After bidding a reluctant farewell to Old Madam He, Xiao Yunzhu set out on her journey home.
Madam Jiang deliberately sent Qiao Xiu and her husband to the capital to retrieve He Baoyan’s betrothal document.
After the farewell, she had barely returned to Ruixiang Courtyard when a maid reported that the wives of the managers of Qianwei Tavern and Jinyun Silk House requested an audience. She quickly ordered them to be received in Chuihua Hall.
Qianwei Tavern was a restaurant, and Jinyun Silk House was a silk shop, both of which opened only two years ago.
Their owner came from Sichuan, unfamiliar with the area, and sought a local partner for support. Through various connections, they found Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang had invested only three hundred taels, yet each year she received over four thousand taels in profit from the two shops. Naturally, she regarded them as her personal gods of wealth.
To put it in perspective, the He household’s annual income was not even four thousand taels.
Changing into her guest-receiving attire, she entered the hall beaming.
Before any pleasantries could begin, Madam Zhao, wife of the Qianwei Tavern manager, said, “First Madam He, our master has decided to end the partnership. Here is your capital, please take it back.”
She drew a banknote of three hundred taels from her sleeve and handed it to Madam Jiang.
Madam Wu, wife of the Jinyun Silk House manager, added, “The contract clearly states our master may terminate the partnership at any time, provided your capital is returned.”
Madam Jiang was bewildered. “…Why so sudden?”
Madam Zhao replied coolly, “Your household’s annulment of the engagement with Sixth Miss Xiao was also sudden.”
Madam Jiang was stunned. “My family’s broken engagement—what does that have to do with your master?”
Madam Wu’s gaze was icy. “First Madam, why don’t you guess why our master sought you out in the first place?”
Madam Jiang: “Could it be because of that marriage tie?”
Madam Wu retorted, “Or else?”
Madam Zhao continued, “Our master said: only the in-laws of Marquis Xingyuan are worth partnering with. Now that your family is no longer, you have no value.”
Madam Jiang was furious. “Such shameless opportunism—are you not afraid of retribution? Since ancient times, commoners cannot fight officials. My husband is the prefectural magistrate!”
Madam Zhao curled her lip. “Is Madam He threatening us? For your information, our master has already given the Prefect three shares of profit. Farewell!”
The two women left, but Madam Jiang sat dazed for a long time.
Xiao Yunzhu’s father had been dead for over nine years, yet his prestige still carried such weight?!
If only she had known earlier… if only she had known…
When He Xiulang finally returned, she hurried to tell him the unfortunate news.
He Xiulang was enraged, wanting to teach those shops a lesson, but he feared the Prefect and dared not act.
Both husband and wife were dejected, and when they went to pay respects to Old Madam He, their spirits were low.
Old Madam He asked with concern, “What happened? Could it be that the Chen family filed a lawsuit?”
He Xiulang: “…No.”
He recounted the events in detail to his mother, then sighed deeply. “I never thought anyone still remembered my brother-in-law.”
Old Madam He also sighed. “In this world, some ties fade like cold tea, but true feelings remain unchanged.” After a pause, she suddenly smiled. “Do you regret it?”
He Xiulang: “…No.”
In truth, he already felt some regret—not because of losing the four thousand taels in dividends, but because of what the incident revealed.
His brother-in-law’s connections seemed broader and deeper than he had imagined. Even though the man was dead, there were still people who remembered him.
Old Madam He’s eyes held seven parts encouragement and three parts mockery. “Good. Once the move is made, there is no regret.”
She wondered when this couple would realize that what they had lost was not merely money.
Madam Jiang listened blankly. The Old Madam had warned them not to regret, as if she knew some hidden truth. Unable to hold back, she complained, “Mother sees everything clearly—why didn’t you remind us?”
Four thousand taels a year! Her heart ached terribly.
Old Madam He: “You were so certain of your decision. Even if I had reminded you, would you have listened?”
Madam Jiang was struck dumb.
Old Madam He silently sipped her tea. Besides, why should she remind them? A marriage pursued too eagerly is never a good match, especially for the woman. And that wretched boy Baoyan—he looked fine on the surface, but inside he was muddle-headed, frivolous, and reckless. He was not a good husband for Zhu Zhu.
She could only be thankful this happened before the wedding. If it had been after, that would have been true regret, too late to undo.
Madam Jiang suddenly said hesitantly, “Zhu Zhu hasn’t gone far yet. What if we call her back and reconsider?”
If there were still people who remembered Marquis Xingyuan and were willing to give wealth to his in-laws, then this daughter-in-law was not entirely without value.
Old Madam He was speechless. “You’re not young anymore—leave yourself some dignity!”
Even Madam Jiang felt this was too humiliating and did not press the matter. Ah, that Sichuanese owner had his faults too—why hadn’t he mentioned this connection earlier? If he had, she would never have thought Xiao Yunzhu was useless.
She comforted herself: Baoyan was quick-witted, eloquent, had already passed the county-level exam at a young age, and was handsome, elegant, like a jade tree in the wind. Surely he would find an even better family to marry into.
In the carriage leaving the city, Xiao Yunzhu sat upright, her gaze calm.
The managers of Qianwei Tavern and Jinyun Silk House should already have sent people to the He household. Those two businesses were hers—there was no Sichuanese owner. She had once thought to be a good daughter-in-law of the He family, so she had invested early in Anzhou.
She brought Madam Jiang into the partnership because she feared Madam Jiang would scheme against her dowry.
Indeed, she was confident she could protect her dowry. Still, in the process, disputes would inevitably arise, leading to discord between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, disharmony between husband and wife, and unrest in the household, causing her grandmother worry and distress. So she decided to give Madam Jiang wealth.
First, with money in hand, Madam Jiang would be less likely to covet her dowry.
Second, she could use this to restrain Madam Jiang.
What she had not expected was that, with this unexpected fortune, Madam Jiang’s spine would stiffen more and more—stiffen enough to decisively cast her aside.
So be it.
Losing a problematic marriage but reclaiming part of her investment was no loss.
Whomever He Baoyan married in the future, whether Chen Chunsi entered the He household, whether that child remained—none of it concerned her anymore.