Chapter 43 "Those who didn't know better would think it was the Cui family..."
The new year has passed in the blink of an eye.
Springtime is the busiest time in the manor, as managers from various estates and shops come to visit one after another, handing over the accounts of the previous year's harvest.
Meng Yuanxiao followed Chen Shi, and every day he met the managers of various estates and shops, and had to look at endless accounts.
That day, the steward from the lower farm came over again. Meng Yuanxiao was woken up early by Chen Shi and didn't even have time for breakfast. When he arrived at the front hall, he saw his mother-in-law, Wu Shi, there as well.
Meng Yuanxiao hadn't seen her mother-in-law for a long time. When she saw her, she paused, called out "Mother," and sat down beside her.
Ms. Wu nodded and continued talking with the steward.
With her mother-in-law around, Meng Yuanxiao didn't need to speak. Besides, the things they talked about, like the harvest and the income from the business, were quite boring, and Meng Yuanxiao's mind wandered as she listened.
Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard Mrs. Wu ask, "How does Yuanyuan feel?"
Meng Yuanxiao snapped out of her daze, her face flushing. "I'll listen to my mother."
Madam Wu glanced at her, but did not make things difficult for him, and continued to discuss matters with the steward.
After finally seeing the steward off, Meng Yuanxiao breathed a sigh of relief and was just thinking of going back to relax and catch up on sleep when she heard Madam Wu ask, "I heard that the eldest son has been coming home very late these past few days?"
Meng Yuanxiao blinked. "The government office is busy in early spring, and Brother Tang was busy with official business, so he came back a little late."
Wu raised her eyes and gave her a meaningful look.
Meng Yuanxiao felt that her mother-in-law's look was a bit strange.
Madam Wu said, "It's not easy for Dalang in the yamen, you should be more understanding of him."
Meng Yuanxiao didn't think she had done anything wrong to be inconsiderate of Brother Tang, so she didn't respond to his words.
When Meng Yuanxiao came out of the front hall, he was about to ask the steward a question when he saw the Lin family's steward being led in.
Meng Yuanxiao thought for a moment, then stopped and waited for Steward Lin to come over.
Manager Lin spotted her from afar, strode over, and greeted her with a smile and a cupped hand: "Greetings, Young Madam."
Meng Yuanxiao nodded. "Steward Lin, is there something you need?"
Steward Lin said, "Young Madam, there are some business matters that I have come to discuss with you."
Meng Yuanxiao said, "There's no need to trouble Mother with such trivial business matters. Manager Lin can tell me."
"That works too," Manager Lin said with a smile.
After finishing his business with Manager Lin in the front hall, Meng Yuanxiao said, "Manager Lin, you can go back now. I will give the instructions later. However, since you are running the cloth shop yourselves, you can decide these matters yourselves in the future. There is no need for you to make this trip."
After saying this, she had someone escort Steward Lin out, and then she returned to the backyard herself.
However, seeing the Lin family always made him unhappy.
After returning to the backyard and lounging around for a while in a sullen mood, Hongshao excitedly brought over a card. "Master, it's from the young mistress."
The "young mistress" mentioned by Hong Shao is Li Keying. Meng Yuanxiao's eyes lit up, and he took the invitation and opened it.
The handwriting on the post was delicate, and it said that tomorrow was the day the martial arts champion would parade through the streets, inviting her to go and watch the excitement together.
Having been cooped up at home for so long, Meng Yuanxiao was eager to go out and play. Originally, she had planned to send an invitation to Mingyue to go out together, but since her sister-in-law had sent an invitation, she decided not to invite Mingyue.
Without wasting a moment, Meng Yuanxiao immediately took the invitation to find his mother-in-law.
He was just happily walking out of the courtyard when he suddenly saw Steward Lin coming from behind, smiling and chatting with the housekeeper.
Since she came from behind, she must be going to see her mother-in-law.
Meng Yuanxiao's smile froze.
