Chapter 6: A woman of all shapes and sizes, Li Yang is broke and constantly pressured to stay at home by her mother-in-law's group...

Li Yang was writing furiously in his room, occasionally biting his pen to recall the amounts, unaware that Bao Mo Tang, just across the courtyard, was currently bustling with activity.

The group returned empty-handed from Lanxin Pavilion. Madam Chen went straight into the main hall, her expression changed, and she threw off her handkerchief and sat down in the hall.

Granny Sun, who was following behind, quickly chased the servants out, leaving only Caiqing behind. She then closed the door to the main room and returned to stand beside Madam Chen.

In an instant, a series of curses mixed with the sound of shattering porcelain could be heard flowing continuously from the main room.

"You idiot, you complete idiot! I actually listened to you, you moron, and went with you to retrieve the stolen goods!"

At this moment, Chen Zhangshi's beautiful oval face had deep wrinkles between her eyebrows, her thin lips curved downwards, pulling at her nose, and the flesh on both sides of her cheeks trembled.

She let out a long sigh, still furious, and bent down again, pointing her finger at Caiqing's forehead: "This is what you call Li's theft?! You made me so powerful over there today! Tell me, what were your parents capable of doing back then, but instead they gave birth to such a stupid donkey like you."

Seeing that she was agitated and her phoenix eyes seemed to be spitting fire, Granny Sun quickly stepped forward to help her sit up straight, gently patted her back, glanced at the person on the ground, and said softly, "Madam, please calm down. Don't upset yourself."

Caiqing, who was kneeling below, had lost all her previous excitement and, following Granny Sun's words, kowtowed repeatedly, "Madam, please calm down, Madam, please calm down."

He then raised his head and looked at the woman in the hall, "But, Madam, today we were caught red-handed. If the young master hadn't suddenly returned and hadn't protected that woman, today would have been..."

"Shut up! You're really going to make me furious! Is that a head on your neck? Is your head filled with urine?" Caiqing's words only fueled Chen Zhangshi's anger, and she burst into another string of angry curses.

Still not satisfied with just cursing, he kicked Caiqing, sending her sprawling to the ground. Her forehead hit the floor tile with a loud thud.

Chen Zhangshi rolled her eyes and flung the handkerchief in her hand, trying to calm her anger.

Earlier, when she saw what was in the bamboo basket inside the main room of Lanxin Pavilion, she wanted to slap Caiqing across the face.

Even though she had been looking for a reason to kick Li out of the Chen residence, she wouldn't use fifty taels of silver as an excuse.

Looking at that pile of copper coins, she felt that if someone entered the Chen residence just to steal these things, it would be a disgrace to the Chen family.

However, upon hearing Caiqing's report, he was overjoyed and led his men straight there.

Thinking back to what had just happened, if it weren't for Granny Sun cleverly revealing Li's dowry list, Bai'er's gaze would have been unbearable for her.

Thinking of this, she turned to look at Granny Sun, then pursed her lips and stopped talking.

Seeing this, Granny Sun scolded Caiqing: "You little vixen, do you think everyone in this house is as shallow as you?"

He glared at her and cursed, "Everything in that room costs no more than fifty taels of silver. You shameless hussy, how dare you come here with an account of only a few dozen strings of copper coins and spout nonsense?"

After pausing for a moment, and patting Chen Zhangshi's back a few more times, Granny Sun continued to scold, "Do you think the madam is so easy to fool? You dare to talk about the young master! How dare you speak of the young master like that?!"

Caiqing shook her head, and after the dizziness subsided, she propped herself up and looked at the two people in the hall with teary eyes: "But, Madam, that woman also has silver ingots in her basket."

Even at this point, she was still making these excuses.

Chen Zhangshi felt like she was about to faint. "Did your brain get squeezed by a door?!" she shouted, but then she ran out of breath and just stared fiercely at the idiot on the ground, panting heavily, unable to speak for a moment.

Hearing Caiqing's words, Granny Sun behind her rolled her eyes repeatedly. "How much is a silver ingot worth? Is it worth it for the young mistress of the Chen family to steal it!"

