Chapter 642 - 236: Various Trivial Matters
Chapter 642: Chapter 236: Various Trivial Matters
Chen Wanqing had a good appetite. She ate one of everything, which added up to quite a lot.
Since the maid had told her there was no need to rush, she truly took her time. She dawdled through her meal and only then strolled leisurely toward the main courtyard. As soon as she entered the area, she saw the nannies inside enthusiastically announcing her arrival. One of them immediately walked over to lift the door curtain, waiting with a beaming smile for her to step inside.
When Chen Wanqing walked into the room, Zhao Jing was already waiting for her at the door. The two walked in shoulder to shoulder, drawing subtle, amused smiles from everyone present.
While greeting the elders, Chen Wanqing asked curiously, "Did something good happen?"
Xu Suying replied, "Indeed it did. Your grandmother is in high spirits today and wants to play the fairy of wealth. We’ve all struck it rich."
The old madam pointed a playful finger at Xu Suying. "Where is this young fairy? You’re a mother yourself—do you even know how to speak properly?"
Xu Suying answered with a chuckle, "You’ve brought out your private savings and are giving a share to everyone present. If you aren’t the fairy of wealth, who is?"
Hearing this, Chen Wanqing looked at her grandmother with a smile. "Is that true? I came late. Is there anything left for me?"
The old madam beamed from ear to ear, waving for her to come closer. "Yes, of course. Yours is the biggest share. Who told you to be so outstanding? I’m giving you double, and no one here is allowed to complain."
Her eldest aunt covered her lips and laughed. "We wouldn’t dare complain. We’ve received plenty of your good things in the past. It’s only right that you take pity on Suying and give her children a little extra now."
The old madam chuckled happily. "I’m not giving it to Suying. She has enough to spend. I’m giving it to my grandchildren."
Her eldest aunt replied, "You can give it to whoever you please. As long as you’re able to make your own decisions, you can distribute everything you have, and we won’t say a word. If there ever comes a day when you can’t manage things yourself, it’ll all be mine anyway."
"In your dreams!" the old madam retorted playfully. "I’ve already divided it all up early on. Each of you gets a share. At most, seeing how you’ve stayed by my side day in and day out for decades, this old lady will throw in an extra couple of coppers for you."
"You have more wealth in your little finger than we do all together. Your ’couple of coppers’ will probably be enough to keep me fed and clothed for years! Let me thank you in advance, Mother. You truly are the best mother-in-law in the world!"
Wherever her eldest aunt was, there was never a dull moment. She was genuinely clever and truly knew how to charm people. She had the old madam wrapped around her finger, keeping the whole room laughing non-stop. That in itself was quite a skill.
The group had lunch in the old madam’s room before dispersing.
Chen Wanqing followed her mother back to their courtyard, only to hear her urge excitedly, "Quick, open your box and see what your grandmother gave you."
Chen Wanqing looked curiously at De’an and Yao’an. "Those two look like they’re lost in their own worlds. What did Grandmother give them?"
De’an said, "Grandmother gave me a four-courtyard estate."
Yao’an added gleefully, "I got a restaurant. I heard it was even part of Grandmother’s dowry."
Earlier, when they had first reunited with Xu Shiling, Xu Shiling had told Yao’an that his grandmother was wealthy and even had a restaurant under her name. Since Yao’an loved to eat, if he acted pitiful in front of her, she might just soften up and give him the restaurant.
Yao’an hadn’t even needed to act pitiful—the restaurant was just handed straight to him! He wasn’t even ten years old yet, but he already owned a business that raked in money hand over fist. Didn’t this mean he could just kick back and coast through the rest of his life?
While the two brothers were looking thoroughly thrilled, Chen Wanqing opened the box that Zhao Jing was holding for her.
Inside were two house deeds and two land deeds. Both house deeds were for properties in the Capital City: one three-courtyard estate and one four-courtyard estate. One of the land deeds was for a three-hundred-acre farmstead located in the suburbs of the capital, while the other was for a five-hundred-acre property in a county town very close to the Capital City.
There were also deeds for three storefronts. Judging by their names, one sold silks and fabrics, another was a bookstore, and the third was an art gallery. All three shops were in prime locations along Vermilion Bird Street, the main thoroughfare of the Capital City. The street was always bustling with endless streams of people; any shop opened there was guaranteed to turn a profit.
She had also been given silver notes totaling fifty thousand taels. It was said that every girl in the family received thirty thousand taels of silver for their dowry when they married. Giving her fifty thousand clearly carried an element of compensation.
Then there were several sets of precious jewelry and a collection of rubies and sapphires. These would need to be retrieved from the storehouse by the maids later.
Chen Wanqing’s eyes went wide as she stared at the contents. She nudged her mother. "Did Grandmother give you anything?"
Xu Suying chuckled. "I’m not telling you."
But unable to contain the joy of striking it rich overnight, she ended up telling her daughter the truth anyway.
"If a granddaughter like you received this much, how could her own flesh-and-blood daughter get any less? Your grandmother gave me all the dowry she had prepared for me over the years. On top of that, she managed to pry quite a bit more out of your grandfather for me.
"In short, just a few days ago, your mother was dirt poor. But today, I feel like the richest woman in the world!"