Chapter 377 Both Icy and Sober!
"I'm old and useless now, nobody listens to me anymore!" Old Madam Shen slammed her teacup heavily on the table.
"Mother, please calm down. There are still a few items that His Majesty bestowed upon me in my room. I will have them brought to the public hall in a little while."
Madam Shen nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "Has the princess said anything about the marriage?"
Shen Congwen felt a little embarrassed and lowered his head uncomfortably before saying, "The princess also took a few imperial gifts and a thousand taels of silver."
As long as they were willing to give something, that would be fine. After all, Zhou Xinrou had visited the palace several times since they returned to the capital, and she had accompanied her each time. The palace had given them quite a few gifts, but no silver, at least not openly.
"A thousand taels is not a small amount, but it's not enough to cover the betrothal gifts." If it were an ordinary family, ten taels of silver would have been enough, but since it's a princess entering their Shen family, it's a different story.
Madam Shen: "Once the engagement is over, the wedding banquet will follow. One thousand taels is definitely not enough."
"After the princess enters the family, our family's status will be slightly elevated. From now on, when you are outside, you will be the princess's elders, and others will treat you with more respect."
None of the younger generation said a word.
The three Shen brothers seemed to be there just to make up the numbers; no matter what the old lady said, they just wouldn't say a word.
Madam Shen's face was so dark it was unbearable to look at.
"You three uncles, from the perspectives of integrity, propriety, and righteousness, should contribute more. The rest of the younger generation should contribute more, and we will give you the money when the public funds become available!" This was already the greatest concession Madam Shen could make.
Logically speaking, brothers who haven't separated from the family shouldn't have private property. These sons, don't they realize that without the eldest son's family, would they be where they are today?
They all fail to use their intelligence where it should be used.
The three Shen brothers didn't say anything, but the three Liu brothers were unwilling!
“Mother, our second branch has organized several happy events in a row. There is also progress in Yuankun’s matter. There are also several illegitimate sons and daughters in the branch who have reached the age, and we need to organize events for them step by step. I don’t know where my daughter-in-law will get the money for them. I really have the will but not the means.”
Old Madam Shen glared at Liu with a dark face. Wasn't there also Hu Jinyu? When Hu Jinyu entered the family, her dowry filled the second branch's storeroom.
Madam Miao then began to complain: "Mother, eldest brother, it's not that our third branch of the family doesn't want to help, but you all know what kind of situation we are in. The whole family is relying on the meager salaries that Yuanpeng and Yuanhao earned while fighting outside. Now they are no longer serving in the army, and there's no hope for them to take the imperial examinations. My husband and I are planning to ask Lanxi to help them get some official positions, but we haven't even found the money to bribe them yet."
The old lady believed Liu's reasons, but she didn't believe Miao's reasons at all.
"Don't think that just because I'm old, my eyesight is failing. I haven't even settled the score with you yet for the money you secretly give to your family every month."
Madam Miao's brow twitched violently. How did the old lady know about this? Every time she met her family, it was outside the Shen residence, and she would hide, as if she was afraid that her family would see her.
Shen Congli was unaware of this matter, and now that the old lady had exposed it, he immediately slammed his fist on the table.
"Miao, you foolish woman, have you forgotten how your family treated us when we were exiled?"
"They were so afraid of implicating them that they only sent their servants to throw you a letter severing ties at the city gate. Such heartless and ungrateful people, and you actually used the money my son risked his life to earn to subsidize them. I'll beat you to death..." Shen Congli's anger grew as he spoke, and he raised his hand to slap Miao Shi.
Ms. Miao was so frightened that she rolled off the chair and cried in distress.
Madam Shen felt a throbbing pain in her temples, and the third branch of the family was no longer effective.
"Fourth brother..."
Tian lowered her head and pushed Shen Congyi. The latter reluctantly stood up and joined Shen Conglian in pulling Shen Congli to prevent him from harming Miao.
“Mother, you know what kind of situation our four branches are in. The money we receive is just the monthly allowance we get from the manor. The things we have are just a few things we got when we went to the palace with my eldest sister-in-law. The children in our branch have never served in the army, nor can they take the imperial examinations. You know all of this.”
The old lady used to favor her fourth son, thinking he was clever, sensible, and filial. But now she finds him increasingly displeasing.
All he knew was how to take things out of her room, and when asked to do so, he wouldn't budge on even a single tael of silver.
Shen Congwen felt ashamed when he heard his three younger brothers say that.
He knew the situation of his three younger brothers' families. If they hadn't lost everything when they were convicted, they wouldn't be in this situation!
“Mother, my three younger brothers’ families are not doing well either, so please don’t pressure them. I will find a way to arrange the betrothal gifts.”
Madam Shen was about to slam her fist on the table again. He needed to figure out a solution.
If he could think of a solution, he wouldn't have made her lose face here.
"Lanxi, given the current situation at home, can you make a decision?" Old Madam Shen wanted to outsource this headache.
Shen Lanxi watched a wonderful show and felt that it was so exciting that she felt like she had washed her face with cold water on a cold day, feeling both cold and refreshed.
“Grandmother, I think it’s better for Father to make the decision. He is the elder, and Lanxi shouldn’t overstep his bounds.”
Madam Shen froze. She had entrusted Shen Lanxi with managing the household affairs because she valued her. How many women in the world could receive such attention from their maternal family?
Does Shen Lanxi know what this means? If she's in a good mood and lets go, allowing Shen Lanxi to hold the reins of the household, what an honor that would be for a woman!
Shen Congwen was still angry and had not forgiven his daughter. If it weren't for his mother's persuasion, he wouldn't have given Shen Lanxi a kind look.
He was utterly disappointed in his daughter, who talked back to her elders and was neglected in her upbringing.
“Mother, the men in the family are getting married, what does she, a woman, know?” Shen Congwen ignored the old lady’s gaze and showed no intention of backing down.
Madam Shen was so angry that her vision began to blur again.
This useless thing has become so used to wealth and luxury that it has forgotten the days when it was penniless and struggling to make ends meet.
"Boss, don't act rashly. The wedding is the most important thing right now."
Shen Congwen only thought about it for a moment before straightening up again.
Don't even think about making him submit to a junior!
He is an elder, so Shen Lanxi should be filial to him!
“Grandmother, His Majesty has asked me to assist the First Prince in investigating the case. If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to the manor to organize the case files.” Shen Lanxi stood up.
"Lanxi, the savings in the family storeroom are running low. Are you really so heartless as to not help the family? Yuanxin is your younger brother!"
Shen Lanxi turned her back to the old lady, gave a silent, cold laugh, and continued walking.
The sound of banging on the table rang out, and she had already left the gate of the Shen residence.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
