Chapter 48 *Slap!* So outrageous!
The aroma of tea filled the hall.
Jiang felt disgusted by Su Jingge's behavior, as she spent all her time with men and lacked self-control.
On the surface, however, he seemed to miss her dearly after not seeing her for several days.
"Jinge hasn't come for many days, I was about to go to the restaurant to see you."
As Jiang spoke, she glanced at her servant, who quickly poured tea.
Su Jingge raised her hand and smiled, "Madam Jiang, you don't need to be so polite. I can't afford the Xiao family's tea. If you really miss me, I can come back a few more times in the future—to collect the debt!"
One second Jiang was all smiles, the next second when he heard the word "debt," his smile froze on his face.
"Jingge, how can you be so distant with me? No, you should call me Assistant Minister now?"
Su Jingge smiled and said, "There's no need for that, after all, I can't afford it."
Jiang's eyes reddened: "You used to say you were willing to treat me like your own mother, and that you would treat me like a precious treasure. Why are you so distant now?"
"What real mother would cheat you out of your money?" She curled her lips into a smile. "That could only be feigned affection!"
Jiang was so angry she was practically fuming.
She's come twice already, each time just to ask for money. She hasn't said a word about him or Xiao Ziyu. Is she still angry with him?
The merchant's daughter is petty and unfit for high society.
But she has no money, so what can she do if she refuses to give it to her?
Su Jingge looked at the person and sipped her tea, with an attitude of "I have no money, so what? I owe money, so what?"
"Madam Jiang, let me get straight to the point. The remaining money, a total of 1,500 taels, I said I would pay you in installments. The next payment will be at least 500 taels. The next payment is this time. Do you remember that, Madam?"
Jiang slowly put down her tea and sighed softly, "What do you, a young lady, need so much silver for? Your uncles are currently on a business trip and are not in Yuxiang County. If they come back in the future, won't they just divide up all this silver?"
Su Jingge smiled and said, "If they don't take it all, will you just give it to your family for free?"
"You!" Jiang gritted her teeth, managing only a forced smile. "Jinge, if you marry into your husband's family, won't all this money belong to them sooner or later? Why bother dividing it up like this?"
"Madam Jiang is probably getting old and her memory isn't good. I made it very clear last time that I have broken off the engagement with the Xiao family. From now on, the relationship between our two families is only that of creditor and debtor, nothing more."
"Five hundred taels, take the money and I'm leaving. Don't make me come to your residence in person every time!"
In an instant, Jiang suddenly realized that this woman was indeed very different from before. Every frown, every smile, every gesture was full of intimidation. Although she was only an assistant manager and did not hold any official rank, she had the aura of a female official.
She really couldn't understand this woman anymore; how could she be so different before and after?
She might seem silly, but she's not the kind of person who's reckless and disorganized with vacant eyes.
She's not stupid, yet she's willing to fight against the government.
At first, she laughed at how she could possibly repair the roof, how could a woman possibly know how to repair things? But not only did she know how, she actually did repair it.
Two days ago, they even managed to suppress Zhao Zhou.
Nowadays, people are being dismissed and investigated at their homes.
Jiang was momentarily dazed. Was she truly capable, or was she just being foolish, and everyone was just playing a game with her?
However, there was indeed no silver.
“We don’t have much cash on hand right now, so we can’t repay this five hundred taels. You’ll have to wait until June, after Ziyu’s wedding, to come and collect it.” With that, Madam Jiang yawned, looking slightly tired. “I need to rest a bit, so I won’t talk to you any longer…”
"Let's collect it after Ziyu's wedding, shall we?" Haha, doesn't that mean they'll give her the remaining money after their marriage?
First, let Xiao Ziyu come; she's having a wonderful dream.
She watched as the person stood up, as if to see them out.
“Madam Jiang, please wait.” Su Jingge stood up. “If Madam Jiang doesn’t have it, that’s fine. I’ll go find the princess right away.”
As he turned to leave, Jiang panicked upon hearing this.
"How dare you! How dare you disturb the princess?"
Looking at Jiang's round, fierce expression, Su Jingge said calmly, "Oh, then I'll write to the imperial envoy and ask him for it."
"You! You! You! Unreasonable, domineering, arrogant!" Jiang's eyes widened in anger, almost shooting sparks.
Su Jingge stretched out her hand: "Madam Jiang, do you still know the meaning of face? Why don't you just take it? I saw Xiao Ziyu just coming out of that gold forging workshop a few days ago. Five hundred taels is not much for a fourth-rank prefect's family."
Jiang glared angrily, panting heavily. This matter couldn't be blown out of proportion; the people had just learned that the princess had been implicated in protecting her subordinates.
Now that he's owing money again, isn't this just making things difficult for the princess?
She could only soften her tone and stepped forward with a smile: "It's just a small matter, why make such a fuss? Here, when Ziyu comes back, I'll have him personally deliver it to the restaurant, no—" Suddenly she remembered that Xiao Linyuan worked for her at the restaurant, and her eyes flickered slightly, "Is Xiao Linyuan at the restaurant?"
"Yes, how so?"
Jiang was secretly delighted: "Xiao Linyuan is also a son of the Xiao family. As the eldest brother, he also bears responsibility for the debt. Why don't you... go and ask him for it?"
Su Jingge's eyes instantly turned cold, and the air around her seemed to freeze. She chuckled and took two steps forward.
Jiang looked at the strange expression on his face and backed away.
The woman's voice was as cold as ice: "Madam Jiang is like a dung beetle in a mask, shameless!"
"you--"
"What? I'm not marrying into your family, so why can't I scold you?"
"I--"
"What? Why should Xiao Linyuan pay your son's debts?" Su Jingge glared at her. "I'm telling you this today, I'm going to ask the princess for the money!"
"How dare you insult Madam! Slap him!" said Granny Sun, who was serving nearby.
"Slap—who do you think you are? How dare you, an old woman, speak like a servant?"
Granny Sun was slapped so hard that she turned her head to the side, her face burning with pain.
She stared at Su Jingge in utter shock.
As they approached, two maids came up from the back door. Su Jingge turned her hand and the maid's hand snapped.
She immediately burst into tears:
"Ouch, it hurts! Madam, help me, Madam!"
"Take it down now!" the old woman commanded another.
A sudden gust of wind rose outside the window, dark clouds obscured the sun, and the atmosphere was like a taut bowstring, poised to unleash its power.
Jiang looked at the woman, her eyes bloodshot.
She's gone mad, completely mad.
Then a cold, sharp voice boomed in my ears: "Stop it, all of you!"
Su Jingge looked up at the sound and saw a tall, straight man in a black robe standing at the door. With just a pursed lip and a furrowed brow, a sharp killing intent enveloped his handsome features.
He was looking down at everyone with his eagle eyes.
Xiao Linyuan, Flying Sword, what are they doing here?
Upon hearing Fei Jian's angry rebuke, the servant immediately shrank back and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Young Master."
Jiang was startled. Why had Xiao Linyuan returned?
Fei Jian clasped his hands together and said to Su Jingge, "Your subordinate is late, and my servants have been very disrespectful. Please punish me, Assistant Manager Su!"
Su Jingge looked at the three people, as well as Jiang Shi, who was standing to the side with her brows furrowed and dared not look at her.
She said, "Never mind."
Fei Jian disagreed: "Assistant Manager Su, if these servants aren't punished today, they might kidnap you someday." His eyes sharpened as he looked at Granny Sun. "Slap her thirty times. If she dares to disrespect you again, she'll be expelled from the manor and never be employed again! Apologize!"
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