Chapter 55: Beginning to show courtesy

"If I look through the account books myself, I can only scold them, but it's hard to say whether I can recover the money."

Song Yushuang stroked the jade bracelet on Yun Tangyin's wrist. "But you're different. You're Yucheng's legitimate wife, and you're new here. It's a good opportunity to set some rules by checking the accounts. This way, anyone who wants to tamper with the accounts in the future will have to consider how capable you are as a housekeeper first."

Yun Tangyin took a sip from her teacup and asked, "Mom, do you want me to use this incident to completely secure my position as the Fu family's steward?"

"Otherwise, why would I let Jiang Jianhua make such a fuss for so many years?"

Song Yushuang sighed, "Acheng was often away from home before, and I watched Yuanshan grow up, so I always wanted to give him some face. But these two are becoming more and more out of line, even daring to sell our ancestors' vases. If we don't stop them, they will drain the Fu family's wealth."

She glanced out the window and saw Fu Yuanshan squatting against the wall pumping up his bicycle. Jiang Jianhua came back from outside carrying a basket of vegetables. The two were no longer arguing, but when Jiang Jianhua put the basket on the stone table, his movements were still a little angry.

"Look, now they are afraid of you. This is how a housekeeper should be."

Song Yushuang patted Yun Tangyin's hand and said, "I'm old now and can't handle these troubles anymore. From now on, when it comes to family matters, you should be strict when you need to be strict and lenient when you need to be lenient. Mom will always be on your side."

Yun Tangyin couldn't help laughing: "Mom, you're roasting me on the fire."

"It's to pave the way for you."

Song Yushuang picked up the account book on the table and said, "Do you think Yuxia is really that enthusiastic? She sees that you have real power and wants to use your influence to gain benefits for her man. And the couple Yuanshan may look honest now, but who knows what they are up to. You have to keep an eye on them at all times."

As he was speaking, Fu Yucheng pushed the door open and came in, holding an oil-paper bag in his hand: "Yinyin, I just got some braised pork from the cafeteria."

Jiang Jianhua's voice suddenly rang out from the courtyard gate: "Acheng is back? I just bought some tofu. Can you make tofu soup for Mom tonight?"

Yun Tangyin raised her eyebrows. This was the first time she heard Jiang Jianhua take the initiative to cook for Song Yushuang since she entered the house.

Song Yushuang winked at Fu Yucheng and said loudly, "Okay, it's a good opportunity for Yinyin to have a taste of your cooking skills."

Fu Yucheng placed the braised pork on the table and asked Yun Tangyin in a low voice, "Why did she suddenly change her personality?"

"She wants to show off." Yun Tangyin leaned close to his ear and said, "I just finished settling accounts with Mom. From now on, her salary will be deducted monthly. If she doesn't please us now, she's afraid that we'll make things difficult for her."

Fu Yucheng chuckled: "You are really amazing. You have completely subdued them in just a few days."

Dinner was a rare quiet time. Jiang Jianhua served tofu soup and even specially filled a bowl for Song Yushuang: "Mom, try it. It has some dried shrimp in it, it's very fresh."

Song Yushuang scooped a spoonful and said nothing.

Fu Yuanshan was eating when Jiang Jianhua kicked him. He didn't say anything and continued to eat with his head down.

Yun Tangyin picked up a piece of braised pork and put it into Fu Yucheng's bowl. She saw Jiang Jianhua staring at the meat and drooling, and suddenly said, "Second sister-in-law, try it too. The canteen stewed it well today, perfect for eating with rice."

Jiang Jianhua paused, his chopsticks pausing in mid-air: "No, I don't like greasy food."

Having said that, his throat moved noticeably, as if he was swallowing.

Song Yushuang looked at Yun Tangyin and said, "Go to the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow and buy the floral fabric I mentioned last time. I'll make you a new shirt."

Yun Tangyin was about to respond when Jiang Jianhua suddenly spoke up, "I know the supply and marketing cooperative has a new crop of floral fabrics. They're cheap and durable. I'll go get some for Mom tomorrow."

"You don't have to run." Fu Yuanshan interrupted: "I'll go."

Jiang Jianhua's face darkened. "Why can't I go? Besides, why are you, a grown man, following your sister-in-law?"

"You'll just cause more trouble if you go." Fu Yuanshan glanced at her, then fixed his gaze on Yun Tangyin, with a half-smile on his face: "My sister-in-law is just taking care of the accounts, I just want to help."

These words touched Jiang Jianhua's sore spot. She slammed her chopsticks on the table and wanted to stand up.

"Alright." Yun Tangyin put down the bowl. "It doesn't matter who goes. If Second Sister-in-law wants to go, we can come along."

Jiang Jianhua finally calmed down and muttered softly, "My sister-in-law is the one who understands reason."

After dinner, Yu Xia went to wash the dishes. Yun Tangyin sat in the yard mending shoe soles. Jiang Jianhua came over with a basin of hot water: "Sister-in-law, do you want to soak your feet? I just boiled some water."

Yun Tangyin looked up at her: "Why is Second Sister-in-law so polite today?"

"I was wrong before." Jiang Jianhua placed the basin of water at her feet. "Don't take it to heart. If there's anything going on at home, just tell me."

She paused, rubbing her hands, looking reluctant but having to speak: "Um...can you give me more money for buying groceries in the future? I want to help Yuanshan take care of his health. He's exhausted from looking for a job."

Yun Tangyin smiled. "As long as you keep track of your accounts, it's okay to spend a little more. But if you continue to falsify your accounts like before, you'll end up with more than just a salary deduction."

Jiang Jianhua quickly waved his hands: "No, no! I promise!"

At this time, Yuxia came over with a bowl of fried peanuts: "Yinyin, these are freshly fried peanuts, want to try some?"

She glanced at Jiang Jianhua and said, "My second brother's wife is here too. It's perfect. We're going to the factory to transfer our wages tomorrow. Why don't you come with us?"

Jiang Jianhua nodded immediately: "Go! Of course!"

Yu Xia sat down next to Yun Tangyin and lowered her voice: "She must be afraid that you will deduct her salary, so she is so attentive."

"It's good that she can change." Yun Tangyin peeled a peanut and said, "We're all family. It's no use always quarreling with each other. Isn't it better to just make up for the missing money?"

"That depends on whether some people are honest or not." Yu Xia raised her chin towards Fu Yuanshan's house. She could hear the sound of rummaging through things from inside, as if someone was looking for something.

Fu Yuanshan suddenly pushed the door open and came out with a cloth bag in his hand: "Sister-in-law, this is a few dollars I saved before, I will pay you back some of it first."

Yun Tangyin took the cloth bag, which contained a few crumpled banknotes, which totaled less than twenty yuan.

She counted the amount and wrote it down in the account book: "Okay, I'll note it down. This is the first payment you made."

Fu Yuanshan breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the house with lighter steps.

Jiang Jianhua looked at his back, his eyes dodging as he spoke to Yun Tangyin: "He actually just cares about face."

"Who doesn't care about face?" Yun Tangyin put away the account book: "But face must be earned by yourself, not by stealing or cheating."

Yu Xia clapped her hands: "Yinyin is so generous and decent."

Jiang Jianhua looked at Yu Xia who was busy flattering him, and sneered in his heart, but did not dare to show it on his face.

He became more and more attentive to Yun Tangyin.

Yun Tangyin did not refuse and accepted it all.

She wanted to see what trouble these two people could cause in this situation.

Early the next morning, Yu Xia and Jiang Jianhua took Yun Tangyin to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy cloth.

Many people knew that Yun Tangyin was Fu Yucheng's new wife, and they all greeted her with a smile.