CHAPTER 544: CHAPTER 533: SO YOU’RE ONLY STINGY WITH ME

Unaware that Cui Yun looked upset, Shen Zhi led him inside. Hearing this, he simply smiled and then explained to Cui Yun.

"Years ago, Daddy bought some rare spices from outside. They were meant for Mama, but Yangyang took a liking to them and claimed them for herself. These spices are rare and hard to come by, and each time, there’s only enough for her use."

His eyes softened as he spoke: "She has loved dressing up since she was a little girl."

Cui Yun touched the patterns on the hem of his clothes, and upon hearing this, he merely tugged at his lips and smiled.

The conversation between father and daughter stopped when Shen Zhi and others entered.

Shen Hua wore a stern face and came over, unwelcoming, whispered: "Why are you here?"

"Do not be rude." Shen Zhi shook his head at her.

Although he indulged Shen Hua, he also taught her.

A girl straying off the path is not a problem, as long as she has someone to guide her, her foundation is still good.

"Yangyang, apologize."

Shen Hua: "I—"

The word ’no’ stopped when she heard the next sentence from Shen Zhi.

"If you apologize and accept the punishment, brother will give you some extra silver this month."

"Do I have to do this to get the subsidy?"

"It has to be this way."

Shen Hua understood.

The girl disdainfully said: "Who cares about the little you offer."

Then, the purse in her hand was taken by Shen Zhi. She was about to snatch it back angrily.

"Tell Mama, and you will have nothing at all."

Shen Hua, suppressing her anger, numbly bowed her head to life, and said word by word: "Brother Cui, I am sorry."

Cui Yun finally understood how to curb her, he said lightly: "Naturally, I will not hold it against Shen Family’s little sister."

Shen Wei showed no panic of poisoning his daughter, he exchanged glances with Cui Yun and greeted him as always, thinking the young man would still ignore him, but Cui Yun responded with a faint smile.

"Nowadays, Old Master Shen travels far and wide, all for the embroidery workshop’s business?"

Shen Wei never expected that this young man, who looked no older than his son, was putting him into a spot.

"Indeed it is so."

"In the past, I handled the business, while Madam took charge of the embroidery ladies and the embroideries. But you know, my little girl isn’t well."

Shen Wei sighed: "It is vital to have someone watch over Yangyang. Fortunately, I now fully oversee the embroidery workshop, and the people below are diligent enough. There has been no mishap."

Cui Yun suppressed the sarcasm in his eyes.

"Indeed, the daughter is a pearl in Mrs. Shen’s eyes, not like those ordinary materials can compare."

Shen Zhi nodded: "You are right, whenever Yangyang is unwell, Mama drops everything just to take care of her."

These words were unpleasant to Shen Hua’s ears. Oddly, Cui Yun always brings up the most inconvenient topics.

"Now with Ni Kang around, she will definitely recover. Old Master Shen need not work so hard anymore."

Shen Zhi toasted Cui Yun with tea in lieu of wine: "I’ll take this good advice on behalf of my Daddy."

Shen Wei smiled stiffly: "It is so."

"The embroidery workshop indeed can’t do without Madam."

Soon Chun Yun arrived, followed by a servant bringing food.

"These are specialties from Fengzhou, try them, Young Master Cui, see if they suit your taste."

This meal had Cui Yun sitting across, with Shen Hua elegantly sipping her soup throughout.

Shen Family’s rules aren’t many, but hosting Cui Yun wasn’t a regular family dinner. She looked around, not seeing the limping Lady Qiu carrying Shen Zhui.

Last time Shen Zhui mentioned butter candies while holding her hand, and these past few days, while opposing Cui Yun, she had completely forgotten.

When she comes, she must ask for some.

Ridiculous, does wanting mean she should buy them for her?

Where does she have the time for that?

Such a clingy nuisance!

On this side, Shen Wei starts speaking.

"Madam, have you properly arranged the house designated for the clan elders? He is stubborn, and upon knowing this, he straightforwardly said it’s unnecessary. You can’t rely on old age to take advantage of us. He even refuses to accept the land deed."

"What are you talking about? You Jing has almost taken care of the house’s matters these days, her mind is the most meticulous. I am also at ease. It is ready to be inhabited as soon as they move in. He holds seniority, and in earlier years, he was kind to Old Master Shen, and now he is especially affectionate toward Brother Zhi and Yangyang as if they were his own grandchildren."

Shen Zhi slightly furrows his brow.

"I was not aware of this. Which house is it?"

Shen Hua: "I know, it’s on Chenghua Street. That house is quite big."

"Daddy."

His tone is unusually serious.

"The house on Chenghua Street is not cheap. Wealth is extrinsic, true, but the Shen Family is not a charity. You give alms, you help the poor, I have no complaints about that."

"If the clan elder has no children, we could perfectly bring him into our home, but he does have children. Over the years, being cared for by the Shen Family, haven’t their days been looking up?"

The girl softly speaks, "I have said too, the elder’s house hasn’t collapsed, nor has it been flooded; if they could live there before, why can they not continue to live there? But Daddy said that we should show him respect."

As she speaks, she asks Yicui to peel shrimp for her.

"Respect should be given where due, but this is not the way to show respect?"

"Those unaware might think he is my biological grandfather."

Shen Wei knows well enough; his father always liked to maintain appearances.

"I do not agree with this. Daddy, it’s better to take the house back."

Shen Wei had not anticipated such a strong reaction from him.

"How can something that has been promised be taken back?"

"If the clan elder truly fears taking advantage, he wouldn’t accept. If he does, I would begin to doubt whether all his words are just lip service."

Knowing that Cui Yun was present and not wanting him to see this as a joke, Shen Wei lost his patience with Shen Zhi, his tone turning stern: "Enough, you are studying at school, just focus on your studies and enhancing our family’s reputation. You need not worry about these matters."

Seeing this, Shen Zhi could only deeply sigh.

Chun Yun seeing this, felt somewhat uneasy. She thought it over and was about to speak.

"Who is Daddy scolding now?"

Shen Hua, who a second earlier secretly enjoyed some meat, slammed down her chopsticks heavily.

"Can’t you let me eat in peace? Brother just got back, what are you yelling at him for?"

Why doesn’t she yell at Cui Yun!

Didn’t she see that I’m annoyed by him?

"Alright, Daddy will stop talking."

Facing his distressed daughter, Shen Wei’s attitude softened.

Shen Hua scoffs, unconvinced: "Do you think you are being reasonable?"

"Brother makes a good point."

"The clan elder’s sons are able-bodied; even if things are tough, they could work at the docks, they wouldn’t starve him."

She grumbled, "He is an elder, but does every Shen Family elder deserve a house? Why don’t I get one?"

"You support your second uncle’s family, and you also support the clan elder’s family."

Shen Wei, both amused and angered, pointed at her, "Are you criticising me? You’re just a little girl, what do you know?"

The girl, however, kept a straight face, big-headed for her age.

"Those people rely on Daddy now, fine, I won’t interfere. But don’t expect my brother to inherit your legacy in the future."

"Brother is scholarly and will surely achieve great things in the future, aiming to become an official. Being pulled down by me is his fate, why should bloodsuckers from the second wife’s side get a share?"

She grew more infuriated as she spoke and finally slammed the table.

"Ha!"

"Now you’re being generous, just earlier I thought you were going to nickel and dime me."

Cui Yun stared deeply at Shen Hua, who was unruly yet made several good points.

He, perhaps, faintly confirmed something.

If in a few years he finds favor in her, perhaps...it wouldn’t be surprising.