[Pride and Prejudice] Rich Lady

Mrs. Bennet's belly was barely noticeable, but she had settled into a slightly protruding position. "So, my dear Mr. Bennet," cried Mrs. "you intend to change to a bigger house?"

"Longbourne is, I think, rather small, and the guest rooms are crammed into a corner. I am sometimes ashamed when guests come and have to ask them to live in that little room."

Despite Mrs. Bennet's rounder figure, Mr. Bennet has lost some weight, and the belly that he has been hiding in the study all these years has completely disappeared.It was a good thing, he had regained some of his youthful good looks, which made him more popular at public gatherings.

"I think so, I have to change to a bigger house, or I won't be able to keep the guest room in the corner," the husband should forgive his wife's simple mind: "otherwise the sixth child will have to sleep in the warehouse or stables Only here."

Only then did Mrs. Bennet think of it, and she clutched her chest and cried, "This is a dereliction of duty as a mother and hostess!"

"My dear lady, we must hurry to decide where to rent, or to buy one."

Surrounded by their parents' comfortable armchairs, the daughters huddled on the sofa or sat on low stools, looking at their father with admiration.Lydia's guess was wrong. Dad didn't rush to end the after-dinner joking time. He distracted Mom's attention with a few words.

"Dad has improved again!" The little daughter revealed quietly, "Dad used to hide from Mom in the study for the first time... Last time Dad said that he had something important to tell Mom, they talked for a long time in the bedroom before Dad coaxed good mom."

Elizabeth asked: "Do you often bring it up? I mean that Miss Sangxi." Using these old things to accuse the father in front of the daughter is not very in line with the temper of a gentleman. It is impossible to guarantee that the father will be angry with the mother one day—— Banner Mrs. Tate was not in a physical condition for violent emotions.

Jane smiled: "Dear Lizzie, don't worry."

"I know what you're worried about. Dad won't mind, and Mum will only say a few words occasionally. Doctor Si Guo in Kensington is very responsible. They come to Longbourne to visit Mum every three weeks. The doctor specially ordered Compared with us, my mother’s body is very hard, and her mood may be very bad, so we must take care of her more.”

Mary went on to say: "Dad always liked to play tricks on Mom in the past, and this is a little reward for Mom." She became more and more like her second sister, observing carefully, thinking and summarizing, so Miss Mary discovered many things. Things she didn't see clearly before.

For example, my mother asked my father to agree to some plans before, and my father had already made a decision, but he still wanted her to have hope, and the teasing mother went around.His constant use of this 'sense of humor' not only confuses the mother, but also makes her gradually lose her dignity and status in front of her daughters.

Miss Mary recalled the old days, and suddenly discovered this one day, so that the most honest daughter in the family could not feel sympathy for Mr. Bennet.No one, including Mr. himself, was on his side.

Elizabeth paused, and Mary became more and more like a pearl after drying the dust.The bookish little lady is very good at listening, which has brought her many new friends, but this young lady has a small problem: if she doesn't speak, she often chokes people.She will narrate people's hidden tastes or essence in a flat tone.

The two eldest ladies of Bennet glanced at each other, and began to worry about the little sister again.

Mrs. Bennet counted the houses and estates near Longbourn with her fingers: "...Purvis Cottage is not as spacious as Longbourn. Stoke House is very good, but the lounge can't fit a family unless they agree It would be necessary to open up the next house. No, Stoke is too far away, ten miles from Longbourne. Meryton is very near, but there are not many grand houses in the town."

"Mr. Bennet, if Mr. Goulding is willing to rent out his house, it would be very suitable. Haye Manor is really nice, and I don't think the rent will be very expensive." The wife said whimsically.The Gurding family's farm was much larger than that of Longborn, and they would never be willing to rent out the newly restored manor.

This matter was not discussed that night.Mrs. Bennet dropped a grenade at breakfast the next day.

She said cheerfully, "We're going to Netherfield, boys! I've never expected such a big and respectable estate!"

"Nesefield Manor!" Jane exclaimed in surprise, "Dad? Netherfield's annual rent is 160 pounds!"

Mrs. Bennet was very happy, "Mr. Bennet has agreed! Jane, you are a gentleman's daughter, you can't be so stingy."

