Chapter 133 The Young Master is in Trouble
Yu Qingci looked at Old Madam Ning, knowing that the old lady's soft heart had acted up again. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Yun Chu interjected:
"Mother is confused again. This fabric absolutely cannot be given to them, not even for dowry! If it is given to them now, Yunbing and Yunli will not be able to get their hands on it either. It will definitely be taken to the shop and sold by the two aunts."
What if they exchange a bolt of silver for three hundred taels of silver, and then come back to demand more dowry after they've exchanged it for silver?
So the daughter felt her sister-in-law was right; they couldn't spoil them anymore.
Seeing that even her own daughter said this, Madam Ning finally shook her head helplessly and simply stopped paying attention.
Seeing that Madam Ning had given up, the two sisters-in-law exchanged a smile.
It's not that they're stingy, but people like Wei and Ma would never say a good word about you even if you gave them the best things. They might even turn around and say you're stingy for only giving so little.
After seeing off Madam Wei and Madam Ma, Yu Qingci and Lu Yunchu accompanied Old Madam Ning for lunch before returning to their own courtyard.
Just as they sat down, another servant came to report that the Second Master and the Fourth Master had arrived together and were waiting at the main gate. The gatekeeper asked if they should be allowed to come in.
Yu Qingci rubbed her temples, feeling a wave of annoyance, and said in a cold voice:
"Have Steward Lu take thirty taels of silver out to send them away. Tell them that the manor is in mourning and it is not appropriate to receive guests. If they are here to beg for money, take the money and go home to celebrate the New Year."
Yu Qingci's words were extremely impolite, but Tong'er smiled broadly and turned to go find Steward Lu herself.
Granny Pei watched with satisfaction as her young mistress faced the situation. She knew that the second and fourth families had to be treated without any politeness so that they could see their place.
Outside the mansion gate, the second master and the fourth master came in a huff, intending to have a good talk with Madam Ning, but who would have thought that they couldn't even get in the door.
The two were so angry they were practically fuming, but there was nothing they could do.
Since the two families moved out of the mansion, they quickly realized how difficult life was. They had to pay for everything themselves, especially the two brothers, who often went out to spend money and have a good time. When they didn't have enough money, they could use the excuse of the general's mansion to buy things on credit.
Now it seems the whole capital knows they've split up. If you want to buy on credit after you've had your fill of living it up outside, the shopkeepers immediately change their tune: "Sorry, we don't offer credit for small businesses."
Therefore, the two of them truly experienced what it means to be from a collateral branch during this period.
Putting aside everything else, their daily food, clothing and other necessities are far inferior to those of the General's Mansion. They have to pay for everything themselves, and the women in the family hold onto their money tightly. If they want to splurge even a little, they will definitely nag you endlessly.
Not to mention those clansmen who used to fawn over the powerful and look down on the weak. When they saw that the family had separated and become a collateral branch of the General's Mansion, their fawning and obsequious faces were gone. They no longer even called them Second Master or Fourth Master. It was infuriating.
So when they learned that the shops under the eldest son's name had made a fortune because of Xia Guangjin, the two immediately couldn't sit still. They hurriedly asked their wives to take the lead so that they could also get a batch of goods for their own family and make a fortune together.
Who knew those two women were so useless? They came all day and didn't bring back a single piece of brocade or even a fart.
The two were still fuming outside when the side door opened and Butler Lu came out.
The two thought they were being greeted and were about to go inside when Steward Lu handed them several silver ingots.
The second master asked in confusion, "Why are you giving me money?"
He had already subconsciously accepted the money while speaking.
Butler Lu didn't mince words and simply repeated what the young mistress had said, then kindly added:
“I specifically asked the eldest son to bring two 10-tael coins and two 5-tael coins, so that each of your two families can have 15 taels, which is easy to divide.”
The two brothers felt insulted and, in a fit of rage, refused the money and stormed off, cursing and swearing.
They had only taken a few steps when they turned back, snatched the silver from Steward Lu's hand, and then left.
Why not take advantage of free money? No matter how angry you are, you can't turn down money.
Inside Guanlan Pavilion, Yu Qingci nestled on a soft couch, continuing to tally the accounts.
With the year-end approaching, there are so many things to do, and business outside is at its busiest time, so she has to take extra care of things.
As she was busy with her work, another servant came to report. Tong'er assumed it was someone from the second or fourth branch of the family, and her cheeks puffed out. Rolling up her sleeves, she walked out saying:
"I want to see just how thick-skinned these people really are."
Tong'er returned quickly, rushing in and saying anxiously as soon as she entered:
"Young Madam, something terrible has happened! Seventh Young Master is in trouble!"
The "Seventh Young Master" that Tong'er mentioned refers to Yu Qingci's younger brother, Qingbai.
Upon hearing that her younger brother was in trouble, Yu Qingci immediately stood up in shock and hurriedly asked:
"What happened? Who brought the news?"
Tong'er: "The message we received from the people who were following the Seventh Young Master outside said that the young master was hit by a crazy horse that came from somewhere outside the city, and he has been taken to Madam Liuli Lane."
Upon hearing this, Yu Qingci became even more anxious and stood up to give the order:
"Change my clothes, I need to leave the mansion for a ceremony."
Upon hearing this, Pei Mama and the others were stunned. After a moment, they came to their senses and helped her change into an outfit for going out. However, they were all worried, wondering if the old lady would agree to let the young mistress go out.
According to custom, once a woman becomes a widow, she cannot go out casually, otherwise she will be considered unchaste. And since these young mistresses are newly widowed and young and beautiful, people's eyes will only be more critical.
Yu Qingci had always made excellent porcelain, but since marrying into the family, she had never stepped out of the General's Mansion.
But today's events happened so suddenly that there was no time to worry about anything else. Yu Qingci tidied her clothes and immediately went to Songbai Hall with Granny Pei and Tong'er, telling Old Madam Ning that she was going out.
When Madam Ning heard that her daughter-in-law's younger brother had gotten into trouble, and seeing her daughter-in-law's anxious expression, she couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Knowing that if she stopped him from leaving the house, and something really happened to the young master, her daughter-in-law would be extremely upset, she finally nodded in agreement.
Yu Qingci gratefully bowed to her mother-in-law and went towards the second gate.
When she rushed back to the Su residence in Liuli Lane, she saw her father and mother fussing over her bedside as soon as she entered the house, with two doctors standing beside them.
Mother Su Chengniang was bending down to tidy the blankets covering the person lying on the bed and did not see her return.
Yu Jingsheng turned his head and saw his daughter, paused for a moment, and then blurted out:
"Qingci, why are you back?"
Startled, Su Chengniang turned around and saw her long-awaited daughter standing before her. Her swollen eyes lit up with joy, and she rushed forward, grabbing her daughter's hands and examining her from head to toe.
"My dear daughter, you're finally back! Let your mother see you."
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