Li Guangshu could hardly believe what he was hearing.

Was this still the open-minded and kind-hearted mother he remembered?

He wasn’t a child anymore—twenty thousand taels of silver, confiscated just like that. How could Mother say such things?

The silver he had worked so hard to earn, just taken away like that?

He had no objections to supporting his mother alone, but what about Big Brother? Big Brother had hands and feet, and was at least a court official. Did that mean he had to support Big Brother’s entire family?

What was most infuriating was that even if he supported Big Brother’s family, given Big Brother’s muddled nature, he would still act like the elder brother, taking the father’s place in front of him. Wouldn’t that make him a complete fool?

Li Guangshu knew he couldn’t argue with Old Madam Deng, so he lifted his eyes and glanced at Liu Shi, giving her a meaningful look.

After years of marriage, they should still have this much understanding between them. Liu Shi wasn’t the type to swallow her anger—she had often complained about his sister-in-law in his ear before.

Second Madam Liu Shi naturally saw Li Guangshu’s meaningful glance and sneered coldly in her heart.

Just now, he was still protecting that vixen, and now he’s giving her meaningful looks. What was the point of these looks? Did he want her to speak up and stop the old madam from confiscating the silver?

Ha! She wasn’t that foolish. If it were confiscated, at least the household meals could improve, and she could get some benefit. Should she leave it for this heartless man to support his concubine?

“Second daughter-in-law, do you have any objections?” Old Madam Deng turned her head to ask Liu Shi.

Li Guangshu couldn’t help but cough lightly as a reminder.

Liu Shi acted as if she hadn’t heard, barely moving the corners of her mouth as she said, “This daughter-in-law naturally has no objections. Everything is up to your decision.”

At this point, Liu Shi glanced at Li Guangshu and said indifferently, “Since we haven’t divided the household, how you arrange the silver is naturally your decision.”

Li Guangshu stared at Liu Shi in surprise, as if he didn’t recognize her.

How could this be? He and Liu Shi had gotten along fairly well before, though he knew Liu Shi could be petty sometimes. Even during their most passionate moments, he had criticized her for this.

Li Guangshu’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed into the character “川.”

Why was it that after several years had passed, Mother had become a stranger, and his wife had also become a stranger?

Liu Shi lowered her eyes, her heart full of bitterness.

This man she had longed for and waited five years for—when they first reunited, he hadn’t looked at her carefully even once. Because that vixen had fallen, and the little bastard she was holding started wailing, he had been busy comforting his delicate beauty and concubine.

At that moment, only one thought remained in her mind: she wanted to scratch this bastard’s face and never see that expression that pierced her heart again.

Now that it involved money, this bastard was staring at her intently…

“Since the Second daughter-in-law has no objections either, I’ll make the decision.” Old Madam Deng looked around at everyone and said indifferently, “Twenty thousand taels of silver—ten thousand taels will go to the public fund to supplement household expenses. The remaining ten thousand taels won’t be touched. When Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss marry, in addition to what the public fund should provide, each will receive an additional five thousand taels for their dowry chest. Does everyone agree?”

Even in her heartbreak, hearing Old Madam Deng’s arrangement, Liu Shi couldn’t help but curl up the corners of her mouth slightly and was the first to respond, “This daughter-in-law has no objections.”

At this moment, she suddenly felt full of gratitude toward her mother.

She had never met Li Guangshu before their marriage. This match had been decided by her mother after consulting with the old madam.

At that time, her mother had told her, “Women are confined to the inner quarters. Later, you’ll understand—having a reliable mother-in-law is much better than having a reliable husband.”

The man she encountered was fickle and heartless, which could only be called bad luck. Or rather, men like Li Guangshu made up eight or nine out of ten in this world. It was just that all women harbored that thought: they were the lucky ones, and the man they encountered would surely be different from other men.

In reality, most were like that.

