The night was getting deeper and deeper. Qingfu has been checking the account books for hours. She knew that no matter how much she wished, the numbers written wouldn’t increase. She could only stand up regretfully and slowly moved her stiff back: “I spent all night checking the books, how exhausting. But it’s a pity. Even after so much effort, in the end, I still let others profited off my effort.”
The mama served Qingfu to change clothes. She asked: “Madam, if you think the number isn’t good, why don’t you ask the eldest miss tomorrow? Maybe the shops in eldest miss hand are better.”
Qingfu Junzhu sneered: “Impossible. How much money can he give to a granddaughter who is going to marry out? The Old Master thinks that the girls are going to be married soon. It won’t be good if he leaves things only for Bao’er. To save his face, he also has to allocate some for the granddaughters. Moreover, Cheng Yujin’s engagement has been canceled. In the future, she cannot even be compared to Cheng Yumo. Cheng Yumo got one thousand taels to pad her dowry trunk. But Cheng Yujin’s shops must be far less valuable.”
Qingfu Junzhu didn’t know where Cheng Yujin’s new three shops were located. But the Yangzhou shop she and Cheng Yuanxian got only earned one thousand taels per year. Was it possible that the properties given to a granddaughter to be better than the son? Qingfu naturally thought that those were just a few run-down shops. Old Master Cheng was afraid to be accused of being biased, so he reluctantly used some useless properties to appease Cheng Yujin.
The dowry mama thought it made sense. In the end, it was just a granddaughter. Giving out one thousand taels could be considered an elder’s love. But Old Master Cheng’s money certainly had to be left for sons and grandsons. The master and servant pair no longer cared about Cheng Yujin’s shops. They began to suspect whether the second branch secretly cajoled the Old Master to give them the bulk of properties.
Meanwhile, in the second branch’s courtyard, Ruan-shi also had the same suspicion. Her ability to read account book wasn’t as good as Qingfu, but she still felt that the amount of money written was wrong.
Lying on their bed, Ruan-shi and Cheng Yuanhan complained all night. The more they talked, the more they were sure that the first branch was deceitful and shameless. Who knew how much properties the first branch secretly took away. In fact, the second branch’s share of the Old Master’s properties was already a considerable sum for them. But instead of worrying about the amount, they were angry at the thought of being deceived. Whenever they thought that they could have more, the couple’s anger rose once again.
This night was destined to be a sleepless one. In the first half of the night, many people busied themselves under the lights, from Cheng Yujin to Qingfu to the Ruan-shi and Cheng Yuanhan couple.
…
At midnight, Cheng Yujin had just fallen asleep when she was suddenly awakened by a loud noise outside.
Du Ruo put on her clothes and hurriedly knocked on the babu bed’s1 frame: “Miss, quickly wake up! The Old Master is dying!”
Cheng Yujin’s sleepiness instantly disappeared. She immediately raised the curtain and sat up: “When did it happen?”
“Just now. People from the front yard knocked to report. And the lights in other courtyards are also turned on.”
Cheng Yujin’s face suddenly grimmed. She stopped speaking and immediately got up to change clothes. She couldn’t make mistakes at such a significant time. Cheng Yujin quickly changed out her bright-colored garments and wore a plain one before rushed to Fuli Courtyard.
When Cheng Yujin arrived at Fuli Courtyard, the place was already full of people. Everyone clearly looked that they were awakened in the middle of sleep. None of the womenfolks wore makeup or face powder, and even their hair wasn’t combed. Ruan-shi had a naturally beautiful face, so now, she still looked okay even in a disorderly state. But Qingfu Junzhu clearly looked much older.
Fortunately, no one cared about this trivial thing now. Cheng Yujin walked towards Qingfu and stood in the cold night for almost an hour. A servant came out from the inner room and immediately cried to the Old Madam: “Old Madam, the Old Master is gone!”
