Chapter 1494: Poor to the Point of Being Abnormal

Chen Guanlou had always had a question in his heart, which he had been pondering before whether to ask or not. Thinking about it now, it's better not to hesitate. Although the little girl is young, being able to hold back such a big matter without revealing a single bit shows that she is also a smart girl and has her own plans in her heart.

"Miss Dou, do you know that your ancestors were rich, very rich?"

Dou Shu was first bewildered; does this have anything to do with investigating her father?

However, she still nodded, "I know a little, I've heard people mention it."

"Do you have any records of this in your family? Like records in handbooks, account books are also fine."

"I don't know." Dou Shu shook her head, "There is a warehouse in the ancestral home, but I have never entered it and don't know what's inside. There is also a warehouse in the home here in the capital, and I have never entered it either."

"Have you ever entered your father's study?"

Dou Shu shook her head, "He didn't allow me to enter his study, only my younger brothers could enter. He said I was a girl, there were no requirements for reading, just being able to read and calculate was enough. But I clearly remember my mother once urged me to study hard, to study just like the boys. Only by reading more can one understand reason and not be easily deceived by others."

"Your mother is right, you should listen to your mother and read more, so you can understand reason. The reason I ask if you know your ancestors were rich is because through investigation, I found that the life your family is living now seems to be unworthy of the wealth that theoretically exists in your family.

Dou Shu looked confused, seemingly unable to understand the meaning of the words.

She asked cautiously: "Does the lord mean that my family is poor to the point of being abnormal?"

Chen Guanlou lowered his head and laughed upon hearing this.

Pure Yang Zhenren also followed and laughed.

After laughing, Chen Guanlou nodded, "Your understanding is not wrong. Yes, the standard of living your family is living now, including the amount of your dowry, theoretically is unworthy of your family's wealth. According to the investigation, your family in the ancestral home is a well-known wealthy family in the local area, with the accumulation of several generations, there is quite a lot of money.

Even if it declined halfway, your father plus your grandfather had no bad habits and did not invest in property indiscriminately. Theoretically, so much wealth should not have been squandered so quickly.

Think about it, back then your maternal grandfather prepared a dowry of twenty thousand taels for your mother. This dowry, even if it were the Marquis's mansion marrying off a daughter, is extremely decent. Your Dou family must also have corresponding financial resources and status for your maternal grandfather's family to spend so much money to prepare the dowry. However, looking at your family's current situation, it really is unworthy of a dowry of twenty thousand taels. Do you understand?"

Dou Shu understood half and didn't understand half; she had never seriously managed the household and had never seriously come into contact with the account books in the mansion. She had only managed her own private money, a mere few dozen taels. At most, it was only a few hundred taels. And there were not many places to spend money.

Twenty thousand taels, how much exactly, how strong the purchasing power, how many things can be done, she had no concept. She didn't even know how much a house in the capital cost.

She tried to understand the meaning of Chen Guanlou's words, "Does the lord mean that he squandered all the Dou family's industries, so there is no money."

"The problem is, where was it squandered? All these years he has been working diligently in the government office, and there are not many opportunities to squander the family fortune. Or, did he actually get the wealth of your Dou family. Besides the real estate and farmland on the surface, does your Dou family have another sum of wealth, but he doesn't know."

Of course, these are all his one-sided words.

When Eunuch Wang Hai told him that the current situation of the Dou family was not quite right, the current Mistress Dou was stingy with money, and the Dou family ancestors were indeed rich, a problem appeared here.

Where did the wealth go?

No gambling, no indiscriminate investment, no high-risk and high-return things, where did the money go?

The income from farmland and shops, the difference is not big every year, and it can be calculated.

However, with the accumulation of several generations of the Dou family, is it possible that only this little wealth on the surface remains?

And still have to covet the dowry of the original wife, and mistreat the dowry of the legitimate eldest daughter?

Poor to the point of being abnormal.

Dou Shu looked confused; she had never thought in this direction, and she had never realized that there was any problem here.

She was speechless, not knowing what to say for a while.

"Before your mother passed away, did she say anything else?"

"I... I have to think carefully."

The most profound memory is that her mother told her that her father was fake. As for other content, she really needs to recall carefully. After all, when her mother passed away, she was too young, so young that others thought she had no memory.

"Think slowly, don't worry. Also, haven't you contacted your maternal grandfather's family? What did they say?"

Dou Shu wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, "I didn't dare to contact my maternal grandfather's family, and I didn't dare to tell them these suspicions. My maternal grandfather's family has not been easy these years, and the business is not easy to do. Several uncles are arguing about dividing the family property, and the argument is quite fierce. I didn't dare to go to the door and bother them with my affairs. Adding trouble!"

"When did your maternal grandfather's business become difficult to do?"

Dou Shu recalled carefully, "It seems to be after my mother passed away, I don't remember the specific time. I only know that after coming to the capital, my maternal grandfather's family was not peaceful. Several times in a row, the goods were robbed, and the losses were heavy. Since then, it hasn't been very smooth."

Chen Guanlou smiled in understanding.

More and more circumstantial evidence, now only one ironclad proof is missing, an ironclad proof that can confirm the identity.

"Who is the most trusted person by your father?"

"It's Steward An."

"If I remember correctly, the valet of your father in the past was surnamed Qiu, and his birth mother was surnamed An."

"I only know his surname is Qiu, I don't know his birth mother's surname is An."

After all, the little girl is young and inexperienced, so it is excusable to ignore such an important clue.

"Miss Dou, the truth about the investigation of your father will soon be revealed, wait patiently, no need to worry."

"I, I want to ask how much longer it will take?" Dou Shu's face was hesitant, but her eyes were exceptionally firm, revealing a bit of cautious flattery. She was afraid of being disliked for pushing her luck.

Chen Guanlou chuckled, very able to understand the other party's mood.

If it were him, not only pushing his luck, he must push step by step.

He told the other party: "If it's fast, you will hear the news in two months. If it's slow, it won't exceed half a year. Can you wait for this time?"

"I can! I have waited for so many years, it's not a few months. My lord, thank you! If it weren't for your help, I would still be panicked and helpless, not knowing what to do. If he is my biological father, I should ask clearly. If he is not my biological father, but I recognize a thief as my father, I will definitely be struck by lightning! It is you who gave me the opportunity to seek the truth!"

"Don't say that! The result hasn't come out yet, everything is just a guess. After going back, everything remains the same, don't reveal your tracks, so as not to put yourself in danger. If there is anything, send a letter to the Heavenly Prison, I will handle it for you."

"Thank you, thank you!"

Dou Shu thanked repeatedly, bowed and performed a great salute, crying uncontrollably! ===== CHAPTER 1495 =====