CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 378 NEW SHOP (2)

"Back then, Jing Niang was just as smart and obedient as you. But now..." Old Mrs. Zhao sighed, as if reluctant to speak, yet feeling the need to confide, "She chose a bad marriage. Her husband is a gambler... If I’d known she’d end up like this, I would have stopped her from marrying into that family."

After speaking, she angrily pounded the bed.

Li Yuzhu said, "She seems to be in good spirits; her life should be going fairly well. Don’t worry too much about her, Old Lady."

Marrying a gambler and taking money from her mother’s family back to her in-laws—to say Zhao Jingniang is smart, or to say she is foolish?

Not returning even for her mother’s grand birthday celebration, what exactly is Zhao Jingniang thinking?

Li Yuzhu couldn’t decipher Zhao Jingniang’s thoughts.

However, Zhao Jingniang’s attire is rather presentable, suggesting her life is still okay.

"I’ve been forgetful since last year. Daoist Wang from Qingyun Temple told me that eventually I’d forget everything and advised me to prepare early." Old Mrs. Zhao spoke to herself.

Li Yuzhu looked up, and indeed, Old Mrs. Zhao has been preparing.

"The children and grandchildren in the family are unreliable; none of them are responsible. Daoist Wang’s suggestion was good, urging me to prepare early. But even though I’ve prepared, I’m still quite resentful in my heart." As she spoke, she cried aggrievedly, "People around have said several times that I’ve gotten lost in the garden and told my sons to get a doctor. They said it’s just an old person’s ailment, that all old people are like this and there’s no need for a doctor."

Li Yuzhu looked at her, unsure of what to say.

Old Mrs. Zhao let out a bitter laugh, "I thought, I might as well feign illness. I’ll act even more confused and see if they’ll care for me then."

Li Yuzhu said, "The family has indeed become concerned. Mrs. Zhao even sent Miss Rui to find me."

She really guessed it right.

Old Mrs. Zhao’s illness is indeed "unusual," there must be something going on.

The Zhao family’s business was built by Old Mrs. Zhao herself, so seeing her children and grandchildren disunited, she couldn’t stay indifferent.

When she had her episode, she was reminded by someone and immediately became aware.

Old Mrs. Zhao was afraid if she became completely confused, the family would start fighting, and internal strife would benefit others.

It’s better to divide the family fortune while she still has some clarity.

However, it’s quite lamentable to say, the Zhao family, upon learning of Mrs. Zhao’s illness, called for her to see a doctor not out of genuine concern for her health, but fearing the inheritance might fall into the hands of other brothers.

"She isn’t worried about me; she’s worried that if I die suddenly, the money will be snatched by others." Old Mrs. Zhao sneered.

Li Yuzhu reassured her not to overthink it.

Old Mrs. Zhao said, "I know you mean well. I’m just feeling unhappy and want to talk."

Li Yuzhu comforted her again. After all, she’s an old woman who fell ill. After talking a lot, fatigue set in, and she fell into a heavy sleep.

Outside the bedroom, Li Yuzhu noticed Sister-in-law Chai looking anxiously towards the courtyard gate.

The courtyard gate was pitch black, with nothing there.

"Sister-in-law Chai, what are you looking at?" Li Yuzhu followed her gaze and asked, puzzled.

"Ah, nothing." Sister-in-law Chai snapped back, awkwardly smiling, "There were two cats fighting just now, and I was thinking whether to chase them away. But as you came over, they ran off by themselves." She glanced back at the bedroom and whispered, "Has the old lady fallen asleep?"

"Yes, she’s asleep. Her body no longer hurts, so she’ll sleep soundly tonight," Li Yuzhu said.

"That’s good; now I feel relieved." Sister-in-law Chai sighed with relief.

However, Li Yuzhu still saw a hint of melancholy between her brows and eyes.

Her eyes were evasive; what on earth has happened?

.

Just as Li Yuzhu had predicted, Old Mrs. Zhao slept very peacefully after her surgery.

The next morning, Old Mrs. Zhao said her hip no longer hurt. Li Yuzhu encouraged her to try turning over, to try sitting up, even to dress while standing.

With no pain in her body, Old Mrs. Zhao was delighted, her smile becoming more frequent.

As she became happy, the maids and nannies in the room were also happy.

Lai Qing’s family reported the good news to Mrs. Zhao.

But at that moment, Mrs. Zhao was busy. She was arranging for someone to reclaim a shop that Old Mrs. Zhao had rented out at a low rate.

The shop had been rented at a low price for three years, and she wanted to recover the difference.

She was busy calculating the accounts with her abacus and had no mind to listen to anything else.

"Got it, got it. Just serve her well and get whatever you need from Miss Rui; no need to report to me." She waved her hand impatiently.

Lai Qing’s family left happily, only to return dejectedly.

She dared not tell the old lady about the cold shoulder she received from Mrs. Zhao.

Of course, the old lady didn’t ask either.

While accompanying Old Mrs. Zhao for breakfast, Sister-in-law Chai said, "I’m relieved that Auntie’s health has greatly improved; I want to return to the shop first and come to see you another day."

