Chapter 248: Must Get the Item

Sister Yi, are you okay?

You still know to ask?

I

She has been so good to you, so good to our family; over the years, whatever you asked for, she never failed to get it for you?

Father gives her 100,000 taels of silver each year, doesn't he?

That's because she cured your younger brother's illness; does that mean the silver the maternal family gave to the benefactor should be yours?

Wang Jiaru lowered her head at being spoken to, and Mrs. Wang sighed.

Father, mother, let's not bring this up; Qiao Niang is not a stingy person.

The old master clenched his teeth; in his heart, she is not stingy, but he will no longer pay attention to Wang Jiaru.

At dinner, the family sat together; more than half of the dishes on the table were brought from Qiao Mai's household. Wang Jiaru tried to pick some up, but the old master gave her a cold stare and took back the chopsticks.

His Wangfu has no silver; does he want you to subsidize?

I

Zu Fu, she is only of humble origin; why do you always favor her, while I am a princess, a princess.

The old master stood up, suppressing his anger, and said, "Think back, Zu Fu's grandfather was also of humble origin, you are also a descendant of peasants; this cannot continue. Touch your conscience and ask yourself, when you swore an oath to the heavens during the brotherhood, she kept it, have you?"

Yes, I investigate you; just consider it as me investigating you. You know the money given to Qiao Niang, she never spent a One Wen on herself; everything she used was for the common people, and again for the common people. She helped her husband support hundreds of the poor, and hundreds of disabled soldiers. She bought all the wasteland of Shexian and planted trees on it. To transform Shexian, she and her husband sacrificed so much, and you, what have you done?

Mother, why have you come?

I truly didn't expect it; where did that simple, lovely Ru'er go? After years apart, she has become like this; you have really disappointed me.

Enough, without that silver the Wangfu people can't survive? From next year, I will no longer give you silver.

It's fine.

The old master flicked his chopsticks, "What? Want to put on a princess's airs? Do you expect me to bow to you?"

Mother, I, as a proper princess, asking her for something is to show respect for her.

The subsidy is for Wangfu.

Just as she was about to scold, Mrs. Wang rushed over, and the words she had on her tongue never came out.

Zu Fu, I!

Thinking of Qiao Mai, she felt that Sister Yi, upon hearing she was coming, should come over together with Zu Fu and the others.

Qiao Mai looked at the messenger and said, "Go back and tell your master that the thing she wanted has been unavailable for three years; the supply has been cut."

What, you still dare to ask her for things? Over the years, the things you have taken from her are almost more than the dividends we give her.

These few items are for us coarse folk to eat; you and your children eat the refined ones. If you can't get used to what's at home, then return to your Wangfu.

I!

The three tenant farmers of the Qiao Family, because they were willing to invest capital and put aside their old faces to study, all three families made a lot of money this year.

After the messenger delivered Qiao Mai's words, Wang Jiaru was so angry that she smashed the teacup on the floor.

Indulging in feasting, drinking, eating, drinking, and dressing, don't forget why Little Prince originally liked you. If you continue like this, perhaps one day your position as princess will be in jeopardy. You are a high-status marriage; we are powerless. If you are just a wounded child crying to the elders, then we will listen; after you finish venting your grievances, you should return to Jingcheng, Jingcheng. Father just wants to remind you that you should grow up and mature.

If you look down on her so much, then don't use the things she gave you; several of the items you wear on your head and body are hers, aren't they?

No matter what, she is now a princess; looking at herself, she hasn't even a few taels of flesh, arguing over that dead principle—what's the point?

Qiao Mai took the letter, glanced at it, and said to the visitor, "Tell your master that I have family matters that prevent me from leaving, so I won't go."

So she wrote a letter, inviting Qiao Mai to a gathering in Fucheng.

She shook her head, sighed, and walked away silently.

It's fine? Why did you send someone to the Qiao Family to deliver a letter to Qiao Niang?

