Riot

To allow him to focus on his studies, Shi meticulously prepared a study for him and would come to read with him in the evenings.

As for what happened at the shop, this is what Shi said—

"We're all elderly people now, why do you need to keep an eye on us every day? Youth doesn't last forever, you should focus on your studies."

Jin Huayu actually doesn't like reading.

However, he liked that his wife was "single-minded" in relying on him and making plans for him.

+

"No, no, it's, it's for her aunt. Sister, listen to me—" Jin Huayu said hurriedly.

"I'm listening," the Second Concubine, still as indifferent as ever.

Her hands were under the table, resting on her knees, gripping her skirt tightly.

Only in this way could she restrain herself and jump up to hurl insults at the younger brother she had raised with her own hands.

Gu Wanning and her Third Concubine had both subtly reminded her before to pay attention to cultivating her younger brother's independence.

Although she agreed and appreciated it, she didn't really take it seriously.

She felt she had raised her younger brother very well.

My younger brother is capable of standing on his own now.

In business, that's probably true.

She simply forgot to teach her younger brother how to avoid women with ill intentions.

"Did you use the money in the shop?" The Second Concubine's voice wasn't loud, but her question was like a heavy hammer blow.

The blow struck Jin Huayu like a hammer blow, causing his pupils to shrink and his tongue to become knotted. After a long pause, he stammered, "I will pay it back. Actually, I have the money, but... but, sister—"

He suddenly became excited again, "You know what? There are people lending money out. We're desperately short of money right now. If I lend my money out, I'll get one percent interest every month, and it'll double in less than a year!"

"So, you've lent out all the money you had?" The Second Concubine remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was in turmoil, her already fragile heart pounding.

"Yes! Sister, don't worry. I was also afraid it was a scam, so I only put in two thousand taels of silver. As a result, I received one hundred taels of interest in just half a month."

"You should thank whoever helped you make money."

Jin Huayu, oblivious to her deeper meaning, said with no small amount of pride, "Luckily, my wife has this connection. I have over 16,000 taels of silver on hand, with a monthly interest of 1,600 taels. I can make up for the embezzled silver in the shop in less than half a year."

"You know that's called misappropriation?" The Second Concubine seemed unangry, her voice filled only with deep weariness. "Huayu, do you think that's appropriate?"

"Yes, it's somewhat inappropriate," Jin Huayu stammered.

But the thought of the money accumulating interest gave him renewed confidence.

"Sister, you have to be flexible in life. You can't miss an opportunity. That's what you taught me before."

The Second Concubine felt a chill in her heart.

He had forgotten everything she had taught him.

He coveted other people's profits, but what they wanted was his principal.

With the phrase "one must be flexible in life," all the blame is shifted onto her.

Okay, okay.

This is her "blessing".

Chapter 281 Riot

"Since you think it's suitable, then let's do it this way."

Jin Huayu was surprised that he could persuade his sister so easily, and suddenly felt that all his previous tension was unnecessary.

He wondered if it was just his imagination, but his sister seemed much gentler than before.

It's probably a case of "one is influenced by one's surroundings."

He married a virtuous wife.

Thinking of his sister's dissatisfaction with his wife, he began to speak up for her again, "... encouraging me to study for the imperial examinations, and taking meticulous care of me..."

"If you think it's good, then that's fine. You can go ahead and get busy; I have things to do."

The matter concerning my Second Concubine was that I went to my parents' graves and cried bitterly.

Dad, Mom, can you tell me what I did wrong?

What else can I do to live up to your expectations?

You have given me so much love, and I fear that I have not done enough to ensure that you can rest in peace.

I believe I've given my brother a lot of love, but what have I received in return?

The Second Concubine felt bitter and repressed, barely able to bear so much negative energy.

So she could only tell a few of her sisters.

She had originally thought that living in the Marquis's Marquis's Residence would be a life of humiliation and intrigue, requiring her to be extremely careful and cunning. However, her time Marquis's Residence turned out to be the most carefree period of her twenty years of life.

The matriarch made all the decisions.

There was no internal strife, only a deep sisterly bond that was gradually built up.

These past few years have changed her life.

Although she didn't want to trouble Gu Wanning, she really had no one else to talk to.

The Second Concubine didn't bring any maids; she came to Gu Wanning in her own carriage to complain.

"Go back, there's no need to come pick me up. I'll hire a sedan chair myself."

As she stepped down from the carriage, the Second Concubine, carrying some snacks, addressed the coachman.

She felt a sense of warmth even towards the withered grass and trees in front of Gu Wanning's doorway.

On the contrary, she didn't want to go back to her own home at all.

That's no longer her home.

Even though not a single plant or tree in her yard had been disturbed.

She paused briefly at the door, sighed, and was about to knock.

However, someone was faster than her.

Second Concubine only felt a dark shadow flash by beside her like lightning; before she could even see clearly, it was at the door with a "whoosh" and knocked.

"My Marquis, my Marquis, it's urgent!"

So they were looking for the Marquis.

The Second Concubine did not step forward again, waiting for the man in front to find someone first.

The man was tall and imposing, wearing a dark blue robe, and his shoes were made of thick, worn-out soles...

He was so anxious he was running around in circles like an ant on a hot pan.

He belatedly noticed his Second Concubine standing frozen in place, and forced a smile, "Who are you?"

"I am a good friend of Miss Gu." The Second Concubine was unaware of the other party's identity and had some suspicions in her mind.

He appears to be a close attendant of the Marquis.

I just don't know where Gao Lan went, or why he's been replaced.