frightfiction Chapter 224: You are so rich, you should not care about this little money.
Chapter 224: You are so rich, you should not care about this little money.
While Li was happy, she began to think about something.
The Yan family is so shameless that they actually want her son to marry into the family.
Her son is the God of Literature who came down to earth to bring honor to the Cao family. Why does the Yan family think that just because they have some money, they can let God of Literature marry into their family?
It's a kind heart to be able to like their daughter.
Fortunately, it was agreed that the engagement would be done after the son passed the imperial examination. When the son returns, it will be time for the engagement. Marrying into the wife's family is absolutely impossible.
Also, the allowance given to her by the Yan family must be increased. They only give her ten taels of silver a month. They are so rich, but so stingy that they treat beggars as slaves?
After thinking about it, she took her mother-in-law to Yan's house.
This house is too small, and there is only one maid. The Yan family is so unkind. They live in such a big house, but they are unwilling to spend more money to buy a bigger one for her and her mother. How much more money can they spend to buy one more servant? But they are only willing to buy such a maid.
This matter also needs to be discussed.
In the past, when she went to Yan's house, she bowed and smiled servilely, and bent over in fawning manner.
But today, she stood up straight and was proud of herself.
Thinking that this was her future in-law, Mrs. Yan went out to greet him personally, and Yan Qin was naturally by her side.
Without exchanging pleasantries, Li, who used to be flattering and smiling, was the first to bring up the topic: "My dear, I believe you have heard about something, right?"
Mrs. Yan had never heard of it, and she was also puzzled by Li's change in attitude.
She asked, "I wonder what my in-laws are talking about?"
Li raised her chin slightly: "My son Shuqing has passed the exam and become the first in the academy!"
"Really? Has the good news arrived?" Mrs. Yan and Yan Qin were both very happy.
Madam Yan quite liked Cao Shuqing. She thought that although he was young, he was well-mannered and polite. He was still in Ziguang Academy, so he still had a future.
As for Li, although she was a little unpresentable and her smile always revealed calculation, for a widow who depended on her son for a living, it was nothing to just think of it as raising one more child.
Now, they are also truly happy for Cao Shuqing.
"Of course it's true. Don't forget, my son was the first in the county exam and the first in the prefectural exam. If the first in the academy exam falls in Ningshan County, who else could it be except my son?"
Mrs. Yan also thought it made sense.
She said happily, "Mother-in-law, we have to prepare. When Shuqing comes back, we have to hold a banquet for him to celebrate."
Li felt very comfortable hearing this, this was the right thing to do.
"Celebration is a must. But before celebrating, I have something to say."
"Mother-in-law, you say!" Madam Yan smiled. Qin'er was in poor health. If Cao Shuqing could achieve fame and get a government position in the future, Qin'er would have someone to rely on for the rest of her life.
The couple supported Cao Shuqing and took great care of him. They also brought his mother to the county town, bought a house for them, provided them with household expenses, and bought maids to serve them. This was also because Yan Qin was close to Cao Shuqing and Cao Shuqing was smart and sensible.
"Mother-in-law, I am from the country, so my words may not be pleasant to the ears. But some things are not clear unless they are said, and the truth is not rough. Don't you agree?"
Madam Yan's smile froze for a moment: "It doesn't matter, there is nothing that cannot be said."
"Then I'm relieved. I knew that my mother-in-law was a sensible person. Our Shuqing has great potential. You can see now that he is capable and talented! Who knows, he may even become a high-ranking official in the future. Isn't this all our lives for our children? I heard that if we marry into the family, even if he becomes an official, he will be laughed at. So, mother-in-law, how about changing to a normal marriage?"
Mrs. Yan frowned. It was Cao Shuqing who took the initiative to propose marrying into the family.
At that time, Mr. Yan said that he was afraid of affecting his future, but Cao Shuqing vowed that a gentleman was open and honest and was not afraid of being laughed at.
You just passed the exam and you're regretting it now?
Naturally, Yan's father and mother would prefer to have a son-in-law who marries into the Yan family. After all, they only have one daughter, and all the family property will be left to their daughter. It would be better to have someone to inherit the Yan family's incense.
But for the happiness of their daughter, they don't necessarily have to marry into the family.
After thinking about it, Mrs. Yan could understand Li's thoughts.
She said, "I will discuss this matter with my master when he comes back, and then make a decision after asking Shuqing's opinion!"
Li was not very happy with these ambiguous words.
But Mrs. Yan did not refuse outright, which means there is still room for negotiation.
She thought about it and then made her request: "Now that my son has become a scholar, do you need to do something else to let him concentrate on the imperial examination?"
"What do you mean by mother-in-law?"
Li smiled, with pride in her tone: "After all, he is the future son-in-law of the Yan family, and they are the richest people in the county. It's not good for him to be too shabby as a son-in-law. The house we live in is really small, and there are not enough servants. There is only one maid. So, mother-in-law, can you make some arrangements? The house doesn't need to be too big, three or five times bigger than the original one; the servants don't need too many, seven or eight will be fine. My son is a scholar, so he needs two book boys and two maids, don't you think? And, ten taels of silver is really not enough, it's only enough to buy a piece of clothing. Can you give fifty taels every month in the future, no, one hundred taels. Anyway, the Yan family is so rich, they shouldn't care about this little money."
Mrs. Yan's mouth twitched when she heard this.
They took Li back and forth to the county town, bought her a house, and hired servants to take care of her. They had done their best.
After all, even if Cao Shuqing intended to marry into their family, it would not make sense for them to care about their mother-in-law.
Helping is a favor, not helping is a duty.
I still remember what kind of life Li lived when she was first brought to the county town?
His body was covered in yellow soil, his hands and feet were rough, his hands were covered with thick calluses and there were cracks on them, and there was black mud between his nails.
The dry fields, she was exhausted, and her eyes were dull and lifeless.
We ate coarse grain steamed buns, the kind that would get stuck in our throats when we took a bite. There was only a vegetable soup on the table, with no oil and little salt.
When she saw the Yan family, she felt so embarrassed that she didn't know where to put her hands and feet.
When they arrived at the county town, she ate a whole chicken, a big bowl of meat, a fish, and three big bowls of white rice for her first meal. If they hadn't persuaded her and Cao Shuqing had gotten angry again, she might have been able to force herself to finish two bowls.
Afterwards, out of pity for the hardships she had suffered, she was allowed to live in a three-room house. It was spacious and bright, more than enough for mother and son to live in. Cao Shuqing could also use the small courtyard to study.
They didn't have to work in the fields, and there were people to serve them. Every day, the servants of the Yan family would buy fresh fish and meat and give them a portion. Rice, flour, grain and oil were all directly provided by the Yan family.
In addition, the Yan family gave her ten taels of silver for household expenses every month, and the monthly wages of the servants were all paid by the Yan family.