Chapter Thirty-Four

  Nor is it mentioned that Old Lady Jia had almost emptied one-third of the Rongguo House's storage rooms for Qiaojie's dowry, and both Master Jia She and Master Jia Zheng were also worried about adding to Qiaojie's dowry.

  Jia She was the eldest master of Rongguo Mansion, but unfortunately, he could only be relegated to a secondary position; he could only watch as the main house, Rongxi Hall, which should have been inherited by his branch, was occupied by the second branch.

  Jia She's first wife, Zhang Shi, was of noble birth but unfortunately died in childbirth, leaving behind only one son, Jia Xun. Now, Jia She's concubine, Xing Shi, is from a humble background and cannot be compared to his former wife, Zhang Shi. Moreover, Xing Shi has very thin eyelids, is petty and greedy, and is a person who only takes and never gives.

  Mr. Jia Zheng married Lady Wang, who was the eldest daughter of the Gold Mansion Wang family from Nanjing; a lady so pure and noble that even the Dragon King would have been delighted to welcome her as his daughter-in-law.

  This Wang lady was originally a spoiled daughter at home, but after marrying into the Jia family, she was suppressed by Jia Min, this golden and jade-like younger sister-in-law everywhere. Over time, conflicts naturally arose between Wang and Jia Min, these two sisters-in-law.

  Jia Yuanchun's first wife, Zhang Shi, had a good relationship with Jia Min when she was alive, which also brought Jia Min closer to Jia Yuanchun, who originally had an average relationship with him; because of Zhang Shi, this elder sister, he gradually became more intimate with his older brother.

  Jia Zheng, who originally had a good relationship with Jia Min, instead became estranged from his sister due to Wang Shi's influence; however, Old Lady Jia was naturally unaware of all this.

  It's just that now in this matter of adding dowry, it has finally been exposed.

  Jia Zhen's wife, Xing Shi, was petty-minded, but Jia Zhen truly loved his younger sister, Jia Min.

  When Jia Daisan's mother passed away, she left all her dowry and personal belongings, including everything in the small storeroom, to Jia Xuan alone.

  Mrs. Jia knew what kind of person her daughter-in-law, Shi, was, and she worried that after she died, no one would take care of Jia Zhen. Moreover, she also estimated that with Shi's temperament, it was unlikely that she would leave anything good for Jia Zhen; so she took the initiative to give all the private savings she had accumulated over several decades to Jia Zhen.

  Although Mrs. Jia was very unfriendly to Jia Zhen, there were still many good things in his hands.

  Jia Yu took the key and opened the private storage room, carefully selecting two jade Buddhas from inside; he also chose a few sets of precious old objects made into headpieces, and then personally delivered 5,000 taels of silver to Lady Wang at Ronggui Hall. As it happened, Jia Min was also there, saving Jia Yu the trouble of making another trip.

  The son has seen the old lady. Jia She bowed to Lady Jia.

  Mrs. Jia looked at Jia She with a faint expression and said: "How come you have time to come over today?"

  Jia Min smiled and called out to Jia Xun: "Big brother is well!"

  "Min's sister looks even better today."

  Jia Zhen did not hide it from Old Madame Jia, and directly said: "In response to your words, soon Mian's younger sister will be getting married; these are my thoughts as her older brother."

  Jia Zhen had the little servant bring up the things he had selected to give to Jia Min, and Old Lady Jia's originally displeased face improved a great deal; especially after she went through one by one the things Jia Zhen brought, she surprisingly gave Jia Zhen a smile.

  "Hmm... I've always heard that you two siblings have a very good relationship, and to be honest, I didn't quite believe it; but now that I see it for myself, it's indeed true. You're doing a great job as the older brother." Madam Wang not only gave Jia Zheng a smile, but also praised him a few times.

  This is the only time in Jia Zhen's thirty-year career that he has been praised by his own mother; if it weren't for the occasion, Jia Zhen really wanted to shout at Old Lady Jia: "Are you really my mother? Could it be... possessed?"

  Although he was dissatisfied in his heart, Jia Zheng still said respectfully: "Old lady, no matter how the son says it, he is still the elder brother of Min's sister; these are what I should do as an older brother, but don't praise me, old lady."

  A rare harmonious atmosphere appeared in Rongxi Hall, but this scene was ruined by the arrival of Jia Zheng and Wang Shi.

  "Son (daughter-in-law) asks Madam to take a seat!" Jia Zheng and Wang Shi, the couple, simultaneously bowed to Old Madame Jia.

  "How can you two find the time to come over?" Old Lady Jia, being a shrewd and experienced person, naturally did not miss the several large brocade boxes that Jia Zheng and Wang Shi were holding in their arms; she had a somewhat clear understanding of the intentions behind the visit by Jia Zheng and his wife.

  Jia Zheng spoke up, "In response to Old Madame's words, my son has come to add dowry for Min's sister; these are the thoughts of my son and his wife towards Min."

