An authentic affluent family carries an air of inviolability. Has their family really sunk so low as to interact with such people?
Master Wang glared at her: "Ignorant woman, do you think our situation is good now? The New Emperor harbors great apprehension towards the former princes’ factions, we both know this well. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have returned to our hometown to keep a low profile. At times like this, winning over the people’s hearts is crucial. The New Emperor has just come to power, his foundation is unstable, and he needs public support. Once we have the people’s heart, he naturally will not easily move against us. This public support is a guarantee for our family!"
Only then did Lady Wang seem to half-understand as she nodded: "So, that’s your concern."
"Today, merely over a matter of one hundred and few silvers, the common people of the entire town know that our Wang family is compassionate and kind, earning praises from all quarters. This is where the people’s heart lies. Spending such a small amount of money for a guarantee is worthwhile."
"You are indeed astute, my lord." It was at this point that Lady Wang finally smiled.
——
It was already dusk as Ji Xinhe returned from the town.
The new house for Ji Xinhe and Mu Houchu’s wedding next month was hurriedly being constructed, work would not stop until it was completely dark. Only then would Ji Dong be able to return home.
As soon as Ji Xinhe returned home, she had to prepare the meal, ensuring her hardworking big brother could eat warm food upon his return.
Before the bullock cart had reached their home, the sharp and harsh voice of Lady Ding could be heard from a distance: "I’ve always said it, some people’s affairs just can’t be compared with others’! Our family is destined to interact with the well-bred! Even when something happens, a grand elder is always there to help out. Is it like that for you all? Humph!"
Ji Xinhe felt like her goosebumps were almost about to fall off as she listened to this voice, it was genuinely disgusting.
It was not surprising that Lady Ding looked down upon the villagers of Yangluo Bay. Ji Xinhe did not find it strange, the real question was from where had Lady Ding got such a
bold attitude these days?
The bullock cart stopped outside the courtyard and as soon as Ji Xinhe leaped from it, she saw Hong Qin come out with a very bad look on her face: "Xinhe, perhaps you should not go in yet, that crazy woman Lady Ding is throwing a tantrum again."
Ji Xinhe then asked: "What’s wrong now? Can’t we have a moment of peace?"
If this constant quarrelling was to continue, she would rather the Ji family’s house be taken over by those usurers, that would at least give her some peace. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Hong Qin disgustedly glanced at the courtyard and pulled Ji Xinhe aside, whispering: "You probably still don’t know, the money owed by the Ji family, has all been returned, and Lady Ding is gloating now!"
Ji Xinhe snorted: "We paid back the money, what’s there to gloat about? Did she lend the money?"
"It’s not just because of the repayment of the money, it is because, the debt they owed, was returned with the help of the well-known wealthy family in the town, the Wang Family. They generously took out 130 silvers without batting an eye. Lady Ding has been crowing that their family has a close friendship with the Wang Family, which was why they were willing to help them. She’s going around saying they have a relationship akin to relatives with the Wang Family!"
"The Wang Family?" Ji Xinhe squinted as she listened. Why did this sound familiar?
"If the Wang Family helped, who cares about her face? It was clearly due to you, and your late mother, wasn’t it? If it weren’t for your mother having served as a wet nurse in the Wang Family, why would they remember their master-servant bond and help? Lady Ding really is shameless, she has bullied you and your siblings enough already. Now, she brings up your mother to beg for favors from the Wang Family. After getting the money, she is boasting about how closely she is related to the wealthy, pah!"
Ji Xinhe frowned slightly: "It’s that Wang Family?"
"Yes, they just came back from the capital city today, their procession was grand. Lady Ding is now bragging as if she were part of the Wang Family, with her tail raised sky-high. I can’t stand it." Hong Qin said indignantly.
Ji Xinhe snorted coldly: "What can’t she do?"
Xiao Bei approached and said: "Sister, are we not going in?"
"Why wouldn’t we? This is our home." Ji Xinhe snorted lightly and directly pushed open the door to enter.
Indeed, in the courtyard, Lady Ding was right in the middle of bragging to several wives and sisters-in-law. When she saw Ji Xinhe entering, she sneered in a weirdly high-pitched tone: "Oh! Back from a day’s work? This is life for you, some people are destined to live laborious lives, no matter how hard they work they can only earn so little money, and yet they show off. Look at our family, sitting at home, the grand elder even specially sends silver to us, he sends... 130 taels!"
That acidic tone of hers made Ji Xinhe’s goosebumps rise.
Ji Xinhe gave a chilling smile at Lady Ding: "Was that generous grand elder looking at your face? Or was it because my deceased mother once served as a wet nurse in their family? They saw your condition, pitied you, and gave you some money. Are you specifically telling me this to thank my mother? If so, that’s easy. My mother frequently comes home to check on things these days. You visited me the last time, my mother even welcomed you. Why not come inside and sit this time?"
Lady Ding’s face turned pale, whether from fear or humiliation, she pointed at Ji Xinhe, furious and frustrated: "What your mother’s face? Your mother’s been dead for how many years now, do they still remember your mother? It wasn’t because of you, it’s because of your father, it’s the face of our old Ji family!"
Ji Xinhe sneered: "My dad’s face, or the face of the Ji family, either way, it has nothing to do with you, right? Instead, it’s only today that I’ve come to know, my dad hasn’t forgotten my biological mother."
Ji Dashan trembled slightly: "Of course, I’ll never forget her."
"Really? When you were driving my siblings and me out, you didn’t think of my deceased mother. Now that you face the risk of complete ruin, you think of using my mother as a raft, trying to get favors from the affluent family. I wonder how my mother would feel in the afterlife."
Ji Xinhe gave Ji Dashan a cold glance and turned around to return to her room.
Seeing Ji Xinhe ruin the atmosphere, Lady Ding was so angry she was about to rush up and scold her, but Ji Dashan yelled at her: "Don’t embarrass us further! Go inside now! Don’t you think our family is disgraceful enough?"
Frightened, Lady Ding shivered and hurriedly slunk back into the house, but she was still very unwilling. When she entered the house and locked the door, she then pulled Ji Dashan and said: "Why did you only ask for 130 taels of silver today? You should have asked for more, even though we’ve saved our land and house, we don’t have any money. How about this? You go and beg them again, let them give our family some respect, and find you an honorable job, and find a decent family for Xiulan."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
