Chapter 45 The Dispute Begins with Money!
After spending the whole day listening to opera at the Huajiao Tower, Madam Min and Madam Zheng had dinner at the largest restaurant in the southern part of the city. After seeing Madam Zheng back to the Duke's Mansion, they leisurely returned to the Marquis's Mansion.
She had just entered the mansion and hadn't even returned to Songhe Hall when she was blocked halfway by a swarm of people.
"Mother, you must do justice for me!" Min Hui knelt before her, his face filled with grief and indignation.
"Madam, the second branch of the family has been obedient for many years, never daring to disobey you in the slightest. Nor have we ever dared to speak ill of anyone in front of you. But now, the Lady of the Marquis is truly going too far. We beg you to do justice for the second branch!"
The second wife, Madam Yang, also looked aggrieved.
However, Yang remained relatively calm, unlike Min Hui, who immediately knelt on the ground, adopting a posture of forcing the emperor to abdicate.
Before the two had finished confiding their grievances, Lady Wu, the wife of the Marquis, arrived upon hearing the news.
Wu looked even more aggrieved than Min Hui and Yang, and started crying as soon as she came up.
"Waaaaah, Mother, you must stand up for your daughter-in-law! Your daughter-in-law..."
Before Wu could say anything more, Madam Min raised her voice to interrupt.
Wu was so startled that she couldn't continue speaking, and even forgot to cry.
Min Hui and Yang were also taken aback.
Min Qiao tugged at her skirt, impatiently lifted her foot, and looked down at Min Hui, who was hugging her legs, with a frown. "Get up! Do you think you're still a child?"
Min Hui frowned deeply before slowly releasing his grip and standing up.
He looked at Min Qiaoshi with a wronged expression, and was about to say something when Min Qiaoshi glared at him: "Keep your mouth shut, and you all keep your mouths shut too!"
Madam Min glanced at Madam Yang and Madam Wu again, and said coldly, "It's freezing cold outside. You're not cold, but I am! If you have anything to say, let's talk at my Songhe Hall!"
After saying that, he ignored the others, took Wei Jia's hand, and went straight back to Songhe Hall.
Since Min Qiaoshi changed her personality, Wu Shi had the most contact with her. Now that she had been scolded by Min Qiaoshi, she was the first to come to her senses.
Seeing that Min Qiaoshi had walked away, she quickly followed.
Min Hui was the second to follow.
Yang, on the other hand, didn't react for a long time.
“This…” How come she is different from the old lady she remembers?
The old lady had always been kind and gentle to Min Hui. Although she wasn't particularly warm towards Madam Wu, she still treated her with some respect.
But now, it's one thing for the Grand Madam to be cold to Madam Wu, but why does she seem so impatient with Min Hui as well?
The personal maid, Qingye, tugged at Yang's sleeve and reminded her, "Madam, the Grand Madam and the others have gone far away. Should we follow them?"
Yang came to her senses and lowered her voice, saying, "Of course we'll go! I want to see today whether Wu will dare to renege on our second branch's monthly wages in front of the Grand Madam!"
The group entered the courtyard of Songhe Hall. Ajiu returned to the gatehouse, and Granny Fang also went back to rest.
Since Wei Jia arrived, Granny Fang has basically stopped taking care of the household chores and managing affairs, effectively becoming the second old lady of Songhe Hall. She's taken along for all the eating, drinking, and merrymaking, but when things are demanding or tiring, Madam Min Qiao won't let her stay.
In her past life, Granny Fang was always by Min Qiao's side. No matter who she was dealing with, as long as Min Qiao suffered a loss, Granny Fang would argue for her.
Over time, Min Rong and the others developed a deep resentment towards Granny Fang.
Therefore, as soon as they returned to Songhe Hall, Madam Min told Granny Fang to go and rest.
Granny Fang didn't want to leave, but she couldn't resist Madam Min's stern tone, and Wei Jia assured her that she would take good care of Madam Min. Only then did Granny Fang reluctantly leave.
Min Qiao ignored the people following behind her and went straight back to her bedroom.
