The Duchess of Dingguo giving Qin Yining such a vast enterprise not only granted her great dignity but also brought honor to Yao Shi.
Yao Shi immediately felt glorified before her in-laws, unable to hide her pride and satisfaction as she said, “I originally didn’t want it, but her maternal grandmother insisted on giving it, saying this child caught her fancy and couldn’t be dissuaded. This enterprise was originally her cousin Yuanming’s business. Her maternal grandmother specifically exchanged it with fertile lands and shops to get it for her. When I said she’s just a girl who doesn’t understand management, I was scolded, told that I was being too protective and not giving her opportunities to exercise her abilities—it was truly difficult.”
Having said this, Yao Shi shook her head with apparent sincerity, looking quite helpless.
These embellished words were like slapping the Old Madam’s face with silver notes. Yao Shi thought privately: You, as a grandmother, haven’t given the child any silver or money since she returned, and even arranged the most distant courtyard for her. When she needs to save her personal funds, my natal family has to step in. It seems everything in our Duke’s residence is gold-plated, while your Prime Minister’s residence is an iron rooster!
Obviously, when Yao Shi thought this way, she had forgotten that just a few days ago, she and the Old Madam shared the same thoughts, neither wanting Qin Yining to live in the residence and nearly sending her to the estate.
How could the Old Madam, Second Madam, and Third Lady not understand Yao Shi’s pride?
But the facts were before them—the people of the Duke of Dingguo’s residence had indeed used gleaming silver to dazzle their eyes. If they wanted to argue seriously for dignity, they would have to present an enterprise comparable to Zhaoyun Department to give to Qin Yining.
Not to mention that the Prime Minister’s residence’s current properties were merely some fertile fields, mountain forests, shops, and estates. Even their business ventures were just ink and brush shops, silk and satin stores, and the like. Though profitable, they were absolutely not as prestigious as Zhaoyun Department.
Moreover, even if they had such prestigious enterprises, the Old Madam wouldn’t bear to give them to a girl as dowry!
The Prime Minister’s residence’s foundation ultimately couldn’t compare to the Duke of Dingguo’s residence, which had been passed down through generations. The Duchess of Dingguo could throw money at people, but they could not.
The Old Madam wisely chose to play dumb at this moment.
The Second Madam and Third Lady naturally didn’t want their mother-in-law to give property to the first branch’s daughter. After all, the Prime Minister’s residence hadn’t divided the family yet—the first branch had no sons, but the second and third branches had plenty of sons!
The two sisters-in-law very tacitly complimented the Duchess of Dingguo’s generosity, praised Qin Yining for being sensible and likable enough to earn the Duchess’s favor, and didn’t forget to praise Qin Yining for inheriting her father’s intelligence. They praised until Yao Shi’s face glowed red and she smiled so widely her mouth couldn’t close.
Watching Yao Shi’s childish behavior, Qin Yining couldn’t help but sigh.
She suddenly understood why the Duchess of Dingguo couldn’t contain her anger today and scolded Yao Shi in front of everyone. If she had a daughter in her forties still acting like she was fourteen, doing things purely on whim without considering others’ thoughts, she would be annoyed too.
Qin Huining, however, felt like she was now isolated on the outside, with everyone only revolving around Qin Yining, stealing away everything she once possessed.
She had lived in the Qin family for fourteen years. Though favored by the Old Madam and her mother, she had never seen anyone praise her to the skies like this.
Even when she was still considered a biological daughter, no one had ever praised her as “resembling her father” or having “her father’s demeanor.”
Looking at the faces of her second aunt and third aunt, Qin Huining felt extremely nauseated!
Wasn’t it all because Qin Yining now had Zhaoyun Department, while she had never had such a thing before!
Her maternal grandmother had never particularly liked her since childhood, but no matter how much dislike there was, she had still spent fourteen years with her grandmother. Could her fourteen years not compare to Qin Yining meeting the Duchess of Dingguo just once?
Qin Huining gritted her teeth. If she hadn’t retained some rationality, she would have already erupted in curses. But she knew her good days still depended on these people before her—she couldn’t let their impression of her worsen, or future reproaches would be numerous.
“Old Madam.” Just then, Nanny Qin smiled as she lifted the warm curtain at the door and reported, “The Master has returned.”
As soon as she finished speaking, they saw Qin Huaiyuan enter wearing a cotton cloak with a gray squirrel fur collar. He casually handed the cloak to Nanny Qin and stepped forward to pay respects to the Old Madam.
“Mother.”
“You’re back. Please sit quickly.” The Old Madam smiled.
Qin Huaiyuan sat in a round-backed chair with a thick cushion to one side. Yao Shi, the Second Madam, and Third Lady naturally stepped aside.
Seeing the entire room filled with a joyful atmosphere, Qin Huaiyuan smiled and asked, “What good news has happened that I don’t know about? Mother, please tell me too.”
The Old Madam laughed, “It’s all about Yi Jie’er’s good fortune! Today when she returned to the Duke of Dingguo’s residence, her maternal grandmother gave her Zhaoyun Department to celebrate her homecoming. We were just discussing this matter.”
Hearing this, Qin Huaiyuan was stunned. In the space of a breath, he had grasped the crux of the matter and couldn’t help but sigh softly, looking toward Qin Yining at the side.
As a father, he naturally favored children who resembled him, and Qin Huaiyuan was no exception. It was just unfortunate that despite all his efforts over the years and secretly using many remedies, he hadn’t been able to get his wives and concubines to bear him a son.
What use was it for girls to resemble him, no matter how much? They could only be used for marriage alliances.
