Chapter 92: The Wicked Mother Jiang

  Qin Dai Xin didn't think this matter would involve the Chang'an family, so she perked up her ears and listened.

  It turned out that the Chang'an family had received a message from their wife to take them to the city for New Year's, and she even sent her own housekeeper to pick them up. They were naturally overjoyed, thinking about the glory of serving in front of the old lady back then. Each of them was excited, feeling that the Qin family would not be complete without them. Especially Chang'an, who had been relying on his mother's former prestige and was considered a big shot in Xiaqianzhuang. The servants under him treated him with respect, thinking that he was their master. Thinking about staying in Xiaqianzhuang, although they ate well and lived leisurely, it was still a rural area with little wealth. Now that they had gone to the city, they would have to take on a title like general manager to be worthy of themselves. Not only would they arrange matters on the scene, but they would also see more silver money, and when the time came to marry a second wife, their lives would truly be meaningful.

  Chang'an is a young master with a slave's fate, nothing he does turns out right, yet he always says that if he had a good family background and could study, he would be a top scholar.

  "Miss, have you ever heard of such a principle? He is not content with his own life and pushes all the blame onto others. If he were clever, he would focus on doing his job well, but instead, he only thinks about things that are none of his business. He daydreams about being a young master, how ridiculous!" Chunli said with disdain.

  Here is the translation:

  "That Chang'an, who had brought his old and young family members to Taizhou, first went to pay respects to his wife's mother by kowtowing to her. Then he went to see his grandmother-in-law. Chang'an's mother was an elderly woman who served beside his grandmother-in-law for many years. His grandmother-in-law also remembered her past hardships and the good service she had provided to their family, so she looked up to her. But this Chang'an was a scoundrel, thinking he was some kind of young master, and actually set his sights on one of the maids in his grandmother-in-law's household, shamelessly asking for her hand in marriage without considering his own worth. His wife didn't like it but didn't dare say anything. It seemed that Chang'an's mother had grown old and foolish, forgetting what kind of person his grandmother-in-law was, so she brazenly went to ask on their behalf. Not to mention how his grandmother-in-law felt about this, the little maid who had caught Chang'an's eye would rather jump into a well and die than follow such a scoundrel." Chunli told Qin Daihe all about it in detail.

  "Miss, guess whether Chang'an will end up marrying that little girl or not?" Ruyi asked jokingly.

  Qin Dai Xin pretended to think for a moment and said: "I guess he didn't get married!"

  Chunli asked: "How did Miss guess it, and won't let him marry now?" A few doubts flashed in the eyes of the little maid.

  Qin Dai's heart smiled, what kind of person is Fang Shi? What is her temperament like, doesn't she know herself? Only the prefectural officials are allowed to set fires, but the common people are not allowed to light lamps. How can she let a family member ride on her head? Others are strict with themselves, but she is strict with others. This time in Chang'an, it's likely that he has miscalculated, and won't be able to get any benefits from Fang Shi.

  "Miss guessed it right, this Chang'an not only failed to win the beauty back, but also suffered a great loss!"

  After hearing what Chang'an Mother said, Fang Shi didn't show any displeasure and simply told her to send someone to ask about the meaning of the maid's words. He then sent someone to call Fang Wanru over and told her about Chang'an Mother's matter. Fang Wanru was well aware of her aunt's temperament and knew that she disliked slaves relying on their seniority to be arrogant and spoiled, so she carefully explained why she had let the Chang'an family come to the mansion for New Year's. After hearing this, Fang Shi didn't have any major reaction and simply instructed Fang Wanru to handle it. However, once Fang Wanru took charge of the matter, it immediately took a different turn. She first sent someone to secretly investigate what the Chang'an family had been up to since entering the mansion, and then had someone go to the small front village to secretly check the accounts, even bringing back all the private belongings of the Chang'an family. Fortunately, Qin Dai had previously instructed someone to seal them away, so it saved a lot of trouble.