The prices are like the Qiao Family's vegetables—some high, some low; whatever amount the Shopkeeper sells, he keeps accounts and doesn't overcharge them. These three families trust Qiao Ji a lot; they give as much as they take, never saying much.

I see you're very bold; after a few years of marriage, you've become unrecognizable.

Zu Fu, why do you speak to me like this? Granddaughter, even if she's a princess.

Truly, I don't know what's good; if it weren't for this return, having a request of her, she really wouldn't want to deal with her.

Qiao Mai stepped out of the warm shed, glanced at the messenger, took the letter, and upon reading its contents, burst out laughing in anger.

It's just that I asked her for a few things.

Wang Jiaru stayed at home with her two children, bored, but thinking of Li Longji, the consort in Jingcheng, she gritted her teeth and persisted.

Yuan Jiaqi took it and read it over, "She asked you for things again?"

Don't think I'm a fool; once you have silver, you squander it everywhere—food, clothing, everything must be Exquisite. Am I right?

So she wrote another letter and sent someone to deliver it.

Mrs. Wang didn't know what to say, "Jiaru, your grandfather and your father are right; you are already the mother of two children, you cannot think only of food, drink, and pleasure every day. Know that if you don't change, your children will one day become illegitimate, and you will be gradually removed from the Wangfu under the pretext of illness. Such things are common in Jingcheng, since our family is only a Fourth Rank official; if the Wangfu wants to act, we cannot protect you. Stop throwing childish tantrums."

Hmph, our Wang family resides in Weicheng, we don't seek promotion, we just want a peaceful life. From now on, you be your princess, we be ordinary people; well water doesn't mix with river water. I hope you will take care of yourself.

Zongsheng wore a composed face, "What have I done with the 150,000 taels of silver I give you each year?"

Thus, the messenger was indirectly driven out by the old woman, and when Wang Jiaru learned of it, she was furious, thunderously angry.

Father, don't be fooled by the Wangfu's outward grandeur, but to support so many people, I…

Father, you investigate me?

Granddaughter doesn't dare.

Old Mr. Wang left, and the elderly lady also stood up, looking at Ru'er with a disappointed face.

What have you asked her for?

After speaking, Zongsheng also left; at the table, only Mrs. Wang, Wang Jiaru, and the two children remained.

The meal ended in a sour note; originally the motherly Mrs. Wang felt pity for her daughter, but now she was extremely disappointed with her.

I

This time Yuan Jiaqi happened to be at home, and the two of them were gathering vegetables in the warm greenhouse; as soon as the year's end arrived, the vegetables sold especially fast, and many wealthy households don't go out to buy vegetables during the New Year, so they buy a lot to stock at home.

From that day onward, the Wang Laoyezi and the Old Lady stayed cooped up in the house every day, Wang Zongsheng had to go to the Yamen, Mrs. Wang had to assess the family's assets, Zihan had to attend school, and everyone was busy.

Mrs. Wang stared at Wang Jiaru in shock. "Is this still her daughter? How did she become like this? Five years, no more, no less, turned a perfectly fine woman into this; she truly could not believe it."

"Yes, it's always given away for free, but I haven't dealt with those things these years, so I have none at all."

"Dad."

"I don't have any here; I can't just conjure it, bring someone, send him out."

"I heard you're angry again; what exactly happened?"

"Well, how am I supposed to go back and report to the Master? The Master said I must obtain the item."

"Just a few sets of glittering jewelry, a few Horse-face Skirts, and her Double-sided Embroidery."

"Do you know that one of her tiny hair ornaments can fetch ten thousand taels of silver in Jingcheng? How much silver would your few sets of jewelry require?"

"Mother, could you stop talking about it? If you won't give it, that's fine; why make such a fuss?"

Mrs. Wang was startled by her words and stepped back a few paces; she said through tears, "I truly raised a good daughter," then turned and left.

(End of chapter)