Master Tao was furious after hearing Xiao Heng's words, recalling how he had offended people and almost lost his official position and business. Although it wasn't Tao Rui who had offended them, those people were still watching him in the court.

But he didn't really intend to strangle his son; yet, still defiantly and angrily, he seized Tao Rui's administrative power, saying:

"From now on, all household affairs will be managed by Second Sister. She's almost twenty; it's time she learned how to manage a household!" "If you continue to be so useless, I might as well follow the example of the late Grand Secretary Su's granddaughter-in-law and have your second sister stay at home to marry into the family. How will you face me then?"

Upon hearing this, Yang and Tao Rui turned deathly pale.

Although it was not common for officials to have their daughters marry into their families, and very few officials' daughters did, it did not mean that it was impossible, nor were there no precedents.

The late Grand Secretary Su's granddaughter-in-law, although she had a son born out of wedlock, took in a son-in-law because Huang was reluctant to let her daughter marry. Now, the family business and affairs are managed by the daughter who married into the family.

That illegitimate son was not only uneducated and incompetent, but since the family had not yet been divided, he was not entitled to any of the family property. He lived by trying to please his elder sister every day.

Whenever Yang thought of this, she felt very uncomfortable. She had been suffering in this mansion for more than ten years. Although she had given birth to a son, she was always worried that Madam Fang would give birth to a legitimate son because Madam Fang was still relatively young. So even though she was favored, she was always careful and afraid that her dirty tricks would be exposed. On the surface, she was extremely careful and humble.

In those years, she humbled herself to the extreme, just to be a seemingly qualified concubine who never dared to disobey the mistress.

Because of her status as a concubine, she was often mocked by some ignorant and arrogant maids who said things like, "Even if Meixiang and I are sworn brothers, we are all servants."

She didn't dare to be angry. Now that the first wife was bedridden, she had the opportunity to take charge of the household and finally get her revenge.

Now, just when everyone was finally looking forward to Mrs. Fang's passing and her bedridden state, her chance to rise to the top had finally arrived, but then all this happened.

It's her fault for looking down on girls; she should have been more ruthless back then...

Why is that jinxed widow, who is destined to be widowed, not as frail and sickly as her sister, but instead has to come and hinder her son?

A widowed woman who had brought misfortune to her husbands and a little girl, yet she was qualified to compete with her son for this huge family fortune!

On what grounds?

Why didn't she die?

Miss Tao, even lying down, got shot.

Miss Tao sneezed loudly. She was looking after her family's shop with her maids Meixiang and Qiuju. Although she didn't manage household affairs, she still cared a lot about her family's shop.

Although the Tao family appears respectable, they have few descendants, and given her brother's character, the chances of the next generation becoming officials are extremely slim.

Because of the regulations that officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty were not allowed to engage in commerce, most of these shops were sublet by their subordinates, leaving four general stores to be managed by people hired from outside.

Officials and their families were only allowed to receive a small amount of rent to cover their expenses, but they still had many advantages, such as the ability to continue buying shops and becoming landlords.

Grocery stores generally don't make much money.

In recent years, the company has been unprofitable year after year.

A sneeze startled her, and she stumbled to the side, just as someone turned around. Miss Tao bumped into them. Meixiang said:

"Miss, are you alright?"

Qiuju quickly handed over the handkerchief.

Meixiang then turned to the person who bumped into Miss Tao and scolded, "How do you walk?"

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Miss Tao waved her hand and said, "Meixiang, it's alright, we bumped into someone." Looking up, she recognized the person and said:

"Oh, it's you! What a coincidence!"

It was Niu Yong. Niu Yong scratched the back of his head sheepishly and laughed, "It's quite a coincidence, we've bumped into each other twice." "Miss Tao, you're here to buy noodles too?"

Miss Tao said:

"No, this is our family's general store." "You're here to buy noodles?"

"It's not all about buying noodles. It's almost Chinese New Year, so I'm out buying some New Year's goods before it gets too cold," Niu Yong said.

Miss Tao said, "Oh, you're going to the capital next year, right? I heard from my father that you and your nephew are both qualified to enter the Imperial Academy."

"Ah? Yes!" Niu Yong nodded, not expecting Miss Tao to ask this.

The two, who weren't very familiar with each other, had an awkward conversation.

“Well… you go ahead with your work, I’ll just look after my shop,” Miss Tao said.

"Hmm," Niu Yong said and left.

Meixiang said, "What a coincidence!"

Juxiang said, "It just means our young lady and he are destined to meet. It was fine last time at the manor, but to bump into each other on the street is even more surprising. Perhaps we'll meet again next year when our master returns to the capital for mourning."

Meixiang rolled her eyes and said slyly:

"Their family name is Niu (牛), which isn't a very pleasant-sounding surname, but the man is quite good-looking, don't you think, miss?"

Chrysanthemum Fragrance said at the opportune moment:

"I wonder if he's engaged?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? I'll tear your mouths apart! How many times have you even met her? You don't even know if she has someone she likes, yet you're spouting such nonsense!" Miss Tao said.

"Say that again and I'll dock your pay."

Meixiang and Juxiang shut their mouths.

Master Tao was so angry that he didn't go to Concubine Yang's room for many days. He stayed by his first wife's sickbed, quietly looking at her closed face, and couldn't help but recall many past events.

"I know, even now that I know I was wrong, you still won't forgive me! If I had known I would have given birth to such an infuriating little bastard, why did I ever go astray and let you suffer all these years?" "Anan, please talk to me, okay?"

Madam Fang listened to Master Tao's words and remained silent.

“Anan, you can’t blame me. For a family like ours, having a son is so important. How can we be like those pretentious scholars in books, who are devoted to one person for life?”

Master Tao said, "Never mind, I'll go rest in my study."

Master Tao walked away with heavy steps.

The study lights were off for a long time.

As Aunt Yang was undressing and lying down, revealing her snow-white skin, she suddenly heard a soft knock on the door. Aunt Yang said:

"who?"

Her maid, Meiren, had already retired for the night.

It's me.

When Aunt Yang heard the familiar voice, she felt relieved, got up and opened the door without putting on an outer garment.

"My darling, I've missed you so much!" The man who entered suddenly hugged Aunt Yang. Aunt Yang said, "Look at you, so eager! Aren't you afraid someone will see us?"

The one who came in was another steward from the Tao family.

This steward, also surnamed Tao, was a distant relative of Master Tao and was in charge of the fields outside the Tao residence.

Thinking of her son's situation, Aunt Yang sighed softly, her brow furrowed with worry.

Butler Tao pinched Aunt Yang's breasts, and before he could do anything else, Aunt Yang pushed him away.

"You still have the mind to think about this?"

Butler Tao frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's all because of your son! This time, the old man punished Rui'er too harshly, and he even considered keeping that brat at home! If that wretched girl really stays at home and takes over the Tao family, how will Rui'er and I survive?"

Butler Tao said:

"Don't worry, let me think of a way." "Now, half the people in the manor listen to me. The master only has this one son, and the great-grandfather only has this one grandson. If we just have someone say a few good words for him, the master's heart will soften, and he will surely let Rui'er take over the management of the household affairs again."

"Don't worry, it's not easy for a daughter to stay with her husband's family. Even if she does, half of their private property has already been transferred to us, and the master hasn't been involved in household affairs for many years." "That girl is still young; even if she takes over the household affairs, she might not be able to see anything of value in them."