Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but hold her daughter’s hand, her words ant for Shi Fengju to hear, "I don’t see any rush. Let’s wait until after the 15th of August to have your younger siblings tidy up and arrange the banana garden nicely. Then, you can pick an auspicious day to move in! From now on, regarding als, whatever you feel like eating, just ask the kitchen to prepare and send it over, no need to be polite. If you miss your mother, just co over and dine with ! Haha, Yui, you will always be the young miss of the Shi family. Whatever you want, just instruct others to do it. If anyone dares to disrespect the Master, I will be the first to not forgive them!"
"Exactly, elder sister, since you are back, settle in with peace of mind! You too are the daughter of our parents, and it’s only right that you have a share in the Shi family’s estate!" Shi Fengju said with a laugh as well.
Shi Yui’s heart relaxed, and she quickly thanked her mother and brother with a smile, then turned to Shi Fengju with a mock complaint, "Listen to you talk! All of the family’s business is being managed diligently by you. I haven’t contributed any effort. Our parents sent off in marriage with grandeur and many fine things; the Shi family has not treated unfairly. The estate belongs to you and Fenghua, and has nothing to do with ! If you say such things again, I will die of sha!"
The mother and sons all laughed together for a while.
Then Shi Fengju laughed again, "Here’s what I think, from now on I will give elder sister and brother-in-law twenty taels of silver as a monthly allowance to foresee any urgent need for money. As for arranging the banana garden, let that be a little token of my brotherly affection! Since elder sister and brother-in-law just arrived yesterday, that’s a different matter, but I think we should find a ti today to visit uncle and aunt of the second house to say hello. Oh, I’ve already instructed soone to handle the gifts yesterday, and they will be delivered to mother soon!"
After all, Shi Yui is a daughter married off, it isn’t reasonable for her to draw money from her natal family. Their main family wouldn’t say anything, of course, but the Shi Mansion still has the second house and the uncle and aunt from the third house who are officials outside. They can’t ignore their feelings. Mulling over this, Shi Fengju thought he must personally go explain the situation to his uncle and aunt, and clarify that all expenses for the sister and brother-in-law co from his side and not the public family account.
Shi Yui had been worried about this exact issue and was overjoyed hearing Shi Fengju’s words. Mrs. Wang also praised her son for thinking thoroughly and being competent.
Mrs. Jiang resisted the urge to roll her eyes, thinking, Madam, it really should have been you taking care of this as her mother! Truly, the young master is a rare good man! Madam, your good fortune is truly great! He has managed everything, so I don’t need to bother reminding you!
"Right, since elder sister and brother-in-law have returned to live here, have you managed to settle all the properties and lands in ng County? If not, I can send the housekeeper there!"
Expecting the brother-in-law, who might as well morph into a bookworm buried in his books, to take care of it, Shi Fengju figured it’s better to save his breath rather than to unnecessarily infuriate himself.
"Right, right, let Fengju send soone to take care of it! Fengju is the most reliable when it cos to handling matters!" Mrs. Wang expressed her concern as well.
Unexpectedly, Shi Yui’s expression suddenly revealed so unease and she stamred, "No need, no need! Uh, we took care, took care of everything before, uh, before coming here, really, all settled! No trouble for second brother needed!"
"Really?" Shi Fengju eyed her with suspicion and said, "Good! I think I’ll still have the housekeeper take a look, to be safe." He said with a hint of mocking laughter, "After all, brother-in-law is a scholar and might be unfamiliar with these worldly matters. If he were to be deceived, that would be unfortunate! It’s better for to send the housekeeper to be assured!"
"I think that’s best!" Mrs. Wang agreed.
"No need!" Shi Yui was almost driven to stand up in her urgency, her voice nearly out of control.
Alard, she quickly tried to regain her composure with a smile, "Really, no need! Mother, with second brother so busy every day, if he has to worry about these trivial things for , our Master and I would feel terribly sorry! We’ve truly taken care of everything, no need for such trouble."
Mrs. Wang humphed and sighed, "What trouble are you talking about! The real trouble hasn’t even been ntioned yet!"
"Mother..." Shi Yui’s complexion turned even more awkward, and she sheepishly lowered her head.
"Mother, elder sister, are you keeping sothing from ? Spit it out!" Shi Fengju glanced at them and added, "You know my temper."
The implication was, even if you don’t say it, in such a small place, I can still find out by myself.
Mrs. Wang hastily said, "I was just about to discuss it with you! It’s just, that, your brother-in-law owes Guangwen Store 600 taels of silver, owes Hongtai Restaurant 380 taels, owes Rongji Silk Shop 240 taels, and owes..."
"Enough, mother!" Shi Fengju, feeling a mix of headache and anger, curtly said, "Do you have the bills? Give them to !"
"Oh, yes, here!" Shi Yui gave an awkward smile and quickly retrieved them from her person to hand over to Shi Fengju.
Annoyance rose from his energy core to his head. Although he had asked for it, seeing these bills, which should belong to his brother-in-law, being pulled out by his sister, Shi Fengju still felt uncontainably angry!
That good-for-nothing!
Shi Fengju unfolded the papers with a detached look and browsed from the beginning. Heh, quite the collection indeed! Thick as thieves, it covered every aspect of daily life from clothing and food to housing and transportation. Just based on this list, one could furnish an entire household.
So snack shop five taels, so grocery store three taels—while they seed laughable, Shi Fengju couldn’t be bothered to get angry. His eyes flew open, his face cold as he said, "Zuihua Building 800 taels?"
"Zuihua Building?" Mrs. Wang’s complexion changed, too, and she said with a heavy face, "What’s this about? Why didn’t you tell this last night?"
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