"Two hundred ninety-eight, two hundred ninety-nine, three hundred… Mother, there are exactly three hundred silver coins in this box!"
That night, Su Yunshan and Chen Shi were counting the betrothal gifts in their room.
The gold and silver in those boxes were so plentiful that they had only just finished tallying them today.
"Fifty gold coins, three hundred silver coins, ten fine bolts of silk, two sets of jewelry… How could that bastard Su Ruolang be worth so much money?" Chen Shi gritted her teeth in frustration.
How could such a wealthy family have stumbled upon that bastard Su Ruolang?
Fortunately, her daughter Su Yunshan had also "rescued" a generous young gentleman, who would come to propose marriage in a month.
Though she didn't know his name, he shouldn't be any worse than the county magistrate's distant nephew…
"I'll keep fifty silver coins for myself, and the rest will be your dowry. Without a decent dowry, you'll easily be bullied when you go to your husband's family," Chen Shi deliberated.
As for Su Ruolang, whether her marriage turned out good or bad, whether she lived or died—what did that matter to her as the stepmother?
Only fifty?
Su Yunshan felt a pang of heartache: "Mother, you and Father at home, how could you possibly spend so much silver…"
"Foolish girl," Chen Shi lowered her voice, "this matter must not be told to that useless coward, your father! If you ever encounter difficulties in the future, I'll keep this silver to help you out!"
Su Yunshan opened her mouth but couldn't argue: "Then… then you must hide it well, don't let thieves steal it."
"Of course!" Chen Shi nodded and added, "Later, when you go to the county magistrate's office to meet that wealthy family from the Capital City, wear this best set of jade jewelry. If they ask about your background, say you had no parents since childhood and were adopted…"
Just as she spoke, a sudden commotion came from outside.
…
When Jing An arrived at the Su household with his servants, Su Ruolang was sitting on a large tree in the courtyard, chewing on a piece of dogtail grass.
The tree was an old locust tree, lush and verdant under the sunset.
She leaped down from the tree, landing lightly and spitting out the dogtail grass: "Are these all the people you brought to move the betrothal gifts?"
Jing An was momentarily stunned and instinctively nodded: "Yes…"
For a moment, he felt that this Miss Su didn't seem like a hunter's daughter but rather had the demeanor of a military family.
He must have mistaken.
Women in these remote mountains were probably naturally more robust than those in the Capital City…
"What? Move the betrothal gifts?"
Chen Shi had just stepped out from the inner room and heard this, her face instantly turning pale.
"My family's… my master says that bandits are rampant nowadays, and it's safer to store the betrothal gifts at the county magistrate's residence," Jing An quickly explained, seeing her reaction.
He knew this matter was difficult and absolutely couldn't be done under Miss Su's name.
If not, who knew what trouble this money-grubbing Chen Shi might stir up?
"Damn ungrateful wretch!" Chen Shi immediately assumed this was Su Ruolang's idea, nearly spitting blood in fury, "After raising you for so many years, it's worse than raising a watchdog!"
Betrothal gifts don't necessarily belong to the bride's family; they belong to whoever receives them.
Once they reach Su Ruolang herself, the bride's family has absolutely no right to reclaim them.
Moving away those boxes of gleaming silver and shining gold betrothal gifts was tantamount to taking Chen Shi's life!
"Exactly," Su Yunshan chimed in through gritted teeth, "even a dog barks when strangers enter the house! Eldest Sister, are you trying to anger Father and Mother to death with such unfilial behavior?"
Eldest Sister?
Su Ruolang raised an eyebrow at this.
Su Yunshan had always addressed her by name directly; today she actually called her "Eldest Sister"—this was truly an unprecedented event.
Jing An, standing nearby, sensed trouble.
Filial piety was paramount; with the label of "unfilial" being pinned on her, Miss Su might suffer!
Just as he was about to defend Su Ruolang, he saw her let out a light scoff and fix her gaze on Chen Shi as she spoke: "Are these betrothal gifts for me, or for you?"
