The unspoken words meant to ask, if the Founder mansion could barely support itself without her, would this manager Feng let her live on air now that she was back? In fact, Mo Qianxue intended to test how black-hearted this man could be.
If her mother was still alive, he would never dare to present the account books like these. It should be recently in the past six months that his loyalty began to rot.
Manager Feng looked anxious, "Sorry, I'm too incompetent. I didn't manage these properties well. Please punishment, lady. Recently, I've also been worrying about it and planning to discuss with lady whether we should sell out a few shops or land to get more cash."
"The other expenses aren't needed for the time being. If I try best to pool together and find a way to save the businesses, it won't be a problem to support the Founder mansion for three years and provide you with enough dowry."
It meant that after three years, the Founder mansion could receive yearly allowance again, and by then, if she was married, it didn't matter to have these properties or not.
Mo Qianxue mocked, "Should I thank you for your efforts?" Since the conversation went this far, it wasn't necessary to be polite.
To sell out the stores and lands that would never suffer loses? Did he really believe she was stupid? This man… She was speechless. Yet, he looked so honest and loyal and anxious. Nobody would doubt his loyalty and would forgive him for all this.
What an actor!
Manager Feng seemed not having understood what she meant and replied, "It's my duty to do so. Don't thank me, please."
Mo Qianxue found it unnecessary to continue with him, "You may leave now. I have to check the account books now, so that I can decide which store should be thrown away."
Manager Feng stilled looked polite and gentle, "Then, I leave, lady. If there is anything you don't understand, please call me in at any time."
"Walk manager Feng to the door."
Butler Mo seemed to have a million words to say, frequently glaring at manager Feng, and was reluctant to walk him to the door, but he still concealed his anger and said expressionlessly, "Manager Feng, this way, please."
"Thank you, butler Mo."
Seeing manager Feng left, the other managers also bowed and left.
Then, only Mo Qianxue, nanny Mo and Chuyi were in the front hall.
Mo Qianxue carelessly sap her tea, but nanny Mo was so worried, "Lady, what should we do? This manager Feng is so incapable. When madam was here, everything ran well. The stores were profitable and the lands had good harvest.
When she left, in view that he has worked with loyalty for many years, she gave the life indenture back to him to so that he could work harder and provide his children a good life. It's so surprising that he…"
Nanny Mo chattered along with anger. She felt sorry for lady and got a little panicked! If there wasn't money in the mansion, then what should lady do?
The Ning family was super-noble while lady was so down and out. If she married him, how could she have a say among those in-laws? …
What in Mo Qianxue's mind was: the students of poor origins didn't have much chance to succeed let alone the slaves. On the contrary, some servants got rich and granted back their life indentures.
Some servants got rid of slavery because of the family they served and had a better chance than the students to succeed in life. This was also the reason why some promising people were also sold out as servants.
This was a tactful man! Now he was no longer a servant to the mansion. As a free man, he couldn't be disposed of randomly.
A hot potato.
She needed help.
Chuyi was considerate and looked the account books, asking, "Lady, will there be problems with these books? Can I help you…?"
"Of course there are problems." Mo Qianxue took a glimpse at the pile of books. Needless to say, the account must be balanced. Most people couldn't figure out the problems.
She did need someone to help her, but this one wasn't Chuyi!
Butler Mo turned back, holding a stack of account books of the mansion for lady to use.
A smart person!
Before Mo Qianxue asked, he already told clearly her the silver balance in the mansion, the monthly expenses, and monthly allowance of the servants at different levels, and handed her the account books.
Mo Qianxue didn't read them, because she trusted him and meanwhile there wasn't time to check.
The butler was a thoughtful man and reported in extreme detail.
In view that the masters weren't in the mansion, the butler saved every penny he could and controlled strictly over the monthly allowance that manager Feng sent over. Hence, at the end of every month, there was money left. Although, it wasn't in a big number, it added up to several thousands of taels after five years.
The butler let Mo Qianxue stay assured first. Even if manager Feng didn't send over monthly allowance, the mansion could survive at least months as long as there weren't big events.
As for the proposal to sell manors or land, butler Mo didn't agree at all. If lady really needed money, the stores or shops which constantly needed investment could be sold.
The commercial shops were located at the best position of the capital and could be sold at a good price. If they wanted to purchase shops in the future, it wouldn't be hard.
The manors or land, on the other hand, could also be sold at a good prince, but as long as they were sold, it would be impossible to take back.
Only those useless noble lords who had little knowledge would sell manors or land.
Moreover, now it was spring, lady could take back the manors and land and send people to attend to these. By the autumn, the food would be provided naturally and sold to purchase other necessities for the mansion. The butler also told lady not to worry about dowry. Madam's dowry included not only these manors and land, but also silver and gold and valuable jewelries which were locked in the storeroom. Besides, there were rare treasures of calligraphy and painting from the Emperor. As long as they were still here, they could also be used as dowry after repairing.
Mo Qianxue looked stern and said to herself: Probably this was what called hardship was the test of people's heart! There were many people in this world like manager Feng whose initial thought was to seize properties after his masters left. There were also loyal and upright people like butler Mo. Seeing Mo Qianxue didn't talk, butler Mo thought she was worrying about money, so he asked hesitatingly after reporting, "Or should we reduce the amount of monthly allowance of the servants?"
The old butler's suggestion pulled Mo Qianxue back to earth. Coldness glistened in her eyes. At present, the servants already weren't loyal as before. If their allowance was reduced, she was afraid the action wouldn't regain their loyalty but push them further away.
In addition, the allowance didn't account for a large amount. Therefore, it shouldn't be reduced but should increase!
Making the decision, Mo Qianxue talked, "As you reported, the mansion hasn't increased allowance for five years, which is indeed a little shameful compared with other noble families. In this way, our mansion's authority can't be built. We mustn't lower their allowance. Instead, we should increase it. Later, please announce the news that the allowance will rise by fifty percent."
"Fifty percent?" The butler couldn't believe his ears. Now it was a hard time for them. If everyone's pay increased by fifty percent, the total amount would be huge. Why did lady want to do this?
In the face of the butler's confusion, Mo Qianxue affirmed, "Yes, fifty percent."
Nanny Mo persuaded in a hurry, "Lady…" Allowance was an external thing to her, but she believed the butler was right. At present, they should maintain a tight budget to overcome the hard time first.
Mo Qianxue waved her arm to stop their upcoming persuasion, "I have my own plan. Just announce the news."
Then, she took out from her pocket a ten-thousand silver note, "Enter this into the account. Since it's the end of the month now, then rise their pay from this month, so that they could stay more assured."
Receiving the silver note, the butler instantly understood lady's intention, although he didn't know why lady had so much money all of a sudden.
With money, they had nothing to be afraid of!
Now it was a turbulent time, the best time to gain the people's loyalty. Since they had money, it'd be better to increase their pay. Even if this didn't happen, he had planned to make such an advice to lady a few days later. The butler left.
Pondering a bit, Mo Qianxue called in Mo Yan and Mo Xing.