Jiang Li understood the Yin Family. If the shop openly claimed it was doing poorly, they wouldn’t believe it.
But if they heard some rumors, coupled with the shop being deliberately secretive, the Yin Family would definitely grow suspicious.
They would be more inclined to believe the shop was having problems.
Ren Dong didn’t understand why her lady gave such an order. But the shop and workshop both belonged to her lady, and Ren Dong was only managing them on her behalf, so she followed her instructions obediently.
"Nanny, find a way to let Jiang Xiuyuan know that the Yin Family is plotting against my dowry. Remember, don’t be too obvious about it."
Nanny was stunned. A worried expression crossed her face as she quickly asked, "My lady, what do you mean? Don’t tell me the Yin Family has been bullying you?"
Jiang Li couldn’t help but smile and shake her head. "Don’t worry, that’s not it. Jiang Xiuyuan has been eyeing the Jiang family’s assets for years. It’s time he did something."
In her past life, as Jiang Li’s paternal uncle, Jiang Xiuyuan had tried every method imaginable to get the Jiang family’s assets under his name.
Unfortunately, with Jiang Li standing guard, Jiang Xiuyuan never succeeded.
Jiang Li had always been on guard against Jiang Xiuyuan, knowing he was no good, but she had failed to guard against the person she should have feared most.
Nanny seemed to understand. She figured her lady intended to put the Yin Family in their place.
Looking at her lady, Nanny’s heart ached.
Her lady had no family left. Her clansmen were eyeing her possessions like tigers stalking their prey, and she even had to get married while carrying an ancestral tablet.
Her lady had suffered too much. Nanny only hoped that her future would be a little more comfortable.
"Yes, I understand everything."
After settling matters with the shop and workshop, Jiang Li returned to the Yin residence to see Mrs. Fan.
Mrs. Fan had been waiting gleefully for Divine Doctor Bai’s arrival. She had long heard that Divine Doctor Bai and Mr. Jiang had been close friends, so sending that girl Jiang Li to invite him would surely bring him to their door.
When she saw Jiang Li return, Mrs. Fan quickly ordered a servant to serve tea. But when she glanced behind Jiang Li and saw no one else, her expression immediately fell.
"Didn’t Divine Doctor Bai come?"
Jiang Li lowered her head slightly, feigning the look of someone who had done wrong, as if filled with guilt. "I was useless. I couldn’t get Divine Doctor Bai to come."
Mrs. Fan was getting impatient. She was tormented by her headaches, and the thought of another sleepless night of suffering made her lose control of her emotions instantly.
Mrs. Fan pointed at Jiang Li’s nose and roared, "How can you be so useless! You can’t even get Divine Doctor Bai to come back with you! The Yin Family didn’t marry you just to be a decoration!"
Jiang Li’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly, she was already sneering.
In her past life, the first time she had gone, she had also failed to secure an audience with Divine Doctor Bai. It was already dark when she returned, and news that she had knelt at Immortal Valley to beg the Divine Doctor had reached the family before she did.
At that time, Mrs. Fan had acted like a completely reasonable mother-in-law. Even while tormented by her illness, she couldn’t bear to say a single harsh word to her daughter-in-law.
This time, seeing her return early and still without Divine Doctor Bai, Mrs. Fan had failed to control her temper.
’Remembering the Mrs. Fan I saw after I fell ill in my past life... this mother-in-law before me is her true self.’
Jiang Li put on a wronged expression, tears welling up in her eyes. "I’m so sorry, I was useless. I brought the ginseng from the storeroom to request an audience with Divine Doctor Bai, but I couldn’t even see the Divine Doctor."
Seeing Jiang Li’s tears, Mrs. Fan stopped her accusations, realizing she had spoken too harshly.
In the end, Jiang Li was just a young girl who had been pampered and raised by the Jiang family. Without the protection of the Jiang family elders, she was nothing.
Fortunately, the Jiang family was wealthy, and the savings left to Jiang Li were substantial. Otherwise, Mrs. Fan would never have agreed to this marriage.