Not to mention distant examples—just look at her brother-in-law Li Guangwen. Though his character was good, hadn’t he also left his later wife, He Shi, to guard an empty room for many years? He Shi had now emerged from hardship to happiness, but hadn’t those previous years of torment been endured night by night? She was lucky enough to endure until she saw hope, but how many women couldn’t endure to the end?

“What about Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law?” Old Madam Deng turned to look at Li Guangwen and his wife.

Li Guangwen shook his head. “Mother should decide these matters.”

At this point, the First Master’s eyes lit up, “Mother, I’ll receive double salary this month, and I’ll hand it all over to you!”

Li Guangshu, kneeling on the ground, was so angry he nearly fell backward.

Did Big Brother think he didn’t know? Big Brother’s monthly salary was only eight shi of grain. How much could a double salary be? Converted to silver, it was only about ten taels, yet he still wanted to curry favor with Mother!

Old Madam Deng said in a deep voice, “Mm, your big brother indeed does very well in this regard, turning over his monthly salary to the public fund on time every month.”

Hearing this, Li Guangshu’s face turned green with anger, his fingertips trembling with rage.

This was truly the most ridiculous joke he had ever heard. He had traveled dusty roads to return home, hadn’t even sipped hot tea, and twenty thousand taels of silver were gone just like that. Yet in Mother’s eyes, this wasn’t as good as Big Brother’s ten-odd taels of silver.

He could see now—Big Brother was Mother’s biological son, while he must have been blown in by the wind!

“Second son, are you dissatisfied?” Old Madam Deng narrowed her eyes, equally unable to understand this younger son’s thinking.

She wouldn’t touch a penny of her daughters-in-law’s dowries, but when the household hadn’t been divided, the sons’ income should naturally go to the public fund. This wasn’t a matter of more money or less money, but a matter of attitude, and it was reasoning that the world recognized. How could the second son still have objections?

“Your son wouldn’t dare.” Li Guangshu silently swallowed a mouthful of old blood.

Where could he go to reason with his mother? He had just returned to the capital after a long absence, and after the New Year was precisely the time to determine his prospects. Did he want to spread a reputation for unfilial conduct and attract the attention of the censors?

He would endure!

“So you’re still dissatisfied, just not daring to oppose?” Old Madam Deng was very displeased with her younger son’s answer.

Li Guangshu was so angry that his vision darkened repeatedly, but he smiled on the surface, “Mother is overthinking. Your son is naturally willing to show filial respect to you.”

You truly are my dear mother!

Only then did Old Madam Deng’s anger subside somewhat. She asked He Shi, “First daughter-in-law, what do you think?”

At this point, the old lady looked somewhat troubled, “Properly speaking, they should be treated equally. After all, Big Brother turns over his salary to the public fund on time every month, so there’s no reason that Second Brother’s contribution to the public fund should be allocated to his two daughters. But Second Brother has been away from the capital for many years, and your sister-in-law and two nieces haven’t had it easy either, so let this old woman be partial just this once.”

Li Guangshu: “…” So “partiality” could be explained this way. He had truly learned something new.

He Shi smiled, “Old Madam, you decide. What’s there to fuss about over this bit of silver?”

This bit of silver? Li Guangshu’s body swayed, and he couldn’t maintain his kneeling position.

Don’t stop him—he was going to fight it out with Big Brother and his wife!

Qiao Zhao observed Li Guangshu’s face changing from green to white with cold eyes, secretly amused.

When no one was around, this Second Uncle would probably be angry enough to cough up three measures of blood.

Mm, it was good that he was angry. There was no reason he could bring back a concubine and bastard son to cause trouble for the whole family and still be pleased with himself.

The accountant soon arrived and could be heard working the abacus loudly in the next room.

Old Madam Deng listened with narrowed eyes for a while, then instructed, “Nanny Rong, you may go fetch the matchmaker now.”

“Mother, don’t we have money now?”

Old Madam Deng glanced at Li Guangshu, “That’s the public fund’s silver, with many uses. How can it be used to support useless servants? What, do you perhaps have private savings?”