  "After the Chang'an family moved into the mansion, they naturally looked down on the maids and servant women. Not only did they put on airs as if they were the masters, but they also kept trying to get their hands into the kitchen. Miss, don't you think it's ridiculous how shallow they are? They even want to take a share of the tiny profits from the kitchen?"

  Qin Dai thought, fearing that while spending New Year's in the mansion, she had seen something good and couldn't bear to part with it.

  That's a fact!

  In the Chang'an government office, they ate well, and even the dishes served to the lower-ranking staff were more exquisite than usual. This stirred up thoughts in his mind, wondering if he could somehow get into the kitchen and steal some dried goods or fresh seafood to sell outside. He went a few times but didn't succeed and was even glared at by the kitchen staff several times. However, this guy had thick skin and didn't feel embarrassed about it. Someone with good intentions told a few people in charge, who naturally reported it to Fang Wanru. Fang Wanru thought this was an opportunity, since the old lady wasn't managing anymore, who could still control things?

  As a result, the Chang'an family not only failed to gain any benefits but also fell into the crime of being an internal traitor. At first, these people naturally refused to admit it and insisted that Lady Tai should take charge. How could Fang Wanru let them have their way? She naturally presented all the evidence one by one, not only exposing the irregularities of this family in the mansion but also revealing how they had embezzled money from the rewards for the servants in Xiaqianzhuang over the years and tampered with the harvest behind people's backs. Although the behavior of this family was enough to be investigated by the officials, Fang Wanru took into account that they were old people in the mansion and re-sentenced them, only driving them out and leaving some silver and clothes for their daily life, which was considered a great kindness. As for the money they had accumulated over the years, of course, it all belonged to the public treasury.

  "Miss, the Chang An family has finally gotten their retribution." Ruyi recalled the scene when she and her two servants were banished to Xia Qian Zhuang. At that time, Miss was an unfavored concubine-born daughter, and in the eyes of the Chang An family, she probably didn't have much authority as a mistress either. The attitude they had back then was truly one of "the slave bullying the master".

  The three masters and servants chatted for a while, then saw the curtains outside moving slightly. Yu Yi went forward and asked, "What's going on?"

  The little girl whispered a few words in Ruyi's ear, but saw Ruyi's face change greatly, and hurriedly waved her hand to let the little girl go down. She came to Qindai's side in three steps and two steps, and said urgently: "Miss, Lin Daxing's family has arrived."

  As soon as she finished speaking, Chunli let out a cry of surprise. Seeing Qindai Xin turn her head to look at her, she hastily covered her mouth with her hand, with a somewhat guilty conscience.

  Lin Daxing's family? Qin Dai Xin didn't know why these two maidservants reacted so strongly. In her impression, Lin Daxing was just a gatekeeper in the outer court, and his wife only followed the housekeeper to guard the inner courtyard at night. What did she come to see her for? Even if there was something wrong with her coming, the two maidservants didn't need to react so strongly, right? Ruyi usually seemed steady, but today she also panicked, could it be just because of Lin Daxing's family?

  She turned her head and glanced at the two maidservants, seeing that they both had worried expressions, and Chunli occasionally glanced out of the window with her eyes.

  Qin Dai Xin decided to hold back and get to know this Lin Daxing's family well.

  "Bring people over!"

  As if he wanted to say something but stopped himself, in the end he didn't say anything and turned around to call Lin Daizhi's family to come in.

  Lin Daxing's wife, surnamed Jiang, had a rough and fierce appearance. She was thin and wore a dark-colored open-fronted jacket, which made her look even more stingy and unpleasant to talk to.

  "The slave has seen Third Miss and asked about her well-being." She smiled fawningly as soon as she saw Qin Dai Xin, revealing two rows of yellowed big teeth.

  Qin Dai Xin saw her like this, and her eyebrows furrowed immediately. She turned her head to one side, not even looking at her, and asked: "What's the matter?"

  That Jiang also didn't have eyes, couldn't see that Qin Dai's heart didn't welcome her, and went forward saying: "Third Miss, do you remember the matter you promised this old slave two years ago?"

