Chapter 13
Jiang Linxiu saw through his elder brother’s thoughts and quickly explained, “Big Brother, we didn’t want to take it over either! But Sister-in-law came at us aggressively and wouldn’t back down. The account books were brought over immediately, and we had no choice but to accept them! We stayed up all night checking the accounts, and she forced Xixiang to write a receipt for taking over. We were all witnesses and even pressed our fingerprints on it.”
Jiang Furong chimed in, “Exactly! Sister-in-law has gone too far—she doesn’t treat us like family at all!”
Li Xixiang twisted her handkerchief as she cried. “I already said I wouldn’t take it, but she insisted! I can’t manage this household!”
Jiang Zhixiu secretly ground his teeth, his expression dark and uncertain.
He knew it—this had to be He Fangting’s doing! Because he planned to take a second wife, she had thrown down the burden of household management, trying to force him into submission this way.
But he absolutely would not yield!
Seated at the head of the room, Jiang Chengzong had kept a gloomy face the entire time. Only now did he speak.
“Zhixiu, that wife of yours needs to be properly disciplined.”
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He had lived most of his life, only to be controlled by his daughter-in-law in his old age. His dignity was completely gone.
Back in their hometown, a daughter-in-law like He would have been whipped with a cane or beaten with a carrying pole until she submitted.
Though the capital had different customs, there was still no justification for a daughter-in-law bullying the whole family.
Pan shi opened her mouth, wanting to remind her husband that He Fangting was the Emperor’s own niece and could not be disciplined so casually, but she didn’t dare say it.
Her husband was already furious. She didn’t dare provoke him further and risk damaging his health.
Jiang Zhixiu also felt that He Fangting needed discipline, but the urgent matter now was arranging the household affairs. Just because Zhang the butcher was gone didn’t mean they had to stop eating pork altogether.
If He Fangting refused to manage things, then Li Xixiang could temporarily take over for a few days. Once Mei Ying married into the family, the household authority could be handed to her instead.
Hopefully by then He Fangting wouldn’t cry about it. Letting her manage the household had originally been granting her a privilege, yet she dared act proud over it, as if the family couldn’t function without her. Ridiculous!
Looking toward Li Xixiang, he spoke in a tone as though bestowing a favor.
“In that case, younger sister-in-law, the household management will temporarily be entrusted to you.”
Li Xixiang inwardly screamed, Why does it still end up being me after all this talking?
Aloud, she cried, “Big Brother, I truly can’t handle it! Please ask someone more capable!”
This burning hot potato was absolutely impossible for her to catch.
Jiang Zhixiu frowned unhappily. “Could it be that younger sister-in-law also wishes to imitate He?”
It wasn’t as if he was asking her to cook personally or wash clothes by hand. There were plenty of servants waiting to be ordered around. It was all work that could be done simply by giving instructions. What was so impossible about it?
Li Xixiang blurted out, “I can’t imitate her—I’m not as rich as she is!”
Nor was she as generous. No… as foolish.
At the mention of money, Jiang Zhixiu remembered she had earlier implied the household was nearly broke, so he asked, “How much money remains in the accounts?”
Li Xixiang replied, “One hundred and three taels.”
That afternoon, the wine shop, silk store, and pastry shop servants Bai Wei had mentioned really had come to settle their bills. They were quarterly accounts. Li Xixiang had wanted to delay payment, but the shop managers were sharp-tongued and relentless, cornering her with their words until she had no choice but to pay.
Afterward, only one hundred and three taels remained—three taels more than Bai Wei had predicted.
Jiang Zhixiu froze. “…How much?”
Yes, he wasn’t corrupt and had never taken money that didn’t belong to him. But no matter how incorruptible he was, the family shouldn’t have been left with only this little money.
Li Xixiang repeated clearly, “One hundred and three taels.”
She even placed the account book onto the table before him.
Jiang Zhixiu gave it a rough glance, then turned his gaze away and barked, “Go invite the Princess!”
Two young maidservants hurried out running.
Just as they were about to leave the doorway, Jiang Zhixiu suddenly shouted again, “Come back!”
He Fangting had always been meticulous in everything she did. Since she dared present these account books, the numbers certainly wouldn’t be wrong. Calling her over would accomplish nothing except give her another chance to mock him.
Taking a sip of tea, he said flatly, “Tell me exactly how you calculated the accounts last night.”
Jiang Linxiu then recounted everything in detail, while the others occasionally added explanations. The account books themselves served as proof.
The more Jiang Zhixiu listened, the heavier his heart became.
The accounts were orderly and crystal clear, with no loopholes whatsoever. But that also meant that most of the time, the Jiang family had actually been supported by He Fangting.
Even the Jiang clan itself had been sustained by her. His official salary and integrity stipend were nowhere near enough.
…How could he possibly accept owing He Fangting such an enormous debt of gratitude?
In truth, there had once been a time when the Jiang family earned vast sums of money. The restaurants and inns they had opened in Jiangnan had once been like treasure basins that generated wealth on their own.
Unfortunately, later on his family had persuaded him to hand those businesses over to Linxiu to manage.
But Linxiu knew absolutely nothing about business. Before long, every shop had shut down.
If those businesses were still operating, the family would never have needed He Fangting’s support.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhixiu felt deeply regretful. Had he known things would come to this, he never would have allowed Linxiu to take over the Jiangnan businesses.
But regrets were useless now. Besides, Linxiu was his blood brother, so he couldn’t criticize him too harshly.
Sighing, he said, “Fortunately, there are still one hundred and three taels left. If we spend carefully, it should last a few months. Back in our hometown, one hundred taels was enough for several years of living expenses. By year’s end, the income from the estate farms should arrive as well.”
Li Xixiang: “…I can’t manage this household. Mother should do it instead.”
Only a little over one hundred taels, yet they expected it to last until the end of the year? It was only the beginning of the seventh month!
This was obviously forcing her to subsidize the household with her dowry money.
Pan shi hurriedly waved her hands. “I can’t! I really can’t!”
Li Xixiang replied, “If you don’t know how, you can learn. Let little sister teach you!”
Jiang Furong also hurriedly waved her hands in refusal. “I can’t either!”
Making just over one hundred taels last until the end of the year? She couldn’t manage such a household either.
Her elder brother kept talking about “back then,” but times were no longer what they used to be.
Back then, even wild vegetable soup with a few drops of oil floating in it counted as a delicacy. Now she was already tired of eating rich meats and fish every day.
