"Nonsense!" Old Mrs. Guan scolded with a sullen face, "You are just a little kid, you just don't know the seriousness of your words. Do you think it's such a simple matter to separate and live separately..." Having said this, Old Mrs. Guan suddenly stopped talking as if she was speechless, with a hint of panic on her face.
Mrs. Miao hurriedly asked, "Mother, what's wrong with you?" Fearing that Zhou Shaojin's words had angered the old lady, she hurriedly pushed Zhou Shaojin and said, "Why don't you apologize to your grandmother?" Her protective intention was evident in her words, and she advised Mrs. Guan, "Mother, don't be angry. Didn't you say it yourself? Children don't know the severity of their words. In two years, when she is older, everything will be fine. Don't be angry, she didn't mean it..."
Perhaps because this thought had flashed through his mind when he didn't know how to save the Cheng family, Zhou Shaojin shouted it out in desperation.
She couldn't help feeling ashamed and guilty.
The fifth branch had already divided up the family business, and the eldest branch was able to take out part of its own income to support the fourth branch, allowing it to maintain the family finances after the old master passed away. Later, it helped the fourth branch to invest in Yutai Bank, and the fourth branch's life got better. In a word, the eldest branch's kindness to the fourth branch is as great as a mountain... Now that the Cheng family is in trouble, she persuades the fourth branch to leave the Cheng family... Isn't it the same that they can share hardships but not wealth
She hurriedly apologized to Mrs. Guan: "Grandma, it's my fault. I will never think like this again..."
Zhou Shaojin secretly said in his heart: It won’t be too late to talk about dividing the family after she tells the eldest son’s family that the Cheng family will be confiscated and exterminated.
Old Lady Guan, however, seemed not to have heard what they said, and murmured, "So that's it! So that's it!"
Zhou Shaojin and others looked at each other in surprise.
The Zhou sisters winked at Mrs. Mian.
Mrs. Miao hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Mother, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
Old Madam Guan seemed to have just woken up from a dream. She stared blankly at Madam Miao for a long time, then she perked up. She looked at the three people in the room with a serious face and said in a deep voice: "You are not allowed to mention the matter of dividing the family. Not only can you not mention it, you are not even allowed to think about it. When your great-grandfather passed away, he once asked me and your father-in-law, saying that we were already five generations apart from the first, second and third houses. If we want to live separately, we can ask him while he is still alive, and your father-in-law and I don’t have to go through with it. If you want to enjoy the shade under the big tree and hope to get the protection of the first and second houses, then you must share the good and the bad in the future. No matter what happens, even if it means destroying your family, you must not betray Jiuru Lane, and you must not regret it. You must know that if you enjoy the family’s provision, you must contribute to the family... Now it seems that what your great-grandfather is talking about may be this income. I am afraid that this income is not from a legitimate source and will cause chaos in the family... "Speaking of this, Mrs. Guan showed a rare panic in her expression. She ordered Mrs. Miao: "None of you are allowed to reveal a word about this matter to others. This is a matter of life and death for Jiuru Lane. Go and call the eldest master in. The eldest master just feels that the situation between the first and second houses is a little strange, and he doesn't know how dangerous it is!"
Mrs. Miao couldn't sit still any longer, so she lifted her skirt and walked out.
Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin, one went to help old lady Guan, while the other went to make a new cup of hot tea for her.
Mrs. Guan drank the tea and calmed down. Then she said, "You are all good children. Don't tell your cousin Gao and cousin Yi about this for now. Let me and your uncle come up with a plan. Your uncle will be here soon. You should go back to Wanxiangju first!" Then she paused and said, "As for your father... If you want to tell him, remember not to write a letter, but send someone close to him to pass on the message."
The two sisters answered "yes" in unison and left Jiashu Hall.
Zhou Chujin pulled Zhou Shaojin to talk under the camphor tree beside the corridor.
"Do you think we should tell father about this?" She was in a conflicted mood. "If we tell father, he will definitely not sit idly by. But this is the Cheng family's business after all, how can father interfere? If we don't tell father, what if something happens to the fourth room? How can we face our grandmother, uncle, aunt and two cousins?"
Zhou Shaojin was delighted.
After her rebirth, what she had always been thinking about was to save the Cheng family from disaster, but she was young and of low status, and the masters treated her with great respect. Who knew that she had inadvertently shaken this foundation.
With the participation of the elders, maybe she wouldn't even have to tell anyone about her past life and the Cheng family could have avoided this disaster!
"Of course I have to tell my father." She said firmly, "After all, my father is the son-in-law of the Cheng family. If something happens to the Cheng family, even if my father is not implicated, I am afraid he will not have a good life in the future."
Zhou Chujin understood, but she didn't know what happened in the future like Zhou Shaojin did. When making a decision, especially when it came to the interests of the family and the survival of the family, she would always be a little hesitant. Her sister's decisive tone greatly encouraged her. She took a breath and said, "I'll send Ma Fushan to deliver a message to father. Let's see what he says, and then we sisters will make a decision!"
This is the best way.
Zhou Chujin hurriedly called Ma Fushan into the mansion.
