"Ah, good, good. Jinqiu, you really have married a wonderful wife."
"Take good care of your wife. She's our family's treasure now."
Old Madam readily agreed.
She was not at all worried that the Zhong Family would refuse.
The Zhong Family were mere merchants. Having a daughter become the mistress of the Marquis's Residence would be an immense honor.
Never mind bringing glory to their ancestors-it might even allow them to cross class boundaries and raise the entire clan's standing.
Old Madam happily planned to ask another favor once the Zhong Family had resolved the Marquis's Residence's troubles: she would have them help her maiden family too.
Her maiden family had gone bankrupt. Even putting food on the table was a problem.
Watching Xie Jinqiu carefully help Zhong Youyan out, Madam Li felt much of the tension of the past two days melt away.
She knew nothing of the Zhong Family's recent attempt to break off the engagement.
She merely felt that she and her son had earned merit by providing disaster relief, and His Majesty's rewards should arrive soon.
And now someone would fill the hole in the family finances. Two happy events had come knocking at once.
So she planned to visit Xie Jinzhao first, then go to Liu Wan's quarters and thoroughly torment her.
To think a daughter-in-law could be so unfilial.
Zhong Youyan returned to her courtyard. Seeing the pile of tonics and jewelry sent by Old Madam and Madam Li, she gave a cold laugh and told Xie Jinqiu, "Husband, my Zhong Family has plenty of these things. Have the servants send them back."
The Marquis's Residence was already so poor, yet Old Madam and the others could still produce such expensive things.
Clearly, they were deliberately trying to curry favor with her.
She wondered