Chapter 8
Ning Shiyu thought he had misheard and paused in his act of getting up.
His gaze narrowed slightly, and he countered, "You mean Fu'er's older sister is at Langfeng Garden?"
Zhuang Xing replied truthfully, "Yes."
"When I went down to see them today, I was quite surprised."
"Not only her sister, but also her newborn child, and Fu'er's mother."
"When Aunt Wen saw me, she looked flustered, and I found this matter somewhat suspicious."
Ning Shiyu's brows furrowed slightly, and he looked somewhat displeased.
Although he didn't immediately get angry, Zhuang Xing had been with him for many years and knew he had guessed correctly.
It was Fu'er who made the decision without her master's permission.
Zhuang Xing immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, "This Fu'er is also not aware of his own status, relying on the master's favor."
"They arranged for her older sister to have her postpartum confinement at Langfeng Garden without authorization."
"I've heard that it's unlucky for a woman to go to someone else's house during her postpartum period."
"When leaving, you need to use the blood from a rooster's comb to sweep away bad luck."
"Master, you should let them go back to their own homes."
Zhuang Xing kept rambling on and on.
Ning Shiyu interrupted, saying, "This matter was indeed approved by me."
"I didn't remember it for a moment."
"Langfeng Garden is spacious, so even if there are gatherings, it won't be a problem."
"Let them stay as long as they want; don't make things difficult for them."
"And you are not allowed to talk about Fu'er like this again in the future. If I hear it, I will not let you off lightly."
Ning Shiyu rubbed his temples, looking exhausted, and said, "You may leave."
This surprised not only Zhuang Xing, but also Mu Li.
The tasks Ning Shiyu gave instructions to were either handled by Mu Li or carried out by Zhuang Xing.
Moreover, Mu Li personally heard his master ask Fu'er about the Langfeng Garden where Fu'er and her mother lived.
Where will they be placed?
Clearly, he was unaware of this matter.
Otherwise, when Zhuang Xing was asked to clean, he wouldn't have mentioned Fu'er's sister and mother at all.
Ning Shiyu was always strict with his subordinates, especially people like Fu'er who acted on their own initiative without their master's permission.
Whether at home or in a shop.
Upon discovery, all offenders will be severely punished and expelled from the Ning residence and shop.
He didn't expect that he would break the rules he set for Fu'er, and even actively protect her.
When Mu Li realized that the person was Fu'er, she seemed to understand again.
He reminded Zhuang Xing, "From now on, you only need to report anything concerning Fu'er."
"Just follow the master's decisions and don't say anything more."
The two thought that the matter would simply be dropped.
However, when Ning Shiyu returned to the mansion the next day, Fu'er was not spared either.
She was fined half a month's wages.
This time, Fu'er dared not utter a single complaint and obediently admitted her mistake to her master.
Fu'er has gone to Langfeng Garden several times.
Previously, her older sister Man'er had nowhere else to go, so she had no choice but to think of Langfeng Garden.
"This servant knows her mistake. I will go and bring my sister and the others back today."
"Make room for the young master."
Ning Shiyu placed the book in his hand on the table and asked, "Did you resolve the problem when you went to pick someone up today?"
Fu'er felt guilty and replied truthfully, "It's resolved. It was Old Madam Ouyang who helped me."
Then, Fu'er told Ning Shiyu about her imprisonment the day before.
She knew that even if she didn't tell him, someone else would.
He heard about this from someone else, but didn't know the reason, and perhaps the punishment was even more severe.
Seeing Fu'er's confident expression, Ning Shiyu didn't press the matter further.
He simply said, "You'd better behave yourself in the future, or the fine won't just be half a month's wages."
Fu'er immediately admitted her mistake and made a promise.
This finally made Zhuang Xing feel relieved, and he kept saying that his master was fair in handling matters.
Mu Li shook his head at the sight.
After finishing the accounting, Fu'er went outside the city to fetch her sister and mother.
When she returned home, her brother and sister-in-law were also there.
Realizing she had gained nothing this time and that there would be two more mouths to feed in the family, Ma's expression immediately changed, and she began to demand a division of the household.
They claimed they would each go their own way from now on.
The tofu shop should belong to them now.
This cut off all of Fu'er's parents' livelihoods.
Her brother, Luo Qiusheng, naturally listened to his sister-in-law and agreed to divide the family property.
Fu'er's parents thought about how much effort and money they had invested in the tofu shop over the years, and now they had nothing left.
