Everyone looked towards the door in surprise, and saw Su Xiangling dragging Su Shunci in.
He didn't care whether there were outsiders in the room or not. He just stood in the middle of the hall and spoke to the old lady.
"Grandma, we've all been deceived by our fourth sister. A few days ago, she said she was looking for business opportunities for the Su family, but in fact, she opened a shop outside to make money."
"I just heard about it today from the young lady of the Li family. I think the lack of business in our shop before was intentional. Now it's good, and she has all the money in her own pocket."
After Su Xiangling finished speaking, everyone in the room looked at each other in surprise. The Shen family's second wife, Yang, was the first to stand up. "Third sister-in-law, I heard that the Wu family troupe is coming to perform today. I have to go and listen."
This matter involves a dispute within the Su family's inner residence, and she is really not suitable to be here.
Su Qingyu nodded and said, "Thank you very much, second sister-in-law, you should go to the opera first. I will come to find you later."
Immediately afterwards, the third and fourth wives of the Gu family also found excuses and got up to leave.
At this time, the second wife, Mrs. He, and the third wife, Mrs. Hai, were still entertaining guests in the inner house. Only the old lady, Su Qingyu, Shen Zhixiu, Su Yihui, and Zhao Ji were left in the house. Also standing in the middle of the hall were Su Xiangling and Shunci.
Zhao Ji didn't want to stay here, but seeing that Shen Zhixiu didn't move, he didn't move either.
After everyone left, the old lady looked at Su Xiangling with a sullen face.
"Why are you yelling so loudly? Didn't you see there were guests here? Don't you know how to be more reserved?"
With such a personality, I don’t know whether it would be a blessing or a curse if I really entered the palace.
Su Xiangling was scolded by the old lady. Although she was dissatisfied in her heart, she didn't dare to say anything.
With a hint of flattery, he said, "Grandma, you can't blame me for yelling. It's really my fourth sister who's going too far."
"You don't know that Huajin Pavilion, the most popular silk shop in the capital these days, is hers. But she hasn't told us anything and is quietly making a fortune."
Su Shunci beside her smiled sarcastically. She was right. Big money is made quietly.
The old lady's face turned pale when she heard this. If what Su Xiangling said was true, then Su Shunci's thoughts were too deep. It was even true, as Su Xiangling said, that the shop failed because she wanted to pocket the money.
"Aci, tell me, what happened?" the old lady asked in a deep voice, gently twisting the small-leaf Buddhist beads in her hand.
Su Shunci said, "Grandma, I..."
The words he had just spoken were immediately interrupted by Su Qingyu.
"Grandma, Huajin Pavilion is my business, and my fourth sister is just helping me look after it."
“Just ask me whatever you want to ask, or do I have to hand over the money I earn to the Su family?”
When she said the latter sentence, she looked at Su Xiangling fiercely.
Su Xiangling subconsciously avoided looking at her and retorted.
"Big sister is deliberately trying to excuse the fourth sister, right? I've already sent someone to ask, and the shop assistants all admitted that the boss is the fourth sister."
"I know that my eldest sister and fourth sister have a good relationship, but things are what they are."
The old lady had remained silent, and now she looked at Su Qingyu suspiciously. Whether this shop belonged to Su Qingyu or Su Shunci, there was a huge difference.
If it was Su Qingyu's, then it was her private property, and they naturally had no right to ask about it. But if it was Su Shunci's, then it belonged to the Su family. Unmarried daughters could not have private property.
Su Qingyu raised her head and said solemnly, "That shop is indeed mine. If you don't believe me, you can go to the government office to check the documents."
"What if the eldest sister helped the fourth sister? She can't have private property, and you gave her your shop to do business, and helped her sign the documents at the government office." Su Xiangling continued to refute. Her intuition told her that the shop belonged to Su Shunci.
Su Qingyu looked at Su Xiangling with a gloomy face, "Second sister, if you feel something is wrong, go ahead and check it out. But you have to produce evidence, otherwise I will suspect that you are trying to embezzle my property."
Su Xiangling's expression froze. If Su Qingyu and Su Shunci denied it, it would be difficult to prove it. Su Qingyu had the Shen family behind her, so how could she just accept whatever they said?
Su Qingyu insisted that the shop was hers and Su Shunci was just managing it on behalf of her, so there was nothing to discuss.
Although the old lady had some doubts, she didn't say anything more.
The birthday party ended in a lively manner and everyone left one after another.
Su Qingyu thought that the matter of Su Shunci had been covered up, but she didn't expect that it would lead to another trouble.
Su Shunci's shop had caught the attention of the Fourth Lady of the Gu family. After dinner, while paying her respects to Old Lady Su, she spoke privately.
"Aunt, Jinsong's marriage has not been settled yet, and you have to make the decision." Mrs. Gu Si half-knelt beside the small couch, massaging the old lady's legs.
The Gu family was not prosperous. The old lady had only one younger brother from her mother's side. Besides a daughter, Gu Ruoyun, she also had only two sons, the Third Master Gu and the Fourth Master Gu.
Mr. Gu San had three daughters but no sons, and Mr. Gu Si had only this one son.
Therefore, this nephew is the only descendant of the Gu family, so the old lady naturally values him very much.
"Of course I have to pay more attention to Jinsong's marriage. The next generation of the Gu family depends on him."
Madam Gu Si smiled and said, "I have chosen someone, but I'm afraid we in Jinsong are not up to the task. You know, the Gu family is now..."
As she spoke later, her tone was hesitant and she seemed a little inferior and guilty.
Madam Su hated to see her family suffer, and was especially unwilling to admit that the Gu family had fallen on hard times. So, seeing her like this, she snorted, "First, tell me whose daughter you are, and I'll consider you."
"Don't underestimate yourself in the future. Although our Gu family is not a wealthy family, it is no worse than anyone else."
Mrs. Gu shook her head secretly. All the legitimate daughters in the family had become concubines, but her aunt was still deceiving herself.
He lowered his head and said, "I'm not talking about anyone else, but our Fourth Young Lady. It's just that the Gu family's status is not as high as the Su family's, and I'm afraid that my aunt and cousin will think we are marrying above our station."
The old lady was a little surprised, "Aci is still young."
Su Shunci was only thirteen years old this year, so the marriage would have to be arranged next year at the latest. She hadn't expected the fourth son's wife to be so fond of that girl, and she hadn't considered her marriage yet.
Madam Gu Si continued to move her hands and said with a smile, "When I saw that girl when I entered the mansion, I felt that we were compatible. I'm not afraid of her young age. Let's get engaged first and get married in two years."
"I'm afraid my aunt won't like our Gu family..."
She had specifically inquired about it today, and found that Huajin Pavilion's business was indeed very good. To be able to run such a large shop, the fourth daughter of the Su family was no ordinary person.
The old lady raised her hand to stop her.
"The Gu family is also my mother's family. I'm just afraid of wronging our Jinsong. The fourth girl is doing business outside, and her temper is not as gentle as before."
"Aunt, our Jinsong will take the imperial examination in the future. It's perfect to marry a daughter-in-law like the Fourth Young Lady. She will be able to help everyone at home and outside."
Mrs. Gu Si praised Su Shunci again and then spoke.
"Aunt, this girl can open a shop and make money. That's like a goose that lays golden eggs. We can't let it go to other families for free."
"What do you think?"
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