After hearing what the third lady said, the lady smiled faintly.

"More money and more rice are not as good as more days. You can't empty the house for Qin'er's marriage, right? Besides, Jian'er is about to get married. I think it's better to set up the new house in Sanjing Hutong. This way you can save some expenses. If you are worried that the new daughter-in-law is too young to manage the household, you might as well stay in Beijing and give her some guidance. As for the third son," the lady pondered, "it's been almost a year since Concubine Yi died. If it doesn't work, you can send a concubine to follow the third son to take office. I think the girl named Qiu Ling next to you is good. That child is good!"

The third lady was first stunned, then horrified.

Every word the lady said hit her heart.

"Mother!" The Third Lady hurriedly pulled the sleeve of the Imperial Housewife, "Even if we have no more money, we have enough for the child's marriage. It's just that the Third Master has the final say in all family affairs, so we are waiting for him to send money. I still understand the principle of slow and steady growth. I will definitely not empty the family's wealth for false reputation." As she spoke, her eyes rolled around, "The Fang family's furniture has been packed, and the wedding boat is on the way. When the time comes, the new house will be set up in Sanjing Hutong... Then, what should we do with the extra furniture? If the Fang family's wedding party finds out, won't our Yongping Marquis Mansion be considered as a group of people who cheat their daughters-in-law of their dowries?"

The lady said nothing.

The Third Lady saw that there was a chance, and hurriedly said, "Mother, I have already made plans. The child's marriage is a big deal. The Third Master knows that he will definitely send money. But Shanyang is a little far from here, and I am afraid it will be too late to wait for the Third Master to send money. I will go back to my parents' home to borrow some money, and then clean up the yard here. It will not be too late to pay back when the Third Master's money arrives."

"Borrow money?" The lady took a sip of tea and said softly, "You have been a household tycoon. When your child gets married, it's not just about cleaning up the yard. The money for the banquet, the red envelope for opening the door, the money for the people who carry the dowry... everything, every single thing, which one doesn't cost money?"

Although he was quite disapproving, he did not take on the responsibility and asked her not to go back to her parents' home to borrow money.

The third lady became anxious.

If the Madam really made up her mind to let Qin'er get married in Sanjing Hutong, she would lose all her dignity. She regretted buying a house in Sanjing Hutong, and she would not be forced into a corner by the Madam. If she had not bought a house in Sanjing Hutong, how could she have obtained the Fang family's property worth more than 6,000 taels of silver... For a moment, her mind was in a mess, and she only thought about how to make the Madam give up these ideas.

"I have calculated it," she said immediately, "By that time, every family will send gifts, which will be enough to cover the expenses of the wedding. It will be enough to borrow one or two thousand taels of silver from my parents!"

The lady nodded slightly after listening: "Since you have already figured it out, I won't say anything more." Then she brought tea and said, "I am tired too, and you have things to do too, so go down and rest!"

The third lady did not dare to stay any longer and quickly stood up and left.

When I walked outside and saw the bright sunshine, I was shocked to realize that I had been taken advantage of.

"Why didn't I mention the money from the public treasury!" she murmured, "We live together. According to convention, there should be three hundred taels of silver! Back then, when the fifth son got married and the fourth son remarried, the public treasury contributed money. The lady didn't mention it at all. Could it be that she didn't want to pay the three hundred taels of silver? Why didn't the public treasury contribute money for Qin'er's marriage? Wouldn't I have to pay for it all by myself then?"

But the words have already been spoken...

She regretted it so much.

Looking up, I saw the eaves rising up among the green trees.

She paused and ordered the people around her: "Let's go to the Fourth Madam!"

Someone murmured "yes".

The third lady glanced and saw a gentle and soft face.

Qiu Ling...

She pursed her lips and turned to go to the main room.

* * * * * *

"Money for Zhiqin'er's marriage?" Eleventh Lady looked at the Third Lady in surprise.

The Third Madam nodded, leaning forward on the table with her elbows, "Fourth brother's wife is not an outsider, so I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. Over the years, my husband and I have been living on the monthly allowance. It was only in the past few years that your Third Brother was sent out to work, and we have become more financially flexible. But the marriage with the Fang family came with a dowry that filled two boats. For the sake of Qin'er's dignity, I can't be shabby. I had to tiptoe to be the eldest son, and even if I took out the money I had hidden for many years, it was still not enough, and I was going to go back to my parents' home to borrow some money to decorate the new house here..."

But he did not mention the property obtained from the previous division.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but feel fortunate that she was no longer in charge of the household affairs.

"I need to discuss this with mother." She smiled, "Now the family affairs..."

Before she finished her words, the Third Lady said, "I know that, too. But I'm embarrassed to tell Mother this. I haven't done anything big in all these years. My eldest son got married and said he didn't have money. I'm afraid Mother will scold me if I don't get the money. I want to borrow some money from my fourth brother's wife. I'll pay it back as soon as the money for the gift arrives."

"Qin'er's marriage is a big deal," said Eleventh Lady. "I'm not the head of the household now, and the wedding shop won't get dividends until the end of the year. I wonder how much Third Sister-in-law wants to borrow?"

If I borrow too much, I'm afraid it will alarm Xu Lingyi, and then the lady will definitely know about it.

