Housekeeper Han quickly said, "Please speak, Madam."

Qin Yuan said, "Previously, the stewards and housekeeper mothers followed Nanny Zhao and contributed to the pepper fund. Now that pepper prices have dropped significantly, many are looking to Nanny Zhao, hoping the Xu family can sell the pepper to reduce their losses."

Everyone knew about this matter.

Housekeeper Cao asked, "With pepper prices continuously dropping and the Xu family holding onto Sixth Master, how could they agree to return the money to them?"

Qin Yuan said, "I see they have a lot of resentment."

Housekeeper Qian said, "Naturally, many of them were afraid they couldn’t buy the pepper when it was rising and even added silver to buy it. Now they’ve lost even more. They can only watch as pepper prices fall and can’t recover a cent, how can there be no resentment."

Wan Accountant asked, "What are your plans, Madam?"

Qin Yuan said, "I anticipate that pepper will surge, and I’m inclined to advise them to keep their shares. If anyone wishes not to keep them, I am willing to buy them at the current price, but if the price surges later, I’m afraid they will also harbor resentment."

If I buy now, everyone would be grateful during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

After the festival, if the price surges, everyone would feel resentful again.

People are inherently greedy.

Housekeeper Cao remained silent.

Housekeeper Qian said, "Why bother, Madam? Either way, you’ll end up being blamed, better to not intervene."

Housekeeper Han then said, "Madam could post a notice, stating that you are optimistic about pepper and plan to buy at the market price. If anyone wishes to sell their share, they should formalize it in writing, and future price fluctuations will be irrelevant."

Housekeeper Cao said, "What good is the formalization? You can’t control people’s feelings. It’s better to buy from outsiders at market price, as buying from inside will inevitably cause resentment. Buying from outside is more straightforward and satisfying."

Housekeeper Qian sighed, "Madam is kind-hearted."

After a long silence, Wan Accountant said, "Why don’t you announce that you want to purchase pepper, and those with sources can recommend them to the mansion, giving them a bit of a commission or silver as a token. Those who don’t care about the shares will observe, while those who do will sell to Madam, reducing a lot of complaints."

"Brilliant," the housekeepers said.

Qin Yuan nodded, "Indeed, let’s do it this way. Leave all related matters to Wan Accountant. We will stop purchasing after the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Wan Accountant agreed immediately.

After everything was discussed, everyone dispersed. After leaving the meeting courtyard, Housekeeper Cao grabbed Wan Accountant by the shoulder, laughing, "You’ve done well, living up to our recommendation."

Wan Accountant was hoarse from the hold, coughing.

Housekeeper Han pulled Housekeeper Cao away, saying, "He’s accomplished inside, can he withstand your roughhousing?"

Housekeeper Qian laughed, "Today, the two of us got promoted, and we’ll still need our colleagues’ support to ease our master’s burdens. How about we have a drink tonight? Wan Accountant and I will host, we’ll order some small dishes and drinks, how about that?"

Wan Accountant immediately said, "There are only small children at home, I can’t stay out late. How about another day?"

Housekeeper Qian wanted to speak, but Housekeeper Cao said, "No worries, we’re all acquaintances, no need to stand on ceremony. Let’s have the cook add some dishes at lunchtime another day, and have them buy some small drinks. We can take a small sip; it won’t interfere with work."

Housekeeper Han said, "That’s a good suggestion, practical. The main kitchen’s cooking skills are excellent, and the things they buy are cheap and quality."

Housekeeper Qian laughed, "That’s fine too, though it’s a bit simple."

Housekeeper Cao said, "This is the best, there will be plenty of opportunities to drink and chat together in the future. We’re all people who do things carefully, like a slow trickle."

Wan Accountant laughed in agreement.

Housekeeper Qian had to concede.

After returning, Wan Accountant immediately drafted a notice and posted it.

Soon, the mansion became lively.

"Pepper prices have fallen so sharply, and the mansion still wants to buy?"

"It’s just right, I don’t want my share, can I sell it to the mansion?"

The office was packed to the brim.

Wan Accountant, being of weak constitution, started coughing after a few words.

Housekeeper Cao took a small teapot, took a few sips of tea, and said with a smile, "Buy, Madam wants them all. Madam has long been optimistic about pepper but hasn’t been able to buy until now. We’re all following Madam with our shares."

"Wow, you all have good fortune. We contributed shares first, but the principal has halved, and we can’t get rid of it,"

a housekeeper mother sighed heavily.

Wan Accountant said, "Madam is optimistic now, do you still want to sell?"

The housekeeper mother was stunned.

Housekeeper Cao said, "If you sell now, you can only watch us profit later; there won’t be any turning back then."

The housekeeper mother said, "Let me think about it."

Wan Accountant said, "After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Madam will have people buy from the outside, so hurry if you want to sell."

The housekeeper mother immediately said, "I’ll think about it later."

After a few rounds of this, those clutching their shares calmed down.

Many decided not to sell. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Madam is capable, we’ve all seen it, selling now would be a big loss. Madam is optimistic about pepper, we hold on, not to mention profiting, at least we might break even."

"But... what if Madam is wrong?"

"Then consider it as if the silver never existed."

"But I bought a lot back then."

"Why don’t you sell half and keep half? Just in case the price rises..."

"I’ll think about it."

On the other side.

Hong Mian cornered Mrs. Wang at the intersection, smiling and gesturing, "Mrs. Wang, don’t forget the two months of monthly silver."

Mrs. Wang spat, "Do you think I’m as shortsighted as you? It’s not time to issue the monthly silver yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

Hong Mian suddenly understood, "So Mrs. Wang will only give it during the issuance? I thought you forgot. As long as you remember, I’ve already promised Sister Hong Ye and Sister Cui Ming to use this money for a little entertainment for the sisters and mothers of Wutong Garden."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang was even more determined that she hadn’t forgotten.

"My word is as good as gold,"

Hong Mian happily said, "Great, it’s enough for me that Mrs. Wang said so."

After Hong Mian left, Mrs. Wang showed a pained expression, spat at her departing figure, "You little rascal, bold enough to ask, actually having the nerve to take."

The onlookers said, "You couldn’t do anything even if you went back on your word."

"Didn’t you see she mentioned Hong Ye and Cui Ming, who are favored by Madam? Should I confront them in court? Making a scene in front of Madam would be so embarrassing. That little rascal is smart, using it to win people’s hearts."

Mrs. Wang fumed endlessly.

A nanny said, "You’d better watch your words, a single slip can cost you."

"It’s all this mouth’s fault," Mrs. Wang angrily slapped herself, cursing, "Do you think you’ll be so talkative in the future? Two months of monthly stipends, my gosh. It’s also Madam’s fault, even though she’s a lady from a great family, how can she be so adept at accounting? Who could foresee that?"

"What did you just say?"

Gu Baoshu suddenly jumped out, asking, "What did you just say about my third sister-in-law?"