In the Green Wave Courtyard of the Marquis of Zhennan's Mansion.
As soon as Lu Huaizhou and Jiang Fuying returned to the courtyard, the maids from the second and third branches of the family came with 30,000 taels of silver notes and the account books, showing great respect.
"Your Highness the Heir and Madam, these are the silver notes and the account books of the household management compensated by the decoration team."
Jiang Fuying looked up.
One maid was holding a wooden box filled with silver notes, while the other three each carried a thick stack of account books.
"Okay, just put the things down," she said calmly.
The three maids immediately piled the account books on the table.
As they were putting them down, they repeated what the Second Madam and the Third Madam had said.
"Madam, the Second Madam said that since you haven't learned the art of household management, if you can't understand the account books, just send them back to the East Courtyard. She will check them for you."
"The Third Madam also said that if you really can't understand the account books, you don't have to force yourself..."
A hint of gloom flashed across her autumn - water eyes, and she stared fixedly at the three stacks of account books that looked like small hills.
Did they want her to give up?
They were probably going to be disappointed!
In her previous life, she had dealt with and checked far more account books than these!
Jiang Fuying calmly withdrew her gaze. "It's okay. The art of household management is learned step by step. I will finish checking these account books as soon as possible."
The four maids exchanged a quiet look.
The exact words of the Second Madam and the Third Madam were:
"If Miss Jiang is sensible enough to give up when she sees these account books, you should bring them back intact. If she is over - confident, just leave the account books to her and let her taste the bitterness of checking them!"
Now that the Madam was determined to take on this difficult task and check the account books, they didn't need to persuade her anymore.
"Madam is right. We maids still need to return to the East Courtyard to report, so we'll take our leave first."
As soon as they left, Lu Huaizhou suddenly started to clap his hands. "Clap! Clap!"
The clear sound of applause echoed in the bedroom. He said with a smile, "Congratulations, Miss Jiang, on getting what you wish for."
Jiang Fuying also curved her lips and held out her hand to him.
"Your Highness."
"Hmm?"
Looking at the jade - like hand in front of him, Lu Huaizhou was a bit confused, but subconsciously he also reached out his hand.
The jade hand slapped his palm.
"Clap!"
"I have to thank Your Highness for your help in this great victory," Jiang Fuying said with a beaming smile.
The candlelight was bright, casting a faint soft glow on her.
Lu Huaizhou was so captivated that his heart skipped a beat like an electric shock.
Why was Miss Jiang so different tonight...
After this night, the second and third branches of the family finally quieted down.
Finally, there was no one causing trouble. Jiang Fuying was so busy that she hardly had time to catch her breath.
"Caipu, take 10,000 taels of silver notes and go to the west of the city to find a carpenter named Cao. Ask him to bring his decoration team to redecorate the shop. Remember to use the best materials this time."
Caipu held the silver notes and hesitated in place. "Miss, what if this Carpenter Cao is the same as the previous decoration team..."
"Don't worry. They won't," Jiang Fuying said with a calm smile.
Carpenter Cao was a reliable and honest man who didn't covet small profits. The workers under him were even more diligent and serious.
She had cooperated with Carpenter Cao's decoration team countless times in her previous life.
The reason she didn't approach them at first was that she wanted to set a trap for the second and third branches of the family.
But speaking of those two branches...
She really had to thank them for causing trouble!
Half of the 30,000 taels of silver notes was the bait she had put out, which was returned to her intact. The extra half was enough to tear down the shabby decorations of the shop and redecorate it, and there would even be a surplus!
In a way, the decoration of her shop this time was all thanks to the generosity of the second and third branches of the family!
"Caizhi, take a few unpalatable pastries from our small kitchen and send them to the East Courtyard. Tell them that I'm grateful for the support of the two aunts."
Didn't they love to disgust people? Even when they sent the account books with the maids, they tried to take the opportunity to disgust her.
Well, coincidentally!
She also knew how to do disgusting things!
"By the way, remember to tell the two aunts," Jiang Fuying added with a cold smile. "This is my sincere gift as a junior. I'm sure they, as elders, will give me face."
In the East Courtyard of the Marquis of Zhennan's Mansion.
The Second Madam and the Third Madam were sitting together, looking unhappily at Caizhi, who was holding a plate of ordinary pastries below.
Caizhi repeated what Jiang Fuying had told her word by word.
"Second Madam, Third Madam, this is my mistress's sincere gift as a junior to you two..."
When she said the last sentence, "I hope you two will accept it", the huge East Courtyard fell into an awkward silence.
The Second Madam and the Third Madam's faces were as dark as ink.
How dare Miss Jiang morally blackmail them in the name of a junior!
"If the Second Madam and the Third Madam don't want to eat these, I'll go back and report to my mistress. I'll ask her to change a few pastries that suit your tastes and send them here..."
"No need," the Second Madam said with a fake smile. "As elders, we should give Fuying face."
After saying that, she picked up a pastry and reluctantly put it into her mouth.
Caizhi's eager eyes turned to the Third Madam. "Third Madam, what do you think..."
The Third Madam gave her a fierce look.
What was there to think about!
If her sister - in - law could bear the nausea and eat it, how could she not eat it and give Miss Jiang something to talk about?
"Of course I'll give Fuying face," the Third Madam gritted her teeth and managed to squeeze out this sentence.
One pastry was not enough for them!
While watching them eat, Caizhi kept flattering them. "Before I came, my mistress said that the Second Madam and the Third Madam love these pastries the most and respect and understand the feelings of the juniors the most. They will surely finish this plate of pastries. I didn't quite believe it before, but now I see that it's really true."
The Second Madam and the Third Madam almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
Miss Jiang had set another trap for them!
But unfortunately, they were now the "respectful and understanding elders", so they had to force themselves to eat these unpalatable pastries.
In the end, the Second Madam and the Third Madam felt like vomiting.
Caizhi, however, curtsied and left, hiding her merits and fame.
"Sister - in - law, are we just going to watch Miss Jiang act so brazenly and open her shop?" the Third Madam complained angrily.
Not to mention the pastry incident just now, just the 30,000 taels of silver:
The second and third branches each paid half. Miss Jiang had extorted 15,000 taels from her!
Her heart still ached!
If she didn't avenge this, how could she feel at ease!
The Second Madam, holding back the nausea surging in her stomach, poured cold water on her. "Sister - in - law, haven't you learned your lesson yet? Do you still have the leisure to provoke that couple?"
The Third Madam immediately fell silent.
Miss Jiang was a scheming woman, and Lu Huaizhou was a rambunctious playboy. How could she ever win against this couple when they worked together?
Seeing that she didn't say a word, the Second Madam let out a long sigh. Seemingly trying to persuade her, but actually hitting her right in the heart, she said, "I understand that you're troubled by this matter, but if we provoke them again, not only will we get no benefits, but we'll also have to pay more silver."
The Third Madam's face twitched, alternating between red and green.
The Second Madam stole a glance at her and continued, "Anyway, Miss Jiang has no real skills. No matter how hard she tries, she won't be able to open a shop. We might as well just watch coldly how she ruins herself in the end..."
The speaker had an intention, and the listener also took it to heart.
The Third Madam took these words to heart.
Miss Jiang would surely ruin herself sooner or later. Why didn't she add fuel to the fire?
The Third Madam clenched her handkerchief tightly and had already made up her mind.