A commotion instantly burst, and all the people in the courtyard suddenly began to cry. Cheng Yujin also followed the crowd. But she secretly sighed. Just several hours ago, she personally took a key from the Old Master’s hand. Now in a blink of an eye, the person has gone forever. This world was indeed impermanent, and human life was so short.
Cheng Yujin lowered her head. Whether she could cry or not, she at least had to show a sorrowful face. But her gaze accidentally fell on Cheng Yumo’s pale face. She pulled Ruan-shi’s sleeve in panic, whispering something.
Ruan-shi had been crying, but after hearing Cheng Yumo’s words, her expression changed drastically. Cheng Yujin suddenly became curious. She observed for a while and slowly figured out the matter.
Old Master Cheng had just passed away. His sons and daughters-in-law had to observe mourning for three years, and his grandchildren for one year. During this period, they couldn’t wear bright clothes, couldn’t attend banquets, and naturally couldn’t get married. Huo Changyuan was twenty-one years old. Huo-shi has long been impatient about his marriage. Cheng Yumo now had to mourn for a year. What would happen with her marriage with Huo Changyuan?
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I as a reader worried more about Yujin’s money than the characters heheh although the ninth uncle refused the inheritance, did no one think that the rest of the money could be with him? well, a slap in the face, but the old master gave everything to Yujin.
You’re right, they were clearly worried about that before but now they’re focusing on each other. Weird.
So, Qungfu’s habitual disdain towards her adopted daughter has actually played into Cheng Yujin’s hands. Let’s hope she won’t become enlightened regarding the value of Yujin’s properties. I wonder if the relationship between the first and the second branch will continue to sour because of the imagined injustice…
And this delay is actually beneficial for Cheng Yumo – she can spend the time learning how to manage household affairs, but of course she’s gonna freak out when the marriage is postponed!
Thank you for the translation <3
I started reading this yesterday and I’m so happy I can leave comments not but sad that I caught up. Haha.
I’ve been wondering when she’ll marry/get proposed to. As far as I know (from all the historical chinese novels I’ve read), marriage with the maternal side of the family is ok but taboo to get together with someone from the paternal side of the family. 🤔
She’s only 14. Lol. What’s the rush? It shouldn’t change much. Just less opportunities to see her fiancee.
Hmmm… I wonder why the panic on the part of Cheng Yunmo? Could she just be upset because her marriage will be delayed and the groom might change his mind or did something happen in that cave that might have visible repercussions before the year is out?
Maybe she’s afraid, that the first wife position would be taken by another woman.. And she would enter the Huo’s manor from the back door
I think she’s thinking about the infectious disease that will supposedly kill her instead
yes, he can cancel the engagement. Furthermore she knew from her past life that he didnt love her wholly.. He can cancel the engagement once, he cancel it if he find a more promising girl than her
Thank you for updating!!!!
Thank U 4 the chapter ┗(^0^)
Well, if Cheng Yumo couldn’t get married.. Then so is Yujin. There’s a year worth time for Ninth Uncle to prevent Yujin to bond with the potential husband of her choice 🤭 Please spend it wisely, Ninth Uncle~
What, she only thought of that now?
Hahahaha 🤣
Oh CYM! Hopefully you’re not pregnant.
Now I assume that 9th uncle will leave the family?
Thanks for the update 💕!
I wonder if Yunmo knows or not that Yunjin has come back too. From the way she talks it does not seem so.
I am not sure whether the marquees was conscious enough to actually do it with Yumo that night, but pregnancy could be a possibility… only that then we need an explanation on how she dealt with it in the previous life, as the timeline of events wouldn’t match a pregnant Yumo.
To have a reputation ruined by skinship, it didn’t need much to happen. Just being alone in a room unchaperoned could be considered as it
LMFAOOOO at cheng yumo🤣 girlie couldn’t get a worse time than this skdjjsjs n e ways I’m so anxious for yujin’s money they better not found out about it until she married crown prince