Chapter 1655: Chapter 1655: Fighting a Well-Prepared Battle

Song Ci listed all the disaster contingency plans she could think of, and by the end she was clearly quite drained; with her energy these days, this kind of exertion really was too much.

She leaned sideways against the big pillow and said to the Song Family Madam, "In the face of a great calamity, no one can sit idle. You’re the House Mistress. Even though Su’er’s wife is managing the household now, she’s still young, not to mention she’s pregnant and can’t be overtaxed. And Jie’er’s wife has two little ones still wailing for milk. When it comes to major matters, it still falls on you elders to take charge."

The Song Family Madam and Jiang Fula and the others hurriedly stood up and said, "Mother, please rest assured, we will manage the household well."

Song Ci gave an "mm": "Each of you is sharp as a tack, and any one of you could run a household in your own right. As for how to divide up the estate’s affairs specifically, Gu, you need to arrange that properly. And the front court, the external arrangements, must be coordinated with Second Master and with Jiang Fula and the others. Don’t let the two sides be out of touch so that when you actually start doing things, nothing fits together and it all turns into a mess."

"Yes."

After handing out this whole heap of instructions, Song Ci waved her hand and sent them off to discuss among themselves.

She was so tired.

Once everyone had saluted and withdrawn, Nanny Gong immediately directed a few maids—some to pound her legs, some to serve tea—and sent someone to fetch Lin Qing to take her pulse, all the while chattering away, "complaining" about Song Ci.

"You’re no longer in your younger years, and even your own strength and spirit aren’t what they were. Why should you be the one to worry over all these trivial matters? They’ll make their own arrangements."

Nanny Gong spoke as she fussed over her, heart aching.

In her eyes, this old lady had simply worried herself sick over the Song Family.

"You’re old now; you can’t keep dragging them along forever. It’s time you learned to let go." If she kept fretting over everything, how could they ever grow?

Perhaps it was because of the heat, but Song Ci’s complexion didn’t look too good either. Hearing this, she tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "Don’t worry, I won’t be able to manage for much longer anyway."

Nanny Gong choked up, the corners of her eyes reddening.

...

The Song Family Madam led a few people first to the main courtyard, where she broke down and reassigned matters once more; everyone received a task, and as for Guan Shuyan, she was given only easy work.

There was no helping it: nothing was more important than a pregnant woman. She herself hoped Guan Shuyan would bear a few more children.

"Mother, there’s still no news of a great drought circulating in the capital yet, but it’s already been a month. I’d guess the news can’t be suppressed outside much longer. In my opinion, should we send some people out to find out what things are like beyond our gates so we can respond at once?" Guan Shuyan suggested.

Jiang Fula also said, "Su’er’s wife is right. Sister-in-law, we still have to speak with Jie’er’s father, and with Fulai, who manages outside affairs. We can’t wait until things are already tight outside and only then find out, or we’ll be a step behind and might not even have enough grain."

For nearly the past ten years, the Song Family had never been stingy in doing good deeds, and that Charitable School of Song Ci’s had been expanded again and again. Now the enrollment had reached three hundred students a year.

So among the common folk there was even a fine reputation for the Song Family as a House of Great Charity, and Song Ci was seen as a benevolent person, since the Charitable School she ran was training all sorts of technical talents.

Doing good deeds always required silver and supplies. If they didn’t make preparations in advance, then when they wanted to show compassion this year, their hands would be tied.

The Song Family Madam nodded. "That’s how it should be. You go speak with Second Master; I’ll also have Fulai come and discuss it. Whatever else, if things are as Mother says and there really is a great drought, then this is a battle we must fight with preparation."

Fu Yunjin, who had been silent off to the side, then said, "We also need to look more closely into news from the South."

Everyone’s expression shifted at that. If the North was in severe drought, then what about the South?

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