Of course they didn't want to, and the family started arguing.
Man'er knew she had dragged her parents down with her, but she had nowhere to go and could only secretly wipe away her tears.
Le Ge'er was so frightened that he cried loudly.
In the past, Fu'er rarely got involved in these conflicts at home, after all, her parents were there.
This time, however, her brother and sister-in-law showed no mercy.
She simply couldn't stand it anymore.
When she heard her mother and sister-in-law arguing fiercely, Fu'er tried to mediate several times, but the two refused to stop fighting.
She had no choice but to yell, "Stop arguing!"
Only then did Ms. Wen and her daughter-in-law, Ms. Ma, stop.
Fu'er said firmly, "I also agree to separate the family."
Luo Xunchun, hearing Fu'er bring up such a sore subject, immediately scolded, "You're young and don't understand anything, don't meddle."
This time, Fu'er didn't listen to her father.
She pushed Luo Xunchun, who was blocking her way, aside.
He bluntly stated, "Brother and sister-in-law, you're just unhappy that my sister lives at home and want to separate the family."
"Then let's split it."
"But we need to get out the money my mother invested last year."
"I think it was twenty taels."
“That was my wages. I neither lived at home nor ate the food from home.”
"We've already separated, why should I give it to you for free?"
Fu'er was against this, but she couldn't resist her mother's insistence that her brother and sister-in-law were expanding their shop.
Earning more money will make life easier for the family.
Every time Fu'er's mother touched a penny of her money, she would explain the reason to her.
Her sister-in-law, Ma, was naturally unhappy when she heard this. "All these years, your parents have been paid for by the shop's money for food and lodging."
"It was already offset."
"If you want money, go find them."
Seeing her trying to argue, Fu'er didn't beat around the bush with her.
Knowing that she wouldn't shed tears until she saw the coffin, he immediately took out the account book that Ma had hidden under her pillow.
When Ma tried to snatch it, Fu'er nimbly turned around and dodged it.
Ma's face turned pale, and she started beating her husband, Luo Qiusheng.
Qiu Sheng protested, "It wasn't me, I didn't tell her."
During the couple's argument, Fu'er had already calculated the tofu shop's annual profits and expenses.
He said succinctly, "Our family's tofu shop earns at most forty or fifty taels of silver a year."
“Sister-in-law, you secretly saved thirty taels, and used the rest for household expenses.”
"Your family only has four people, while your parents only have two. You still consume and eat more."
“The tuition for Changge’s private school is eight taels a year, which also comes from here.”
“My father worked day and night, but in the end he didn’t get a penny of wages and even had to pay out of his own pocket.”
"We won't suffer such a loss."
Over the years, the elderly couple felt aggrieved, working hard all year round but not receiving a single penny in return.
The daughter-in-law, Ma, always said she hadn't earned any money, so the two of them didn't feel comfortable insisting on it.
Like a mute eating bitter melon, unable to express the suffering.
She thought it didn't matter since it was her own son who got it.
To everyone's surprise, their daughter-in-law turned her back on them.
Today, my daughter settled the accounts, which felt like she had given them justice.
Mr. Wen and Mrs. Luo Linchun couldn't help but secretly wipe away their tears.
It was written in black and white, so Ma had no grounds to argue.
Fu'er continued, "The family must be divided. This courtyard was bought with money saved by my parents, so it should be divided in half."
“Your family lives in two rooms, and your parents live in two rooms. No one interferes with the other.”
“My sister lives with my parents; it’s none of your business.”
"The tofu shop was also run by my parents, who invested a lot of money in it, and they should get half of it."
Hearing that the shops were to be divided was undoubtedly a blow to Ma's heart. "You wish! Why should we listen to you?"
Fu'er wasn't annoyed and said calmly, "I spent a lot of money on this shop."
“If you are willing to return the money to me, then my parents don’t need this shop.”
"My father won't have to work so hard."
"If you don't want to separate from the family, you have to give my father at least one tael of silver in wages every month."
"If you're unwilling, how about we ask the neighbors to settle this?"
Of course, Ma wouldn't dare; the shop's business still depended on the support of the people around them.
If the family matter gets out, I'm afraid the shop's business will suffer.
It's more effective than seeing an official.
"Sister-in-law, have you thought it through? Should we divide the family property or not?"
Although Ma was unwilling, after weighing the matter for a moment, she stubbornly said, "Ask your brother? I don't care anymore."
