Chapter 91
Wen Feng did not return with Old Madam Wen.
Although the villa over there had been sold, there were still some matters to be dealt with.
As soon as Old Madam Wen arrived home, Old Master Wen sent a steward to inquire about this and that, implying that the selling price was not much higher than the buying price, and he had not benefited from it!
Old Madam Wen was too lazy to talk nonsense with the steward and dismissed him on the grounds that the procedures had not been completed. However, she knew that this matter was not over yet.
She couldn’t help but curse: “At the beginning, when Ah Shang wanted to sell this house, I said I would take it over. This damned old man was not happy. It was as if I and the Song family were trying to trick him! Did we use a single tael of his silver? Now that there’s a price difference in the sale, he wants to share the benefits! Why doesn’t he mention how much was spent on maintenance over the years?! This damned thing, I really…”
At her age, what was the point of regretting marrying him?
Xiao Ji inquired about the news. After hearing it, Wen Yu smiled but said nothing.
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News came from Rainbow Phoenix Pavilion that they could go for a fitting. They said it would take a long time, and it would be better to come in batches.
Old Madam Wen directly took her eldest granddaughter-in-law and Wen Jiao, asking Wen Yu to take Wen Wan and Wen Su there later.
This was exactly what Wen Yu wanted.
She was not idle either. First, she met with Xiao Ji’s father and inquired about the situation of the properties, then she took Yan Zhu, Xiao Ji, and Xiangshu out.
To visit Liu Lanfang.
Because they went directly to the door, the servants of the Liu family, although they did not dare to say anything, their faces were not very good.
Xiao Ji gave out rewards, and then they smiled and ran all the way to announce their arrival.
After a while, Eldest Madam Liu came out.
This Eldest Madam Liu had just gotten married not long ago, wearing gold and silver, with thick powder on her face. Looking at Wen Yu, and then at Yan Zhu, the sourness on her face was indescribable. “Oh, it’s Miss Wen!”
Wen Yu smiled: “Eldest Sister-in-Law Liu! Oh, I’m sorry for coming without saying hello in advance. It’s just… Originally, I thought I could see Ah Fang at the Heavenly Dragon Temple, but I didn’t. I miss her, and I’m out on business today, so I came to see her and bring her some things.”
“Thank you for thinking of her, Miss Wen! My family doesn’t have a villa there! If we want to rent a house, oh my, it’s very expensive recently…”
She secretly hated them in her heart. Why were these two so good-looking?! She had heard that the Wen and Liu families were close before, and her damned husband loved to look at the one next to Miss Wen!
Wen Yu nodded: “That’s right! Those bad shopkeepers are taking advantage of the situation! Eh, where’s Ah Fang?!”
“My mother-in-law is not at home…”
“Oh, Sister-in-Law! I just want to see Ah Fang! Look! Just to give her and her little brother some consecrated Buddhist prayer beads. Come, come, Sister-in-Law, take a few strings too, for safety!”
Xiao Ji held two flat baskets and handed one to Eldest Madam Liu. When she saw it, it was not just Buddhist prayer beads… her smile became more sincere.
“I’ll call my younger sister-in-law. You can talk, but the time can’t be long. My mother-in-law is strict with her rules, and she will scold me later…”
“Got it, got it!”
Not long after, Liu Lanfang came.
Seeing her complexion, Wen Yu felt a pain in her heart.
Liu Lanfang smiled: “Ah Yu, you’re here?!”
“Yes, I didn’t see you at the Heavenly Dragon Temple, so I brought you and your little brother some Buddhist prayer beads. May your little brother be safe and healthy.”
“Thank you.”
Wen Yu said: “Good Sister-in-Law, can I say a few private words with Ah Fang?”
Eldest Madam Liu glanced at Liu Lanfang: “Hey, you two girls, what private words can you have? What can you say or do?”
The smile on Wen Yu’s face disappeared.
Thinking of the many things she had just received, Eldest Sister-in-Law Liu said: “But, since you’ve asked, how can I refuse? Just don’t take too long. Little Sister, talk properly, don’t talk about useless things!” She glared at Liu Lanfang, took the basket, and turned to go out.
“Ah Fang, how is your little brother?!”
“Ah Yu, I’m very happy you came to see me. I shouldn’t be ruining your mood. But… you know what? Last time I went to your place alone. After I came back, my little brother was beaten by my cousin. He had such a big bump on his head… He doesn’t know how to cry, and he doesn’t know how to say it hurts, he just hides in the corner of the bed. Even beggars on the side of the road, if they don’t have copper coins, they will throw half a cornbread. Tell me, how can they be so cruel?!”
