Matriarch Rules, Scumbag Begs - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Eating Northwest Wind

‘Eating Northwest Wind/drink the northwest wind, is an idiom meaning to be cold and hungry.’

When the Old madam rushed to the courtyard, she happened to see Shen Qiuci preparing to return to the Bi Xi Hall.

“Stop right there.”

She called out to Shen Qiuci and didn’t immediately scold her.
Instead, she patiently asked: “Did my words yesterday cause you to misunderstand something?”

“Didn’t we agree that if we couldn’t come up with that much silver at once, we could sell a few shops belonging to the Shen family first? Why did you sell the shops belonging to the Marquis Mansion?”

Shen Qiuci looked at her and said calmly,

“There was no misunderstanding. I specifically got up early today to sell the Marquis Mansion’s fields, mansions, and shops.”

“You sold all the assets?”

The Old madam was anxious and worried, “These past two years, the land prices in the capital have been rising rapidly. It’s a good time to make a profit. Do you know how much silver we would lose if we sell now?”

Shen Qiuci smiled and said, “The shops of the Marquis Mansion will increase in value, but why would the shops of the Shen family decrease in value? If you can tell me to sell the shops of the Shen family, why can’t I sell the assets of the Marquis Mansion?”

“You… you’re being absurd!”

The Old madam’s face turned black with anger,

“I’m not going to argue with you about this. Where is the silver?”
She stretched out her hand to Shen Qiuci, “Hand over the silver and the token keys! If you continue to manage this family, it’ll probably be a mess!”

Shen Qiuci took out the token keys from her bosom and threw them to her,

“I can give you the token keys, after all, the six copper coins in the accounting room still need you to carefully calculate how to use them to maintain the Marquis Mansion’s expenses. As for the silver…”

She lightly raised her eyebrows and said firmly,

“I won’t give it to you.”

The Old madam was furious, “Absurd! You sold our family’s things and still want to keep the silver for yourself? I think you’ve lost your mind! Liu momo, go report to the authorities!”

Shen Qiuci sneered, “I took back what belongs to me, how can that be called theft?”

She took out the IOU that Pei Yuanzhou had written in the yamen office yesterday and handed it to the old madam, “This is your son’s handwritten note, clearly stating that he borrowed 20,000 taels from me to maintain the Marquis Mansion’s expenses. Take a look for yourself.”

The Old Madam looked at the IOU and saw the black ink on white paper, with Pei Yuanzhou’s signature and the government’s seal. She thought to herself that Pei Yuanzhou was indeed a foolish person without a brain.

“What’s the point of talking about borrowing within the family?”

She tore the IOU into pieces and threw it into the lotus pond,

“If your whole family is dead, isn’t your silver ours?”
“Are you going to spend this money on some other man outside instead of your husband’s family?”

She spoke so anxiously that she choked on her own saliva, covering her chest and coughing uncontrollably.

Pei Yingchun quickly supported her and patted her back to help her breathe, while scolding Shen Qiuci, “Eldest sister-in-law! Look at how you’ve upset Mother! No one behaves like you do as a daughter-in-law! Hand over the silver quickly, don’t be a woman who doesn’t follow the rules!”

Shen Qiuci took two steps back, afraid of getting splattered with the Old madam’s saliva.

“I won’t hand over the silver, and today I’m going to make things clear. From now on, I won’t contribute a single penny to the Marquis Mansion.”

“What did you say?!”

The Old madam’s emotions became more and more agitated, and she grabbed Shen Qiuci’s hand, glaring at her fiercely, “Now that Qin Xiao’niang is pregnant, my grandson’s clothing, food, and daily expenses all need to be the best. I also need to take longevity pills, and the family has so many servants to support. Every single thing requires expenses!”

“You already owe us for not being able to bear children, and now we’re giving you a chance to make up for it by contributing silver. Buddhist teachings say that bearing losses is a blessing, and this is all your good fortune. Don’t be foolish!”

Shen Qiuci brushed off the Old madam’s hand, “If it’s a blessing, then you should bear more losses. After all, you’re old and lacking in virtue, accumulating more blessings might help you live longer.”

She disdainfully smoothed out her sleeve that had been wrinkled by the Old madam’s grip and continued,

“Qin Xiao’niang’s pregnancy wasn’t caused by me, and your grandson isn’t my flesh and blood. I don’t have to take care of them. As for the servants…”

She looked around and saw many slaves secretly watching the commotion, so she said, “You often say that Xue Yinshuang takes good care of you. Why not dismiss all the servants without indentured contracts and let Xue Yinshuang serve you every day, doing laundry, cooking, and bathing you? That way, you’ll save silver and also strengthen your mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bond.”

The Old Madam was so angry that she was breathing heavily, and Pei Yingchun couldn’t listen anymore.

“Eldest sister-in-law! You’re too much! We’re all family, how can you be so calculating?”

Pei Yingchun was so angry that she tried to push Shen Qiuci, but unexpectedly, Shen Qiuci easily dodged to the side.

Instead, Pei Yingchun, who had used too much force and missed her target, stumbled forward and fell to the ground.

Shen Qiuci looked down at her and said in a gentle tone,

“You don’t want to contribute, then don’t. Why don’t you take out the silver and show filial piety to your mother, and take good care of your nephew, raise him until he’s an adult?”

“You…”

“Enough!”

The Old Madam slammed her walking stick on the ground and shouted angrily,

“If you don’t want to contribute, then so be it! My son has a monthly salary of 300 taels, and after three years, he’ll inherit the title and get 1,000 taels a month! I don’t believe the Danyang Marquis Mansion can’t survive without you!”

“Where does your son get 300 taels from?”

Shen Qiuci raised her eyebrows and counted on her fingers, “The Marquis Mansion’s fields, mansions, shops, and estates, plus the remaining money in the account, after calculating everything clearly, Pei Yuanzhou still owes me 8,000 taels.”

“In the next three years, if he gives me his monthly salary of 300 taels, then our accounts will be settled in full, including interest.”

The wind blew, lifting Shen Qiuci’s red cloak,

She stood with her hands in her sleeves and took a deep breath of the wind, smiling contentedly,

“The northwest wind is crisp and refreshing, and it’s so delicious. In the next three years, you can enjoy it to your heart’s content!”
“You… you’re rebelling against heaven! You’re trying to anger me to death!”

The Old madam clutched her clothes at the chest, her temples throbbing, and she could hardly speak.

Pei Yingchun quickly got up from the ground and supported her, her face icy cold as she shouted at Shen Qiuci, “I’ve never seen a woman as vicious as you! Hand over the silver! If Mother really gets seriously ill or dies because of you, my brother will definitely not let you off!”

Shen Qiuci walked slowly forward, smiling at the old lady and saying,

“I advise you to live well, Old Madam.”

She pretended to gently pat the old lady’s back, her red lips curving into a pleasant arc, her tone incredibly gentle,

“After all, if you die, your son won’t even have the silver to hold a proper funeral for you.”

“Would you rather he wrap you in a straw mat and dump you in a mass grave?”