The head of the family smiled and nodded under the gaze of his daughters. He said: "Yes, as your mother said. Netherfield is almost the most suitable house if you don't consider the rent. It is big enough and within a distance of Longborn all close enough that three miles would not delay the business of the farm. And without the extra labor of repairing the arrangement, which its previous owner had just done."

Mrs. Bennet has already paid the rent generously: "The pocket money my dear Edward gave me every month is almost enough." Since she was pregnant with a boy, this lady has lost her property and let outsiders inherit the pain. She no longer planned to give the dowry allowance of [-] pounds to her unmarried daughter, and she became extra generous.

Elizabeth has been away from home for a few months, and many things are unclear. Now she looked at her sister again, and asked silently: Why does Uncle Gardner give mother pocket money?

The two sisters had a tacit understanding, and Jane returned a wink of "I'll tell you later".

Mr. Bennet said: "Earlier in the morning, Baker went to invite Manager Morris on my behalf. Mr. Morris replied that he would come to visit in the afternoon. I think this means agreeing."

The father had already made up his mind, and the girls put aside their worries about the rent and began to look forward to the spacious and magnificent Netherfield Manor.

This breakfast turned out to be especially festive.The ladies tried their best to maintain a ladylike demeanor, but they were all beaming, and the corners of their grinning mouths could not be suppressed.

After the meal, the hostess and hostess left the dining room first, and Jane told her sister: "We made some new styles for my uncle's tailor-made clothing workshop. In fact, they are just some simple versions of our clothes, but my uncle was very happy and gave credit for receiving the big order." It belongs to the nieces... so he opened a special account for his mother at the Black Sheep Bank in Meryton, and put some money into it every month, about tens of pounds."

The nieces are willing to plan for the uncle's business, and the uncle is also full of love and refuses to let the children suffer.Uncle Gardner is very good at doing things. He did not pay the girls directly in pounds sterling, so as not to be too unfamiliar and polite. Instead, he created an account for each of the two married sisters, and repaid the friendship of the children by subsidizing the mother. .

Of course, Aunt Phillips will have less, maybe only three or four pounds, but a woman can have an extra income of more than 30 pounds a year, which is already a lot of pocket money.At least my aunt was content, and Uncle Phillips became kinder and kinder to his uncle and brother-in-law.

Still, "Black Sheep Bank?"

Jane nodded: "I have to stop the credit at Bennett and Gardner's house."

The lady said happily: "Viola and Uncle's workshop have attracted a lot of guests from other places. Lizzie, you must go and have a look. Meryton is much more lively, and many new shops have opened! Many people have to run away. Go to Hatfield to deposit money or discount bills, for the Black Sheep Bank in the neighboring town is willing to open one in Meryton because of so much business."

After inquiring in detail, Elizabeth learned that the Black Sheep Bank is a private bank run by the most prestigious businessman in Hertfordshire. It was only opened in Watford and Hatfield before.Except for London, which has a multi-shareholding Bank of England established by the government, most other counties and towns are privately run banks, which is very common.

Not only merchants need bank loans, but also gentlemen who own farms. They usually deposit the profits of the previous year in the bank to earn annual interest, and from time to time they will also take out a sum of money from it to finance the farm business. If you need urgent funds, this kind of short-term small loan is much more cost-effective than withdrawing deposits from the bank in advance and destroying the annual interest that will be obtained.

"Dad no longer needs to keep most of the profits for emergency use on the farm, and the family has an additional annual interest accounted for." Jane laughed.

Then Jane told her again: "The sewing machines are very useful. I asked my uncle to help us find a reliable tailor, and then moved all five sewing machines to my uncle's workshop-we kept one for ourselves. Now Viola's The high-end clothes are all made by those tailors. You just need to give them the blueprints marked with the size. The tailors are much better than us. But our logo is embroidered by ourselves, which doesn’t take long. The vine leaves and roses that surround the pattern represent dates and batches, a secret that only you know..."

Elizabeth looked at her sister with bright eyes: "Dear Jane, you arranged these affairs? You surprised me so much!"

"And Mary and the others..."

"No, it was Jane who thought of it first. She said that we can't treat ourselves as seamstresses, and asked my uncle to help find suitable tailors. She also asked the tailors to sign a separate contract. If the tailors steal our drawings and designs without permission , then you will have to pay a lot of money." Mary interrupted suddenly: "Lizzie, you see, she also asked us to keep the secret of Viola's logo-one of the tailors got a bad heart and greedy. I secretly made two pieces of fabric at a low price and sold them at a low price, and was soon discovered by Jane, and was caught by my uncle on the spot when I was making the third piece."

