Chapter 35: Matthew's Living Room
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" First, when I visited our neighbor's house in the middle of the night, I happened to see the lord's guards leaving through the eastern gate of the mage district. They were fully armed, and there were about twenty of them. I'm guessing that they weren't there for a walk." Peggy said.
Matthew nodded slightly.
The lord's guards were the absolute elites of the Suki Family. They were independent of the garrison and only listened to Rhaegar's orders.
Most of the time, they would not leave the camp next to the liege's residence.
Only during wars or rebellions could they be seen in other parts of the town.
"Rhaegar has been keeping quiet for half a month. It seems like he's making a big move."
Matthew gently kneaded the feathers at the end of the quill, and his eyes gradually became clear.
"It should be about the traitor."
Peggy shrugged." I don't know about that. I'm just sharing interesting or suspicious signs with you, as you asked.
"But if your judgment is correct, then the traitor is probably not a small figure. It is very likely that he is a knight with a fief. Otherwise, Rhaegar would not need so many people."
Matthew nodded in agreement. "Although this matter is important, it has nothing to do with us."
"The next item is especially important!" Peggy stared at Matthew seriously and said word by word, "Matthew, you need to get back to work!"
Matthew was shocked." We don't have enough money anymore?"
Peggy threw a stack of bills and an account book on the table. There were all kinds of items and numbers written on them, and Matthew was dazzled.
"This is the account book for the last quarter and the budget for the next quarter that I just prepared.
"Let's talk about income first.
"You went out a few times recently and brought back some one-time income. These gold coins are about seven hundred.
"And ever since you took a leave of absence from the Seifer Public School, Headmaster Ryan has stopped your double salary. Relying solely on the allowance from the Public Security Bureau, your monthly income is only 50 gold coins.
"Remember these numbers, and let's talk about expenses...
"In terms of food and accommodation, you have very high requirements for three meals a day. I prepare a variety of food for you every day, but many of the ingredients themselves are very expensive. Fortunately, the fairies would send some fresh vegetables and delicacies over every now and then.
"But even so, we still have to spend a lot of money in a month. Here, it's very clear. Your food expenditure is about five gold coins per month, and I need to buy negative energy stones to maintain my life and physical strength. Recently, I've been deliberately reducing my consumption, but it still costs around 25 gold coins per month.
"Look, our monthly food expenses actually cost 30 gold coins!"
Peggy growled and said, "This is too extravagant!"
Matthew pinched the bridge of his nose. "It is indeed extravagant.
" However, the biggest expenditure is still in the greenhouse. In order to ripen a large number of seeds at the same time and cultivate them into saplings, you need to open the growth circle in the greenhouse at all times. This requires a large amount of silver powder and sunstones, and the monthly expenditure is more than 100 gold coins!
"This did not include the cost of buying seeds.
"Next, you would buy a full set of Attribute Enhancement Scrolls. Even if that feminine Mage in Baiyan City is willing to give you a discount, a set will cost you 200 gold coins.
"I also know that you want to buy a new magic book, a new Magical Bag, and that ring that increases the maximum limit of your energy.
"However, if this continues, your savings will be exhausted within seven months!
"We'll go bankrupt then! Matthew!"
Peggy looked very nervous and didn't feel safe at all.
Matthew thought for a moment." I've also calculated the expenditure. There's one thing you might not have noticed. The main factor that caused the expenditure gap is actually the greenhouse. After this spring, I'll greatly reduce the consumption of the greenhouse…
"But that's still not enough, is it?"
Peggy stared at him, then covered her jaw with one hand and said rather exaggeratedly, "Matthew, why don't you let me go back to the negative energy plane? I don't need extra negative energy stones to survive there! Although I don't like that place, at least it can lighten your burden."
Matthew looked at her speechlessly.
"Or you can go back to class. You are an excellent history teacher!"
Peggy tried to persuade him with reason and emotion.
"However, the salary given to me by the Public School is only 60 gold coins a month. If we follow your calculation, we will still be unable to make ends meet."
Matthew spread out his hands, indicating that he was a lazybones who did not want to go to work.
"No, as far as I know, as long as you are willing to go back to class, your salary will increase to 100 gold coins a month!"
Peggy's plan was revealed:
"So, go back to class, Matthew. This family needs your income. The girls in school are also waiting for you to come back."
"Did you take Principal Ryan's money?"
Peggy confessed,
" Actually, this is also the third thing I want to talk about. Miss Sif came by today and said that she had something to talk to you about. I told her that you weren't here, so she planned to wait for you in the living room. I told her that you might not come back tonight. She looked a little disappointed. After sitting in the kitchen for about an hour, she left with some regret. However, she told me that she would visit you again tomorrow at the same time."
Matthew rubbed his temples. "Did you say no?"
Peggy glanced at him. "I said yes."