She stood there for a moment, pursing her lips, before finally handing the invitation to Hongshao. "Hongshao, go and inform my mother-in-law for me."
Having said that, he turned back instead of going into the Feng family's courtyard.
In the afternoon, when Madam Chen came to report to Meng Yuanxiao, Cui Xintang had just returned from his official duties.
After the New Year, he would return to the mansion only after dark every day. Once there, he would immediately go to his study and only return to his room after she had fallen asleep.
Meng Yuanxiao was surprised that he came back so early today, but she only glanced at him and didn't want to pay him any attention.
Mrs. Chen brought Niu Niu with her today.
After some time apart, Niu Niu's round face had become a little fuller, and her head was tied with two buns with red ribbons. She was sitting obediently next to Meng Yuanxiao, holding a pen in her hand, writing and drawing on paper.
Chen called out "Young Master," and Niu Niu timidly followed suit, calling out "Young Master" as well.
Cui Xintang nodded, not wanting to disturb them, and went over to sit down on a round-backed chair.
Before Meng Yuanxiao married him, he often read or handled official business in his study until late at night, and then stayed in the study. He only stayed in his room a few days out of every ten days.
This courtyard was merely a place for him to rest; he rarely cared about the arrangement of his own room, leaving it to the servants to tidy up.
Yuanyuan, however, loved to stir things up and enjoyed lively gatherings. After Yuanyuan married into the family, their courtyard was gradually filled with many new items.
He was a little unaccustomed at first. For example, in the first few days after returning from Yunping County, when he came back from his official post, he was stunned for a long time when he saw the fluffy white fox fur cushions all over the room.
Gradually, I got used to it.
Cui Xintang poured a cup of tea and looked at the two people who were talking.
Glancing at Niu Niu beside him, Cui Xintang suddenly remembered what Meng Yuanxiao looked like when he was a child.
He rarely thought about children before, but at this moment a thought flashed through his mind.
If he and Yuanyuan had a daughter, she would look just like Yuanyuan did when she was a child.
It seems pretty good.
After a moment of distraction, Cui Xintang froze for a second when she realized what thoughts had crossed her mind.
He immediately looked away, lowered his eyes, picked up the teacup, and took a sip.
After the two finished their discussion, Cui Xintang spoke, asking Chen Shi, "Why didn't you accept the money the manor allocated to you?"
He had previously told Chen that he would allocate three taels of silver from the Cui family every month to cover the expenses of raising Niu Niu, but today the steward reported to him that Chen did not want the silver.
Madam Chen said, "Thank you for your consideration, young master. I have enough savings to cover my expenses, and I dare not let the manor spend any more money."
Cui Xintang glanced at Meng Yuanxiao and Niu Niu, and said calmly, "Take what the manor gave you. It's a token of the First Madam and Young Madam's kindness. Even if you don't need it, just save it up."
He had never paid attention to these things before, and when he saw the servants in the mansion, he would at most nod and rarely speak to them. Today's words were truly a blessing.
Slightly surprised, Chen could not refuse any longer and could only agree, then led Niu Niu away.
Cui Xintang got up, walked over to the desk, and casually picked up the account book next to him and flipped through it.
What has Yuanyuan been busy with these past few days?
He returned from who-knows-where, carrying a faint scent of alcohol and other odors.
Meng Yuanxiao frowned slightly, without even raising her head, "Doesn't Brother Tang know? He's learning housekeeping from Sister Chen."
Cui Xintang paused, glancing at her. "Manager Lin came today?"
"Doesn't Brother Tang never concern himself with matters of the manor?" Meng Yuanxiao countered.
Her tone wasn't exactly friendly, but Cui Xintang patiently said, "If Yuanyuan doesn't want to see the Lin family, she doesn't need to pay any attention to them. Let Chen handle it. I'll talk to my mother and tell her that we don't need to give special attention to the Lin family's business in the future."