Old Mrs. Zhao, smiling, said, "You’ve been here for several days now. You should go back and take a look. It’s a small business; how can your husband manage it alone? Go, go, there’s nothing more needed here; I’m much better now."

Sister-in-law Chai bade farewell to Li Yuzhu and left hurriedly with the maid Chuntao.

Li Yuzhu was still accompanying Old Mrs. Zhao at the Zhao family.

After lunch, while Li Yuzhu was helping Old Mrs. Zhao with her rehabilitation exercises using a walking stick, Li Xing’an came over.

Old Mrs. Zhao, fond of the whole family, liked Li Xing’an very much. She called the maid to serve good tea and snacks and then smiled and said, "You siblings can talk, don’t worry about this old woman, I’m fine at the moment."

The siblings thanked her and went to sit in the pavilion in the courtyard to talk.

Li Yuzhu told Li Xing’an about the recent happenings in the Zhao family.

Li Xing’an frowned, "This family is so heartless! In my opinion, not a single coin should be given to the unworthy son!"

"That’s Old Mrs. Zhao’s own decision, we should not comment on it," sighed Li Yuzhu.

She took out the property deed for the shop given by Old Mrs. Zhao and stuffed it into Li Xing’an’s hand, "I don’t have time to go, you go see where this shop is. I looked at Sister-in-law Chai’s copy, her shop is next to mine."

Li Xing’an looked at the property deed, quite surprised, "Two-story building, connecting shop and house, with a small courtyard, this shop is quite large. To say Old Mrs. Zhao isn’t muddled, I don’t believe it."

"She’s indeed not muddled at the moment, but I don’t understand why she’s doing this," Li Yuzhu blinked, asking Li Xing’an, "Third Brother, when we had money in the Capital, did father and mother casually give away shops like this?"

In the past, when in the Prince Mansion in the Capital, she had no concept of money.

To her, one coin or ten thousand taels of silver placed before her would evoke no emotion because it was all unspendable.

Back then she stayed in the Prince Mansion every day, everything from food to living was taken care of, there was no place to spend money.

Mentioning the past, Li Xing’an would grit his teeth.

"How could there not be? I don’t know if mother gave away any shops; I only know that our father did. Houses, shops, horses, servants, silver, oh my, the gifted wealth is more than the entire Zhao family’s assets!" Li Xing’an said angrily, thumping his leg, "Father gave so generously, yet when our family was in trouble, no one came forward to speak for us, we gave away to the white-eyed wolves for nothing."

Li Yuzhu also became angry, not just giving away Zhao family’s money, how much was given away?

At least fifty thousand, if not more, was it a hundred thousand or eighty thousand?

Thinking of the siblings tirelessly earning money while their father idled away at home, Li Yuzhu cursed the spendthrift old man in her heart!

We must find a demanding job for our father!

Make him earn back the money he gave away!

.

Li Xing’an took the shop deed given by Li Yuzhu and found the shop.

He discovered that the shop’s location was quite good; it was at the corner of a lane with doors openable on two sides, one facing the street and one facing the lane.

The lane led to a densely populated residential area at the back.

Many people were coming and going from the lane.

Moreover, the lane was not narrow; a sedan chair could pass through.

While Li Xing’an was observing the shop, Eldest Young Master Chai arrived on horseback, stopping at the shop next door.

He went over to greet him, "Brother Chai."

Eldest Young Master Chai looked tired, barely nodded to Li Xing’an, and forced a smile, "Li San, are you here to see the shop too?"

Both families knew their shops were neighbors.

"My third sister didn’t have time to come out, so she asked me to come have a look first." Li Xing’an smiled, walking over to Eldest Young Master Chai, "Brother Chai, now with two shops, you’re going to be even busier."

Eldest Young Master Chai replied awkwardly, "Yes, yes."

Li Xing’an noticed something was off with his expression and quickly asked, "What’s wrong, Brother Chai?"

"Ah, nothing, just organizing the new shop is a bit tiring." Eldest Young Master Chai smiled.

Li Xing’an looked at his face, feeling suspicious.

.

Li Jing said he wanted to see Li Yuzhu, so after checking the shop, Li Xing’an went to fetch Li Yuzhu from the Zhao family.

Now that Old Mrs. Zhao’s health was returning to normal, Li Yuzhu also wanted to go out for a walk, so she left with Li Xing’an.

They didn’t go directly to the County Magistrate Mansion but headed to Chai’s Candle Shop.

Upon reaching the shop, the siblings found many people gathered around the shop discussing something.

Judging by the situation, it didn’t seem like they were buying anything.

"Third Brother, it looks like something has happened," said Li Yuzhu.

She recalled how Sister-in-law Chai left yesterday looking worried.

Eldest Young Master Chai was also in a hurry when he left the Zhao family, even being called back by a servant.

"Let’s go have a look," said Li Xing’an.

The two walked over quickly and heard someone saying, "Miss, the old lady only said this verbally, without any written document as proof, so the shop’s rent still has to follow the original terms. You’ve only paid thirty percent rent for three years, shouldn’t you make up the remaining seventy percent?"

"It’s Zhao family members," Li Yuzhu narrowed her eyes and said.