SGEIRS -Chapter 326 A Skillful Way to Manage One’s Husband

Meng Dongyuan was quite taken with Madam Dong’s appearance, as well as the charm of her mature femininity. On top of that, she was well-read. Though she couldn’t be called a great talent, she was more than capable of keeping up with Meng Dongyuan—able to discuss poetry, literature, and the arts with him.

Because of this, Madam Dong won even more of Meng Dongyuan’s heart, offering pleasures that Madam Sun could never provide. After all, Madam Sun was not a woman of letters. His first wife, Madam Zhou, had talent, but all she did was urge him to study diligently—an overly rigid, uninteresting lady of the gentry who knew nothing of refinement. How could she share with him the elegant pleasures of tea and poetry?

Ever since Madam Dong had entered the household, all of Meng Dongyuan’s concubines had fallen out of favor; he no longer set foot in their rooms.

As soon as Madam Dong married into the Meng family, she took charge of the household finances. Looking over the ledgers, a sense of helplessness surged within her—they were a complete mess!

Though it was rumored that the Meng family, though in decline, still had a substantial fortune, Madam Dong had never imagined that it was merely a rumor. The real Meng family was nothing but an empty shell: just a noble title and a small amount of family wealth remained.

Yet the Mengs still maintained appearances, pretending to be wealthy merely for the sake of face, so as not to be looked down upon. They ignored the glaring imbalance in income and expenditures, and if this continued, the Meng family would completely exhaust its reserves.

But having already married in, Madam Dong could only accept her fate. At least her title as the wife of the Marquis of Yongchang gave her some dignity. A household with a title was far better than her previous husband’s family: though her former father-in-law held a low official rank, her late husband was learned—but he had died young without passing the imperial exams to become an official.

Fortunately, Madam Dong also understood household management. After learning of the family’s problems, she initially felt discouraged, but quickly composed herself and discussed with her husband measures to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, emphasizing thrift in every aspect of life. They would adjust spending standards according to reality, cutting the allowances for the household members in half.

Meng Dongyuan, newly married and still infatuated with Madam Dong, was quite indulgent. Often he felt that Madam Dong was his kindred spirit. With a gentle word whispered by her at his side, the couple would engage in lively debates of wit and strategy, and he half-heartedly but willingly agreed to her decisions.

Old Madam Meng, however, felt that such penny-pinching was unbefitting a century-old family like the Mengs and immediately objected. But Meng Dongyuan, smitten with Madam Dong, took her side. After all, the household really was not as prosperous as before. By being frugal at home while generous outside, they could maintain appearances. Frugality at home could be justified as Madam Dong’s principle; she valued thrift.

Old Madam Meng was incensed and said to Meng Dongyuan: “You’ve really outdone yourself! Now that you have a wife, you’ve forgotten your mother! I never expected that in my old age, instead of enjoying peace, I’d be harshly treated by my own son and daughter-in-law! Halving the allowances—what a bitter life this is! In all my years, I’ve never endured such hardship!”

Meng Dongyuan could only reply: “Mother, even the Empress in the palace advocates thrift. We should not be extravagant either, lest we be reported by the censor. Following the Empress’s example can never go wrong.”

This response made it hard for Old Madam Meng to argue, though she inwardly resented her late husband. If he hadn’t protected that young woman, and if Madam Zhou had brothers, the hefty dowry would have belonged entirely to the Meng family. Why should they now scrimp and tighten their belts like this?

Not only Old Madam Meng was dissatisfied with Madam Dong’s approach—Meng Chengxing and Meng Jinyu were too. Cutting their monthly allowances in half was a hardship they had never experienced. The stepmother had only just entered, and she was already making things difficult.

When they complained to their father, they were scolded, and had no choice but to report it privately to Old Madam Meng. Though she also disapproved of Madam Dong’s stinginess, considering it petty and beneath the family’s dignity, she did not reprimand Madam Dong in front of the children. She sent them away with a few words, urging them to behave.

Once out of the hall, Meng Jinyu said to her brother: “See, I told you. Father is smitten with her, and even grandmother praises her management skills. Who knows if the money she’s saving will secretly go to her own family? Her father is just a low-ranking scholar, and her brothers aren’t likely to achieve much either.”

Meng Chengxing frowned. Thinking that his monthly allowance would be halved, and daily expenses cut in half, he realized the saved money would likely go to the stepmother’s family. He felt frustrated. With a stepmother comes a stepfather—his father actually supported Madam Dong’s decision and even scolded them. Was the Meng family, a century-old household, really going to fall so low?

Meng Jinyu said earnestly: “Third brother, the county-level exams are coming up twice a year starting next month, and second brother will also take part. You must study hard and strive to pass as a xiucai. Don’t let your brother surpass you.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Chengxing felt discouraged: “Second sister, I’m only thirteen.”

Meng Jinyu frowned and shot him a sharp look, frustrated with his lack of resolve: “Second brother is only fourteen, just a year older than you. You both received the same tutoring. If he can pass, why can’t you? If he becomes a xiucai, father and grandmother might pay even more attention to him. Don’t forget—he’s already recorded under Madam Zhou’s name, as the legitimate son of the first wife, with an elder sister who is the wife of an earl to back him. Our position is nothing like theirs, and we’ve ended up with this biological mother whose reputation is compromised.”

Hearing this, Meng Chengxing felt a sudden surge of urgency.

Yongchang Marquis Mansion

Meng Jinyao also paid attention to the Meng family affairs. The maid Chan’er, assigned by Gu Jingxi, was skilled in martial arts, making it easy to discreetly gather information.

After hearing Chan’er’s report, Meng Jinyao was somewhat surprised: “Madam Dong really is skillful in managing her husband. Even Madam Sun could not do what she has accomplished.”

Previously, Madam Sun had also understood household management. After the Meng family lost the large dowry from her mother, she realized that continuing the old level of expenditures would eventually drain the family’s funds. But her grandmother and father were concerned with appearances and could not accept a decline in their lifestyle, so Madam Sun could not act.

Madam Dong, however, did manage to do it. Even her father supported Madam Dong’s decisions. Since Madam Dong’s arrival, her father had not visited the concubines’ quarters, even though some concubines were younger than Madam Dong, mere sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girls. He hadn’t even glanced at them.

Chan’er asked: “Mistress, shall I continue keeping watch?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head: “Not for now.” Then, after a moment, she asked, “By the way, how is Madam Dong with Meng Jinyu and the others?”

Chan’er replied: “Madam Dong is courteous but not overly familiar with them. She has not been deliberately harsh, nor does she whisper in Master Meng’s ear. It’s just that Second Miss Meng and the heir are distant in their attitude toward her.”

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly. If she were Madam Dong, without disputes of interest or grievances, she would also avoid creating conflict with her husband’s children from a previous marriage. To antagonize them would only cause trouble in her later years. After all, she might never have children herself unless a concubine bore a son, who could then be registered under her name.

Chan’er asked: “Mistress, any other instructions?”

Meng Jinyao said warmly: “None. You may step down.”

Chan’er bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Qingqiu said: “Mistress, it seems Madam Dong is quite clever.”

Meng Jinyao smiled: “A clever person is good. A clever person won’t create troublesome matters, and this is good for my second brother too. At least he doesn’t have to guard against his stepmother.”