Chapter 9: Stingy

The passing of the Wei family matriarch spread through the Su estate in an instant. The first mistress, Madam Yuan, and the second mistress, Madam Tao, both arrived at the Rongxi Hall to discuss the funeral arrangements with Old Madam Su. Before they could even settle on a plan, someone came to the door to report that the Third Branch was already setting up the mourning hall and had dispatched people to notify relatives and friends.

The women exchanged glances and called in the maid who had brought the message from the Third Branch. It was Caixia, the head maid by the Wei matriarch’s side. Caixia said, "Reporting to the Old Madam, the First Mistress, and the Second Mistress: my mistress has passed away, and everyone is currently overcome with grief. However, the weather is hot, and no matter how deep our sorrow, we cannot neglect the arrangements for her final journey. We have already sent people to notify the necessary households, the mourning hall is being prepared, and we have sent for monks to chant sutras for her soul. Furthermore, messengers have been sent to the capital. It is just that we are short on ice and lack a few items for the mourning hall, so I humbly ask the First Mistress to open the storeroom so I may collect the items and the ice to fulfill my duties."

Well, the adults here were still discussing how to handle the funeral, and the other side had already started moving.

The First Mistress, Madam Yuan, asked, "Who is arranging all of this?"

"Reporting to the First Mistress, it was my young lady who gave the orders. However, my young lady is too heartbroken to manage affairs, so Mother Wen is currently overseeing everything."

Yuan sighed to Old Madam Su, "It is truly difficult for the Fourth Girl. She has just lost her mother and must now busy herself with the Third Sister-in-law’s funeral. As her aunt, I feel quite ashamed. Old Madam, I shall go to the mourning hall to assist; we must ensure the Third Sister-in-law’s funeral is conducted with dignity."

Before Old Madam Su could respond, the Second Mistress, Madam Tao, interjected, "Sister-in-law, don't be in such a hurry. Since they are already setting things up, it won't matter if you go a little later. However, you should first order the storeroom to be opened so this girl can collect what she needs."

Yuan understood her meaning and ordered a matron by her side to take Caixia to collect the items.

Once they were alone, the Second Mistress, Madam Tao, said, "Old Madam, we are all very saddened by the Third Sister-in-law’s passing. But the funeral arrangements cannot be left to a young girl to decide. The expenses alone require a proper plan. And as for the funeral gifts sent by various households, how they are to be handled—the Old Madam should give us some guidance so that I may manage things properly."

The First Mistress, Madam Yuan, nodded. "The Second Sister-in-law is right; there must be a plan. We cannot let the Fourth Girl do as she pleases. We must have a clear idea of how much silver should be spent on this funeral. The harvests have been poor these past few years, yet expenses have not decreased at all. During the Third Sister-in-law’s illness, so many expensive medicinal herbs were used, most of which came from the public coffers. Old Madam, I am not complaining, but as the one managing the household, I truly face many difficulties."

Old Madam Su naturally understood the intentions of her two daughters-in-law; they simply wanted to spend as little as possible. She asked, "Then how much do you think is appropriate to spend on this funeral?"

Yuan and Tao exchanged a look, and the First Mistress, Madam Yuan, spoke first: "Old Madam, there are too many items involved in a funeral. The only reference we have is the Old Master’s funeral. However, the Third Sister-in-law naturally cannot be compared to the Old Master. Hiring monks, setting up the mourning hall, providing tea, snacks, and meals for guests, as well as the geomancer, the coffin, the labor fees for maids and matrons, and the wages for helpers—the expenses are numerous. However, there will be funeral gifts. I believe we should use the received gifts to cover the funeral costs, and the public coffers can contribute another three thousand taels. That should be sufficient."

Three thousand taels—would that be too little? Old Madam Su hesitated.

The Second Mistress, Madam Tao, added, "Old Madam, in this weather, even with ice, we cannot keep the body for too long. In my opinion, seven days at most. For seven days of expenses, three thousand taels should be enough."

Old Madam Su asked, "Have you considered how much in funeral gifts we might receive?"

Yuan and Tao looked at each other, and Yuan said, "When the Old Master passed away, we received nearly ten thousand taels in gifts. With the Third Sister-in-law’s passing, I estimate we should receive three or four thousand taels."

Old Madam Su gave a cold snort. "That only adds up to six or seven thousand taels. The coffin alone costs a significant amount; will the rest be enough to cover everything else?"

"It will be enough, it will be enough. If the two of us manage it, we will certainly see the funeral through properly." The two hurriedly assured her. Yuan continued, "Old Madam, the young ladies are all grown up; once their marriages are settled, we must prepare dowries. The sons' weddings will also cost a great deal. All of this must come from the public coffers, and the annual income is only so much. I feel that we should save wherever we can."

At the thought of the upcoming expenses, Old Madam Su felt a headache coming on. The Su family was not a wealthy clan of many generations. Their ancestors were merely common gentry; it was only later, when someone in the family entered officialdom, that they began to prosper. But their foundation was limited; compared to those century-old noble families, the Su family’s wealth was nothing to boast about.

Old Madam Su had managed the household accounts in her day and knew exactly what the situation was with the public funds. She waved her hand impatiently and said, "Fine, do as you both suggest. But if you lose face for the Su family or cause people to gossip about us, you will have to use your own private funds to make up the difference."

Yuan and Tao paid no mind to the latter part of the Old Madam’s words; both were satisfied. "Then we shall go and arrange the manpower and allocate the silver."

"Go."

Su Yunxi, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt in the mourning hall with Brother Yuan, who was also dressed in mourning. The concubines and the illegitimate children of the Third Branch also knelt behind Su Yunxi.

Mother Wen walked quietly into the mourning hall and leaned over to whisper in Su Yunxi’s ear, "Young Lady, I have just received news that the First Mistress only intends to provide three thousand taels for the funeral. She also said that any shortfall should be covered by the funeral gifts. Young Lady, this is too much. A high-quality coffin alone costs nearly three thousand taels. There are so many other expenses; how could that amount possibly be enough? They are bullying us so blatantly—Young Lady, are we just going to swallow this?"

Su Yunxi kept her head lowered in silence, a cold sneer forming in her heart. A few years ago, when the Old Master passed away, the Wei matriarch’s health had not yet failed, and she still held a share of the household management rights. Su Yunxi had learned from her that the Old Master’s funeral had cost nearly thirty thousand taels in total. Even with nearly ten thousand taels in funeral gifts, the net cost was still nearly twenty thousand taels. Su Yunxi did not expect the Wei matriarch’s funeral to match the Old Master’s, but three thousand compared to twenty thousand—were they trying to dismiss a poor relative?

"Mother Wen, have we sent word of the mourning to the Prefect’s wife? And the Education Commissioner?"

"Reporting to the Young Lady, messengers have already been sent. I expect they will arrive at the estate by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"That is good. Send someone to guard the main gate; remember to tell me immediately once the Prefect’s wife and the Commissioner’s wife arrive."

"Is the Young Lady planning to...?"

Su Yunxi looked at the large character for 'Mourning' on the wall. "Mother worked hard her entire life. In the end, I must ensure she leaves with dignity."

"This servant will obey the Young Lady."