Elizabeth was pleased to see that while she was working hard to improve, her sisters also grew up rapidly.Especially Jane, she is still gentle and kind, and she is more confident and decisive. Now Miss Bennet exudes a calm and generous aura, which makes her even more charming.

"Dear Jane, how did you find out?" Elizabeth took her sister's arm coquettishly: "Please tell me."

Jane's face was blushing, and she pretended to be angry and gave the three little guys a look at the three little guys who were vying to show off the achievements of the elder sister.

"Good Lizzie, I still have something important to discuss with you." The eldest sister couldn't bear the trouble of the younger sisters, so she had to say what she wanted to think about carefully.

"Compared to renting Netherfield," Jane pursed her lips nervously, "is it better to buy it?"

"What? You have a fever!" Elizabeth covered the screaming little mouth of her little sister Lydia, preventing her from attracting the housekeeper and maid.

Almost at the same time, Kitty shouted happily: "If I buy it, then I can train the beagle in the manor!"

Mary ran to the living room, took pencils and paper from the drawer, and wrote and drew: "The rent for Netherfield is 160 pounds a year. Not long ago, the Times published a house not far from St. James's Palace. The annual rent of a high-end mansion is only 200 pounds, and the rent of Netherfield Manor is a bit too high. However, His Majesty the King spent 39 pounds on the purchase of Buckingham Mansion 21000 years ago. The price of Netherfield Manor will not match Platinum at best One-third of the Han Mansion, according to Dad's character and the wishes of Chief Morris, the Bennet family may have to rent this manor for a long time until we get married..."

She paused before writing again: "At least five years, probably ten years. The rent for ten years needs to be 1600 pounds, which is almost a quarter of the price of the manor."

"His Majesty the King purchased Buckingham House and paid in full in four instalments. If the Bennet family is willing to purchase Netherfield, with our family's reputation and income, Chief Maurice will at least agree to the proposal in six instalments. Farm and maintenance Adding up the annuities at Orla's Clothing Shop, it's not difficult to get a thousand pounds out."

"The two farms attached to Netherfield are not big. If they were run by my father, they would have an annual income of two hundred pounds. However, these two farms can only be classified as Bennet's property if they buy the manor. We only rent the manor, so the income from the farm is still used to pay the manager and servants of the Netherfield manor, and in addition to the rent, we need to spend an extra sum of money as tips to reward the servants-in fact, we don’t need it at all So many servants. Ten years of accumulated tips may even be worth as much as a year's rent."

"So, buying it is indeed more cost-effective than long-term renting." Miss Mary put down her pencil and looked up at the sisters calmly.

The four stared blankly at the paper in front of her, and after a while, they said dryly, "Yes, yes."

This is really a good talent for overall financial management. After Jane's surprise, Elizabeth discovered another little treasure.She rubbed the little heads of Kitty and Lydia with both hands, and couldn't help but look forward to the sweet fruits these two little guys would bring when they grew up a little longer.

"Then what are we waiting for!" Kitty grabbed the page and said excitedly: "Before Mr. Morris comes to visit, we must first ask Mr. Bennet for permission!"

Jane silently kept her words in her heart. Although the result was the same, the two people had completely different ideas.What Jane thought was that in case Mrs. Bennet failed to achieve her wish, a manor that would not be inherited by outsiders would make her feel better. At least the wife would not have to worry about being kicked out of her home one day.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, this kind of disappointing guess need not be said, but it is really great.Although Jane had many things hidden in her heart, she couldn't help laughing: "Little Mary, you are so amazing! No wonder Uncle Gardner asks you to help to settle the accounts of the workshop!"

The ladies of the Bennet family stood up, the older went out first, the younger followed behind, and went to Mr. Bennet's study together.

"Miss Jane, Miss Elizabeth..." Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, was comforting the maid Sarah at the corner of the stairs, and seeing the girls appearing neatly in a blink of an eye, she couldn't help asking, "This is it?"

"What's wrong with Sara?" At this moment, it must be Missy Jane who spoke.

Sarah's eyes were red, she lowered her head and did not dare to look at the serving ladies. Mrs. Hill sighed and said for her, "Master wants to rent Netherfield Manor. Sarah is worried, worried that Mrs. will dismiss her." Who We all know that Netherfield has a set of excellent servants, Sarah is not unreasonable to worry.