Before she returned, the stove in the bedroom had been lit early, and it was warm and cozy now, with no chill in the air.
No sooner had Min Qiao entered than Ayi, along with several maids including Asan and Asi, came in with warm water and handkerchiefs. They quickly washed Min Qiao's hands and face, helped her undress, and changed her into casual home clothes.
In no time at all, Madam Min Qiao had changed into a light and comfortable outfit from head to toe.
Moving to the main room, Madam Min Qiao sat down in the main seat, and A Qi presented her with a cup of hot tea.
The Wu family members waiting nearby were all dumbfounded.
In such a short time, the old lady has been completely transformed.
Those people down there are quite efficient!
Also, why did the maid who served tea only prepare tea for Min Qiao's family? Don't these people deserve a cup of hot tea?
Aqi didn't care what Wu and the others thought. After serving the tea to Min Qiao, she left.
She was specifically in charge of tea. She would only serve tea to outsiders if the Grand Madam gave the order. If the Grand Madam didn't give the order, it meant that those people were not worthy to drink the tea from Songhetang.
Just kidding, Songhetang's tea is very precious!
That cup of tea that was just served to the Dowager Madam would cost a tael of silver in a teahouse! It's not something just anyone is entitled to drink!
As if she hadn't noticed that the others hadn't had tea, Madam Min Qiao took a small sip of hot tea before setting down her cup and saying indifferently, "So, tell me, what brings you all here to see me?"
Seeing that the three people were about to speak, Madam Min Qiao impatiently added, "One at a time."
As he spoke, he pointed to Yang Shi, "Second son's wife, you go first."
There was no other way; of the three, Yang was the only one who was somewhat pleasing to the eye.
In her past life, the second wife always stayed quietly and didn't cause her any trouble. Even when she was down on her luck, she didn't take advantage of her misfortune.
Although Madam Yang often spoke ill of her behind her back, Aunt Lin was a woman of principle who kept Madam Yang in check and prevented her from overstepping her bounds.
The second son, Min Yao, was also a law-abiding citizen and never caused her or the Marquis's mansion any major trouble.
Therefore, Madam Min was also willing to give Madam Yang some face.
When Madam Yang was called out by Madam Min first, she was startled, but then delighted. She immediately curtsied and said, "Madam, please allow me to report."
Madam Min raised her hand, "Sit down and let's talk."
Yang was taken aback by Min Qiao's amiable demeanor; it was the first time she had ever been treated so specially by Min Qiao.
Qingye pulled Yang Shi from behind, and Yang Shi hurriedly thanked her and sat down sideways.
"Speak," Madam Min urged again.
Madam Yang dared not hesitate any longer and quickly said, "Madam, today is the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month. There are only twenty-odd days left until the New Year."
"This month's pay should have been paid on the 25th of the 11th lunar month, but it hasn't been paid yet."
“The people around me have gone to the person in charge several times, and the person in charge said it was the eldest sister-in-law’s idea to wait a while.”
"Madam, as you know, we, the servants and masters of the second branch of the family, all live off our monthly stipends. How are we supposed to survive if our wages are suddenly cut off like this!"
As she spoke, Madam Yang gave Madam Wu a meaningful look.
Before Min Qiao could even speak after hearing Yang's words, Wu angrily said, "Second sister-in-law, don't make baseless accusations! I already said we'd postpone the monthly allowance, how did you come up with that as withholding money?"
"When did I say I would cut your second wife's monthly allowance?"
Madam Yang wasn't one to be easily bullied, and immediately retorted, "I don't know if my sister-in-law said those words, but she's already done it. Saying 'give it a while' is understandable, a two or three-day delay isn't unacceptable. But who delays their monthly allowance for ten or fifteen days? Isn't this just trying to cut back on our family's pay?"
In the past, Madam Yang would not have dared to confront Madam Wu like this. But ever since Aunt Lin brought up the matter of dividing the family property, she felt that she could stand up straighter.
So what if we offend them? Anyway, the second wife's family is going to separate and live independently.
Besides, offending the Wu family might actually make the division of the family property happen faster!
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