Chapter 83 He gave up.
Sun was known for her unreasonable and argumentative nature, and her words gave He a headache.
"When did I say you couldn't buy anymore? It's your money, you can buy as much as you want, it's none of my business."
But you shouldn't have eaten alone and even dared to covet your sister-in-law's share, Mrs. Sun. Don't you understand the principle of "do not do to others what you would not have them do to you"?
"If I really don't understand, I'll have to go to the Sun family tomorrow to ask them for advice."
It's quite a serious matter when a married daughter is questioned about her upbringing by her husband's family.
Sun's face turned pale, and she dared not speak again.
Madam He pointed to the door and said, "As the steward, you cannot set a good example. As an elder, you do not care for the younger generation. As a younger generation, you do not respect the elders."
"Mama Sun, go and serve the Second Young Mistress to kneel in the corridor for half an hour to reflect on her actions."
Sun's face was very ugly, but she dared not argue anymore. She could only secretly wink at her two children, signaling them to plead for her.
Madam He saw through her little tricks and snorted coldly.
"Xuan'er and Youyou, you two have been disrespectful to your elders. You are hereby punished to go back and each copy the Rules for Students five times."
"Where are your wet nurses? Take your master away properly. If he doesn't finish copying, you'll all be punished too."
Li Zhenxuan let out a loud howl.
"No, I don't want to copy books, I want to eat sticky rice chicken..."
Before he could finish speaking, his wet nurse rushed in in a panic and pulled him out.
Li Xinyou pouted, wanting to cry but not daring to, and was also taken away by her wet nurse.
Madam He gave Madam Sun a cold look. "Aren't you going to kneel down in the corridor? Waiting for me to invite you to dinner?"
Sun glanced at Song Yi and Li Nanke, her face a mixture of anger and resentment. She turned away and knelt down in the corridor.
He rubbed her temples and beckoned to Song Yi and Li Nanke.
"Don't bother with her, let's eat. The food will get cold if we don't eat soon."
Even so, after Sun and the two children made such a fuss, He and Song Yi lost much of their appetite.
Li Nanke was unaffected, enjoying his glutinous rice chicken with relish, his eyes darting around.
My second aunt is always shrewd; she certainly didn't come here tonight without a reason.
Perhaps they heard about Mother's dowry being returned, and that's why they came tonight specifically to see Mother?
After the meal, the servants cleared away the food and brought up tea.
Song Yi and Li Nanke did not leave in a hurry.
He leaned back in his chair, looking rather listless.
Li Nanke had Zisu move a chair behind He Shi, and then climbed onto the chair.
She grinned and said, "Grandma, let me give you a head massage. I'm really good at it."
He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oh my, our Ke'er can even give massages! Grandma will have to try it."
Li Nanke half-squatted on the chair, gently pressing his fingertips on He's temples.
Her hands were soft, and her pressure was just right. After pressing for a while, Madam He couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
Is Grandma feeling better?
"Yes, Grandma's headache is much better. Ke'er is really amazing."
Mrs. He praised her with a smile.
Grandma Sun brought in some calming herbal medicine.
He had trouble sleeping at night and needed to take a calming decoction every night to fall asleep.
Song Yi took it, filtered out the dregs herself, and blew on the medicine to bring it to the right temperature before serving it to Madam He.
After taking the medicine, Madam He couldn't help but mutter to herself.
"Sigh, if my second son's wife were half as considerate and sensible as you, I wouldn't have had to punish her."
Song Yi smiled and said, "My sister-in-law works hard on household chores, unlike me, who can't do anything and can't do anything well."
Hearing this, Li Nanke, who was engrossed in massaging himself, retorted with a strong argument.
“Mother is amazing. Mother got her dowry back. Mother is beautiful and kind. Mother is the most wonderful.”
Song Yi blushed, feeling quite embarrassed by her daughter's praise.
"You silly child..."
He carefully examined Song Yi.
The woman in front of me, Song Yi, was wearing a white gauze top and a high-waisted, goose-yellow long skirt, with a matching straight-collar jacket over it.
A white silk ribbon was tied gracefully around her waist, making her face appear as round as the moon, and her beauty unparalleled.
Most importantly, those eyes that used to shed tears at the drop of a hat now had a gentle gaze and a clear look.
Compared to the Song Yi who always wore drab gray or brown clothes and had a listless look in her eyes, she was completely different.
Indeed, hardship makes people grow. In just ten days since the house was raided, the eldest daughter-in-law has undergone such a great change.
Not only did she get back the dowry left by her biological mother, but she also exposed her stepmother's schemes, which truly impressed everyone.
"Mother will also learn how to do business and manage shops. Mother will definitely be the most capable in the future."
Li Nanke jumped off the chair and tugged at Song Yi's hand with a smile.
A thought struck He.
At this moment, the curtain was lifted, and Madam Sun walked in with her head down and a limp.
Half an hour has passed.
The smile on Madam He's face faded slightly. She said, "Let's leave it at that for today. Go back and think it over carefully. Don't make the same mistake again."
Sun lowered her eyes to hide the gloom in them, pressed her handkerchief to the corners of her eyes, and began to cry softly.
"The mother-in-law's reprimand is correct. As the daughter-in-law is in charge of the household, she has given the order for the whole family to cut back on food and clothing. She should not secretly eat alone."
The daughter-in-law was simply too dull-witted; she couldn't choose between raising two children and setting a good example, and in the end, she neither raised the children well nor managed the household properly.
Looking at Madam He's expression, Madam Sun gritted her teeth and continued, "Please, Mother-in-law, retract your decision. I will no longer be able to manage this household."
My daughter-in-law will have the keys and account books delivered tomorrow. Let's leave this household to someone else to manage."
Madam He's expression darkened slightly.
Is this an attempt to abandon her or a strategic retreat?
She said calmly, "Let's not wait until tomorrow, let's do it today."
Sun looked up suddenly, so startled she almost bit her tongue.
Madam He raised an eyebrow. "What? Were you just saying that out of anger? You don't actually want to relinquish control of the household at all?"
Remembering her plan, Mrs. Sun quickly shook her head.
"Of course not, daughter-in-law will send someone to get the correct key and ledger."
Having said that, he instructed his maid to go back to the courtyard to fetch it.
The maid returned quickly, carrying a box of key pegs, followed by two old women carrying a box of account books.
Sun personally took the box containing the key to the pair and handed it to He.
Madam He didn't take it. "Just hand it over to your sister-in-law. From today onwards, your sister-in-law will be in charge of this household."
Song Yi was so startled that she stood up abruptly and waved her hand instinctively.
"Mother-in-law, I..."
He grabbed her hand, interrupting her.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, this family is now in your hands. Are you confident you can manage it well?"
Song Yi's pupils contracted sharply, and she subconsciously looked at Li Nanke.
Li Nanke's eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously.
Mother, please say yes!
Song Yi recalled that her daughter had told her a couple of days ago that she hoped she would fight for the right to manage the household, and then thought about what had happened in the past few days.
She couldn't stay the weak, incompetent, and tearful Song Yi forever; she had to be a useful person and protect her daughter!
A strange impulse burst forth and surged in my heart.
She took the box with trembling hands and nodded heavily.
"Since my mother-in-law trusts me, I'll give it a try."
Mrs. He breathed a long sigh of relief and patted her hand with a smile.
"Okay, feel free to ask me if you have any questions."
As Sun watched this scene, a dark look flashed in her eyes.
On the way back, her trusted maid asked in bewilderment, "Is the Second Young Mistress really willing to just hand over the power of managing the household to the Heir Apparent's wife like this?"
Sun gave a cold laugh.
How could that be!
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