CHAPTER 181: CHAPTER 181: COMING CLEAN

The next day, the Shen Family gathered together again.

Shen Qingju and Li Wei brought back a lot of food, while Dong Yao distributed it among the nearby neighbors.

After dinner, Dong Yao pulled Shen Qingju back into the room to ask about her situation at the Li Family.

Shen Qingju said, "Everything’s quite good, we talk from time to time."

Originally, the relationship between the two families was good; if it weren’t for someone stirring things up, the relationship wouldn’t be so awkward.

Nowadays, the Shen Family is doing better and better. Even Hong and Li Wen aren’t fools; naturally, they can see that.

Even if there’s still a barrier in their hearts, they can only endure it.

"By the way, mother," Shen Qingju frowned and said, "There’s something I want to talk to you about."

"What is it?" Dong Yao asked.

Shen Qingju removed her purse and handed it to Dong Yao, "I wanted to tell you about this when I returned, but then I forgot."

"Why are you giving me your purse?" Dong Yao looked at her, puzzled.

Shen Qingju took the purse back, opened it, and pulled out a stack of silver notes.

"Mother, look!"

"So much money!" Dong Yao was shocked, "Where did this money come from?"

She didn’t think it was given by the Li Family; she knew their situation very well.

Shen Qingju said, "This was given to me by Qinglan on my wedding day."

"Qinglan gave it to you?" Dong Yao was shocked again, "Where did she get so much money?"

This was a full thousand taels, and Shen Qinglan’s monthly wages were only ten taels; it was impossible to earn so much all at once!

"I found it strange too," Shen Qingju said, "Previously, when she bought clothes for me and cousin, I thought it odd. She spent nearly a hundred taels so easily without a bit of distress."

"And!" Shen Qingju continued, "The dowry she gave was reviewed by Wei, and it’s at least a thousand taels."

"This child, could she have borrowed money from Shopkeeper Tang again?" Dong Yao looked worried.

She looked at Shen Qingju and said, "You sit first, I’ll go call her in and ask."

Shen Qinglan was sitting aside listening to the elders talk about past stories, yet Dong Yao hurriedly brought her into the room.

"What’s wrong, mother?"

Suddenly pulled into the room, Shen Qinglan was somewhat at a loss.

"Quickly tell me, where did you get this thousand taels of silver notes?" Dong Yao took the silver notes from Shen Qingju and asked, "Did you borrow money from Shopkeeper Tang again?"

Shen Qinglan looked at those silver notes and remained silent for a long time.

When Shen Qingju returned last time without saying anything, she thought the matter had passed, but unexpectedly, Shen Qingju still spoke of it.

What must come will come, and she didn’t plan to hide it from them forever.

Just when Shen Qingju and Dong Yao thought she had acquiesced, they heard her say, "I earned it."

"Earned it?" Both were stunned.

"Yes," Shen Qinglan said, "The Guest House is mine."

"What?" Both were again stunned.

Dong Yao said, "Wasn’t it opened by the Ji Family brothers?"

"No," Shen Qinglan shook her head, "I was afraid you all couldn’t accept it right away, so I kept it a secret."

"No wonder!"

Thinking of Ji Nian and his wife’s polite demeanor towards Shen Qinglan, and their generous attitude toward Shen Shan and Shen Qingzhu, Dong Yao finally realized.

"Where did you get so much money to open a restaurant?" Shen Qingju asked.

Shen Qinglan calmly said, "I borrowed it from our employer."

Of course, she wouldn’t tell them the money was given by Duan Yunfei, otherwise, she couldn’t explain even if she talked until she was blue in the face.