He said the same thing last time, but the Cui family's support for the Lin family's business has not diminished in the slightest.
Meng Yuanxiao was getting annoyed, and finally looked up at him, "Alright, Brother Tang, when are you going to talk to Mother?"
"..." Cui Xintang raised an eyebrow. "When will Yuanyuan be free to go with Brother Tang to see Mother?"
Meng Yuanxiao: "Heh."
Cui Xintang looked at her and said casually, "I heard from the servants that Yuanyuan has been going to her mother's courtyard less often lately?"
Meng Yuanxiao was truly annoyed. She threw down her pen and said, "Brother Tang, you came back so early today, just to ask me these questions? Or did someone complain to you about something?"
Her words were barbed and sarcastic, causing Cui Xintang to frown slightly. He was about to speak when he turned his head and saw that Meng Yuanxiao's eyes were red.
Cui Xintang paused briefly, and the fire in his heart was quickly extinguished.
"Why are you angry?" he said. "I just happened to run into Chen the other day and casually asked what you've been learning from your mother lately. Chen said you've been going to see your mother less often lately."
He was busy outside every day and never had time for her. With the Lin family's affairs and her tantrums that kept her away from the Meng residence for a long time, Meng Yuanxiao had nowhere to vent her grievances and anger.
He had just been unable to hold back, but it was like punching cotton; he became even more annoyed.
Meng Yuanxiao couldn't help but recall the smiling face of Steward Lin when he saw Madam Wu come out earlier that day.
She pursed her lips and said defiantly, "I just don't want to go."
She was close to her mother-in-law originally because of her brother Tang. Now that she doesn't even want to be close to him anymore, why should she still try to get close to her mother-in-law?
Moreover, she wasn't unaware that her mother-in-law wasn't actually that affectionate towards her.
"If you don't want to go, then don't go. But you have to put on a good show to avoid giving others something to talk about," Cui Xintang said after looking at her for a while.
Meng Yuanxiao sniffed and continued to nitpick, "Heh, Sister Chen has been listening to Brother Tang lately."
Cui Xintang paused for a moment, then, suppressing his temper, raised his hand to wipe away her tears. "Not long ago, Chen's husband had a business accident and owed a large sum of money. He was captured and almost lost his life. I helped him out."
"Her husband has finally grown up and realized that the Cui family is his only support, thanks to Madam Chen, so he has calmed down and sent the mother and daughter away."
Meng Yuanxiao: "Sister Chen's husband's business was doing so well, how could something like this suddenly happen?"
Her words were full of hostility, practically implying that he was deliberately setting Chen's man up.
Cui Xintang paused, then raised an eyebrow and said, "Is that how Yuanyuan thinks of me?"
"Isn't that right?" Meng Yuanxiao scoffed. "Brother Tang is quite generous."
He was very generous to the Lin family, and also spared no expense in trying to win over the Chen family.
The Chen family's business relies on the Cui family, so they can be manipulated at will.
"By the way, Brother Tang is also very generous to me. He gave my shop so much silver, and just a couple of days ago Sister Chen even gave me the deed to a farm."
After the New Year, the old woman sent someone to bring her the account books of her own shop. She flipped through them casually, but then she noticed something was wrong.
Someone gave her shop a considerable sum of money.
She was horrified. Thinking of her brother Tang, she asked Chen a few questions in a veiled manner.
Although Chen's words were vague, Meng Yuanxiao could easily guess that the money was given to her by her brother Tang.
Perhaps it was because her brother Tang was so skillful that she didn't notice anything unusual in the Cui family's accounts.
The fact that he suddenly gave her money and a estate must be because he felt guilty towards her for what happened to the Lin family.
Feeling guilty, yet unwilling to cut off the Lin family's business.
Therefore, she didn't need to be vengeful over the money; if given to her, she would take it, since it wasn't her who felt guilty.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward, and neither of them spoke. Just as the stalemate was reaching its conclusion, Wu's maidservant came over.
