The Second Madam smiled and said, "That's right, Qianqian. That Miss Lin is the descendant of a loyal and virtuous family. If you neglect her, it wouldn't matter much if people say you're jealous. But if they say our Lu Family lacks propriety and can't even teach a daughter-in-law properly, we'd be the laughingstock. As wives and daughters-in-law, we ought to be more magnanimous."
"Hurry up and buy her some jewelry!"
Madam Lu furrowed her brows and spoke to the Old Madam, "Mother, if it weren't for Qianqian back then, our family might not have survived that crisis..."
The Old Madam glared angrily at her daughter-in-law. "Crisis? What crisis? So many sought to marry into our Lu Family. Wasn't Lingxiao free to choose any noble young lady from a distinguished family? If it wasn't for Old Master Meng appealing to your father, this fortune wouldn't have fallen upon the Meng Family!"
Appeal?
If Meng Qianqian remembered correctly, it was Old Master Lu himself who visited the Meng Family to propose the match.
What the Lu Family valued was her merchant background. And now, they despised her merchant lineage.
Meng Qianqian looked at the Old Madam with a calm expression. "Since Grandmother puts it that way, it seems indeed that I am not worthy of this fortune. Perhaps it would be better to let Miss Lin enjoy it."
Just as the Old Madam was deciphering her words, Meng Qianqian added indifferently, "I shall relinquish my place and yield to the capable. Let Miss Lin take charge of this household. Naturally, if she wants the position of Eldest Young Madam, I can give it up to her as well."
"You!"
The Old Madam froze in astonishment.
She never expected her seemingly timid and compliant granddaughter-in-law to say something like this in public.
Lin Wan'er was an orphan, carrying nothing but the clothes on her back. If Lin Wan'er were to run the household, the Old Madam couldn't imagine what impoverished days awaited them!
Old Master Lu had passed, and Lu Xingzhou was the only one in official service from the Lu Family.
Lu Xingzhou's salary was modest and insufficient to support an entire household.
The Lu Family's shops had long been sold off or used as collateral. Recent years of disasters and crises hadn't left much yield from the estate.
Meng Qianqian turned to the Second Madam and said, "Second Aunt, from now on, the expenses for the second branch, the new hairpins and clothes for my little cousin, and the tuition gifts for the two younger uncles—please ask Miss Lin to handle them."
The Second Madam's face changed. "Qianqian, don't act impulsively. You're the legitimate wife! Why quarrel with a woman who has neither status nor name? Second Aunt will stand by you! From now on, all the Osmanthus Cakes in the mansion are yours! Nobody can take them from you!"
Meng Qianqian replied, "Second Aunt, didn't you say Miss Lin is the descendant of a loyal and virtuous family?"
With one sentence, the Second Madam was rendered speechless.
"Grandmother and Second Aunt, please enjoy your meal," Meng Qianqian said calmly. Then, under the stunned gaze of the Old Madam and Second Madam, she left gracefully.
The Old Madam regained her composure after a long while and yelled angrily, "She's getting more and more out of line! Is this the fine daughter-in-law you brought up?"
Madam Lu stayed silent.
The Old Madam hated this silent stance the most—like talking to a brick wall. "It's all your fault! Why did you give her the keys to the storeroom?"
Madam Lu replied with measured politeness, "The silver in the storeroom is her dowry to begin with. Besides, it was agreed early on that she would keep the keys after coming of age. The table is set, and there are matters in the household waiting for me to handle. Mother, please take your time with the meal."
"This is rebellion!"
The Old Madam slammed the table, glaring at Madam Lu's retreating figure at the doorway. Fuming, she remarked, "Women must be virtuous if they want men to care for the family!"
Madam Lu tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand.
The Second Madam spoke with grievance, "Mother, what about my jewelry—"
The Old Madam snapped at her furiously, "Jewelry, jewelry—always about jewelry! If you hadn't arrived asking for this and that, would it have turned into this mess? Wasteful woman! Are you lacking in anything?"
The Second Madam could only suppress her complaints, muttering under her breath, "What does this have to do with me? Wasn't it all because you annoyed that girl yourself?"
Something crossed her mind, and her eyes flickered. She said, "Mother, I think Qianqian is just mad at Miss Lin. True, this matter has wronged her. Why not… deal with Miss Lin first?"
The Old Madam replied coldly, "Deal with her how? Send her out of the mansion? Don't even think about it! She's carrying my great-grandchild. Even if I have to drive that girl out, I'd never wrong my great-grandchild!"
The Old Madam had only one son, Lu Xingzhou, who only had one heir, Lu Lingxiao. Naturally, she placed high hopes on Lin Wan'er's pregnancy.
The Old Madam sneered, "That girl is so thin and frail; one look and it's clear she's incapable of giving birth!"
Half a year ago, Meng Qianqian had been pushed into the water by Lu Linglong. Though she was rescued, the physician had stated that the cold rainwater during a thunderstorm had caused damage. She had stayed submerged for too long, affecting her most vital feminine nature. Bearing children in the future might be impossible.
Meng Qianqian went to the Old Lady's courtyard.
The elderly matriarch had been awake for a while but refused to get out of bed.
"Great-Grandmother, it's me."
Upon hearing Meng Qianqian's voice, the old matriarch poked her head out from behind the curtains. "Qianqian!"
Meng Qianqian smiled, "The weather is nice today. Would Great-Grandmother like to go for a walk?"
"Hmm..."
The old matriarch had no desire to walk.
She was idle.
Meng Qianqian said, "I'll catch some sparrows for you."
The old matriarch jumped out of bed in no time.
After breakfast, Meng Qianqian accompanied the old lady to the small garden for a walk.
The Capital City had seen rare good weather these days—warm winter sunshine that comforted the soul.
"Qianqian, I'm gone now!"
From behind the rockery, the old matriarch's voice called out.
Meng Qianqian chuckled and pretended to be surprised. "Great-Grandmother, where are you hiding? I can't find you!"
"Ohohoho…"
Behind the rockery, the old matriarch laughed theatrically and eerily, like an amusingly cunning old villain.
Meng Qianqian deliberately searched and passed by the rockery several times, never even peeking inside.
The old matriarch's sinister chuckle grew more exaggerated: "Heh heh heh~"
"Meng Qianqian!"
A sudden, sharp female voice shattered the tranquility and joy in the garden.
The old matriarch instantly dropped her playful demeanor.
Lu Linglong didn't notice the old matriarch hiding behind the rockery. She marched straight up to Meng Qianqian. "I'm calling you—are you deaf?"
Meng Qianqian replied, "Someone loves barking. Are you a dog?"
Lu Linglong clenched her fists in anger, "Meng Qianqian! Who are you calling a dog?"
Meng Qianqian responded, "Whoever answered."
Behind the rockery, the old matriarch, just about to "woof," covered her mouth solemnly.
Lu Linglong rolled her eyes in frustration, "Buy me an outfit! I have a banquet to attend!"
Meng Qianqian didn't even glance at her. "Ask your mother; you're not mine."
Lu Linglong glared at her indifferent sister-in-law with almond-shaped eyes wide open, "Meng Qianqian! How can you be so petty? My eldest brother is back. Do you believe I can make him divorce you?"
"I'd be delighted."
Meng Qianqian replied coolly.
Lu Linglong, accustomed to bullying Meng Qianqian, no longer took their "useless sister-in-law" seriously.
She reached out to grab Meng Qianqian's hair.
Meng Qianqian noticed shadows on the ground. She lightly dodged, then swiftly gripped Lu Linglong's wrist and slapped her across the face!