[Li Chunlan's father was one of the four major salt merchants in Yangzhou. Previously, when Yangzhou suffered from severe flooding, salt prices skyrocketed. While other salt merchants raised prices arbitrarily, the Li family refused to follow suit. They even opened their salt reserves for disaster relief and, in conjunction with local officials, controlled salt prices, preventing a major public outcry. The Li family had an excellent reputation, and the Yangzhou prefect petitioned the court for their commendation, awarding them a yellow riding jacket and a fourth-rank official position.] The system immediately activated the system.
When Li Chunlan heard the system praising her father, her chest puffed out instantly.
However, Xu Wanying quickly poured cold water on the idea: "Huh, sister-in-law is a merchant's daughter? I remember in ancient times, merchants were considered lowly. The Marquis of Zhongyi's family is probably not a place Li Chunlan could possibly aspire to. Is there some hidden story behind this?"
[The host truly has keen insight. Even though Li Chunlan's father held a fourth-rank official position, it was merely nominal; there was no way he could have arranged a marriage with the Marquis of Zhongyi's family. However, at that time, the Marquis of Zhongyi's family had encountered a major upheaval and was in dire need of funds, while the head of the Li family happened to be in the capital reporting for duty. One was a cash-strapped marquis's family, and the other was a wealthy salt merchant seeking to curry favor; the two families quickly reached an agreement, and the marriage was arranged.]
Li Chunlan's dowry was so large it filled the backyard of the Marquis's mansion; half of the one million taels of silver she brought as a dowry was given away that very night. It could be said that this marriage was bought with money.
Xu Wanying exclaimed in surprise: "My God, a million taels for a marriage? That's incredibly extravagant! No wonder my sister-in-law is always like a jewelry stand, practically draped in gold and silver jewelry from head to toe. It turns out her jewelry box is overflowing, so she has to wear it all on her body."
Even for a daughter from a prominent family, spending 100,000 yuan on a dowry is considered generous. Li Chunlan's dowry was enough to marry off ten legitimate daughters of a prominent family, not even including her other dowry items.
[It was precisely because Li Chunlai's dowry helped the Marquis of Zhongyi's family through a difficult time that Li Chunlan was so assertive. Previously, Madam Cen wanted to raise Jiang Pan, believing that Li Chunlan, being a merchant's daughter, wouldn't be able to raise a good child. However, Li Chunlan caused a scene, even alarming the Li family of Yangzhou, resulting in both sides losing face. From then on, Madam Cen stopped interfering in the affairs of the eldest son's family.]
Xu Wanying clicked her tongue: [I knew it! My mother-in-law seems like a smart woman. How could she allow the eldest grandson of the Marquis's family to be raised like this? Turns out, she's indebted to those who feed her and can't bring herself to ask for favors.]
However, Li Chunlan can't be entirely blamed for the fat boy's upbringing. The father bears the majority of the responsibility for the son's misbehavior.
"Ah, I see! Could it be that my brother-in-law did this on purpose? He's the heir of a noble family, yet he married a merchant's daughter with such a vulgar personality, lacking any grace of a proper lady. He's long been dissatisfied with her. He even feels that Li Chunlan is taking advantage of his kindness, frequently coercing the noble family, and even his mother-in-law, Cen Shi, has to give her a wide berth. Therefore, he wants to spoil the little fat boy."
[When that chubby boy gets into trouble later, fighting, stealing, and living a miserable life, Li Chunlan, preoccupied with her eldest son's affairs, falls ill and dies young, leaving her position as the heir apparent's wife vacant. Then Jiang Chengzong can marry another beautiful woman, have another son, raise him well, and it won't hinder the revitalization of the Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion. The Li family will have no recourse, after all, it wasn't him who drove Li Chunlan to her death, but her grandson.]
[This was quite a move; tsk tsk tsk, as expected of a noble family, their methods are truly dirty!]
Xu Wanying looked at Jiang Chengzong with a look of disgust on her face.
This guy is big and burly, with an honest and simple appearance, but I never expected him to have such a filthy mind!
Li Chunlan, who was hugging her son and shouting happily, suddenly stopped crying when she heard this argument, as if someone had forcibly choked her.
The chubby boy didn't dare to struggle anymore. He stared wide-eyed at his father, his face full of disbelief.
The mother and son had the same expression, as if they were questioning Jiang Chengzong.
You treacherous man!
“I didn’t—” Jiang Chengzong instinctively opened his mouth to explain.
He had barely begun speaking when Li Chunlan pounced on him and they started fighting.
"Jiang Chengzong, tell me, are you just hoping to divorce me? You're so heartless! You not only want to kill Pan Ge'er, but you also want to kill me, so you can make room for me, right?"
"You heartless bastard! My Li family helped you so much back then, sob sob sob..."
Li Chunlan was truly shocked and frightened, and her cries were deafening; even her complaints were barely audible, she was genuinely heartbroken.
"Nonsense! I have serious business with Pan-ge'er. If he's not good, how will he inherit the Marquis's mansion? Don't make wild guesses."
"If I ever harbor any ill intentions towards you, may I be struck dead by heavenly lightning and reborn as an animal in my next life, to be bullied by others for eternity!"
Jiang Chengzong wanted to explain, but he was tongue-tied. In desperation, he could only make a solemn oath.
Li Chunlan stopped crying and instead anxiously told him to spit.
"Pah, pah, pah, that doesn't count. Your good intentions are enough, but you can't say such curses."
Xu Wanying scoffed: "Men's words are deceitful. How many men utter grand pronouncements, saying they'll marry no one but you, only to turn around and marry someone else for personal gain?"
The couple, who had just reconciled, were filled with hostility again upon hearing this heartfelt statement.
Thankfully, the system appeared at this moment: [Host, I found no evidence that Jiang Chengzong has ever abandoned someone he started a relationship with.]
"That's only temporary. Who knows what will happen in the future? Look at my mother-in-law, she was almost ruined after being played by her sweetheart." Xu Wanying added fuel to the fire.
Jiang Chengzong was sweating profusely, his face full of a bitter smile.
He almost wanted to tell his third sister-in-law to shut up, but he didn't know whether having this magical system was a good thing or a bad thing.
The system's words are all true, but the third sister-in-law's true feelings are not entirely accurate, as they are mixed with a lot of her personal emotions, which could easily lead to trouble.
For example, right now, Li Chunlan is still pinching him, afraid that he might do something outrageous in the future.
Moreover, as the younger generation, they had overheard some secrets about the Cen family, and he didn't dare look at his own mother.
"What's all this commotion about so early in the morning?!"
Just then, the long-awaited Marquis of Loyalty finally appeared.
He did not come alone; a young and beautiful woman followed behind him. The woman had a rosy complexion and shy eyes, and looked even more joyful than Xu Wanying, the new bride.
Everyone's attention was diverted, and Xu Wanying's eyes lit up instantly when she looked at the older woman and younger man.
"Who is that woman behind my father-in-law?" she asked excitedly.
The system replied: [This is his new concubine, whom he took in last night. She was originally a gift from someone else, but he felt he was getting old and hadn't wanted her before. However, these past few days, he may have been feeling the stirrings of youth again, so he decided to take her in.]
[Tsk tsk, a pear tree in full bloom overshadowing a crabapple tree, what an old rascal!] Xu Wanying's comment was quite scathing.
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