The implication is that a compromise has been reached.
Wen and Luo Linchun were overjoyed, never expecting that their Fu'er had really grown up.
He was quick and accurate in calculating accounts, in no way inferior to the accountants of wealthy families.
Qiu Sheng didn't dare to say anything and nudged Ma Shi.
Ma was seething with anger and had nowhere to vent it, so she kicked Qiu Sheng again.
Feeling embarrassed, he turned to go inside.
At this moment, Fu'er called out to her, "Sister-in-law, if my parents hadn't raised the money to marry you, I don't need to say where you would be now."
“When we were raising money, my sister took out all her savings.”
"She's in trouble now. We're both women, have you ever thought about her?"
“My parents love you like their own daughter, but you’re scheming against them.”
"If you continue like this in the future, don't blame me for exposing your shameful acts of filial impiety."
Ma stood frozen in place, her face turning pale and then flushed, before finally falling silent and offering no further rebuttal.
Fu'er didn't have time to talk to them much; she still had to return to the Ning Mansion.
As she passed her brother, feeling disgusted, she shoved him hard, making him stumble. "Get out of my way."
Before we knew it, it was December, and the snow was falling heavier and heavier every day.
The water has frozen over, and the passenger ships have stopped operating.
The snow on the road was getting thicker day by day, and a stone bridge on the official road from Lingyang to the capital had also collapsed.
Neither waterway nor land route is possible.
The King of Qin looked up at Ning Shiyu with a gaze that seemed to understand everything.
Therefore, no investigation was conducted into the collapse of the stone bridge.
They simply passed down the order to wait until the snow stopped before making repairs.
Judging from this situation, they won't be able to attend the Crown Prince's birthday celebration.
If he and Ning Shiyu don't go to the capital, the Cui family will have no grounds to punish them.
The King of Qin was secretly pleased, feeling that even Heaven was on his side.
During this period, Ning Shiyu also spent less time outside the residence.
Seeing that he was spending more and more time in the mansion, Yunyou certainly wouldn't miss such a good opportunity.
They often stayed around Ning Shiyu.
In this way, Fu'er will be free.
However, in the evening, because she hadn't done her assigned chores, Fu'er's punishment of copying changed from the Nine-Nine Song to endless scriptures.
That evening, she couldn't bear it any longer and complained, "Young master, I'm innocent."
"You can't punish me like this; I'm in a difficult position too."
Ning Shiyu, who was behind the desk opposite, looked up from behind his desk with a lazy expression. "Tell me, where is the injustice?"
Fu'er said in a serious tone, "This task is mine."
"Miss Yunyou is willing to do it for me; it has nothing to do with you, young master."
"Besides, aren't you happy to have a beautiful woman by your side?"
Ning Shiyu put down the book, moved to her side, and glanced at her neat and beautiful small regular script.
With a half-smile, he said, "You have a lot of fallacies."
"She's a beauty, so are you an ugly woman?"
Fu'er paused for a moment, touched her face, and said insecurely, "Compared to Miss Yunyou, I am ugly."
Seeing that she looked simple-minded, just like usual, Ning Shiyu wanted to reach out and poke her cheek.
As Fu'er straightened her back and moved slightly, Ning Shiyu's finger touched Fu'er's red lips.
This is how Ning Shiyu used to feed her.
Fu'er subconsciously opened her mouth and put Ning Shiyu's finger in her mouth.
The humid heat enveloped Ning Shiyu's entire body, leaving his mind blank.
A wave of heat instantly ignited in his lower abdomen, coursing through his limbs and bones.
His breathing suddenly became erratic, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.
Her ears were flushed, and her eyes were filled with panic.
Yet, they couldn't bear to withdraw their fingers.
His gaze met Fu'er's clear eyes, which reflected his image.
Ning Shiyu was overjoyed.
As if possessed, he moved his fingers again and gently brushed them across Fu'er's rosy and full lips.
Her head slowly lowered, her forehead close to Fu'er's cheek.
Unexpectedly, Fu'er was a bit of a simpleton and was afraid of his unfamiliar gaze, so she pushed Ning Shiyu away.
This brought Ning Shi back to his senses.
He coughed lightly to cover up his earlier loss of control.
After a moment, he returned to normal and snorted coldly, "You've got some nerve, daring to push me."
"I was just reminding you that you forgot to wipe your mouth after sneaking a bite."
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