Chapter 138 The Wicked Stepmother and the Poor Child 31
Gu Hongjian felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and a wave of dizziness. He had never imagined that supporting his family would be so difficult!
At this moment, Zhou Jingxuan, who had received the news, rushed out to greet him. Before Gu Hongjian could even speak, she took the initiative and threw herself at his side, crying and pleading with him.
"Gu Lang! You're finally back!"
I don't know what happened, but all the money in the manor suddenly disappeared.
Someone must have embezzled funds.
As she cried, she glanced meaningfully toward the main courtyard.
"My sister's expenses have been quite high lately, with meals delivered three times a day from Tianxiang Restaurant and martial arts guards hired. I think it's important for my sister's health, so I dare not ask too many questions!"
She said nothing, yet she said everything.
Gu Hongjian was already furious, and upon hearing this, he became even more enraged. He lost all reason and, without thinking, stormed into the main courtyard and launched into a tirade of questions at Shen Ci.
“Shen Ci! As the mistress of the house, how can you lead the way in extravagance and waste!”
This has led to the household now being unable to make ends meet!
Do you even know how much silver is left in the manor? How dare you live such a lavish lifestyle? Don't think that just because you're sick I won't dare to do anything to you!
Shen Ci had been waiting for a long time, and calmly had the steward bring the account book forward again.
"Lord Gu, please look carefully. Which entry in these accounts is the record of my main courtyard withdrawing public funds?"
The food, clothing, daily necessities, security guards, and other expenses of my mother, son, and me are all my dowry and private property!
The three thousand taels of silver in your household were all squandered by your newlywed concubine within a month!
What can you do to me? What can you do to me?
With irrefutable evidence, Gu Hongjian was speechless. He didn't know how to refute it. It was all written down in black and white, and he remembered it clearly. He wasn't blind; he was just blinded by anger.
Gu Hongjian's face flushed red and then turned pale. He suddenly turned his head and glared at Zhou Jingxuan. It was all her fault for talking nonsense!
Seeing that she could no longer deny it, Zhou Jingxuan decided to give up and stop talking nonsense. She quickly admitted her mistake, grabbed Gu Hongjian's leg, and burst into tears.
"Gu Lang! It's all my fault! I'm so naive, I've never seen so many wonderful things before, and for a moment, I was blinded by them and couldn't resist..."
I will never dare to do it again! Waaah! Please forgive me this time, my love!
"My love, I'm carrying your child in my belly, so it's understandable that I want things to be easier for me!"
She was carrying his child, after all. He couldn't possibly kill her, could he? Besides, she had the Zhou family behind her; what could Gu Hongjian do to her?
At most, I'd scold her; I'd never dare to lay a hand on her.
Gu Hongjian was in such a sorry state today. He thought about how he would be looked down upon by his colleagues, all because he had no money in his household.
The thought of where all that money had gone sent a surge of anger straight to the top of his head.
Zhou Jingxuan really spends money like water! He himself has never been so kind to himself, yet Zhou Jingxuan dares to do so!
He suppressed the urge to kick her away and asked the housekeeper, exhausted and irritated.
"How much silver can the manor afford now?"
"Reporting to Master, there are only eight taels left." The steward lowered his head and dared not say more.
Eight taels! Gu Hongjian's vision went black again. He had never felt money was so important! He had never felt this shivering before, when Shen Ci was around!
He looked at Shen Ci, who was not involved, with mixed feelings. Knowing that she had plenty of money, he hesitated for a long time, but finally swallowed his pride, softened his tone, and lowered his stance.
"Madam, you see, things are really tough for the family right now. We are family after all, could you please lend us some help?"
Shen Ci seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and immediately burst into laughter! Then he shook his head and sighed softly.
"My husband is mistaken."
My two children and I have not used a single penny of the public funds. This hole was caused by your concubine's extravagance. Why should I use my dowry to fill it?
Could it be that you two had planned this all along, one of you squandering the money while the other came to collect it, conspiring to steal my dowry?
That was truly terrifying.
"you!"
Gu Hongjian was struck on a sore spot and immediately flew into a rage. If word got out that he was plotting to steal his wife's dowry, he would be utterly disgraced, let alone able to hold office.
Seeing that he was so angry he was about to explode, Shen Ci quickly offered a helpful suggestion.
"If we really want to solve it, there is a way."
Most of the clothes, jewelry, and ornaments that Aunt Zhou bought were flashy but impractical. It would be better to return them to the shop at a discount, which would at least get some money back for emergencies. Even at a discount, most of the money could be returned.
If the household servants are truly unaffordable, some may be dismissed to save expenses.
This is the only way I can think of to keep the household afloat without using my dowry.
Gu Hongjian knew that there was really no other way in the manor now. Although returning the goods was a shameful act, there were no other options available.
He was about to be promoted and needed to bribe officials everywhere. Without money, he could hardly move an inch. He couldn't help but miss how easy it was to manage things when Shen Ci was in charge of the household.
Back then, he never lacked money, and he never had to worry about a few taels of silver. Today, he was in a panic because of these few taels of silver.
"Do as Madam says!"
Go and return all the newly purchased jewelry, clothes, and fabrics—anything that can be returned! Even if it's discounted, get a refund!
He gritted his teeth and said to Zhou Jingxuan, "I'm so disappointed in you."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingxuan reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling with anger and jumping three feet high!
"What?! Return them?! I went through so much trouble to pick them out! Why should I return them?"
Did I spend all that money by myself?
Everything you eat and use every day costs money, so why don't you just give it back?
Gu Hongjian! I was so blind! I thought your Gu family was some kind of prestigious and wealthy family, but I never expected it to be such an empty shell, hollowed out so quickly!
"You think you can touch my stuff? No way!"
She had worked so hard to save up some things for herself, how could she bear to give them back so easily? The Gu family, which appeared glamorous and had everything going for them, was actually so poor?
Gu Hongjian and the Gu family were the good husbands she had carefully chosen for herself. When they first met, Gu Hongjian was very generous and often gave her gifts, which made her realize that the Gu family was a wealthy and good family.
But it's only been a month! In just one month, she can't even keep up with her spending?
How could that be? The Gu family can afford such a large house, how could they only have this little bit of money?
Zhou Jingxuan didn't know that the eligible bachelor, the wealthy man, and the beautiful woman in her eyes didn't belong to Gu Hongjian, but to Gu Hongjian's legal wife, Shen Ci.
If she really wanted wealth and status, she should have asked Shen Ci from the beginning if he wanted a concubine. She was simply blind and misjudged him.
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