Chapter 59 A Messy Debt 2

Yu Qingci frowned even more: "So all those shops and estates outside are managed by my eldest cousin? I just looked at the account books and the income from the shops and estates this year doesn't make sense. It seems that my eldest cousin is really not good at managing these things."

Madam Wei: "How could that be? Your eldest cousin is managing it very diligently. If the shop's profits are not good, it's probably because the servants are slacking off. I'll talk to your eldest cousin later and ask him to keep a closer eye on things."

Yu Qingci changed the subject and said, "My eldest cousin didn't earn any salary outside, and I remember my second cousin has been working at the Dali Temple. Why is there no record of his salary in the official accounts? Could it be that the accountant forgot to write it down? That shouldn't be the case!"

The smile on Madam Wei's face vanished completely, and she said sternly, "Although your second cousin works at the Dali Temple, he is just a minor official. How much salary can he earn each month? He also has to go out and socialize with his colleagues every day. A grown man must have some money on him, right? So it was your eldest brother, who is your father-in-law, who personally agreed that his salary did not need to be handed over."

Yu Qingci: "I see. It seems that Father-in-law is really too good to my two cousins. Not only do they not have to hand over their salaries, but they can also receive an additional twenty taels of silver from the public fund every month. Tsk tsk, such a good thing would never be possible in our Nanping Earl's Mansion."

Yu Qingci's extremely envious expression made Wei Shi feel even more that this conversation was impossible to continue. What did this brat mean by that?

Just as they were racking their brains to think of something to say, they heard a loud crash. The two of them looked toward the sound and saw Qian Ge'er and Wei Ge'er standing in the corner of the room. On the ground was a broken potted flower vase, with the begonias planted inside lying scattered on the ground.

After finishing their snacks, the two children couldn't sit still and started playing in the house. They ran around playing hide-and-seek, and ended up knocking over a pot of blooming begonias that was sitting on a wooden stool in the corner of the room.

Startled, Madam Wei quickly stood up from the chaise longue, stepped forward, pushed the two children aside, and then smiled at Yu Qingci, saying:

"Boys are like that, so mischievous. But that's good. That's how boys should be. If they were always well-behaved at home, they would never be energetic."

After saying that, she turned to the two children and said, "Let's see if you're still naughty. You've damaged all the flowers that your aunt has been carefully tending. Hurry up and apologize!"

Qian-ge looked at the begonias that Lianqiao was cleaning on the ground with a dismissive expression, not wanting to speak. Wei Shi pushed him from behind, and he reluctantly stepped forward and said, "I was rude, please forgive me, Aunt."

Yu Qingci wouldn't hold a grudge against a child, so she smiled and replied that it was nothing. Qian Ge'er immediately took a few steps back, turned around, and started playing with Wei Ge'er again.

Looking at her two grandsons with loving eyes, Madam Wei remembered the purpose of her visit after a while. But she had been led by the nose by this brat for so long, and now she didn't know what to say.

Stealing a glance at Yu Qingci, Wei Shi, unwilling to give up, leaned closer to her and said:

"These two children are still a bit shy. I'll bring them over more often to get to know you better. They'll be fine once they're more comfortable with each other."

Yu Qingci watched the two children running around and playing wildly in the room, oblivious to everyone else, and couldn't see any reason why they were shy.

Madam Wei then rambled on about how well-behaved and adorable her two grandsons were. Four-year-old Wei Ge'er couldn't stay in the house any longer and wanted to run outside. Madam Wei tried to persuade him for a long time but couldn't, so she left with her two grandsons.

Before leaving, Madam Wei turned back and said solicitously, "I'll bring them to get closer to you when I have time."

Tong'er watched the grandfather and granddaughter walk away and whispered, "It's better not to come."

It's a pity about that shattered begonia.

Yu Qingci sighed, sat back down on the couch, and took out the account book to continue reading.

Unfortunately, I had only read two pages when I heard another commotion outside.

This time it was Fourth Aunt Ma, accompanied by several maids, one of whom was holding a chubby little boy in her arms.

Yu Qingci sighed inwardly. She didn't even need to look to know that the child was Ma's eight-month-old grandson, Yu Ge'er.

Madam Ma was much more outgoing than Madam Wei. As soon as she entered the room, she began to praise Yu Qingci in various ways, saying that she was intelligent, kind-hearted, gentle, skillful, and that the decorations in the house were so beautiful that they were hard to look away from. Not only did the old lady love her very much, but even Madam Ma, as her aunt, wished she could take her back as her own daughter-in-law. Yu Qingci was almost overwhelmed by the praise.

While saying flattering things, she kept stuffing Yu Ge'er into Yu Qingci's arms, saying that it was to let the mother and son get closer. This startled Pei Mama, who took the child and handed him directly to the wet nurse next to her.

"Our young mistress has never held a child before, so be careful not to drop her."

Madam Ma glanced at her but didn't take it seriously. She continued in her distinctive booming voice, "My niece-in-law is clearly a blessed person. She is gentle and lovely. If any family's child is fortunate enough to be raised under her care, they will be very lucky."

If you ask me, it's best to raise a young child who doesn't know any better. Raise them from a young age, so that when they grow up, they will only recognize you as their adoptive mother and consider you their biological mother.

Newborn babies are too delicate and difficult to raise. Our little Yu'er, not even a year old yet, is still quite young and doesn't know anything, making him much easier to care for than a swaddled infant. What could be more suitable? Don't you think?

Yu Qingci understood; this woman was also there to promote her grandson. Although the adoption hadn't been formally brought up, it was clear that the two aunts were already making preparations.

When Ma saw the account book on the table, she exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, my niece-in-law is looking at the account book. Does that mean my sister-in-law is going to put you in charge of the household? That's wonderful!"

Ma and Wei were indeed sisters-in-law; they said exactly the same thing.

Yu Qingci smiled but remained silent, pretending to tidy up the account books in front of her.

He casually said, "Not at all. My mother has only just started teaching Yun Chu and me how to read the account books. I've been looking at them for a long time and I still can't figure them out. I'm still a long way from being a steward."

Just then, my fourth aunt came over, and I had some questions about this, so I could ask her for help.

Ma slapped her thigh and said, "Oh, my niece-in-law, you've come to the right person. What's so difficult about the account book? Although I don't manage the household, I know a little bit about it. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

As she spoke, Madam Ma reached for the account book, but Yu Qingci moved it aside and handed it to Tong'er, telling her to put it away.

Madam Ma missed her target, smiled sheepishly, and withdrew her hand. To be honest, she had never actually looked through the household's account books, and she was quite curious about them.

Yu Qingci: "What I want to ask is not about the account books. I just entered the manor and don't know much about our affairs. I just want to ask casually, such as who manages the shops and estates outside our General's Mansion? I heard from my second aunt that it is my eldest cousin. I see that our manor has quite a few properties. My eldest cousin must be very busy. I really feel sorry for him."