Jiang Linxiu, seeing his elder brother’s expression, quickly said: “Elder Brother, we didn’t want to take it either! But Sister-in-law was so forceful, pressing us hard. She had the ledgers brought in immediately—there was no way to refuse! We spent the whole night calculating accounts, and she forced Xixiang to write a receipt of acceptance. We were all witnesses and even pressed our seals.”
Jiang Furong chimed in, “That’s right. Sister-in-law went too far—she doesn’t treat us like family!”
Li Xixiang dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, crying, “I kept saying I wouldn’t take it, but she insisted I must. I can’t manage this household!”
Jiang Zhixiu clenched his teeth, his face shifting between dark and pale. He knew at once—this was He Fangting’s doing! Because he intended to continue the ancestral line, she had thrown down her responsibilities, trying to force him into submission. But he would never yield!
At the head of the hall, Jiang Chengzong, who had been brooding silently, finally spoke: “Zhixiu, your wife needs proper discipline.”
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Having lived most of his life, now in old age, he was being defied by a daughter-in-law—his dignity utterly trampled.
Back in their hometown, a daughter-in-law like Madam He would have been beaten into obedience with whips and sticks. Even in the capital, though customs differed, there was no reason for a daughter-in-law to bully the entire household.
Madam Pan opened her mouth, wanting to remind her husband that Madam He was the emperor’s niece and could not be disciplined—but she dared not speak. Her husband was already furious; she mustn’t add fuel to the fire and risk his health.
Jiang Zhixiu also felt that He Fangting needed discipline. But the immediate priority was arranging household affairs. Without one butcher, it didn’t mean they had to eat unclean pork.
If He Fangting refused to manage, then let Li Xixiang take over for a few days. Once Meiying entered the household, the accounts could be handed to her.
Hopefully, by then, He Fangting wouldn’t cry about it. Managing the household was originally her right, yet she acted as though it were indispensable, as if no one else could do it. Ha!
Turning to Li Xixiang, he spoke in a tone of condescension: “Since that’s the case, Sister-in-law, the household accounts will temporarily be in your charge.”
Li Xixiang thought bitterly, *After all that talk, it still falls to me,* and cried out, “Elder Brother, I truly cannot manage it—please find someone more capable!”
This hot potato was one she absolutely could not hold.
Jiang Zhixiu grew displeased. “Sister-in-law, are you trying to imitate Madam He?”
It wasn’t as if she had to cook meals herself or wash clothes and sweep floors. There were plenty of servants waiting to be directed. All she had to do was give orders—what was so impossible about that?
Li Xixiang blurted out, “I could never imitate her—I don’t have her money!”
Nor her generosity—or rather, her foolishness.
At the mention of money, Jiang Zhixiu recalled she had earlier said the household was nearly destitute. He asked, “How much is left in the accounts?”
Li Xixiang replied, “One hundred and three taels.”
That afternoon, Bai Wei had reported that the wine shop, silk store, and pastry shop had indeed come to collect payment for the quarter. She had wanted to delay, but the stewards were relentless, pressing her until she had no choice but to pay. And so only one hundred and three taels remained—three more than Bai Wei had estimated.
Jiang Zhixiu froze. “…How much?”
Yes, he was not corrupt, had never taken money that wasn’t his. But even so, the household should not have been reduced to so little.
Li Xixiang repeated clearly, “One hundred and three taels.” She even placed the ledger on the table before Jiang Zhixiu.
Jiang Zhixiu gave it a quick glance, then turned away and barked, “Go summon the County Princess!”
Two young maids ran out.
Just as they were about to leave, Jiang Zhixiu called out loudly, “Come back!”
He Fangting always handled matters flawlessly. Since she dared to present this ledger, there would be no errors in it. Summoning her would yield no answers—only her mockery. He sipped his tea and said coolly, “Tell me how you calculated the accounts last night.”
Jiang Linxiu recounted everything in detail, with others adding comments, and the ledger serving as proof.
The more Jiang Zhixiu listened, the heavier his heart grew. The accounts were orderly and clear, with no loopholes, indicating that, for most of the time, the Jiang household had been supported by He Fangting. Even the Jiang clan had relied on her. His own salary and stipend were far from sufficient.
To owe He Fangting such a great debt of gratitude—how could he accept it?
In truth, the Jiang family had once had profitable ventures: several restaurants and inns in Jiangnan, like treasure pots that generated wealth on their own. But later, persuaded by his family, he let He Fangting hand those businesses over to Jiang Linxiu.
Yet Jiang Linxiu knew nothing of trade. Before long, the shops closed down. If those businesses had remained open, the household would never have needed He Fangting’s support.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhixiu was filled with regret. Had he known, he would never have let Jiang Linxiu manage the Jiangnan shops.
But now regret was useless. And since Jiang Linxiu was his own brother, he could not reproach him too harshly.
He sighed. “Fortunately, there are still one hundred and three taels. If we economize, it will last a few months. Back home, a hundred taels was enough for several years of household expenses. By year’s end, the estate’s revenues will arrive.”
Li Xixiang muttered, “…I cannot manage this household. Let Mother take charge instead.”
With barely over a hundred taels, how could it last until year’s end? It was only the beginning of July! Clearly, they expected her to use her dowry to subsidize the household.
Madam Pan hurriedly said, “I cannot—I don’t know how!”
Li Xixiang pressed, “If you don’t know, you can learn. Let Sister teach you!”
Jiang Furong quickly waved her hands. “I don’t know either!”
To stretch a hundred taels until year’s end? She would never take on such a burden.
Elder Brother spoke of “back then,” but times were no longer the same.
Back then, even a few drops of oil in wild vegetable soup counted as a delicacy. Now, they were so used to feasting on meat and fish that they were sick of it.