Halfway through her sentence, remembering the labyrinthine Rong Guo Gong's Mansion and her utter lack of confidence in finding the kitchen, she immediately changed her mind.
"Let's just forget it today. It's been a tiring journey, and we'll skip practice tonight and get some early sleep."
"Besides, we'll have a late-night snack later."
Li Xuan waved his hand in refusal.
He didn't say anything else and contentedly enjoyed the northern delicacies that were different from what he was accustomed to in the South.
After finishing his meal, he used a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and then proactively left.
Xiang Ling and Qing Wen then took out their own meals, using the leftover food on the table to finish their dinner.
Unlike the masters who enjoyed three meals a day, the servants only had two meals and ate leftovers from the master's meals and snacks.
Don't think eating leftovers is an insult.
In a wealthy household like Rong Guo Mansion, there were always multiple dishes for every meal.
Let's not even talk about the mistresses and young ladies who might only take a couple of bites from each dish, or even not touch them at all.
Even the masters and sons, the Jias, who were mostly useless and didn't have any outstanding martial arts experts, would leave half of the food untouched.
The servants who served them and got to eat these leftovers might be eating better than some of the less favored young masters and ladies!
(This refers to the concubines, Jia Huan and others)
As for the concern about eating leftovers...
Just ask the neighbors in the compound, who doesn't covet those leftovers?
Li Xuan had been reading in his study for a while when Xiang Ling came in to report that Li Wan had brought Jia Lan over.
Li Xuan's thoughts about this adopted nephew were similar to Li Wan's.
If he was a well-behaved and obedient child, they'd treat him as family.
If he turned out to be a bad egg, they'd nurture him until adulthood, marry him off, and give him some assets to live off of. It wouldn't affect his reputation.
But based on the original story, Jia Lan should be a good boy.
Thinking about it, Li Xuan continued walking.
He stepped out of the room and saw Li Wan walking towards him with a small child, her demeanor gentle and graceful.
Before Li Xuan could speak, Li Wan stroked Jia Lan's head and said, "Come, call him Uncle!"
"Jia Lan greets Fourth Uncle and thanks Fourth Uncle for the jade and the stationery set!"
Without saying a word, Jia Lan immediately knelt down and bowed his head.
The stationery set he was referring to was one of the gifts Li Xuan had sent Qing Wen and Xiang Ling to deliver to each household.
Jia Lan had received a jade pendant that symbolized peace and serenity and a set of high-quality stationery tools.
The jade wasn't worth much, but the high-quality stationery set was worth several hundred taels.
"Good boy, get up," said Li Xuan, pulling Jia Lan up. He then glanced at Li Wan, "Lan Ge'er is really small, why does he seem a little stiff?"
"I'm following the requirements used to educate my older brothers. Unfortunately, Rong Guo Gong's Mansion doesn't quite meet those standards, and some conditions can't be met."
Instead of arguing, Li Wan shook her head with regret.
The mistress thought that Li Wan had caused Jia Zhu's death, so she would return a Jia Zhu, who was close to her, to the Jia family.
When Lan Ge'er eventually achieved great things, he would intentionally not be close to Wang Fu Ren.
Just thinking about that scene made Li Wan happy.
It was one of the few joys she could still find, aside from her cultivation practice.
Seeing through her motives, Li Xuan disregarded etiquette and rolled his eyes at Li Wan in front of the maids.
He said sarcastically, "Big Sister, you're teaching him according to the standards for a son of a noble family, but are there even the conditions for that here?"
The Jias didn't have the same cultural heritage as the Li family.
Even the servants in the Li family had more scholarly air than the Jias' sons!
Li Wan remained silent.
She simply entrusted Jia Lan to Su Yun, asking her to take him aside to play.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Xuan spoke again:
"Big Sister, you look healthy and full of vitality, it's just that I'm used to thinking of you as someone who lives outside the world and is untouched by worldly affairs."
"But the servants of the Jia Mansion have a sense of entitlement; they're good at judging people by their appearance."
"Has the main kitchen ever deducted from your meals?"
"Do you have access to money when you need it?"
"You know me, I never have any money left over, but I'm never short of small change."
He was practically asking, "Big Sister, do you have any money left? If not, I'll support (crossed out) you."
Li Wan smiled and placed her hand in front of Li Xuan.
Her parents might not be aware, but she was very much aware.
When this younger brother of hers was just three or four years old, he could come up with ideas to earn several taels.
Now, he was approaching the age of a young gentleman. If he had a good idea, wouldn't he earn hundreds of taels?
Her brother didn't lack money. Just looking at the gifts he gave was enough to tell she didn't lack money!
Looking at Li Wan, who was clearly older than him, but whom he had spoiled into becoming like a little sister over the years.
Li Xuan bared his teeth.
It felt like the air of quiet serenity, refined elegance, clear-headedness, and yet detachment from worldly matters that he had just felt, had vanished.
This was clearly a little girl asking her big brother for pocket money.
She was practically begging!
He turned and went into the room, taking out two thousand two hundred taels.
He put two thousand taels into Li Wan's hand. "Big Sister, go ahead and spend it freely. If you run out, just ask for more."
"Just like how it was when we were kids?" Li Wan's eyes twinkled.
"Just like when we were kids!"
Li Wan burst into a bright smile.
The awkwardness of not seeing each other for six years, and the feeling of being strangers when they first met, finally dissipated.
"Qing Wen, take this. All the expenses for the flowers in the courtyard are now yours. If you're about to run out, remind me."
Li Xuan handed the remaining two hundred taels to Qing Wen.
"Xuan Si Ye, rest assured, I will manage the accounts properly!"
Qing Wen excitedly assured him, after taking the silver note.
She thought to herself, "First thing tomorrow morning, I'll go to Zhou Rui Jia's and exchange this for small silver ingots and copper coins so they're easier to spend."
Seeing this, Li Wan teased, "Oh, Xuan Ge'er has a good eye."
"You've only been here for a day, and you already know that Qing Wen, who is by the Old Lady's side, is a clever and meticulous person."
Those words caused Qing Wen's face to flush.
But she also knew that this was a real master, not someone she could casually argue with.
So, she just curtsied to Li Wan to show her respect.
Talk back?
Impossible!
After chatting for a while, Li Wan stood up and said, "Okay, okay, it's getting late. We should go back."
"Big Sister, although you've spent a few years carving wood and sculpting clay, if you need anything, you must tell me. Even if I can't help, it's always better to have someone else thinking about it, isn't it?"
"No need to see us off, just stop when you get here!"
After sending Li Wan and Jia Lan off, Li Xuan stretched.
The day was finally over. Time for sleep!
After taking two steps, he turned back and looked at Qing Wen who was following him. He poked her forehead.
"Go to sleep with Xiang Ling, you two are still young, you don't need to stay up at night to serve!"