However, Xie Ruzhuo did not intend to let her go, and continued, "After we have finished talking about the private accounts, we will settle the public accounts. You said that among the three bedrooms, your room took the most, so I will count it for you. Count it up. In addition to daily expenses, my father's annual salary is one thousand taels paid to the public account, and there are also three stones each of rice and flour, which is enough to cover the expenses of the Xie Mansion for a year. The second uncle is sent to work, although his salary is not as good as that of Beijing. Officials, but there are always more officials sent out, so it is two thousand taels. The second aunt's dowry shop also has hundreds of taels of silver handed over every year; as for the money that the third room pays to the public account every year - "
At this point, she paused deliberately, looking at Mr. Lu's red and white face, and then said, "Three thousand taels of silver, more than ten pieces of inferior cloth and antiques. However, the third uncle's shop suffered a loss the year before last, and the public account was allocated all at once. I gave 10,000 silver taels to help with the emergency, but I haven't paid it back yet. Last year, my third brother wanted to enter the school captain's camp, and he spent more than 3,000 silver taels in total, which was also from the public account. Third aunt, I remember this correctly, right?"
"Xie Ruzhuo, at such a young age, do you know how to make these calculations?" Ms. Lu was silenced by her, and she simply acted like a rogue and said, "What do you mean by settling these old scores with me now?"
"It's not interesting." Xie Ruzhuo curved his lips and smiled, but there was a cold light in his eyes. "It's just that Third Aunt wants to mention old things, so I'll help Third Aunt reminisce about them. Could it be that there's no room in Third Aunt's room yet?" When you leave an official position, do you first learn that only the state officials are allowed to set fires and the common people are not allowed to light lamps?"
Just because she doesn't talk about it on weekdays doesn't mean she doesn't know anything. Lu's previous actions were not excessive, and she was too lazy to talk about them, but looking at her appearance now, if Xie Ruzhuo didn't say anything else, wouldn't it be possible for Lu to take advantage of her in the future
"I have loved you for so many years in vain, and you actually said that to me. It really chills my heart!" Ms. Lu had nothing to say, so she pretended to wipe her eyes, looking sad.
Xie Ruzhuo didn't want to be fooled by her, and immediately smiled and said, "Third Aunt, please don't say that. You didn't love me in vain. In the past four or five years, you can earn more than 10,000 silver."
"You, you." Mrs. Lu was squeezed by her, but she didn't care that this was a fact and she couldn't refute it at all. She immediately silenced her voice.
Ji also felt relieved at this time. She felt sorry for Xie Ruzhuo's sensibleness and was angry with Lu for being reckless. She immediately said, "Okay, Lu, I can't take care of your affairs, and I don't want to." ! I just want to ask you one question, do you want to borrow the Xu family’s marriage or not marry?”
Hearing this, Ms. Lu suddenly became angry and said, "Mom, tell me, can we still get married? We have already said that we are going to marry our second wife, Xie Ruyun, so why are we so stubborn-"
Before she finished speaking, she saw Mr. Ji slamming her crested crutch into the stick and said, "Do you want to tie it?"
"No!" The one who spoke was Xie Rulan.
She insisted with a face on her face, "Grandma, now that the matter is over, the Xu family is no longer destined for me, and I will never marry her. Therefore, this engagement is no longer necessary. From now on, let's go back to the bridge!"
After hearing this, Mrs. Ji nodded and said, "Since you are determined to break off the engagement, then go ahead! Anyway, it was you who tried every means to get married in the first place, and now it is you who are making every effort to break off the engagement. If you regret it in the future, but Don’t come to me crying!”
Lu's face suddenly turned ugly. Just as he was about to say something, Xie Rulan secretly pulled off his clothes.
Seeing Mrs. Lu shut her mouth, Xie Rulan said, "Grandma, I caused you trouble this morning, so my granddaughter will leave first."
Mrs. Lu was reluctant and said, "Mom, don't be angry with me. I'll leave first."
The room was no longer lively, but Mrs. Liu brought up another matter, "Old lady, you said you should break off the engagement, but Mrs. Xu also said she wanted to marry Ruyun. What's the matter? Do it?"
After she finished speaking, she looked at Mr. Lu with some pride. Today she was originally prepared to watch Lu fight for an official position for the master, but unexpectedly, this cowardly woman failed to accomplish anything! Since this matter can't be accomplished, she doesn't mind adding more trouble to Mr. Lu. After all, the angrier the other party is, the happier she will feel!
Hearing this, Mrs. Lu's face darkened immediately, and she said bitterly, "If you cancel the marriage of my family Rulan, the Xu family will not be able to marry anyone else. Otherwise, where will Rulan's face be in the future? Is it possible? , when she was asked to go out, she was criticized, saying that a legitimate daughter was no better than a concubine, and her husband's family would rather marry a concubine than have her? Then wouldn't Rulan become a joke to the whole world! "
Ji frowned and said, "Yes, Rulan is my granddaughter after all. I will naturally not let her be wronged. Ruyun is also my granddaughter. It is too much for the Xu family to pick and choose like this." You’ve violated my Xie family’s daughter! I don’t agree with this either!”
Hearing what Ji said, although Xie Ruyun had no reaction on her face, she couldn't help but feel sad in her heart. Her fate was like this. She was a concubine, and no one thought about her marriage even after she was seventeen years old. Now it is easy for someone to think about her, but she is someone else's fiancé!
Thinking of her situation again, Xie Ruyun suddenly felt a little sad.
