The quarrel among mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law tangled on endlessly.
Jiang Zhixiu frowned deeply, and then Jiang Linxiu sighed: “Elder Brother, at this point, won’t you at least bring out some of your private funds?”
“…Private funds? What private funds? I have none!” Jiang Zhixiu was taken aback.
Jiang Linxiu smiled knowingly. “Elder Brother, don’t hide it from us. Three years as Prefect of Qingzhou, that’s a hundred thousand taels of silver. Jiangnan is wealthy—surely even more. You don’t need to give much, just two or three thousand taels to help the household through this crisis.”
The implication was clear: that he had embezzled!
Jiang Zhixiu’s anger flared. He slammed down his teacup and said sternly,
“Second Brother, I have said it before—I am cautious and upright, and I have never accepted bribes!”
It was precisely because he was incorruptible that the Emperor valued him and promoted him to Assistant Minister of Revenue.
Jiang Linxiu dismissed this, “Elder Brother, no need to recite official lines before family! Two or three thousand taels won’t hurt you.”
To him, such a sum was nothing to his elder brother. If their branch could get even one thousand out of it, they could live comfortably for a while.
Jiang Zhixiu was choked with fury. Even the Emperor trusted his integrity, yet his own brother did not!
“I said—I have not embezzled!”
Jiang Linxiu chuckled, “Don’t be upset, Elder Brother. No one said you embezzled—we only ask you to think of the family.”
Jiang Zhixiu was so angry that he could not speak. In that moment, he suddenly recalled He Fangting’s warning: that his second brother was sly and insincere. At the time, he had quarreled with her, thinking she looked down on his family. But now, it seemed she had been exactly right.
Then his father, Jiang Chengzong, spoke: “Zhixiu, your brother’s words may be blunt, but the reasoning is sound. By tradition, while parents live, sons should have no private wealth. Yet now you are a high official—it is not unreasonable for you to keep some money at hand. But you cannot neglect the household. The whole family depends on you.”
The implication was still that he had taken money—and taken a lot.
Jiang Zhixiu looked at his father in disbelief, his voice heavy with pain.
“Father, when I first entered officialdom, you sternly warned me never to be corrupt. I have kept that promise. Why do you not believe me?”
Jiang Chengzong replied, “…Of course I believe you. But even if you don’t embezzle, you should still accept some offerings while in office. All other officials do. If you refuse, you stand out too much—it could harm your career.”
So in his father’s mind, his son had indeed taken money. Not corruption, but “acceptance.”
Jiang Zhixiu felt suffocated, yet could not vent his anger at his father. He turned instead to Jiang Linxiu and shouted, “If you hadn’t ruined the Jiangnan businesses, the household wouldn’t be left with so little!”
Jiang Linxiu retorted, “Business always has gains and losses—who can predict? If anyone is wasteful, it’s Sister-in-law! She spends sixteen thousand taels a year!”
Jiang Zhixiu’s gaze turned cold. “And where does all that money go?”
Jiang Zhixiu worked in the Ministry of Revenue—reading ledgers was second nature. With just a casual glance, he could tell that all the silver had been spent on family members.
He Fangting’s own food, clothing, and daily expenses were included in the household allowance. Yet even a single gown of hers often exceeded the monthly allotment. The excess had surely been covered by her dowry.
The one who spent the most was Second Brother. Weddings, childbirth, children’s full-month celebrations, birthdays—each occasion cost thousands, even tens of thousands of taels. Not to mention, he had squandered the Jiangnan businesses!
Jiang Linxiu clutched his chest, looking wounded. “Elder Brother, are you blaming me?”
Jiang Chengzong chimed in, “Don’t quarrel, you two. If anyone is at fault, it’s Madam He. She fostered this extravagant lifestyle. We could live on plain tea and simple meals, but she insists on ginseng and bird’s nest. Can those compare to radishes?”
Madam Pan whispered, “I find them much the same.”
Jiang Zhixiu drew a deep breath, recalling the year He Fangting first married into the family. She had invited a famous physician from the capital to examine his parents. The doctor said their lives had been too frugal, their bodies weakened, their longevity at risk—they needed proper nourishment.
Jiang Zhixiu had been moved by his parents’ years of hardship and wanted to repay them. But he had not expected the cost of ginseng, bird’s nest, and other tonics to be so high. He now doubted whether such expensive items truly had the benefits claimed. But at this point, further words were useless. What mattered was that someone had to manage the household accounts.
Looking around the hall, among the women only his sister-in-law Li Xixiang seemed suitable.
Yet Li Xixiang refused outright, waving her handkerchief. “Elder Brother, you jest. With just one hundred and three taels, what can be done? I cannot manage this household.”
Jiang Linxiu added sarcastically, implying that unless Jiang Zhixiu produced two or three thousand taels, the accounts could not be managed.
The couple kept pressing him until dawn, repeating the same demand: forcing Jiang Zhixiu to bring out money.
Even Jiang Chengzong and Madam Pan sided with them. Though the eldest son brought honor to the family, it was the younger son who kept them company daily, so their affection leaned toward him.
As for Jiang Furong, she knew the household depended on her elder brother and wanted to support him. But the moment she spoke, her father scolded her harshly, so she fell silent again.
Jiang Zhixiu’s head throbbed from the endless clamor. He shouted, “If you won’t take it, then don’t! If you refuse to manage, there are others who can!”
With that, he flung his sleeve and left.
Where did he go? To Chunming Courtyard. In his heart, he blamed He Fangting. If not for her stunt, the household would not have fallen into such chaos.
Not only had his parents been worn out by two sleepless nights, but he, a dignified Assistant Minister of Revenue, was now forced to meddle in petty domestic affairs. This was all due to Madam He’s failure as mistress of the household.