Chapter 498: Keep It Under Control

Mrs. Wang was stunned by her own ability to cause trouble with her mouth.

Nowadays, who in the mansion doesn’t know that the Seventh Miss obeys the Madam totally, boasting everywhere that the two have the best relationship in the world.

With a "thud," Mrs. Wang knelt on the ground, trembling, and said, "Seventh Miss, I didn’t say anything, really."

"You’re lying, I just heard you, this nanny, talking about my third sister-in-law."

Gu Baoshu was quite angry.

Sweat rolled off Mrs. Wang’s forehead, and she hurriedly explained.

"Ah?! I, I was only saying I didn’t expect the Madam, being from such a noble family, could also understand the accounts, really didn’t say anything else."

Gu Baoshu let out an "Oh."

Mrs. Wang thought this matter was over and secretly felt fortunate, but then she heard Gu Baoshu curiously ask, "I just casually asked, why are you so scared?"

Mrs. Wang: "..."

Glancing at her daughter behind Gu Baoshu shaking her head, she hurriedly said, "I was just afraid you would resent me for mentioning the master behind her back."

The servants here are not allowed to gossip about their masters, and caught doing so will be punished.

But over the years, this rule wasn’t strictly enforced.

Sure enough, Gu Baoshu waved her hand, "Stand up, no need to act like seeing a mouse meet a cat. Anyone who didn’t know might think I did something to you. It’s you lot that ruined my reputation."

Mrs. Wang hurriedly stood up and stepped aside.

Seeing Gu Baoshu take a few steps away, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Unexpectedly, Gu Baoshu stopped again and turned back, asking, "By the way, why did you say that, is there something going on?"

Mrs. Wang jolted.

She quickly recounted the business of Qin Yuan evaluating the accountant,

Fearing that if she delayed a bit, someone with ill intentions might mention her bet with Hong Mian.

Gu Baoshu looked up at the sky and sighed, "My third sister-in-law is really amazing. Not only is she beautiful, but she can also blend incense, manage accounts, run the household, and compose poetry... Oh my, how was she even born?"

Everyone echoed, "Yes, having just one ability would be phenomenal."

Beside her, a maid smacked her lips and said, "The Madam can even do business. I heard she plans to buy pepper. When the price of pepper rose, many people invested with the Xu family, but the Madam did not take action. Now that the price of pepper has fallen so drastically, those who purchased earlier have almost lost half of their capital. Only now does the Madam plan to buy in."

Gu Baoshu’s eyes brightened, and she said, "Then I’ll go into business with my third sister-in-law."

She had always been told to emulate virtuous examples.

If she couldn’t learn other things, she knew how to invest money in business.

Full of excitement, Gu Baoshu turned back and ran off as if on wind-fire wheels.

Only when Mrs. Wang’s heart finally returned to her chest did she let out a sigh of relief.

She thought to herself: "In the future, I must control this mouth of mine. Just a careless word can lose me two months of monthly stipend and nearly stir up trouble with this little tyrant Seventh Miss. As the old saying goes, illness enters by the mouth, misfortune comes out of the mouth, how true it is."

After dealing with her tasks, Qin Yuan returned to the Wutong Garden and asked someone to check when Marquis would be back so they could dine with the Old Madam together.

She was sitting on the Arhat Bed, resting her eyes, when she heard a burst of noise from outside.

Then she heard Gu Baoshu’s voice.

"Third sister-in-law, third sister-in-law."

Qin Yuan wondered, "Why has Baoshu come again?"

Normally after being trained by Marquis in the morning, she’d take a day off to avoid showing off her teeth and claws.

Just as Hong Ye was about to go check, Gu Baoshu breezed in like a gust of wind, holding a black lacquered enamel-edged box.

Qin Yuan curiously asked, "What are you up to now?"

Gu Baoshu placed the box on the table, saying, "Third sister-in-law, all my private savings are here. Since you’re doing business, count me in."

Qin Yuan found it both curious and amusing.

"How much is your private savings?"

"I don’t know either."

Hong Ye clicked her tongue.

The young ladies of the Marquis Mansion are indeed different; back when we were in the Qin Mansion, we would plan our monthly expenses before the stipend even arrived.

Qin Yuan had a small notebook where every expense and income was recorded clearly.

Qin Yuan said, "And you want to do business? You aren’t even clear about how much capital you have."

Gu Baoshu sheepishly replied, "Then I’ll count it."

Qin Yuan found it even more amusing: "Running to your sister-in-law’s room to count your private savings, Gu Baoshu, you should think long and hard. After you get married, can you even keep your dowry safe?"

Gu Baoshu stomped her foot, pulled aside the curtain, and hurried out again.

Hong Ye asked, "What’s going on now?"

Just then, Gu Baoshu’s voice came from outside: "Go back, bring it all back."

Hong Ye remarked, "Wow, there is more."

She thought everything was contained in the one box.

As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Baoshu ran back inside and asked, "Sister-in-law, the first step in doing business is to calculate the cost, right?"

Qin Yuan nodded and said seriously, "Gu Baoshu, after you marry, the house will surely prepare a generous dowry for you. Your daily living expenses at your husband’s place will also be covered jointly, and your additional spending will be minimal. If you have enough for anything, just balance your income and expenses, and you won’t have to worry about money for the rest of your life. But if you go into business, that’s different. Losing money is common, and you might lose your capital. This is a serious matter, and it cannot be taken lightly. If you aren’t clear about your capital, then don’t learn business, or even if the Marquis Mansion supplied you with a mountain of gold, it wouldn’t be enough for you to squander."

Gu Baoshu pouted and said, "Third sister-in-law, I know you’re great. Can’t you just take me along in your business so I can share it? I’m good at finding talented people and holding onto opportunities, isn’t that enough?"

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh.

"You know even brothers need clear accounts, and if you can’t keep track of your own affairs, I won’t involve you in business. It might make you overly ambitious and carefree, turning you into a spendthrift, draining money like water."

Gu Baoshu nodded.

"So Third sister-in-law is teaching me to manage my finances, as long as I keep track, right? Actually, all my belongings are cataloged, but I’ve seldom asked about them since they’re managed by a few nannies."

Qin Yuan chuckled lightly.

It seemed Gu Baoshu had grown rather attached to her, and she was quite clever after all.

"Alright, you start by sorting out your accounts clearly, then come find me."

Gu Baoshu grinned and left with the box.

"She really comes and goes like the wind."

Hong Ye couldn’t help but marvel.

Qin Yuan said nothing.

Cui Ming noted, "The Seventh Miss has a capricious nature, perhaps she will forget in a few days. But if she really cares, she’ll sort out the records to find the Miss."

Qin Yuan replied, "As long as it keeps her aware, it’s good."

Then, Qin Yuan had Cui Ming take out the newly made undershirt for Marquis Gu, as she prepared it to embroider flowers, and began sewing a few stitches.

Cui Ming curiously asked, "Wasn’t I supposed to embroider this?"

Qin Yuan glanced at Cui Ming with a smile.

Cui Ming understood and chuckled softly.