A Beautiful Duchess with a Dark Heart – Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Just You Wait

Wen Qian picked up the letter and looked at it carefully.

This was a list and description of Chen Shi’s dowry. He couldn’t help but snort coldly in his heart, demoted to a thousand miles away, but these things were kept!

Wen Yu saw her father looking at it seriously, but she felt sad and ridiculous in her heart.

This man was good at studying, had a stable official career, and knew how to protect his mother since he was a child. It could be said that he was a very decent person.

But he, for a woman, actually did these shameless and vicious things.

Old Madam Wen simply treated Wen Yu as a serious person to discuss matters with: “Your mother’s dowry is divided into two parts. Your grandmother has some, and your father has some. The ones in your grandmother’s hands are all objects. Ornaments, jewelry, fabrics, medicinal herbs, and so on. They have been sealed in the warehouse and haven’t been touched.”

“However, after so many years, some things will be weathered and damaged. After your elder brother’s wedding, they will all be handed over to you! At that time, you can check the inventory. If there are any missing or damaged items, just tell your grandmother directly, and she will make it up for you.”

“Grandmother’s kindness, granddaughter accepts. However, these things, after a long time, some loss and damage are reasonable. Even if mother personally managed them, it would be unavoidable. What is checked out is what it is, granddaughter will not say half a word more.”

She cared about the property, but what she cared about more was her mother’s rights!

It was to slap them in the face!

The Old Madam glanced at her eldest son. She raised Wen Yu without starving or freezing her. But just because she could say these words, she had backbone and boldness, she actually looked a bit like herself…

If Wen Yu knew, she would definitely say: Ptui! I’m not like you!

“The ones in your father’s hands are shops and fields. You are a girl, and your uncle is not here. What will you do when you take them over?”

“Grandmother, granddaughter intends to manage the properties herself. So next, she will need to add some manpower and need the convenience of going out.”

The Old Madam was also stunned, this girl was really bold, how could this be easy to do? “You, you can read accounts and manage people?”

“Granddaughter can do it to some extent, and she will also learn it carefully.” Wen Yu was very calm.

The Old Madam didn’t believe it at all! However, she thought it didn’t matter… Just give it to her first…

“As for manpower, you can see if your father has other arrangements for the original people. If it’s not enough, ask your second uncle and second aunt to provide some. If it’s still not enough, you can also buy or hire some. As for going out… If it’s arranged properly, grandmother can also agree to you!”

So many things that were against the rules, but the Old Madam could agree so calmly, Wen Yu felt strangely smooth. However, let’s take it one step at a time!

“Grandmother, granddaughter’s idea is to first hand over and verify the properties. At the same time, add manpower. With manpower, granddaughter can arrange things at home. Even if she occasionally goes out, with a carriage and guards prepared, it will be very safe. Father, as for the people in the shops, I wonder if father has other arrangements.”

“I won’t move the manpower for now. However, many of them were carefully cultivated by Madam. In the future, they will definitely have other uses.” Wen Qian said, looking at the paper.

Wen Yu nodded: “Since they were carefully cultivated by Madam, daughter shouldn’t keep them. You can give daughter a list. If there is a shortage of manpower and a shop really can’t be opened, it doesn’t matter if it’s closed first.”

So don’t try to control me with manpower! “Grandmother, granddaughter needs a room in the front yard. She can’t let them enter the inner courtyard when meeting the stewards outside!”

The Old Madam saw that she had thought of a lot and smiled: “Look!” She smiled at her eldest son, “This girl’s boldness, if she were a man, our family would have nothing to worry about!”

Wen Qian didn’t answer. He finished reading the list, “This list is generally correct. However, the properties in my hands have also changed over the past ten years. I was busy with official duties and couldn’t take care of them, so there were also losses and disappearances. I’m in a hurry to go to the capital, and I’ll hand them over to you after your elder brother’s wedding. If there’s anything wrong, we’ll discuss it again when your uncle is here.”

The Old Madam had to help her son round it up: “Managing properties naturally has losses and gains. Your father’s priority is official duties, and these are just done in passing. So, Wen Yu, don’t have too high expectations.”

Wen Yu nodded: “Granddaughter understands these principles. Moreover, it costs a considerable amount to raise granddaughter. It’s only natural for my mother’s dowry to be used to raise her daughter.”

Hearing this, the two heads of the family looked at her, really not knowing how to react…

“But, father,” Wen Yu said again, “These properties need to match the accounts. You can’t default on debts, including silver and goods owed to others, and the regular silver and dividends of those who help manage the properties.”

For matters that are halfway done, you need to leave behind the people and resources to complete them. If it causes losses, you have to make up the silver. You can’t owe taxes.

✿✿✿

“If the shop is rented out, daughter can give up the rent before it’s returned. But the rent collected in advance that belongs to the future must be returned.”

“The cost of using people must be according to the previous standards and cannot be changed temporarily.”

Old Madam Wen and Wen Qian were both a little surprised. She said it in a clear and orderly manner. Was this also taught by her uncle?

It shouldn’t be, right?!

How could this be taught in a short time?

The Old Madam nodded and smiled, “Don’t worry! Grandmother will make the decision on this. However, you are a girl. Doing these things is very risky. Not only will it affect your own reputation and safety, it will even affect your younger sisters! If something unexpected happens, and your uncle asks me and your father, what will we say?!”

Wen Qian’s heart skipped a beat, but he showed no unusual expression.

“Don’t worry, grandmother, my uncle has made it very clear that he approves of granddaughter no matter what she’s like.”

“That’s good! The things you asked for are too special, your grandmother and your father have to be careful. Let’s decide this for now. But don’t tell anyone yet.”

“These two days, write down the people you want. For those in the family, ask your second aunt to help you arrange. For those outside, your grandmother and your second aunt both know reliable intermediaries. Buying or hiring is very cheap.”

Things went unexpectedly smoothly, which made Wen Yu a little excited. After everything was settled, Wen Yu bowed and retreated. After she left,

Wen Qian looked at her back without speaking.

The Old Madam’s smile disappeared, and her face darkened. Heh… She was still a child, what had she seen?

Did she think she had grown wings?

Did she have a backer?

If she dared to play this trick in front of me, just you wait!

✿✿✿

After Wen Yu returned to her room, she was with Yan Zhu, and she didn’t hide it from her. She told Yan Zhu in detail what had just happened.

Yan Zhu listened seriously and blinked, very puzzled.

Wen Yu asked: “What’s wrong?”

“Zhu Zhu is curious, how could it be so easy! If they were really good to Miss, why didn’t they treat her well all these years? But if they weren’t good to Miss, how could they return such a large amount of property?”

Wen Yu smiled.

“Miss, it’s really strange! Even if, as you said, the Wen family has had a good life these past few years, who would think they have too much silver! These years, apart from the clothes and jewelry that everyone in the family has, what have they given you? Moreover, you asked them for it, not them taking the initiative to give it to you…”

“My good Zhu Zhu, you are so smart!” Wen Yu hugged her. Although Yan Zhu was older than her, but for her, who had lived two lives, she treated her as her own younger sister.

“Zhu Zhu is not smart, but she looks good, hehe.” Yan Zhu said proudly.

“It doesn’t matter, take the first step. Then, meet each challenge as it comes.”

“Okay, Zhu Zhu will accompany you, let’s just wait and see!”