Xie Ruzhuo felt her emotions keenly, walked quietly to Xie Ruyun, shook her hand, and then said with a smile, "Grandma, the Xu family is really unethical in doing things, and our Xie family can't remain silent either. Yeah, we have to let them know that we are not easy to bully. In my opinion, it is better to call Mrs. Xu over and talk to her. Even if we cancel the engagement, we can't let her go away so comfortably, right? Otherwise, our Xie family Where can I put my face?"
Lu was so angry at Xie Ruzhuo before, but when she heard this, she couldn't help but echoed, "No, what Zhuo'er said makes sense!"
Ji Shi didn't have a good look towards her, and she was still so angry that her liver ached!
"Third daughter-in-law, don't you want to leave? What are you doing here? Okay, you and Rulan can go back. I have my own opinion on this matter, so you'd better avoid it."
Seeing that Mrs. Ji had spoken, Mrs. Lu couldn't help but remain silent. She smiled dryly and said, "In this case, I will take Rulan and leave first."
Seeing the mother and daughter go out, Mrs. Ji leaned on the chair behind her, rubbed her aching forehead, and said, "What an injustice."
Seeing this, Xie Ruzhuo first comforted Ji, and then said, "Grandma, it is an injustice. This matter cannot be blamed on my eldest sister. Now she has been scolded by the third aunt and the others for a long time, and she has suffered this for nothing. She will be the most aggrieved by the unexpected disaster."
Hearing this, Mrs. Ji then remembered Xie Ruyun beside her. Seeing her face full of pear blossoms and rain, she couldn't help but feel soft. She called out to Xie Ruyun and said, "Good boy, come to me."
Xie Ruyun followed her words and walked over, stood beside her, and timidly called out, "Grandma."
Ji sighed and said, "You have been wronged." After saying that, she ordered outside, "Go and invite Mrs. Xu to come over." Zhuo'er was right, even if the Xie family wanted to break off the engagement, she would also We can't let the other party leave so comfortably! Otherwise, how could she be worthy of the injustice suffered by her granddaughter!
Mrs. Li on the side was also a little sad, but she still forced a smile and said, "With the support of the old lady, this child Ruyun will not feel wronged."
Xie Ruyun just bit her lip, with a faint smile on her face, but her eyes were sad and she didn't say a word.
Not long after, Mrs. Xu came down with Taohong's help.
When she heard the maid outside reporting, Ji sat up straight and ordered the people to be invited in.
As soon as Mrs. Xu came in, she felt the difference in the atmosphere. She was the first to smile and said softly, "This must be the old lady of the Xie family. I am the concubine, Mrs. Xu, so you are polite." Mrs. Ji has a title, so she just bowed, which is reasonable.
When Ji saw her face, she was a little impressed. She is about in her early forties, with a kind and friendly face. Although her appearance is not of good quality, there is an aura of peace between her eyebrows that makes people want to get close to her.
However, when she thought of what she said, Ji felt a little unhappy, so she put away the smile on her face and said lightly, "I will waive the etiquette. Please take a seat when you come."
Seeing this, Mrs. Xu's heart suddenly suddenly changed. Seeing Xie Ruyun's sad face, she guessed that the third lady had already brought someone to cause trouble.
Although she is kind-hearted, she is everyone's mistress after all, and it is clear who she is at a glance. That Liulu was sent by the third lady, she already knew it. What I said to Xu Wenyuan last night was also to find out what the third lady was saying. Who knew that they didn't even ask and just started making trouble.
Presumably, the other party has not planned to get married for a long time.
Mrs. Xu knew what was going on, and she had a smile on her face, waiting for Mr. Ji to speak.
Seeing that she was so calm, Mrs. Ji had no choice but to speak first and said, "I heard that Mrs. Xu is here to go to Wending with Rulan. Although I have long wanted to invite Mrs. Xu to come and sit with me, but I have been unwell recently. Not good. It's a neglect of the guests. I wonder if Mrs. Xu can set a good date?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Xu only smiled slightly, and then said, "I guess the old lady has some concerns about the engagement, right? The third lady and the kid may have some conflicts of fate, and the engagement will not go through."
"Isn't it possible? Mrs. Xu didn't say it earlier and she didn't say it until later. She only said it after living in my house for so long. Is it possible that after she came here, she didn't like my Xie family's daughter?" Mrs. Ji said with a smile on her face. , what he said was a bit aggressive.
"Old Madam, please forgive me for telling the truth. It is indeed the case." After saying that, Madam Xu stood up and said, "I heard before that the daughters raised in the Xie family's high-class mansion are of first-class character. However, I only got this first-class character from a commoner. I've seen it in women, but my legitimate daughter has no good looks and doesn't know anything about virtue and virtue, which really makes me a little surprised."
She spoke very slowly, even though she was speaking in defense, so that she could not feel disgusted.
After hearing this, Ji knew that what Xie Ruzhuo said was true. She wanted to speak up for her daughter, but Xie Rulan went too far and showed no mercy at all.
She sighed slightly and said, "Xie's goddaughter is so clueless that she made Madam Xu laugh. So what do you think of Madam Xu's wishes?"
When Mrs. Xu heard this, she knew that she was a little relaxed, and immediately said, "Originally, I didn't want to withdraw from this marriage, but now it seems that I have to withdraw. However, I have an unkind request -"
"Since it is an unkind invitation, Mrs. Xu should know that this is not allowed to be said." Ji knew what she was going to say and immediately stopped her.
No matter how immoral Xie Rulan is, she will still be the daughter of the Xie family. If she really asked someone to break off the engagement and let her marry her concubine, then she would really have no place to lose her face!