The old madam patted Qi Zhenzhen’s back, her smile genuine. In the past, as the lady of the marquis’s mansion, she had always maintained a dignified demeanor, and even her own son had never been so close to her. Later, when she became a grandmother, she was naturally stern. Her grandchildren would visit her daily merely to pay their respects, treating it as a required task, speaking a few words before leaving.
She didn’t know when she had started to yearn for the familial affection she had never valued before. It was at this time that Zhenzhen returned. Although at first, she had been cautiously trying to please the girl, later, this little one had truly come to regard her as family, loving and respecting her grandmother from the bottom of her heart. This feeling was truly wonderful.
“Nanny Fang, go fetch the title deeds for all of Gui’s properties,” the old madam said.
Nanny Fang entered the inner chambers and soon returned with a box about a foot long.
The old madam took it and opened it. Inside was a stack of yellowed papers.
She took them out one by one—they were title deeds and property deeds.
“Zhenzhen, these were all acquired by my grandmother when she was at home. They were meant to be my dowry,” the old madam said, her slightly clouded eyes now sparkling. “There are several estates and a few shops. No large sums, but a steady stream of smaller ones. Accumulated over time, they are quite considerable. These are managed by my eldest brother on my maternal side. While I was in the marquis’s mansion, my life was worry-free, and I lacked nothing, so I implicitly allowed them to keep the profits, considering it my support for my maternal family. Alas, it has nurtured them into a bunch of parasites. Now, I am giving these to you. In the future, you can send people you trust to settle accounts with the Li family and reclaim these properties entirely.”
Qi Zhenzhen guessed that it was the recent visit by Lu Shi and the younger generation of the Li family that had made the old madam see the current state of the Li family. Disappointed, she no longer wished to continue subsidizing the Li family.
“Grandmother, I cannot accept these.”
“There are limitations to what else I can give you because those things are officially registered. Your father and his legitimate wife know exactly how much there is. Mingzhu and Yi Ge’er will take the lion’s share, and you and Xuanxuan will receive very little. These items are not registered, so no one can interfere,” the old madam said very seriously. “I don’t want to keep feeding those ungrateful wretches anymore, so you will help your grandmother, won’t you?”
Qi Zhenzhen knew that the old madam genuinely cared for her. Since she had brought them out, she would surely find a way to make her accept them. If she refused, it would displease the old madam by rejecting her kindness.
“Grandmother, then I will accept them. However, please don’t treat me like a poor, penniless child who constantly needs your help. If nothing else, the business I have with the Qian family alone brings in more income than many shops. When I was in the countryside, I heard that the Qian family is the wealthiest in Da Feng, their wealth rivaling the nation. Their businesses never fail to make money. How much profit would one-tenth of that be?”
“Those from the Qian family are your own earnings, so they are your private funds. They cannot be treated the same,” the old madam said. “Private funds are private funds. When you get married in the future, they will still be private funds and absolutely cannot be used for joint expenses. Do you understand?”
Qi Zhenzhen nodded, “I understand, Grandmother.”
“This is not to teach you to harbor ill intentions towards your husband in the future, but men are fickle. He can be deeply in love with you, or he can be deeply in love with someone else. When he is good to you, you are naturally wonderful, and life is smooth. But if he turns his affections to another, you cannot pull him back. At that time, the only thing that can provide you with security is the private funds you hold in your hand,” the old madam said. “Of course, I hope you will be deeply in love with your husband from beginning to end after you marry. But this is just a beautiful wish. How many men remain devoted to their first wife?”
“When he is very good to you, you are five parts good to him. When he is seven parts good to you, you are still five parts good. When he is not even five parts good to you, you are still five parts good to him. In this way, others will think your five parts are ten, and in their eyes, when discussing right and wrong, you will not be at fault. The other five parts of goodness, you use to treat yourself well, and life will not be so difficult.” Da Feng Novel Network.
“These are things I have pondered over for most of my life. I cannot say they are absolutely correct, but I believe that by doing so, no matter what situation you encounter in your husband’s family in the future, you will not lose yourself.”
Qi Zhenzhen rubbed her head vigorously in the old madam’s embrace. “Grandmother, your granddaughter will remember everything you say. Grandmother, please don’t think about these things anymore. Father is overseeing the affairs of the mansion, so you can relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself, living a comfortable life.”
“Alright, from now on, Grandmother will not worry. I will listen to Zhenzhen and live a comfortable life.”
The Marquis’s study.
Qi Tianming appraised the young man standing before him. He was fresh and handsome, tall and fair, possessing a truly fine appearance.
“Zi Jing pays his respects to Uncle,” the young man’s voice was clear and crisp, his expression composed as he bowed to Qi Tianming with neither subservience nor arrogance.
“Very good, very good. The boy from back then has grown up. I have received your father’s letter. My intention is for you to stay at the mansion. Although your Lu family’s residence in the capital is managed by someone, it has been uninhabited for many years and is rather desolate. It is not as good as living in the marquis’s mansion,” Qi Tianming said with a smile. “My nephew from my wife’s side will also be participating in the imperial examinations next year. If you two live together, you can discuss academic matters.”
Lu Chen cupped his hands. “My father instructed me to obey Uncle’s arrangements for everything once I arrived in the capital. Zi Jing respectfully accepts your kind offer and will trouble Uncle.”
“We are family sooner or later, why be so formal?” Qi Tianming patted Lu Chen’s shoulder and said with a smile, “From now on, consider this your own home. Don’t be reserved. I will take you to meet my son. Although he is much younger than you, his scholarship might not be inferior to yours. He is currently studying under a former scholar from the Imperial Academy!”
When speaking of Qi Yi, Qi Tianming’s brows and eyes were full of smiles, his mouth unable to close.
It wasn’t that he was boasting. His son had a great talent for reading, and he wasn’t a bookworm. Tutor Zheng had even taken him as his personal disciple.
One had to know how many families in the capital wished to hire Tutor Zheng to teach their children. He disdained their stupidity and ultimately chose Qi Yi. He was the youngest and the most scholarly.
“Zi Jing, you are knowledgeable. Please teach Yi Ge’er more, lest he become conceited from hearing too much praise at such a young age.”
“Your nephew will exchange ideas with my younger brother Qi.”
Qi Tianming led Lu Chen to the entrance of the Green Pine Courtyard. From a distance, they saw that a wooden frame had been set up in a pavilion, and on it rested a piece of purplish-red wood more than two feet long. Qi Yi stood motionless before the wood.
Qi Tianming, who was about to speak, swallowed his words. He knew his son was in the process of conception, and the process of conception was very important. If it were interrupted, he might lose his inspiration. He gestured to Lu Chen, and the two turned back.