20demayo Chapter 14 Seizing the Shop's Operating Rights
Chapter 14 Seizing the Shop's Operating Rights
When the old lady heard Yun Juan talk back to her like that, she couldn't hold back her temper: "You...you ill-mannered brat, I'm going to teach you some manners today."
Yun Juan found this somewhat amusing: "I have no manners? Grandmother, have you forgotten that I was sent to the estate by you? You want to talk to me about manners? I was born of a mother, but I didn't have a father to teach me. Where would I get manners from? You shouldn't say that to me; you should say it to your precious son."
What Yun Juan hates most is their victim-blaming mentality and their condescending attitude. Who are they trying to impress? Even if they admit their mistakes, can the deceased original owner come back? No, she can never come back.
"Grandmother, please don't be angry. Don't forget the important matter," Yunrong carefully reminded the old lady.
Yun Juan guessed that they had something else on their mind, and that they hadn't meant anything good by simply calling her over.
"Grandmother's birthday is in a few days. Grandmother's idea is to take this opportunity to introduce the eldest daughter of the Yun family to everyone, which can also be considered as a welcome banquet for my sister."
Yun Rong carefully observed the other person's expression, afraid that Yun Juan would not agree.
"I understand about this. Is there anything else?" Yun Juan thought to herself, "Is this all that's worth calling me over for?"
"It's like this, Juan'er, the household is not well-off right now, so your dowry for your wedding will probably have to be reduced accordingly."
The old lady originally had this idea in mind. However, not to mention the Yun family's savings over the years, even her mother's dowry should be enough. Even if Yun Juan didn't understand this ancient system, her mother came from the Wei Grand Tutor's Mansion, so how could her dowry be small?
Whether the old woman wanted to keep it all for herself or give it to her granddaughter whom she had watched grow up, Yun Juan had no way of knowing.
However, Yun Juan thought she should still ask her mother's opinion on this matter. After all, even if it was a transaction, in the eyes of the Yun family, it was a wedding.
“Mother, how come I didn’t know when the household was in financial straits?” Wei Wan’s voice came from outside.
She heard everything from outside, as if her voice preceded her arrival.
She never imagined that the old lady could be so biased. Didn't she think about what would happen to Juan'er if her dowry was less after she married into the Regent's Palace?
In ancient times, a woman's dowry belonged to her, which also represented the importance her maternal family placed on her.
"Wan'er is here... Come and sit down! You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are until you're in charge of the household! The Prime Minister's mansion needs to be managed everywhere, and those shops are not making ends meet. Our mansion is now struggling to make ends meet." The old lady spoke earnestly, putting on a pitiful act.
Yun Juan was truly amazed. The speed at which he changed his expression was textbook-worthy. He had already started acting.
“Okay…I understand…Since the Prime Minister’s mansion is in debt, what does that have to do with my dowry? When I married Yun Ting, I was marrying down, and my dowry was at least 9,999 loads or 10 miles of red procession.”
A woman's dowry has always belonged to her since ancient times. It's not unreasonable for me to use my own dowry to supplement my daughter's income, is it?" Wei Wan was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
If it weren't for her dowry and connections over the years, could Yun Ting, with his limited intelligence, have even risen to the position of Prime Minister? Absolutely not!
"Wan'er, you don't know, your shops have long been... long been insolvent, and you're almost ready to use them to pay off debts!" The old lady still shook her head and sighed.
At this point, Wei Wan almost laughed. Spending more than she earned? Back then, every single shop she brought was in the best locations in the capital. Now she's being told that spending more than she earned?
I'm afraid he's embezzled all the money he's earned.
"If Wan'er doesn't believe me, I'll send someone to bring the account book to your room later, and you can take a look!"
Since the old lady dared to produce the account book, it meant that she had already come up with a plan. Wei Wan understood that it was just a matter of falsifying the accounts.
She understood the tricks and schemes of these secluded mansions. Although the Grand Tutor's mansion was peaceful and serene, she had witnessed the dirty tricks used within its walls.
“Since Mother wants to return it to me, I’ll just manage it myself from now on. I’ve been sick for so many years and haven’t been able to run the shop. I’ve troubled you for so many years. Now that Juan’er is back, I can teach her properly.” Wei Wan took this opportunity to regain control of the shop.
The old lady nearly spat out blood. When did she say she was handing over the management rights of the shop? She demanded to see the account books!
How did it become handing over the shop? If she takes the shop back, how will she continue to receive a steady stream of fresh items into her yard?
"That's not what I meant! I just meant that if Wan'er doesn't believe me, she can look at the account books..." The old lady was still trying to put the management of the shop in her own hands.
“Mother, you’re getting old, you should just stay in the mansion and enjoy your retirement! Since the shop is losing money, maybe I can make money if I run it! If I make money, isn’t that also making money for the Prime Minister’s mansion?” After saying that, Wei Wan pulled Yun Juan away without looking back.
The old lady was so angry that she picked up the teacup she had just been drinking from from the table and smashed it on the ground.
Wei Wan and Yun Juan both heard the sound of something being smashed behind them, but neither of them turned around.
Yun Juan then took a closer look at the woman in front of her. Despite her poor health, her small body seemed to contain enormous energy, capable of surprising people at any time.
"Mother, you're amazing!" Yun Juan smiled, her eyes crinkling, and gave Wei Wan a thumbs up.
"I...I just can't stand seeing you being bullied! That old lady is going too far!" Wei Wan blushed when her daughter praised her like that.
"Mother is already very capable! Didn't you see the old lady's face, like she'd swallowed a fly!"
Yun Juan felt happy just thinking about it; she realized what it felt like to have someone protecting her.
"Mother, I have something to ask you. What's the deal with Yunrong, the woman who serves the old lady?" Yun Juan always felt that there was something wrong with Yunrong.
Why did the old lady protect her so much? Today, when she looked at the two of them, she felt a sense of similarity, though she couldn't quite put her finger on whether it was the similarity in their eyebrows and eyes or their mouths.
Yun Juan always felt that something was amiss. What kind of good family would send their own granddaughter to the countryside to fend for herself?
Then he took in a child who was not related to him by blood and raised her as his granddaughter, showering her with affection.
Today, Yun Juan observed that the girl named Yun Rong was wearing a dress made of Xiangyun yarn, which was extremely rare and expensive, and she wore a white jade hairpin inlaid with pearls and emeralds.
This white jade is hard to come by. Not to mention an adopted daughter, even many officials' families might not be able to afford to wear it.
She was dressed in the latest fashion styles, and compared to herself, Yun Rong seemed more like the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion, while she herself did not.