In the entire mansion, only Mrs. Georgia did not have to worry, because she knew a lot of new dishes, and also had the unique skill of brewing medicines from the Ming Dynasty. The wife must hire her for a long time.Even Butler Hill was a little worried, because she had no experience in managing such a large manor, and she had no confidence that she could beat Manager Morris. It's just that she had served the Bennet family for many years, and she could rely on her friendship to guess Mrs. Not to drive her away.

Jane looked back at Elizabeth. The two eldest girls were a little helpless. They hadn't rented the manor yet, and the family was already unstable.In fact, the two girls had no intention of dismissing any of the servants. Even if the wife had such a plan, Mr. Bennet would not agree to it.Longborn's principal and his "two assistants" all too well understood how rare a reliable servant is.

It is impossible to completely hide the affairs of the family, such as the ladies' property, from the serving maids.Mrs. Hill and Lia should have some guesses in their hearts, but over the past few months, there hasn't been a single bit of wind leaked out, which is enough to reassure the masters.

The servants in Netherfield are different. They are tied to the manor, and the owner of the manor is their master.After Mr. Bingley left in embarrassment last time, there was a lot of gossip.Those servants relished talking about the former master, and kept 'spreading the reputation' for the hard-to-serve Miss Bingley, which made the ladies rejoice: "She is so powerful, and her brother is so weak, it seems Miss Bingley intends to be her brother's family. Let's talk privately, whoever misses marrying Mr. Bingley will be in bad luck! She is the hostess, but she has to be wronged by an outsider on her head. Who can bear it? Got it?"

Such servants, even if they are only renting Netherfield Manor, Jane and Elizabeth are not prepared to reuse them, at least they are not allowed to serve the family personally.

"Don't worry, Sara, you've been doing very well. Kitty and Lydia can't do without you. And you, Mrs. Hill, we can't do without you." Jane laughed and said loudly: "Banner The Te family will not treat anyone who works faithfully and diligently for it! I promise you!"

The words of the eldest daughter or eldest son in the family can be half of the weight of the head of the family, which is beyond the reach of the most favored youngest son ** or other children.After Jane spoke, the servants were indeed much more relaxed and happy.

Mr. Bennet stood at the door of the study at some point, and he applauded his eldest daughter proudly.

"I guess, you have something to say to me?" The father looked at the neatly arranged daughters, raised his right eyebrow and joked, "I hope it's not another problem. Dad doesn't want to be Mr. Jared In that way - Lizzie, Mr. Jared was passing Longbourn just to pay a visit, I can hardly believe it, you know what happened?"

Mr. Bennet gestured to the top of his head: "I really feel sorry for Mr. Jared."

"Dad!" Elizabeth suppressed a smile and shouted, "I can't believe Mr. Jared didn't tell you? Uncle Gardner's rush order needs more Mr. Jared."

"Okay, little ladies of the Bennet family," Mr. Bennet put on his hat and picked up his cane, "I wonder if the old father would have the honor to ask the ladies to lead the way to visit their flower orchard?"

The ladies lifted up their skirts and gracefully bowed their knees to return the salute: "Of course, Mr. Bennet."

The climate in Longborn this year is very good, with wet spring and hot summer, which is very suitable for apple production.The apple trees transplanted from Mr. George's orchard are especially adapted to the water and soil here. Now there are many green fruits hanging on the dwarf trees, much more than expected.

Smelling the fragrance of green apples, the rose fence is already in shape, with clusters full of small flowers.Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised to find that this seemed to be an improved variety of Damascus rose. The flowers were somewhat small, but the number of flowers was much larger and the fragrance was strong.Elizabeth picked off a flower bud that was about to open, removed the outer petals, and put the inner petals into her mouth. It was slightly astringent and juicy, with a pure fragrance. It was indeed an edible rose.

Rose sauce, rose wine, flower cakes... I didn't expect to be able to harvest edible roses in the first year!

The surprises were not limited to the rose fence, but also cherry trees, strawberries, currants, and raspberries. A small ditch was artificially dug in the flower orchard, and narcissus and iris were planted beside the ditch, which circled the flower orchard like a wreath.

In a corner near the inside, Elizabeth also found a white rose garden the size of two carriages.

"This is?"