The third lady thought for a moment and said, "The paint will probably cost more than a hundred taels of silver, the whitewash will probably cost more than a hundred taels of silver, and there are also curtains and labor costs... I think it will cost at least two hundred taels of silver."

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled and said, "Third sister-in-law seemed to be looking at the opening of my money box - the Marquis gave me two hundred taels of silver for the Mid-Autumn Festival a few days ago. Third sister-in-law, take it first!" Then she asked Zhu Xiang to open the box, "Remember to bring the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, so that Third sister-in-law can write a receipt for me!"

"Sign a written agreement!" The Third Lady looked at Eleventh Lady in astonishment and couldn't help but feel angry.

If I had known this, I should have gone to the Second Madam. She has always been generous... If it was written down in black and white, then the money must be repaid!

After going through so much trouble, in the end all my work was in vain!

"I think there's no need for a written agreement!" The third lady's eyes flickered, "Don't you think you still trust me?"

Of course I am sure of that.

Shiyi Niang smiled, and Zhu Xiang brought the silver bills, writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone.

She spread the paper in front of the third lady.

"It's not that I don't trust my third sister-in-law. It's just that as the saying goes, brothers should settle accounts clearly. Without these interests, people will be closer. I won't urge my third sister-in-law to pay back the money. I just want to have a proof so that I can give an explanation to the Marquis."

"Well, forget it then!" said the Third Lady. "Since you still have to give an explanation to the Marquis for your money, I won't make it difficult for you. I'd better go back to my parents' home and borrow some more!"

"Help your husband's family to be proud in your parents' family, and help your parents' family to be proud in your husband's family. Instead of going back to your parents' family to borrow money, it's better for us sisters-in-law to circulate money among each other." Eleventh Lady laughed, "Are you afraid that I will borrow money from you in the future? Besides, I don't need this money anymore, and it's always the same for you."

The third lady's eyes flickered as she listened.

Fortunately, I followed the Third Master out to see the world, otherwise I would be like Eleventh Lady, thinking that the silver was useless to me and that people would have to pay it back after lending it out, and it was also a favor. But I didn't know that the money could make money, and I could lend it to those who were in urgent need of money and collect interest. After a few years, I would have several hundred taels of silver.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but hesitate a little, but Zhu Xiang handed her a pen dipped in ink...

You can just borrow it to use first!

The third wife took the pen and wrote a document.

Shiyi Niang took a quick glance and asked Zhu Xiang to accept it.

Qiu Yu, on the orders of Shiyi Niang, sent some fine cloth to Amber, who was about to give birth. When talking about what happened in the house, he couldn't help but mention the Third Madam's borrowing money: "...Since the agreement has been signed, it's better to let the Third Madam write down the time for repayment. Otherwise, the money will be thrown away like a meat bun to a dog, and it will never be returned."

Amber supported her waist and stood up. She took out an orange from the box and handed it to Qiuyu: "Madam never planned to pay her back. She did this just to prevent her from borrowing money from you again in the future."

Qiu Yu thought about it and it made sense.

The previous debt has not been repaid yet, so you can’t borrow again!

It's just that two hundred taels of silver... is too much... But Madam has always been well-off... During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Marquis gave Madam one thousand taels of silver... It's not a big deal...

Thinking about it this way, she was indeed petty.

She smiled and put the matter behind her. She picked up a half-yellow orange and said, "Is this a reward from the Madam? The palace gave the Madam a basket of oranges as a reward two days ago!"

It is not yet the season for oranges.

"No!" Amber smiled with a rare shyness, "Your brother-in-law asked someone to buy it for you."

Qiuyu looked at the orange in her hand and smiled with her hands covering her mouth: "Good sister, if you take it out and let me eat it, if brother-in-law Guan finds out, won't he come after me?"

Amber blushed: "Even if there is food, it can't fill your mouth!"

Qiuyu laughed even harder.

Go back and tell Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady also laughed.

Tell it to Xu Lingyi in the evening.

Xu Lingyi looked at the delighted Eleventh Lady and couldn't help but joked, "It's just an orange. Even though it's rare, there's no need to be so happy!"

I know what she is talking about, but I still feel comfortable arguing with her.

Eleventh Lady glanced at him and turned to go into the bathroom.

Xu Lingyi smiled.

Talking to her through the latticed door of the bathroom.

"Tomorrow, Lord Dou invites me to go mountain climbing. I plan to take Zhun'er with me. Please help me check his attire tomorrow."

Dou Ge Lao was a new cabinet minister after the "Yang's illegal profiteering case". It is said that he was just over 40 years old, upright and resolute, and dared to speak out and make suggestions.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but chuckle: "He asked you to go mountain climbing right after he came on stage?"

Xu Lingyi laughed and said, "Otherwise, how could he be a cabinet minister!"

Too!

Eleventh Lady asked, "Who are the people going there tomorrow? Is it appropriate to bring Zhun'er with you?"

"It's just a mountain climbing trip. It's not a grand occasion. There will be a lot of servants and followers. Just take him out to relax!"

Xu Sijie was very envious after hearing this.

Xu Sizun pulled Shiyi Niang's sleeve and said, "Mother, tell Dad to let my fifth brother go with me! My fifth brother is stronger than me and won't hold us back!"

This is not a question of whether or not to hold back.

This is the social occasion where Marquis Yongping appears with Prince Yongping.