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Lu Ke ate his noodles, feeling puzzled.
Back when he was studying hard for the exam, his eldest brother had already passed and become a scholar.
Before that, Lu Ke would also study in the study room. Although the old lady occasionally ordered the kitchen to prepare late-night snacks, they were always exclusively for his eldest brother.
After his eldest brother stopped studying, his fourth brother refused to come to the study room at night, and Madam Wen naturally stopped sending snacks.
It wasn’t surprising that his eldest brother received a snack tonight, but it was odd that he himself got one too.
Regardless, it was a kind gesture. He ate the food but couldn’t shake his confusion.
Why was the old lady suddenly treating him well?
Could it be because he had passed the scholar examination at such a young age, and now she wanted to curry favor with him?
But he had already passed the exam a while ago, so why was Madam Wen only now making a move?
After thinking it over, he could only conclude that since he was studying diligently with his eldest brother tonight, it would have been unreasonable not to give him a snack as well.
The old lady had been acting strangely lately, and Lu Ke found himself unable to figure out this stepmother of his.
Meanwhile, Lu Songnian had no such thoughts. He simply felt warmth in his stomach and heart after finishing the bowl of soup noodles.
Even though he could have asked the kitchen to prepare a snack himself, something ordered by his mother felt entirely different from something he had requested on his own.
The candle flickered, and the wax melted away.
As the hour approached midnight, the lights in the study room finally went out.
Because she had gone to bed early the previous night, Wen Ruyu woke up at dawn.
The charcoal fire in the room had cooled slightly.
Seeing that she was awake, the maids quickly added more charcoal to the brazier, making the room warm again.
Wen Ruyu allowed Xia Xue to help her dress. After washing up, she instructed Chuntao to serve breakfast.
Since she was a widow, she couldn’t dress too brightly. She wore a dark blue top with a green skirt underneath.
She adjusted her hair and looked at herself in the mirror.
The original owner of this body looked quite similar to her, so after transmigrating here, Wen Ruyu didn’t feel too out of place. However, the few strands of white hair at her temples were quite annoying.
The original owner was only forty years old—middle-aged but well-maintained.
As long as she didn’t laugh too hard, even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes weren’t too noticeable.
But those white hairs—besides making her look her actual age—made her appear even older.
Wen Ruyu didn’t actually mind aging; she just hated being at a disadvantage.
These white hairs weren’t something she had earned over time—they had suddenly appeared.
Noticing her frown as she stared at the white strands, Xia Xue hesitantly suggested, “Should I pluck them out tomorrow when I comb your hair?”
Wen Ruyu thought for a moment and replied, “Leave them for now. We’ll see in a few days.”
She couldn’t let these white hairs go to waste. She needed people to see them first.
Just then, a little maid brought in breakfast.
Wen Ruyu glanced at the dishes on the table—a plate of pickled cucumbers, a piece of fermented tofu, and a bowl of millet porridge.
There was also white rice available, but it still wasn’t a staple in most households.
She picked up the porridge and took a couple of sips. The pickled cucumbers were to her taste, but the fermented tofu was too salty—she didn’t like it much.
In winter, fresh vegetables were hard to come by. Most people relied on preserved vegetables or long-lasting cabbages.
Even for small landowning families like hers, there weren’t many vegetable choices this time of year.
After a quiet breakfast, Wen Ruyu sipped some tea when a servant reported that Madam Zhao had come to pay her respects.
The timing was impeccable—just after breakfast, when she had free time. Clearly, Madam Zhao was meticulous about such matters.
Since she was already here, Wen Ruyu wouldn’t have to send for her later.
She instructed the servant to let Madam Zhao in.
Madam Zhao entered, dressed elegantly with pearl and jade hair ornaments.
Wen Ruyu gestured for her daughter-in-law to sit beside her.
“You’ve come at the right time. I have a few things to ask you.”
Zhao Si hurriedly sat down, half-perching on the stool. “Yes, Mother, please ask.”
“How much silver does each man in the family receive per month?”
“Two taels per person, same as before, just like the girls.”
One tael of silver was equal to ten coins or a thousand copper cash.
Currently, a meat bun only cost three copper coins, so two taels of silver was roughly equivalent to three to four thousand modern currency units.
However, the Lu brothers all ate at home, so this money was purely for their social expenses.
“How much do they spend on stationery each month?”
“One tael per person.”
Paper, ink, and brushes were all expensive. Cheap paper was available, but ink was particularly costly. Pre-ground ink was cheaper, while solid ink blocks were pricier due to their materials.
One tael of silver for stationery seemed reasonable—but only for those who actually studied.
Lu Er, for instance, barely attended school three days a year. His stationery allowance was undoubtedly spent elsewhere.
The original owner had been too indulgent, letting him take money all this time.
Wen Ruyu’s head maid, Yan Mama, was the most respected servant in the household, yet her monthly wage was only one tael of silver.
Looking at her teacup, Wen Ruyu calmly declared, “From now on, a new rule: anyone who wants the stationery allowance must attend school at least twenty days a month. If Er doesn’t go, he won’t get his one tael anymore.”
“Mother… this…” Zhao Si was startled.
After all, the old lady had never cut the second son’s allowance before, no matter how little she valued him.
Besides, one tael a month, twelve taels a year—compared to the family’s monthly expenses of dozens of taels, or hundreds during the New Year, it wasn’t much.
Wen Ruyu, however, was firm. “This is my decision. If we don’t discipline Er now, he’ll never improve. If he refuses, you are not to give him money. Let him throw a tantrum if he wants. If there’s a problem, he can come to me—I’ll deal with him.”
“Yes,” Zhao Shu murmured.
As they were discussing Lu Bainian, a maid came in with a message from Nanny Zhou—Lu Bainian had just returned.
Upon hearing this, Wen Ruyu called for her maid, Qingxue.
“Go and bring Er here immediately. Don’t let him change clothes first.”
If a low-ranking maid or steward summoned him, Lu Banyan might ignore them. But Wen Ruyu’s four personal maids were respected, so he wouldn’t dare refuse.
Qingxue acknowledged the order and left.
Afterward, Wen Ruyu turned back to her daughter-in-law. “You should go as well. Later, send over the shop’s accounts.”
“Yes,” Zhao Si stood, bowed, and left.
Back at the main courtyard, her husband had just woken up.
The previous night, after a long separation, the couple had indulged in some intimacy, making it a late night.
Seeing him rise early, Zhao Si felt a pang of sympathy.
She walked over to help him dress and recounted her conversation with the old lady.
Lu Songnian found it surprising yet reasonable.
“Yesterday, it snowed, and I sent word home early that I’d be back. Even if I missed dinner, I’d still return to sleep. But Banyan stayed out all night—clearly, this isn’t the first time.
Mother has been sick lately, yet he, as a son, should be taking care of her.
But you’re busy managing the household, Fourth Brother avoids responsibility, and Third Brother—who isn’t even her biological son—still pays respects daily. Only Banyan does nothing.
He needs discipline.”
Zhao Si sighed. “I should have watched over him more as his sister-in-law.”
Lu Songnian reassured her, knowing she had her hands full.
His understanding softened her heart.
“You work hard for this family—I don’t blame you for being away, I just worry about you.”
Hearing this, Lu Songnian felt nothing but sweetness.
She was his wife, but also his confidante.