"Of course they're for you…" Chen Shi's reply faltered, and she gritted her teeth before adding, "But you're a fool! Your foolishness has only improved for a few days—who knows when it might relapse? At that time, anyone could trick you out of even half a tael of silver with just a flatbread. The betrothal gifts absolutely cannot be handed over to you!"
Su Ruolang responded with a nonchalant "Oh."
She had long anticipated that Chen Shi would use this as an excuse to refuse handing over the money, so she had planned to establish an independent female household and sever ties with the Su family.
Such things had occurred throughout history, though it was somewhat troublesome, requiring official documentation to be submitted to the authorities.
Looking at Chen Shi's self-righteous expression, she raised an eyebrow and was about to bring up the matter of establishing an independent female household when Jing An cut in ahead of her.
"Madam Su, my young master intends for Miss Su to take charge of household affairs after she enters the marriage. At that time, all household finances will be entrusted to Miss Su's management, with stewards and maids assisting her, ensuring no mistakes whatsoever. Why, then, should this small sum of betrothal gifts not be placed in Miss Su's hands?"
Jing An spoke with his eyes wide open, fabricating the story with utmost seriousness.
After all, the prince had already given his word—this help was assured!
Su Ruolang: "…"
There was such a matter?
How did she not know?
"T-taking charge of household affairs?" Chen Shi's face turned ashen upon hearing this.
Since ancient times, it had always been the mother-in-law who managed household affairs. How could it be that a young bride, not yet married into the family, was already designated to take over?
She felt as though it wasn't a pie falling from the sky, but a mountain of gold and silver, all crashing down onto Su Ruolang's head!
"Yes, taking charge of household affairs." Jing An nodded firmly.
After all, as Qin Moqing's attendant, he carried a certain air of authority even without showing anger.
Chen Shi nearly ground her teeth to dust, yet she couldn't utter a single word of refusal.
Firstly, the betrothal gifts were meant for Su Ruolang; as the stepmother, she had no right to forcibly seize them. Secondly, Qin Moqing was the county magistrate's nephew. If he didn't care about Su Ruolang, a country girl, that would be one thing, but now it was clear he intended to back her up—how could she dare offend him?
"What are you all standing around for? Go in and move them!" Jing An waved his hand, and a line of servants immediately filed into the house.
Chen Shi clutched her chest, her vision darkening.
That was hundreds of taels of silver, dozens of taels of silver, ten bolts of fine silk, two sets of head ornaments…
"Mother, Mother…" Su Yunshan hurried forward.
"Heaven and earth bear witness, I can't go on, I can't go on…" Chen Shi wailed and cried, nearly sitting on the ground to throw a tantrum.
Su Geng, who had remained silent all along, looked bewildered and didn't see anything wrong with the situation: "After all, it's Lang'er's betrothal gifts, why must you…"
"You still have the nerve to speak?" Chen Shi vented all her resentment and anger on him. "The fine bastard you raised!"
Bastard?
Su Ruolang turned her gaze toward Chen Shi.
Her eyes were too cold and detached, causing Chen Shi to shudder under her stare.
Although Chen Shi usually cursed her as a "bastard" at every turn, she was well aware that if Su Ruolang ever learned the truth about her origins…
Thinking of her secret schemes, Chen Shi quickly shut her mouth, afraid to let even half a word slip out.
Her daughter's future wealth and status still depended on this secret!
"Miss Su, the betrothal gifts are all here," Jing An stepped forward to report. "They have been counted one by one, and not a single tael of silver is missing."
Su Ruolang nodded faintly. "Mm, please move them away."
Naturally, these could not be taken to the county magistrate's residence. Qin Moqing did not live in the magistrate's official residence but in another quiet and secluded house—this she had already inquired about.
"Miss Su…" Jing An hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Old Madam has prepared a wing room for you and asks that you move there. She says it's best if you don't stay in the Su family any longer."