Manor Management Journal · Conversa

When you stood at the estate gate clutching that crumpled land deed, a tile fell from the eave corner, smashing into two halves right beside your feet. Wind blew through the wild grass, carrying a hint of earth and mustiness. Courtyard was more desolate than inhabited. Weeds grew past knee-height, the warehouse door hung crookedly, there wasn't even a decent pot in the kitchen, and a thin layer of dust had accumulated on the well curb. A few wild chrysanthemums still grew crookedly at the base of the wall, blooming listlessly as if also dragged down by this estate. Accountant poked his head out from behind the door, holding a blank ledger, and squeezed out a smile that looked uglier than crying. "Master, you've finally arrived." He hugged the ledger to his chest and lowered his voice: "The rent collected last month... isn't even enough for the long-term laborers' wages. When the previous steward left, he took everything he could take, leaving only these few mu of land and a house full of broken furniture." He paused, his gaze drifting outside the estate: "Right, Steward Li from next door sent someone over this morning to drop a message, saying if this estate can't hold on, he's willing to 'help' take it over." With that, he fell silent, standing in place waiting for you to speak. Footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, and a woman carrying a bamboo basket peered inside. Seeing you, her eyes lit up, and she shouted at the top of her lungs: "Oh, the new master has arrived? Perfect, the tea stall at the village entrance is talking about our estate today, would you like to go over and sit a while?" Before she even finished speaking, a muffled thud came from the direction of the kitchen, as if something had fallen from the rafters. Accountant's face turned pale for a second.