She had never seen such a stupid fool. She was quite pretty, but her mouth was like a straight line of intestines. "Today, if I hadn't prepared the dowry list in advance, do you think you would still be here unscathed? Even if Madam doesn't punish you, Young Master won't let you off the hook."

Upon hearing this, Caiqing was startled!

If, if the young master thinks she has falsely accused the head of the family and thus despises her, then what hope does she have?

Thinking this, she immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "Madam, please calm down! I was wrong, I will definitely be careful next time. Please calm down, Madam."

Madam Chen had caught her breath by now, and looked at her as if she were sizing up a dog. "Tch, you're still thinking about next time! Do you think you can still get into Lanxin Pavilion?"

Seeing this, Granny Sun decided to speak frankly, "You're so stupid, yet you're still thinking too much. You've been serving in the young master's study for so many days, and you haven't made any progress. Just wait, tonight the young master will send someone to deliver a message, and you'll probably be banned from entering Lanxin Pavilion."

What?

Caiqing was terrified!

Since entering the Chen residence, she had gone to great lengths and waited for more than half a year before finally getting a vacancy in Chen Junbai's study. She even gave all the money she had saved to Granny Sun before she could get this job.

Even if the young master doesn't appreciate her merits, he should at least remember her hard work. Does he really want to drive her away because of that wonton-making woman?

No, it won't happen.

Her eyes darted around, and Granny Sun could tell what she was thinking at a glance. She sneered, "Still dreaming! If he didn't have some plans, how could he have managed to keep the Chen family's huge business under his control? Do you think he can't see through your thoughts or what?"

Her words were like ice water poured over her head, and Caiqing felt her limbs go numb.

If what Granny Sun said is true, then all my plans over the years will be ruined.

Thinking of this, she had a sudden inspiration and kowtowed again, saying, "Madam, please save me! I have a sister in Lanxin Pavilion who listens to me the most and will definitely help you."

Upon hearing this, Madam Chen and Granny Sun exchanged a glance. Seeing the latter nod slightly, Madam Chen then said, "Alright, you may leave now."

This was how she was saved. Caiqing kowtowed in gratitude again, then tremblingly left the main room.

Behind her, Chen Zhangshi let out a long, rough sigh.

Originally, I thought that after receiving the news today, I would take advantage of Bai'er's absence to seize Li's stolen goods, make her sign a written agreement, and then expel her from the mansion.

Once Bai'er returns home and the matter is settled, he won't do anything to his own mother.

In this way, they can find a suitable marriage for their son.

With the Chen family still around, even if she were to remarry, all the young ladies in the town would flock to her, and none of them would be better than that Li woman.

Thinking of Li Shi made her head throb.

She had already selected eight beautiful women for her son—wealthy merchants, officials, women of all shapes and sizes—but her son couldn't find any he liked. He then orchestrated a marriage selection process using an embroidered ball, and by the time she received the news and tried to stop it, the marriage proposal had already been formally submitted to the government.

She rubbed her forehead and sighed, "Ruqing, what's wrong with Bai'er? Why is she helping that Li family? Could it be that she's really taken a liking to Li family?"

Upon hearing this, the person behind her quickly massaged the sides of her forehead and comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, Madam. Young Master is kind and benevolent. Although this Li woman is uncouth, she is still one of his concubines, so he will naturally protect her."

Madam Chen closed her eyes, her brows gently relaxing. "He is kind and benevolent, but he never considers his old mother's feelings. If he had listened to me back then and married a lady from a respectable family, none of this would have happened today."

"Madam's intentions are good, and it's all for the Chen family. Young Master will understand." Granny Sun was used to saying these things, and now she said what Madam Chen wanted to hear, hoping to put her at ease.

After hearing Madam hum in agreement, Granny Sun continued, "But it seems that this 'picking green' thing is not going to work out. Madam should look for another way."

The lines between Chen Zhangshi's brows deepened, and she slowly opened her eyes. "Indeed, this fool is useless. Go and take a look at the person she just mentioned, give him a good talking-to, and make sure to keep a close eye on that Li woman."

“Yes, Madam.” Granny Sun’s eyelids twitched, and she said no more.