"It was my fault, I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly to you. It’s not that I want to blame you, it’s just that my head hurts so badly." Mrs. Fan’s eyes darted, and a plan formed in her mind. "Ali, perhaps Divine Doctor Bai refused to see you simply because he wasn’t satisfied with the ginseng you brought. I heard there are several top-quality medicinal herbs on your dowry list. Could you take them out to help invite Divine Doctor Bai? Don’t worry, once my headaches are cured, I will definitely find a way to reimburse you for the cost of the herbs. I won’t let you pay for nothing."
Jiang Li looked troubled. She stammered for a long moment, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Mrs. Fan’s intuition told her something was wrong. ’Why would this girl be reluctant to part with even a few medicinal herbs?’
Mrs. Fan didn’t press the matter. After dismissing Jiang Li, she had a servant bring over the dowry list.
Mrs. Fan had never examined Jiang Li’s dowry list closely; today was the first time she had seen it.
A short while later, the servant brought the dowry list.
A smile was on Mrs. Fan’s face. She didn’t need to think hard to know how many valuable items would be on the dowry list.
But when she saw the list, the smile on Mrs. Fan’s face froze instantly.
’Where are the precious medicinal herbs? The valuable head ornaments? And the Jiang family’s storefronts? Why aren’t any of them on the dowry list?’
Mrs. Fan’s heart skipped a beat as a bad premonition washed over her.
’Could it be that the Jiang family has long been an empty shell, not nearly as wealthy as I thought?’
Feeling uncertain, Mrs. Fan hurried to discuss it with her husband.
After seeing the dowry list, Mr. Yin was much calmer than Mrs. Fan.
"She’s the only one left in the Jiang family. She’s being wary of us. She deliberately didn’t have the Jiang family’s farmlands and storefronts written on the dowry list. Even if they aren’t written down, they are still under her name. Sooner or later, we’ll make her hand them over. You’re just too impatient. If you let her know you’re after her dowry, I’m afraid all our efforts will be for nothing."
Mrs. Fan immediately grew anxious. "How can that be? Our family overlooked how unlucky she is and let her marry in. How can we not get any benefit from it at all? I understand. I won’t let it show in front of her."
Mrs. Fan quickly had someone return the dowry list to the storeroom and began pondering how to appease Jiang Li.
But on second thought, ’Jiang Li just cries whenever something happens. Giving her gifts would be a waste. I might as well keep them for our own family.’
So, Mrs. Fan abandoned the idea. However, the very next day, she was still urging Jiang Li to go and invite Divine Doctor Bai.
Jiang Li acted with the utmost obedience, going to Immortal Valley as Mrs. Fan wished, but she never managed to see the Divine Doctor.
Several days passed in a row, and Mrs. Fan could no longer bear it. She went to visit Immortal Valley herself, bringing her daughter, Yin Ranshuang, with her.
Mrs. Fan no longer deluded herself into thinking she could get Divine Doctor Bai to make a house call. As long as he could treat her illness, she was willing to come to him.
But just as she identified herself to the attendant, the large gate in front of them slammed shut.
Mrs. Fan, left with a face full of dust, turned to Jiang Li in fury. "What is going on?"
Jiang Li looked apologetic. "Perhaps the ginseng from the storeroom that day not only failed to impress Divine Doctor Bai, but actually angered him. That might be why he refuses to see anyone from the Yin Family."
Mrs. Fan was very dissatisfied with this answer. ’If the ginseng from the storeroom wasn’t good enough, didn’t Jiang Li know to switch it for a better one?’
’She’s already married into our Yin Family. If she has good things but is unwilling to use them on me, her mother-in-law, what’s the use of having married her?’
Mrs. Fan’s headache worsened. She pulled her daughter into the carriage and left, not giving Jiang Li a single pleasant look the entire way back.
Jiang Li sat in the corner, her head lowered slightly, her shoulders trembling, looking for all the world like she was secretly wiping away tears.
[Ding! Detected an increase in Mrs. Fan’s anger value. Detected an increase in Yin Ranshuang’s anger value. Rewarding Host with two Beauty Pills.]