Despite Old Madam Feng’s attempts to conceal it, Jiang Si noticed the momentary stiffness in her expression after she mentioned requesting her dowry.
Jiang Si’s mother, Madam Su, had passed away years ago, and the key to her dowry had always been in Old Madam Feng’s possession. Although Old Madam Feng had long declared that she would release the dowry when the three children of the main branch married, Jiang Si knew that asking for it in advance was like asking Old Madam Feng to cut off her flesh.
Madam Su was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yining, and her dowry was substantial. While there were accounts for the income from shops and farmlands, it was all too easy to make money from silver.
Of course, the profits generated wouldn’t be counted as part of Madam Su’s dowry. As for where that money went, it was self-evident.
“Although you’ve come of age, you’ve never learned to manage a household. How could managing a dowry be so simple?” Old Madam Feng’s tone grew increasingly cold, caught off guard by Jiang Si’s words.
Jiang Si maintained her cheerful demeanor: “It’s precisely because managing a dowry isn’t easy that your granddaughter wants to start learning now. Previously, when I was engaged to the Third Young Master of Duke An’s manor, it wouldn’t have mattered much if his wife’s household management skills were lacking, as he’s the youngest son. But now that engagement has been called off, who knows what kind of family I might marry into in the future.”
Speaking of marriage, Jiang Si didn’t blush at all. She observed Old Madam Feng’s expression and continued, “What if I end up marrying the eldest son of some family, yet have no household management skills? It would surely invite ridicule. It wouldn’t matter much if I were laughed at, but if people were to say that our Earl’s manor doesn’t know how to raise girls properly, that would be my fault.”
After listening to Jiang Si, Old Madam Feng’s expression became quite interesting.
It was the first time she realized this granddaughter was so eloquent, and what she said made some sense.
However, with the engagement to Duke An’s manor called off, Jiang Si’s chances of marrying within a year or two were slim.
For such a long time, Old Madam Feng was reluctant to hand over such a large dowry to Jiang Si.
Old Madam Feng pondered for a moment: “It’s good that you’re thinking this way, but everything should be done step by step. You can’t fatten a pig in one day. How about this: starting tomorrow, you’ll follow your Second Aunt and observe how she manages household affairs. After ten days or half a month of learning, your Second Aunt can assign you a task. As for managing the dowry, we’ll discuss that after you’ve familiarized yourself with these matters.”
Familiarize herself with the needlework room, then with purchasing, with social interactions – if she wanted, there was plenty for Jiang Si to learn. By the time she had learned all these things, a year or two would have passed.
If Jiang Si were to marry successfully in a year or two, Old Madam Feng certainly couldn’t be accused of embezzling her daughter-in-law’s dowry. The dowry would naturally be handed over to Jiang Si in full.
Hearing Old Madam Feng’s words, Jiang Si’s face showed a struggle, but she finally shook her head and said, “Your granddaughter only wants the dowry left by my mother!”
Old Madam Feng’s face darkened: “Fourth girl, your grandmother has explained things so clearly, haven’t you listened? Do you think your grandmother would embezzle what your mother left behind?”
“Of course, your granddaughter wouldn’t think that.”
Old Madam Feng’s expression softened: “That’s right, then just do as your grandmother says. Your grandmother won’t harm you.”
“But your granddaughter needs money.”
“Rouge, powder, clothes for all seasons – the manor provides all these. You even have a monthly allowance. Isn’t that enough?”
“Your granddaughter wants to set up a small kitchen to cook for herself in the future.”
“Nonsense!” Old Madam Feng was immediately angered. So this girl had been making a fuss all this time because she was picky about food.
Madam Feng, standing beside Old Madam Feng, secretly curled her lip.
In the entire Earl’s manor, only the Hall of Compassion had a small kitchen. Even Second Madam didn’t have one. Yet Fourth Miss was demanding a small kitchen. Indeed, a miss without a mother’s guidance was bound to be inconsiderate.
A-Xi, the head maid, pursed her lips at A-Fu.
It seemed Fourth Miss was about to get into trouble.
Jiang Si paid no attention to Old Madam Feng’s anger and spoke calmly: “Your granddaughter dares not be unreasonable. It’s just that if I don’t set up a small kitchen, I’ll starve to death. For the sake of survival, I have no choice but to beg grandmother.”
“What kind of talk is this? To set up a small kitchen, you’re throwing around words like death and life. How would it look if this got out?” Old Madam Feng rebuked.
“A-Man, A-Qiao, bring in the food boxes.”
Soon, the pearl curtain was lifted, and A-Man and A-Qiao entered one after the other.
Each maid carried a food box, approaching Old Madam Feng and curtsying.
Old Madam Feng didn’t bother to say much to the maids, only coldly staring at Jiang Si.
“Take out those dishes and let the Old Madam see.”
A-Man and A-Qiao quickly took out the dishes from the food boxes, filling a table.
“This is from lunch, and this is from dinner. Grandmother can have someone taste them to see if these dishes are edible.” Jiang Si finally dropped her smile and spoke coldly.
Old Madam Feng glanced over, her gaze lingering a moment longer on the dinner dishes. She frowned and said, “Although they look a bit unappetizing, how could they be inedible? I see these dishes haven’t been touched.”
If they hadn’t been touched, how did Jiang Si know they were hard to swallow?
Jiang Si chuckled lightly: “It’s precisely because they’re hard to swallow that no one touched them again. If grandmother doesn’t believe me, just have someone taste them.”
“A-Xi—” Old Madam Feng gestured to A-Xi.
A-Xi was extremely reluctant.
As the Old Madam’s head maid, her food and daily use were not inferior to the young misses. Who would want to eat these cold dishes?
However, she could only keep these thoughts to herself. She immediately responded with a “Yes” and picked up a pair of clean chopsticks, eyeing the dishes on the table.
She might as well try the cold dishes. At least these were meant to be cold, so the taste wouldn’t have changed much.
A-Xi picked up some cold wood ear salad with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. As soon as she tasted it, she hurriedly spat it into her handkerchief and began coughing.
“What’s wrong?” Old Madam Feng asked sternly.
A-Xi, choking with tears in her eyes, said: “It seems they added too much mustard…”
“A-Fu, you go and taste the others.” By this point, Old Madam Feng had already made up her mind.
A-Fu tasted several dishes. Although her reaction wasn’t as strong as A-Xi’s, her expression was equally unpleasant. She said to Old Madam Feng: “The taste… is rather off…”
“Those old women in the kitchen are getting more and more cunning and lazy!”
Jiang Si smiled: “It used to be quite good, but today both meals have been like this. Grandmother, why don’t you call Second Aunt over and ask her? Could it be that she changed the cooks without informing you?”
Old Madam Feng didn’t immediately respond to Jiang Si’s words, instead looking at her deeply.
The young girl’s delicate chin was slightly raised, allowing Old Madam Feng to scrutinize her.
Their gazes met, and Old Madam Feng could see no hint of retreat in those sparkling eyes.
Old Madam Feng withdrew her scrutinizing gaze and said to A-Fu: “Go and invite Second Madam here.”
Jiang Si couldn’t help but curve her lips.
Once, a scoundrel had taught her that if you want someone to agree to a small condition, first propose a large condition that they would never accept.
This way, the small condition would easily be met.
This was asking for the moon to settle for a little star.
It seemed he was right.