Jane blushed quietly, and Lydia said happily: "It was cultivated by Mr. George's workers. They said it was a gift from Mr. Without us."

Kitty obviously loved the garden, and she plucked a purple iris and put it on Jane's temples, and added with a smile: "This brook and the flowers around it are also made by Mr. George's workmen. Beautiful Excellent, isn't it, Lizzie?"

Elizabeth looked at Jane and said with a smile, "Yes, it's beautiful!"

But Kitty's little head has been seduced by Netherfield, and she couldn't help saying: "Nesefield's yard is so big, we can take care of it as much as we want, and make it as beautiful as here!"

"However, I just remembered that Netherfield is so big, and there are only two owners in Mr. Bingley's house. Why did you rent it? Of course, I am very grateful to the kind Mr. Bingley for repairing and cleaning the manor."

Lydia was also surprised: "They have such a small population and live in such a big house, aren't they afraid? Oh, Jane, I think I'm a little scared now! Maybe I can live with you for a month first?"

Jane smiled and agreed, and Mr. Bennet was not in a hurry to ask them what they wanted, and happily visited the flower orchard of his daughters.

On the contrary, dear Miss Mary took off a white rose and pinned it on Jane's skirt, and answered the two sisters' questions seriously.

"I guess," she said slowly, "for hunting rights?"

"The "Hunting Act" of 1671 stipulates that only those who own land with an annual output value of more than 150 pounds, or lease properties with an annual rent of more than [-] pounds, can obtain hunting rights. Elizabeth said that the ancestors of the Bingley family were businessmen, so it is unlikely to have land , then leasing is the easiest and quickest way to obtain hunting rights. Given that Miss Bingley is so eager to join the upper class—hunting can sometimes represent the privilege of the upper class, and it is the favorite sport of nobles and squires."

"He had a face of bronze, and short hair like a dome, and he was a good man for hunting in the woods. On one arm he wore a beautiful gauntlet, and by his side he carried a shield and sword, and on the other side was a sharp and beautiful end, The small portrait of the saint hangs on the chest, and the silver light shines in front... She imitated St. Roy and never swore, and she was named Lady Rose." Standing in front of the rose bushes, Mary chanted the words of the father of English poetry loudly.

"God, Mary, please, please spare me." Lydia and Kitty hugged each other, covering each other's ears and moaning.

The author has something to say: Big fat chapter!Not a single drop of fish~

Happy Queen’s Day, little angels, the ones we should love the most are ourselves—the fish have to eat potato chips and salted fish~ I’m so happy~Happy~

Note: "He had a face like bronze, and short hair like a dome, and he was a good man for hunting in the woods. On one arm he wore a beautiful bracer, and by his side he carried a shield and sword, and on the other side was a sharp and unique sword. The little statue of the saint hangs on her bosom. The silver light shines on her front... She imitated St. Roy and never swore, and she was named Lady Rose." - Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English poetry, "The Canterbury Tales"

Iris flower language: I miss you very much, the messenger who spreads the good news, the messenger of love, the mission, and an elegant heart.

White rose flower language: In ancient Greek mythology, it is a combination of love and beauty. It is not only the incarnation of the god of beauty, but also melted into the blood of the god of love.

Narcissus flower language: respect.Otherworldly.

The above flower language comes from Flower Encyclopedia.

In addition, the "Hunting Act" of 1671 did stipulate that only those who owned land with an annual output value of more than 150 pounds, or leased properties with an annual rent of more than [-] pounds, could obtain hunting rights.

About Buckingham House (later known as Buckingham Palace): In 1762, George III allocated 21000 pounds from a small treasury to buy this "Buckingham House" as a gift to Queen Charlotte.The king still had to pay the house in four installments, which was indeed a huge sum at the time. The expansion work began in 1762 at the request of the king. It was designed by Sir William Chambers at a cost of 73000 pounds, and three buildings were built for the central courtyard. —History of Buckingham Palace.

Netherfield Manor is a country manor. According to the "Hunting Act", it is guessed that the rent is greater than [-]. The rent set by Yu is [-], which is already expensive enough, and the price is about [-] pounds (Yu could not find out the price of the country manor at the end of the [-]st century).

PS: Little angels, Yu deleted chapters [-] and [-] about the [-] o'clock update and the little red envelopes. The agreement still counts, just to avoid unnecessary troubles.