Chapter 14: The difference is obvious
"That's right! That was originally our Lu family's money. If you dare not pay back Jinxiu Zhai's debt, forget about being a housekeeper in the future!" Lu Wanrou said angrily.
Before she finished her words, Fang Qianxue winked at the maid, who placed the bundle that had been prepared long ago in front of Chen with a bang.
"What are you doing?" Chen was shocked.
"Sister Wanrou said it well. I was thinking about returning the account books and cards to mother," Fang Qianxue pointed at the bundle on the table. "They are all here today. Please count them carefully and hand them over to me after you are done."
When her grandfather chose this marriage for her, he thought that although the Lu family was a poor family, they had two people with achievements, Lu Changli and Lu Changqing, which showed that the Lu family had a good reputation. Chen was also friendly on the surface and seemed quite sensible.
Fang Qianxue used to think that although her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were a little stupid and materialistic, they would not do anything to cheat or deceive others. Now she realizes that the Lu family's cold and advantageous nature is ingrained in their bones.
If it weren't for this family tradition, how could Lu Changqing dare to shamelessly talk about the succession of the emperor's descendants?
"You want to hand it over?" Chen raised her hand to touch the bundle, then retracted her hand and said, "Why make such a fuss? After all, we are a family..."
"Mom! Why are you afraid of her?" Lu Wanrou untied the bag carelessly and began to count the things inside, checking the account books. "It's just right that she doesn't take care of the household. I'll help you manage the household!"
Cui Shuang helped her open the account book, flipping through the pages one by one while saying, "Look carefully, the accounts of our Meihuaao and the public school are clearly listed. The well in the backyard was also dug by our Fang family. We haven't eaten a single grain of rice from your Lu family in these years. On the contrary, Madam has used money to subsidize the public school's accounts many times."
She is a maid from the scholarly family of the Fang Mansion. She usually doesn't speak loudly, but that doesn't mean she is weak. When she is needed to take action, she will never hesitate.
Chen didn't even need to look. The Lu family had no property. She knew how poor the family was when she was the housekeeper. However, Lu Wanrou was panicked when she saw the numbers on the account book: "Why is there no balance? I still owe several hundred taels?"
Fang Qianxue didn't say anything, just lightly touched the tea lid and looked at Chen leisurely.
"Of course!" Cui Shuang raised her head and said, "Doesn't our wife have to pay back the money she used to subsidize the public treasury with her dowry? When Miss Lu gets married in the future, will her dowry be confiscated? Dayong doesn't have such a rule."
Lu Wanrou gritted her teeth and said, "Let me take a closer look!"
"Look!" Cui Shuang threw out two account books. "Madam Renyi, I have not yet settled the medical expenses for Songshengju and the funeral of the master. As for the debt of more than three hundred taels, please sign after you have read it."
The room was quiet for a while. Lu Wanrou counted over and over again and found that there was really no money in the account. She only owed Fang Qianxue a debt. Only then did she realize that she had made a big mess.
"Mom, look, this account..."
Chen took a deep breath and smiled slightly: "Qianxue, if you want to hand over the power of the family, at least wait for Changqing to come back."
In this family, Fang is the one who listens to Changqing the most. Her son is talented and handsome, and can make Fang obey him completely.
"No more waiting," Fang Qianxue put down the teacup and said impatiently, "I'm busy."
"We can't accept this account book!" Lu Wanrou was anxious.
She originally wanted to get some money to pay off the debt to Jinxiu Zhai, but not only did she not get the money, she even owed three hundred taels. Only a fool would accept it!
"If you don't accept it, I will calculate the medical expenses of Songshengju and the funeral expenses of the master. By then, it will be more than three hundred taels," Fang Qianxue said with a faint smile, "How do you think?"
"You go and calculate it! We won't pay it back anyway!"
"Shut up!" Chen grabbed Lu Wanrou's wrist, "It's just three hundred taels. The two jade bracelets Miao Yan gave me a few days ago are enough."
What she cared about most was her reputation. Although Lu Changqing did not hold a high official position, he often appeared in front of the emperor and empress. If people knew that the Lu family owed their daughter-in-law a dowry, how could he get promoted?
The more Chen looked at Fang Qianxue, the more she disliked her. Xu Miaoyan gave her things without blinking an eye, but Fang Qianxue still kept accounts. Tsk, the difference is obvious!
"Mother is still sensible," Fang Qianxue praised, "Then I'll trouble Sister Wanrou to get the bracelet, and we can hand it over now."
Lu Wanrou almost bit her teeth off, but she could only listen to Chen and go to the inner room to get the bracelet.
Chen was afraid that Fang Qianxue would go back on her word, so while her daughter was getting the bracelet, she and Fang Qianxue signed the handover book in duplicate, and both of them signed their signatures.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, mother, to take care of the position of housekeeper and the accounts of Jinxiu Zhai in the future." Fang Qianxue put away the handover letter.
"You have drawn a clear line between us today, and don't regret it in the future." Chen was also very happy to accept the handover letter, and said proudly, "When Miaoyan is crowned as the Holy Maiden of the Nation, Changqing is appointed as the Prime Minister, and Wanrou marries into a wealthy family, what will a mere five thousand taels mean to you?"
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