She might have been holding it in for too long, and she said it all at once.
Yan Zhu was the most emotional and cried along with her.
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“Ah Fang…” Wen Yu was both angry and helpless.
“My aunt went to the Heavenly Dragon Temple! Such a person, actually went to worship Buddha…”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Liu Lanfang shook her head and looked at her with warmth in her eyes: “Ah Yu, I’m very happy you came to see me!”
Before the two of them could say a few words, Eldest Sister-in-Law Liu came in. Seeing tears on Liu Lanfang’s face, she was very angry and vented her dissatisfaction with a clang.
Liu Lanfang did not want Wen Yu to suffer this, so she hurriedly asked her to leave.
As soon as Wen Yu went out, she ran into Eldest Madam Liu who was returning home.
Seeing Wen Yu, Eldest Madam Liu’s face was not very good either.
“Eldest Madam Liu!” Wen Yu smiled and stepped forward to greet her.
“Oh, Miss Wen! You’re…” She looked around. “Who did you come out with? If I had known that a distinguished guest from the Wen family was coming, I would have waited at home! How rude!”
Wen Yu smiled, covering her mouth with a handkerchief: “Eldest Madam Liu, don’t bother looking. I came out by myself, but I did bring all my servants.”
Yan Zhu was beside her, followed by two maids, a coachman, and a middle-aged man.
“Oh, the Wen family is really an open-minded family, tsk tsk. The Liu family is not.”
“Yes. My grandmother is really open-minded. But! I also have important matters that I must handle myself. I guess Eldest Madam Liu doesn’t know yet, my mother’s dowry has been entrusted to me by my grandmother. If there are properties, I have to be the head of the household. Eh? Eldest Madam Liu, Lanfang should be like me too.”
“Miss Wen, every family has its own rules. You can’t inquire about this! Besides… The Liu family would never let an unmarried girl run around.”
“Well, the family rules are different. However, the law is the same for everyone. The eldest and second branches of the Liu family have already separated. Lanfang’s parents are gone, so the property should be inherited by Lanfang and her brother. I was just giving Lanfang some advice!”
“What? You’re giving her advice? What does it have to do with you?! Miss Wen, don’t think that just because your father has been promoted, you have the right to meddle in other people’s affairs!” Eldest Madam Liu became anxious.
“Eldest Madam Liu, to be honest, ever since my father was promoted, Magistrate Zhang’s wife has become much closer to the Wen family! On the way to the Heavenly Dragon Temple this time, Zhang family’s Jiang Qing even said that he would often come to visit my grandmother in the future! Haha, so, my father’s influence, our family can indeed borrow some. Haha…” Wen Yu smiled proudly.
“Humph! You can’t interfere in other people’s private affairs, do you really think my Liu family is vegetarian?” Eldest Madam Liu was somewhat blustering.
“The Liu family?! Hmm… To say that Magistrate Liu has not moved up in his position for so many years, it’s really bad luck. Oh my, look at me! Why do I always tell the truth? No, no, I’m wrong again! Magistrate Liu is a hidden talent! I also heard that Eldest Young Master is also planning to become an official…”
Eldest Madam Liu endured for a long time, but in the end she did not dare to curse. Hearing her mention her son, she became even more vigilant.
“Eldest Madam Liu, I didn’t see Lanfang at the Heavenly Dragon Temple this time… Sigh, you know, our Jiangzhou is not big, there are only so many decent families. If something happens, everyone will know. So, I actually heard some gossip when I came back!”
“What do you like to hear…”
“Eldest Madam Liu, I’m not here to gossip! I’m genuinely thinking for you. I’m good friends with Lanfang, of course I don’t want her uncle and aunt to ruin their reputation, don’t you think?
Sigh, those words are really not very pleasant to hear! They say that you and Magistrate Liu are greedy for the property of the second brother, and that you abuse his children.
Some people even say they want to spread this matter to Madam Zhang’s ears, and through Madam Zhang, let Magistrate Zhang personally intervene!
But this way, regardless of whether there is such a thing, Eldest Young Master Liu’s future will also be affected, right? You must not be careless. You have to find a way to suppress these bad words.
If your reputation is ruined… You have four sons, how can you still live here? How terrible? Don’t you think so?”
She rambled on for a long time, with a look of “I’m doing this for your own good”.
Eldest Madam Liu was both shocked and angry, unable to get a word in edgewise. Being talked about like this, she felt guilty. “Humph!” She flung her sleeves and entered the house, slamming the door shut.