Chapter 10: Sister Feng Manages the Household
Bab 10: Saudara Feng Mengelola Rumah Tangga
Wang Xifeng, known to everyone as Sister Feng, was one of the most powerful people in the Jia mansion. She was the wife of Jia Lian and managed the daily affairs of the household with a sharp mind and a strong will. Nothing happened in the mansion without her knowledge.
Wang Xifeng, dikenal semua orang sebagai Saudara Feng, adalah salah satu orang paling berkuasa di rumah Jia. Dia adalah istri Jia Lian dan mengelola urusan sehari-hari rumah tangga dengan pikiran tajam dan kemauan kuat. Tidak ada yang terjadi di rumah tanpa pengetahuannya.
Sister Feng was beautiful and clever, but she was also ruthless when it came to money and power. She kept careful records of every coin that entered and left the household. Servants who made mistakes were punished without mercy, while those who pleased her were rewarded with gifts and good positions.
Saudara Feng cantik dan cerdas, tetapi dia juga kejam ketika menyangkut uang dan kekuasaan. Dia menyimpan catatan cermat setiap koin yang masuk dan keluar dari rumah tangga. Pelayan yang membuat kesalahan dihukum tanpa ampun, sementara mereka yang menyenangkannya diberi hadiah dan posisi baik.
One day, the family faced a serious money problem. The income from their lands was not enough to cover the expenses of the large household. Sister Feng called a meeting of the senior servants and announced new rules. "From now on, every department must reduce its spending," she declared. "No one is above these rules."
Suatu hari, keluarga menghadapi masalah uang yang serius. Pendapatan dari tanah mereka tidak cukup untuk menutupi pengeluaran rumah tangga besar. Saudara Feng memanggil pertemuan pelayan senior dan mengumumkan aturan baru. "Mulai sekarang, setiap departemen harus mengurangi pengeluarannya," katanya. "Tidak ada yang di atas aturan ini."
Some servants complained about her strict measures, but most respected her ability to keep the household running smoothly. Without Sister Feng, the Jia family would have fallen into chaos long ago. She was like a strong pillar holding up a great but weakening building.
Beberapa pelayan mengeluh tentang langkah-langkah ketatnya, tetapi sebagian besar menghormati kemampuannya menjaga rumah tangga berjalan lancar. Tanpa Saudara Feng, keluarga Jia akan jatuh ke dalam kekacauan sejak lama. Dia seperti pilar kuat yang menopang bangunan besar yang melemah.
Baoyu admired Sister Feng's intelligence but was sometimes afraid of her. "She sees everything," he told Daiyu. "Nothing can hide from her sharp eyes." Daiyu nodded quietly. She knew that in this great house, survival required both wisdom and caution.
Baoyu mengagumi kecerdasan Saudara Feng tetapi kadang-kadang takut padanya. "Dia melihat segalanya," katanya kepada Daiyu. "Tidak ada yang bisa bersembunyi dari matanya yang tajam." Daiyu mengangguk diam-diam. Dia tahu bahwa di rumah besar ini, kelangsungan hidup membutuhkan kebijaksanaan dan kehati-hatian.