Chapter 569 - 212: The Past
Chapter 569: Chapter 212: The Past
Never mind De’an, who looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. In the front courtyard, Xu Shiling and Chen Song were trading blows, and the heavy THUDS echoed in the air.
Every blow landed solidly. They didn’t appear to be using much strength, yet the sound was enough to make one’s skin crawl.
But it was as if neither man could feel the pain. Instead of stopping, they only fought with more intensity.
Finally, after Chen Song took another kick to the leg and his face twisted in pain, Xu Su Ying could bear it no longer. She ran between the two and yelled for them to stop.
She glared at Xu Shiling. "Xu Shiling, that’s enough! A few blows to let off steam is one thing, but you’re taking it too far! My husband is obviously going easy on you, can’t you tell? And you’re still hitting him so hard? What’s the matter with you? Are you trying to make me a widow so I have to remarry? Is that any way for a brother to act?"
Xu Shiling was furious too. He pointed a finger at Xu Su Ying from across the space. "I told him not to fight back? Didn’t we agree to a friendly spar? He’s not fighting back, and I’m supposed to thank him for it?"
"Thank him or not, you can’t be trying to kill him, can you? If you actually injure him, aren’t I the one who’s going to be worried sick?"
"I... you..."
Xu Shiling was so furious he was speechless. Unable to take it anymore, he strode forward and grabbed Xu Su Ying by the ear.
"Have you forgotten you’re a lady? The things you say! You’re getting completely out of hand."
"Brother! Brother, have mercy! I’m a mother myself now, you could at least leave me a little dignity!"
"Dignity my ass! You lost what little dignity you had a long time ago."
"And whose fault is that? I’m warning you, Xu Shiling, if you don’t let go right now, I’m writing a letter to Mother to tattle on you..."
Xu Shiling released her, his expression suddenly dazed. "Don’t bother writing a letter to Mother. You should go to the Capital City and tell on me to her face."
For a moment, Xu Su Ying fell silent too. "I can go to the Capital City, but I have to get the house in order first."
"In order? What the hell is there to get in order? Look around this courtyard! Is there anything here actually worth holding onto?"
"Listen to yourself. Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. I bought everything in this courtyard myself, and every single piece is precious to me."
"Fine, take your sweet time getting things in order. As for your ten-odd shops in the Capital City, I guess we’ll just let Mother continue collecting rent for you. And don’t you also have three manors and five estates? I can’t recall. Who knows how much Silver they’ve earned over the years. But no worries, it’s all yours. Mother is saving it all for you, and no one can take it away..."
Xu Shiling then turned to Xu Yanlin. "Your aunt’s residence is still sealed up, isn’t it? How many storehouses does she have in her courtyard? Are they all stuffed full?"
Xu Yanlin replied with a smile, "How would I know about something like that? Grandmother is managing it personally. It’s no use for any of us in the younger generation to have designs on it. But... Grandmother’s health is poor, and her condition is worsening. If something were to happen to her... there’s no telling who all that will be left to."
Xu Su Ying panicked.
’Her estates, her manors, her shops, her storehouses, her gold and silver jewelry, and her private savings—they were all hers! No one was allowed to touch them.’
Xu Su Ying grabbed Chen Song and turned to head back inside. "Quickly, quickly! Pack our things! We’re leaving for the Capital City within the next couple of days!"
She then bustled about, shouting to Chen Wanqing and Zhao Jing, "You two, get your things packed as well! You’re coming with us!"
Then she turned to Chen Song with instructions. "What about the Salt Transport Department? Can you hand your duties over to someone else? Who knows how long we’ll be gone. It’s almost October now. If we go to the Capital City, we’ll certainly be spending the New Year there. Can you get away for that long?"
"I can! I just have to let Mr. Sheng know."
"That’s wonderful!"
Xu Su Ying’s face was flushed, and she was buzzing with excitement as if she’d been shot full of adrenaline.
Seeing her reaction, Xu Shiling shook his head. "Her eyes light up at the sight of money. That flaw of hers will never change. It’s not like our family ever starved her or left her thirsty. I don’t know how she got to be so obsessed with money."
Yao’an said, "Uncle, my mother said the same thing about me just now. She said our family doesn’t lack for food or drink, so why am I such a glutton who’s always thinking about eating out? She said she doesn’t know who I got that from."
"Who else could it be? You definitely got it from your mother. You have no idea what she was like. She was incredibly picky as a child. From the moment she started eating solid food, there wasn’t a single meal she didn’t find fault with. There was a period when she got tired of home cooking and demanded to eat out every single day. Your grandmother felt restaurant food was too greasy, that eating too much of it would make her gain weight and break out in pimples—not a good look for a young lady. But your mother refused to listen. She ran crying to your grandfather and pestered him until he finally broke down and hired two more chefs."
"That kept her eating happily at home for a while, but after two years, she grew tired of their cooking too. So, they had to hire new chefs again. The family chefs being replaced every two years became something of a famous spectacle in the Capital City."