Third Madam Chen wept to Madam Fang. At this point, besides crying, she seemed to have no other recourse. Moreover, aside from crying to Madam Fang, she didn’t know who else could talk with her.
Her son still needed to study—she didn’t want to trouble him with this matter. As for Third Master Chen, there was no need to mention him. Besides knowing how to raise his eyebrows and scold her as a spendthrift woman, he was useless at anything else. Only her daughter was like a little cotton-padded jacket with whom she could share her thoughts, but she too had been struck down by Old Madam Chen’s words like an eggplant hit by frost, without a shred of spirit left.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but grow even angrier. Pulling Madam Fang’s hand, she looked at her with tear-filled eyes: “Sister-in-law! You know how partial our family’s Old Madam is. Third Master has lost his mind and wants to go beg Old Madam and Old Master, asking them to retrieve the silver through official channels. Tell me, isn’t his idea laughable? Old Master and Old Madam finding silver for you? They’d be strange not to divorce me instead. Wasn’t the incident with Old Madam Xiang enough of a lesson for me? He actually still wants me to beg Old Master and Old Madam—he could really think of that! When he needs to use money, it’s ‘Madam’ this and ‘Madam’ that. Now that I’ve run into trouble, he just lets go and doesn’t care.”
Madam Fang couldn’t help but sigh again. Song Chuyi’s predictions were divine—she knew Third Madam Chen would rather die than reveal even a trace of the failed lending business to the Chen family elders. She handed a handkerchief to Third Madam Chen, keeping her voice soft and gentle, containing just the right amount of concern and sympathy: “Speaking of which, it really is like that. I also know about your family’s Old Madam. The old lady is a formidable person. When she was young, she suffered from concubines. Only after the old master came to understand did she turn things around, so naturally she’s been somewhat indifferent toward Third Master. It’s just pitiful for you—a perfectly refined young lady from a Hanlin family, having to worry every day about firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea.”
These words truly struck at Third Madam Chen’s heart. Gripping Madam Fang’s hand, she sobbed uncontrollably. After a long while, she picked up the handkerchief to wipe her tears: “Sister-in-law, you’re right. If I had known earlier that Third Master Chen was this kind of person, if I had known his family was gilded on the outside but rotten within, I truly would rather have died than marry him!”
Unfortunately, now the rice was already cooked—saying anything was too late. Her children were already this grown. Even if not for Third Master Chen’s sake, she had to plan and scheme for her children’s futures.
Madam Fang timely guided the conversation to the matter of silver: “Speaking of which, have you thought of a solution? Madam Tong isn’t someone who sees things clearly. If Qing’er marries over without much dowry, she might truly be looked down upon and tormented.”
At the mention of silver, Third Madam Chen exploded. Glaring with both eyes, her voice suddenly rose sharply: “What method do I have?! Should I go ask my maternal family for it?! My dowry silver has all been thrown in. If I go back to my maternal family, he’ll scold me for ruining his reputation! Moreover, my maternal family isn’t wealthy either. Back then, to gather my dowry…”
A single coin stumps a hero. Third Madam Chen truly had no solution, staring helplessly with wide eyes.
Only then did Madam Fang pull Third Madam Chen closer, hesitating as if about to speak: “Actually, I do have a method that’s not really a method. Given the current situation, having reached a dead end, trying it would be good. I just fear you wouldn’t dare.”
Third Madam Chen now truly wanted to fish silver from a boiling oil pot. As long as there was silver, what couldn’t she do? Hearing Madam Fang’s words, even her eyes brightened, looking exactly like a wolf seeing meat. She hastily grabbed Madam Fang’s hand, her voice trembling with tension: “No, no, no, tell me, tell me. Sister-in-law, I won’t hide it from you—you know what situation I’m in now. I don’t have a single coin left on hand. Several pieces of furniture for Qing’er’s marriage are still missing. Although I’ve already ordered them, I haven’t even paid the deposit. If you have a method, you must tell me. Otherwise, I’ll truly have reached the end of my rope.”
Old Madam Chen’s words yesterday had shattered all her hopes. She didn’t dare place her hopes on anyone in the Chen family anymore. If there was another way to earn money, she absolutely had to try it. Previously, when she still had five thousand taels on hand, she was anxious enough to provoke the Song family’s tiger tail. How much more so now when her hands were completely empty?
Madam Fang patted her to signal her to calm down, resting her hand on her cheek with a very troubled expression. After a long while, she turned to look sideways at Third Madam Chen: “I’ll only tell you this—you absolutely mustn’t tell others. Otherwise, you’ll have harmed me.”
Seeing Third Madam Chen nod repeatedly, Madam Fang slowly said: “You don’t know—the other day, a guest came to our manor. When our lord returned, he said this guest’s background was considerable. I heard he’s the clan uncle of Jiangnan talent Lu Bingyuan, coming in advance to explore connections for his nephew and incidentally arrange a residence in the capital, preparing for his nephew’s spring examinations next year.”
Third Madam Chen frowned, somewhat puzzled: “What does this have to do with my need for silver?”
Madam Fang looked at Third Madam Chen with an expression of disappointment, as if she were beyond teaching: “You, oh you! No wonder your family’s first and second households have so much money they don’t know where to spend it, while only your third household lives so tightly and miserably. Haven’t you heard any whispers at all? Your Old Master will probably be next year’s chief examiner.”
Seeing Third Madam Chen seemed somewhat confused, she made her words more explicit: “Even our lord has people coming to curry favor and send gifts. Tell me, how could Third Master Chen not have people coming? They’re just afraid you won’t accept them.”
How could they not accept? Third Madam Chen was so excited her voice trembled: “Then—then he’s already sought out Minister Fang. What more can we do?”
“It’s not necessarily just him alone!” Madam Fang seemed to think she was somewhat stupid: “Is he the only person in the entire world who needs to pull strings? You don’t need to do anything—just move your lips up and down and say you’ll put in a good word with Old Master Chen for him. Who knows whether you actually say anything or not? This silver comes to hand—do you find the silver too hot to handle or what?”
Third Madam Chen lowered her head and pondered. These years, First Madam Chen had also obtained quite a few benefits from outside. Second Madam Chen even more so—her husband wasn’t dead, and he was Old Madam Chen’s only remaining legitimate son. When he came home from his official post, a dozen or more trunks couldn’t contain all those things.
They could all profit using the Chen family’s reputation. All equally being Chen family descendants, Third Master Chen was also Old Master Chen’s biological son. The family business Old Master Chen built surely wasn’t unrelated to their third household. All the benefits went to the first and second households—was their third household fated to drink the northwest wind and tend a cold stove? She truly didn’t believe in this evil fate!