Looking again at Qin Yining’s delicate, flower-like appearance, Qin Huaiyuan felt even more frustrated. A voice inside his heart cried out: why wasn’t this a son! Some words he had intended to say he now lazily dismissed.
A mere girl—no matter how big the Tang family affair was, what waves could she stir up? Getting Zhaoyun Department was just about enjoying dividends. This time the Tang family matter involved Prince Ning and the pure faction. If they couldn’t withstand the pressure afterward, at most the head shopkeeper would take the blame.
Since Zhaoyun Department had already changed owners, changing the head shopkeeper would be natural too.
Thinking this, Qin Huaiyuan didn’t say much more, only commenting, “Father-in-law and mother-in-law have taken great care. I must visit to express my gratitude another day.”
Hearing this, Yao Shi felt extremely comforted, her gaze growing tender when she looked at Qin Huaiyuan.
Seeing that Yao Shi, Qin Yining, and Qin Huining were still wearing their outer garments, the Old Madam told them to return and rest—they didn’t need to come over tonight.
The three paid their respects. Qin Huining forced a cheerful smile as she bid farewell to Yao Shi and returned to the warm pavilion to rest, which we need not elaborate on.
Qin Yining, however, accompanied by Rui Lan, Nanny Jin, and Cai Ju, followed the sedan chair to escort Yao Shi back to Xingning Garden. Only after paying her respects did she return to her own Xueli Courtyard.
In just this short while, news that Qin Yining had become the owner of Zhaoyun Department had spread like wildfire. All the servants she encountered along the way came forward to bow respectfully and curry favor.
Rui Lan carried a lantern beside Qin Yining, carefully recalling the events since Qin Yining’s return to the residence.
Five days ago, when the young miss first returned to the residence, the Old Madam and her birth mother didn’t acknowledge her, Qin Huining bullied her, and even her food and clothing depended on the servants’ moods.
But now?!
The Old Madam no longer detested her, the Madam seemed to somewhat like her, and the Duke of Dingguo’s residence’s attitude toward her need not be mentioned. She had no worries about food, clothing, or expenses. Her display of power not only awed the servants but even subdued masters like Qin Huining. Rui Lan, following the carriage, had heard every word of the lecture in the carriage clearly.
Most importantly, all the young ladies in the residence still lived on monthly allowances of two taels, but her young miss already owned a gold mine!
Thinking this way, Rui Lan’s blood boiled with excitement, further solidifying her determination to follow Qin Yining in the future. Previously, she had been a frog in a well, knowing only the small space of Xingning Garden, thinking the best prospect was serving the Master.
Now following the young miss, though the future was unknown, it was obviously more promising than following the First Madam!
Qin Yining naturally didn’t know what Rui Lan was thinking, only noticing that everyone was suddenly more polite to her and Rui Lan’s service had become more attentive. She couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Fawning on the powerful and trampling the weak—was this human nature?
Turning into the alley, she saw a figure standing at the entrance of Xueli Courtyard, stretching their neck to look out.
Seeing them, that person hurried forward. Only when they got close did Qin Yining see clearly that it was Qiu Lu who had run over.
“Miss.” Qiu Lu deliberately lowered her voice, saying somewhat nervously, “Earlier, a Head Shopkeeper Zhong came with two large camphor wood boxes, saying he personally came to deliver Zhaoyun Department’s account books to the miss. But after arriving, he refused tea, refused to take his leave, and actually knelt in the courtyard, unwilling to go!”
Qin Yining blinked in surprise, then asked with slight urgency, “How long has he been here? How many people knew when he arrived? Does anyone know about him kneeling?”
“He entered through the back corner gate when he came, so not many people know. Others saw boxes being carried in and probably just thought things were being delivered to the miss—they wouldn’t look carefully at when he left. As for the kneeling…” Qiu Lu thought for a moment, “It’s been over an hour now. This servant was afraid it would be bad if word spread, so I discussed it with Nanny Zhu and Nanny Zhan. We managed all the servants in Xueli Courtyard, not allowing them to leave the courtyard. Today’s food boxes were carried by this servant and Nanny Zhu.”
Only then did Qin Yining breathe a sigh of relief and nod, “You did very well.” She had originally known that Qiu Lu thought things through but was naturally reticent. She hadn’t expected that when encountering such urgent matters, she could still be so steady. It seemed Qiu Lu could be relied upon heavily in the future.
The three master and servants returned to Xueli Courtyard and indeed saw someone kneeling at the end of the small stone path in the courtyard.
With the weather about to enter winter and evening approaching, cold winds blew in gusts, causing the lanterns under the corridor to sway and flicker. Wind swept yellowed bamboo leaves scattered across the ground, making that upright kneeling figure appear extremely desolate.
Seeing Qin Yining stop and remain silent, Qiu Lu looked at her inquiringly.
After brief consideration, Qin Yining said, “This must be Head Shopkeeper Zhong? You want to hand over the accounts to me? Please come in to talk.”
Speaking thus, she walked straight into the front hall used for receiving guests without even glancing at Shopkeeper Zhong.
Rui Lan and Qiu Lu hurried to invite Shopkeeper Zhong: “Shopkeeper, our miss has returned. Please get up quickly. If you continue like this, our miss will be in a difficult position too.”
Perhaps hearing Rui Lan and Qiu Lu’s words, or perhaps seeing the real Buddha, Shopkeeper Zhong hurriedly got up. Having knelt for so long, his body swayed, and after recovering for a moment, he stumbled into the main room. Upon entering, he knelt again, not daring to look directly at Qin Yining’s face, only lowering his head and saying, “May the master be well. This humble person is Zhong Yucheng, paying respects to the master.”