When Mrs. Guan got the news, the eldest brother was relieved and whispered to Mrs. Mian, "It's worth it that I raised these sisters with all my heart and soul."
Mrs. Miao knew that Mrs. Guan was upset, so she smiled and teased her, "I have long treated them as my own children. Who knew you would still treat them differently?"
Old Madam Guan laughed and said with emotion: "If you can do this, I don't think we will be afraid even if something goes wrong in the first and second houses - everyone is united and their strength can break metal!"
Mrs. Miao nodded continuously.
In the afternoon, Zhou Shaojin went to Hanbi Mountain House to copy scriptures as usual, but she seemed much quieter than usual.
Xiao Tan asked Chun Wan quietly: "Is Miss Second Cousin in a bad mood?"
Chun Wan glanced at Zhou Shaojin and whispered, "Maybe Sister Shi Xiang is leaving the house. Sister Shi Xiang has been serving the Second Miss since she was eight years old."
"No wonder!" Xiao Tan responded, turned around and told Biyu, "Sister Shi Xiang is leaving the house, should we send her something as a reminder of her?"
Zhou Shaojin copied scriptures in Hanbi Mountain House for several months, and Shi Xiang came to serve him for several months. She had an easy-going personality and got along very well with Biyu and Xiaotan.
"Of course!" Biyu asked Feicui, Zhenzhu and Agate. All three said that they should give something. The other people in the mountain house knew about it and decided to chip in to give Shixiang something. As a result, Mrs. Guo was alarmed. Mrs. Guo smiled and said, "Shixiang must be leaving the house to get married. Biyu, please help me pack 20 taels of silver as a reward for Shixiang and say that it is my personal money for her."
Biyu agreed with a smile, and gave it to Wanxiangju along with the gold earrings and silver ingots that they had contributed to make for Shixiang.
Shi Xiang was deeply moved.
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to take her to kowtow to Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo smiled and said, "It takes a hundred years to be able to be in the same boat. You have been able to serve your young lady and come in and out of Hanbi Mountain House, so we can be considered destined to be together." She also told her that after she returned, she should respect her parents, behave properly, and not bring shame to the Cheng family.
Zhou Shaojin was listening nearby and felt touched.
She was able to be reborn, and was reborn at the age of twelve before her relationship with Cheng Lu became clear. Isn’t it also a kind of fate between her and the Cheng family
It is actually meaningless to pursue who is right and who is wrong.
She just needs to do what she is supposed to do.
As for the result, at most she would give her life to the Cheng family.
Anyway, she only lived to be twenty-five in her previous life.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly felt relieved.
She went to Cheng Chi with a smile on her face: "Uncle Chi, do you still want me to play chess with you?"
Cheng Chi was lazily lying in the Drunkard's chair under the porch of the upper room, staring at the sky in a daze.
Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Not today. Come back in a couple of days to play chess with me!" Then he asked, "Have you been learning chess from Aunt Shen these days? Have you made any progress?"
Zhou Shaojin smiled awkwardly and said, "Aunt Shen said that I can start looking at the chess records."
Cheng Chi said: "You learn pretty fast! Let's play Go next time, shall we?"
Zhou Shaojin chuckled and said, "Let's play Gobang! I still need to learn some more about Go."
Cheng Chi nodded solemnly.
Zhou Shaojin slipped away.
Cheng Chi couldn't help laughing.
Huaishan whispered, "The fourth master, the eldest master of the fourth house, is investigating our property and the property of the second and third houses."
"So what did he find out?" Cheng Chi said indifferently.
"No." Huaishan was a little worried. "After all, he is one of us. I'm afraid he knows more than others."
"If you know, then you know." Cheng Chi said disapprovingly, "Spread the word. If they want to live separately, Yutai's shares can be bought and sold at will."
Huaishan was stunned and said, "Wouldn't that be a bargain for the second wife?"
Cheng Chi sneered: "Hasn't he been looking for someone to open a bank these days? It's just right, I'll give him this opportunity!"
Huaishan rolled his eyes and understood.
The Second House itself does not have much property, and all the money is stored in Yongfusheng. Even if the Second House has several generations of daily expenses, it will not be able to use up all the money. If you want the Second House to use the money, the best way is to let the Second House do business. Only by doing business can there be a large loss. Once the Second House suffers a large loss, since there is no one in the Second House to support the family, the Second House will definitely panic. Once panicked, it is easy to make mistakes, and once mistakes are made, it is easy to be caught... It is simply a vicious cycle.
He couldn't help but smile and said, "Fourth Master, this is a good idea."
Cheng Chi sneered and said, "Don't worry, Cheng Xu is not that stupid."
Huaishan sneered.
Who knew Cheng Chi would change the subject and say, "However, although Cheng Xu is not stupid, he can't stand other people's stupidity. Fortunately, the money didn't go to others for free."
Yes, if the fourth and fifth rooms sold their shares, they would definitely be able to extort a large sum of money from the second room.
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Today's update, sisters.
PS: The second place pink votes are only a few votes away from us. Is it our destiny to be overtaken by the latecomers? Sisters, please give me pink votes, and keep me in first place this month!
※(To be continued)