A maidservant came in and said, "Young Master, the manager of the Lin family's cloth shop has sent a thank-you gift and is waiting in the front hall. The Madam is not feeling well and requests that you come to the front hall."
The maid arrived at an inopportune time, just in time to be shot.
Cui Xintang, with a sullen face, said coldly and impatiently, "What important matter requires me to come over? The steward is not here? Please ask the steward to come."
The maid was stunned upon hearing this, and stood there for a moment, at a loss for what to do.
Just as things were getting a little awkward, Meng Yuanxiao said, "Why not go? Since it's a thank-you gift, it's their way of showing their appreciation. If Brother Tang isn't going, I will."
After saying that, she didn't even glance at Cui Xintang before getting up and leaving.
Cui Xintang: "..."
He hesitated for a moment, realizing he couldn't pull the person back, so he had no choice but to follow.
Upon arriving at the front hall, Steward Lin was indeed waiting. He paused, taken aback when he saw Meng Yuanxiao.
Meng Yuanxiao sat down and glanced at the pile of thank-you gifts on the side, looking surprised. "Why did Manager Lin suddenly send thank-you gifts?"
Manager Lin choked and looked at Cui Xintang.
Cui Xintang sat down next to Meng Yuanxiao, frowned, and said coldly, "Why are you looking at me? Just answer the young mistress's questions."
Manager Lin then said, "Young Madam, a few days ago someone came to our cloth shop to cause trouble and even went to the yamen. Our cloth shop suffered a loss, and our Madam came to our mansion for help. The First Madam is kind-hearted and stepped in to help resolve the issue."
Meng Yuanxiao was unaware that her mother-in-law had entrusted her with managing the household, yet despite such a significant matter, which Madam Lin had sought help from, no one had informed her of it.
Furthermore, since the matter has escalated to the authorities, my mother-in-law, who rarely leaves her home, is naturally unable to resolve it.
It's easy to guess who stepped in to help resolve the issue.
A feeling of disgust welled up in Meng Yuanxiao's heart, though he couldn't quite put his finger on whether it was directed at the Lin family or at someone else.
She chuckled and said, "Mother is indeed kind-hearted, and Steward Lin is even more composed. When we discussed matters today, he didn't mention this matter at all, and even wanted to wait for Brother Tang to return so he could make another trip."
After saying that, she turned to Cui Xintang, blinked and asked, "Brother Tang, so Xinyun Cloth Shop is a property of our Cui family, and you just asked Miss Lin and Steward Lin to help manage it?"
Cui Xintang: "...No."
"Is that so?" Meng Yuanxiao said. "Just now, Manager Lin kept referring to 'our' cloth shop. Anyone who didn't know better would think that the cloth shop belonged to the Cui family."
"Or perhaps the Cui family and the Lin family are actually one family!"
Cui Xintang: "..."
Since things had come to this point, Meng Yuanxiao simply said, "The Cui family's patronage of Xinyun Cloth Shop is a testament to Mother's kindness and generosity, but Steward Lin should also keep to his place and be more careful with his words in the future. If Steward Lin's words were overheard by others, it wouldn't matter to your cloth shop, but it would be unpleasant for the Cui family."
After saying that, she asked, "Brother Tang, am I right?"
Cui Xintang paused slightly, then smiled faintly. "Yes."
After saying that, he looked at Steward Lin and asked, "Steward Lin, have you remembered what the young mistress said?"
Manager Lin's expression was quite interesting for a moment, but he could only grin and say awkwardly, "I've got it, I've got it."
Cui Xintang said, "Just remember it. If there's nothing else, go back. The Cui family doesn't lack these things, so there's no need to do this again in the future."
That would have been fine, but unexpectedly, Manager Lin took out an account book from his pocket.
"Young Master, this is our...this is the cloth shop's account book. Our young lady instructed us to bring it here for you to review."
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