Chapter 101 Are they really going to kick us out?
Madam Ma also said in disbelief, "Absolutely not. Yunbing is also of marriageable age next year, and we can't let this matter delay him."
Yunbing's wife's family, the Wang family, is also an official family. Although they are only of the sixth rank, none of the four branches of the family are currently in official positions. Marrying into such a family is a great honor.
Yu Qingci shrugged: "There's nothing we can do about it. Since ancient times, there have been countless examples of families postponing their weddings to observe mourning for their elders. Why can't our family do it? I do know that you can get married during the period of intense mourning, but unfortunately, the period of intense mourning has already passed."
"Mother is right. Since you live in the General's Mansion, you are family, and the rules of mourning must be followed."
Since it concerned their children's lifelong happiness, Madam Wei and Madam Ma naturally refused to give up and wanted to make trouble again.
Yu Qingci: "It's no use for you two aunts to make a fuss. You are disrespectful to my father-in-law and husband. Aren't you afraid that the court will investigate?"
If we had already separated and you no longer lived in the mansion, that would naturally be fine. But since we are family, how can the eldest son be in mourning while you, who are indulging in both meat and vegetables, want to hold a wedding? If this were to reach the ears of the censor, he would surely accuse our general's mansion of lax household management.
And you, too, might be punished.
Granny Wang also spoke up from the side:
"Ladies, don't treat everyone else like fools. You want to rely on the General's Mansion for survival, but you're unwilling to pay the slightest price. How is that possible? You can't have all the advantages."
Madam Ma glared at him angrily: "How dare you, a servant, interrupt when your master is speaking? You make it sound like we've taken advantage of our elder brother and sister-in-law all these years living in the mansion. Why don't you say that our elder brother and Yunqi are away fighting all year round and can't take care of the family? Without the help of our second and fourth branches, who knows what the General's Mansion would be like? Now you're just going to deny it all."
Granny Wang didn't mince words: "Without the help of your two branches, the General's Mansion would definitely be living a quiet life of mourning. If I may say something inappropriate, there is no reason for an elder brother to support his younger brother for a lifetime. Let's save some face for each other; we are still relatives."
After listening for a while, Madam Wei and Madam Ma finally realized that this was no longer just talk. Madam Wei looked at Old Madam Ning:
"Sister-in-law, are you serious? You really want to kick our two families out?"
Madam Ning gritted her teeth: "Whatever you say. Back when your eldest brother was still alive, the matter of dividing the family property was brought up, but both of you refused to do so, so we didn't force you to separate."
Now that they, father and son, are gone, I am but a woman with no ability to support your entire family. I only wish to quietly observe mourning for my husband. Now that there are two widows in the eldest branch of the family, it is inconvenient for you to live here with your families. You should move out and live separately.”
Upon hearing this, the two immediately slapped their thighs and started shouting. One moment they were pointing at Old Madam Ning and saying that she was kind on the outside but cruel on the inside. She had turned her back on them as soon as her elder brother passed away and was even threatening the younger generation with their marriage. It was clear that she wanted to drive them out of the mansion.
One moment she was scolding Yu Qingci for being so young yet so vicious, disrespectful to her elders, and sowing discord. Otherwise, how could her sister-in-law, who was with the family so well, have such thoughts?
Yu Qingci smashed a teacup, and the two people who were throwing a tantrum were frozen in place as if by a spell.
Yu Qingci's face was as cold as ice: "Fine, fine, we are ruthless and heartless, we have forced you to the brink of death, why don't you open the door and go out and let the people outside judge? In our current situation, we, the eldest branch, still have to support your two branches and three generations of grandparents and grandchildren. Let's see if you are ashamed or our eldest branch is disgraced."
Seeing that Yu Qingci's words were even harsher, the two dared not make a fuss anymore, but instead turned around and spoke softly, playing the family card.
Yu Qingci, too lazy to waste any more words with them, said directly: "Aunties, there's no need to say any more of this nonsense. Why don't you go back and have a good discussion with your second and fourth uncles about whether to separate from the family or continue to live with the eldest son's family."
If you really can't bear to part with it, then abide by the rules of the General's Mansion. If you're going to observe mourning, then do it properly. Otherwise, don't blame us, the eldest branch, for turning our backs on you without mercy.
This isn't just empty talk. If you don't want to leave the General's Mansion, go back and reflect on your actions. Take away everything that isn't in accordance with the rules—the things on the table, the bedding on the bed, the clothes and accessories worn by your entire family. If you're going to observe mourning, you should do it properly.
We're only giving you one day. Tomorrow morning, we'll send people to thoroughly inspect the entire mansion, including the clothes worn by your uncles and aunts. Anything that doesn't conform to the regulations will be taken away."
"Instead of arguing here any longer, you two aunts should hurry back and check your respective yards. If we see anything we shouldn't see tomorrow and have to clean it up, it won't look good."
When Wei and Ma saw that their niece-in-law had spoken so bluntly, they knew they wouldn't get anything good out of her today, so they could only suppress their resentment and prepare to leave.
The two men shouted at the two servants who were still kneeling on the ground, "Are you still kneeling there waiting to receive your reward? You blind fools, get back here right now!"
Yu Qingci then spoke up, "Rui'er and Madam Liu broke the rules today and can't stay in the inner courtyard. Mother, why not punish them by making them do menial work in the outer courtyard? I remember their indentures are with our eldest son's family."
Wei and Ma originally intended to take the person back and settle the matter, but upon hearing Yu Qingci's words, they were too exhausted to even refute her.
The servants in their two courtyards were all bought by the General's Mansion. In recent years, to ensure their peace of mind, the General's Mansion gave them the indentures of their personal servants for safekeeping. However, this was not the case for Rui'er and Madam Liu. Their indentures, like most others, were kept by the eldest son's family.
After the two left, Old Madam Ning asked Yu Qingci worriedly, "Daughter-in-law, will they agree to divide the family property?"
Yu Qingci: "Mother, don't worry. Without rules, there can be no order. Starting tomorrow, we will increase manpower in both the outer and inner courtyards to conduct strict patrols, so that they know we are not just talking this time."
They might not agree immediately, but as long as we make a show of force and actually go to those two families to ask for a postponement of the engagement, I don't believe they won't get anxious, unless they're truly willing to abandon their cousins' weddings and keep stalling with us.”
Madam Ning: "Alright, let's do it this way. I won't compromise this time."
When the second and fourth masters returned home in the evening, they heard their wives recount what had happened during the day and immediately became restless. They rushed to Songbai Hall to get to the bottom of things.
However, upon arriving at the entrance of Songbai Hall, they were all turned away without exception. Today, Songbai Hall was no longer a place they could simply enter at will.
After waiting outside for a long time, Granny Wang came out and said:
"The old lady is tired today and has gone to bed early. You should all go back. The old lady has already explained everything to the two ladies. You can decide what to do next."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com