  Two years ago? Qin Dai's heart thudded, wasn't this coming to expose her own shortcomings? How could she have known what she had promised two years ago when she had only been with him for half a year?

  As if sensing Qin Dai's perplexed expression, Lin Daixing's face lit up with joy, and he hastily said: "Lin's family is here. Our young lady is a noble person with many important things to attend to; how could she possibly remember your affairs? Even if she had agreed to something initially, by now she must have changed her mind. You should know better than to bother our young lady." His tone was urgent and anxious.

  "Mrs. Jiang, you're just making excuses because you don't want your son to marry that servant girl, aren't you? My son isn't going to marry you anyway, so what's the hurry? Thinking of this, she turned her face away and said with a sour tone: "Oh! Miss Ruyi, you're speaking as if you're a young lady, but can't even remember things like us common people. You agreed to it back then, didn't you? On the day that servant girl comes of age, my family will be taking her in as our daughter-in-law. This is something you shouldn't be unaware of, right? Ailian will be fifteen this year, and if I'm not mistaken, her birthday is on the seventeenth of the first month?"

  Yu Yi was speechless and could only look at Qin Dai Xin, hoping that Miss Qin would not agree to marry into the Lin Da Xing family.

  Is there such a thing in here? Qin Dai's heart was speechless, how many rotten messes did the master leave behind after all?

  "Third Miss, after this New Year's festival, Ai Lian will be fifteen years old. You see, isn't it...?" Although Jiang Shi didn't finish her sentence, she believed that Qin Dai Xin could understand what she meant.

  There is a hint of confidence in his words.

  Qin Dai Xin did not speak, and instead shifted her gaze to the two maidservants, wanting to see what they would say.

  Feeling Qin Dai's intention, Chunli's courage also grew, and she said: "Miss, Chunli begs of you, Ailian is also a pitiful one, besides it wasn't her fault back then, you..." Before Chunli could finish speaking, a sharp cry suddenly rang out from inside the room.

  "What's the meaning of this?" Jiang Shi, though somewhat subdued in Qin Dai's presence, still had a few hints of a shrewish tone, "It was Ailian herself who made the mistake back then, and Third Miss made the decision. Are you saying that Third Miss was wrong?" The words were full of self-righteousness.

  Chun Li was so angry that she had a lump in her throat and couldn't get a word out.

  Qin Daixin smiled silently and said to Jiang Shi: "The meaning of your words, if I don't do as you say now, isn't it that nothing will come of it?"

  Jiang Shi felt a twitch in her right eyelid and hastily said: "Old slave didn't mean it that way, this isn't..."

  "What is this? You, a mere servant, dare to lecture me? What are you?" Qin Dai's anger was stirred. A slave, daring to speak to her in such a manner. Although she was a modern person at heart, she had also seen the injustices of the world and had quickly adapted to the treatment unique to this class after arriving here. Her behavior and actions were no different from those of ancient people. She couldn't change this society now, nor did she want to. All she could do was treat each person who treated her with sincerity kindly, like Ruyi and Chunli, her loyal maidservants. She wouldn't hesitate to reward them generously or show mercy; but towards someone like Jiang Shi, she didn't mind teaching her a lesson, making it clear who the real mistress was!

  Mrs. Jiang was taken aback for a moment, although the delicate and refined young woman in front of her had an air of nonchalance about her, the words she spoke were forceful and direct. Even if Mrs. Jiang was foolish, she understood that Third Miss was angry and might not be easy to talk to. Thinking that the daughter-in-law she had set her sights on was slipping away from her, she became anxious. Her own useless son would never be able to find a wife on his own, and even the marriage of her younger son would have to be delayed. If it weren't for Qin Dai's anger two years ago, how could someone as beautiful and capable as Ailian have agreed to marry her son? Having a capable and hardworking daughter-in-law at home would make life easier, thinking about this, Mrs. Jiang couldn't care about anything else, and repeatedly said: "Third Miss, you can't go back on your promise from two years ago!"

  P.S: Wish you all a happy new year!