  Jia Zheng and his wife, Wang Shi, brought the several sets of headdresses they had prepared for their daughter, along with 2,000 taels of silver, to the presence of Old Lady Jia. This dowry would have been considered excellent in an ordinary family, but this was the Rongguo House we were talking about. The eyes of Old Lady Jia and her granddaughter, Jia Min, had always been discerning, not to mention that Jia She's pearls and jade were already on display. As a result, Jia Zheng and his wife were in for a disappointment.

  Jia Zheng, although favored by Old Lady Jia, had a wife, Wang Shi, who had several run-ins with Xiang Ling since marrying into the family; however, Xiang Ling never reported this to Old Lady Jia nor gave Wang Shi any trouble in front of her.

  But what kind of person is Lady Jia? Although on the surface she appears to be a woman who doesn't bother with things, from just one point it can be seen that the entire Rongguo House has always been under her control.

  It's very simple - generally speaking, when a daughter-in-law enters the door, the power to manage the household naturally falls into her hands; Wang Shi has been married into Rongguo Mansion for many years, and her sons and daughters are all over ten years old; however, until now, she still doesn't have any share of this power.

  This is also the biggest reason why Wang and Jia Min are not on good terms, no matter who becomes the daughter-in-law; neither of them would be willing to enter the house for over a decade without gaining control over household affairs, especially when the person in charge is actually her own younger sister who hasn't even gotten married yet; it's strange if Wang wouldn't feel resentful.

  So it's not unreasonable for Wang to be hostile towards Jia Min!

  Old Lady Jia was initially delighted to hear that her second son had also come to add to the dowry of his precious daughter; however, when she saw the two thousand taels of silver and the four sets of old-fashioned gold and jade headdresses.

  "Rustle, rustle, rustle"... Old Lady Jia's temper flared up again, and it was the kind that couldn't be concealed no matter how hard she tried; a relentless "rustle, rustle, rustle" that kept rising.

  "You unfilial son, you've really infuriated me to death!" With a 'crash', Old Lady Jia grabbed a nearby tea cup and flung it out with all her might. Fortunately, Jia Zheng and Wang Shi were quick-witted and dodged in time, barely avoiding being hit by the tea cup.

  Although, Jia Zheng and Wang's couple were also splashed with a handful of tea leaves; Wang was even more so that the tea water dripped down her face and forehead ceaselessly, compared to Jia Zheng, Wang was truly disheveled.

  "Ah!"

  Scalding hot tea splashed onto Wang's body, causing him to jump up in surprise. A loud shriek pierced the air above Rongxi Hall, startling Old Lady Jia and Xiangling so much that they both jumped in fright.

  "Shut up!"

  Mrs. Jia, trembling with rage, pointed at Wang Xifeng and Jia Zheng, saying: "I, an old woman, have only this one daughter; you two brothers have only this one sister. You actually use such a small thing to get rid of your sister! Second Brother, you really are capable! I've wasted my efforts on you!"

  Mrs. Jia was indeed very fond of her youngest son, but no matter how much she loved him, it couldn't compare to her love for Jia Min; this time Mrs. Jia was really infuriated by Jia Zheng and his wife Wang Shi.

  "Old lady, it's all the son's fault; old lady, you mustn't get angry and harm your own body." Although Jia Zheng was a stubborn and unyielding person, he was truly filial to Old Lady Jia. As soon as he saw his own mother getting angry, he immediately knelt down with a frightened expression and said...

  Jia Zhen, who was still standing by, burst out laughing... Ha ha... Second Brother, you've got your comeuppance today!

  Jia Zhen had never received a kind face from his mother, Jia Lao Tai Tai, since he was old enough to understand things. Today, not only did she praise him for the first time, but also severely scolded Jia Zheng and Wang Shi.

  Jia Zhen had been feeling a little regretful about the gifts he had given away today, but now he felt completely relaxed and comfortable; it was as if he had eaten a ginseng fruit, with all his pores opening up.

  Jia Zhen felt that if he could get a scolding from his father by presenting this dowry, it would be truly... truly... truly worth it.

  Jia Min was also furious, but she hadn't lost her composure yet; she knew that the things happening in front of her were mostly the idea of her "good" second sister-in-law and had little to do with her own second brother.

  "Mother, don't be angry."

  Jia Min comforted Old Lady Jia for a few moments, then raised her head and gave Wang Shi a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling glance. With an underlying meaning in her words, she said: "Second Brother has always been someone who doesn't get involved in things. In my opinion, Mother, you should still ask 'Good' Second Sister-in-law first about this matter."

  In the past, Jia Min would still give Wang Shi a bit of face, but since Wang Shi didn't even give herself any face, she didn't need to give Wang Shi any emotional face either. Anyway, she wouldn't be able to stay in this mansion for more than a few days, and sooner or later she would leave, so why bother estimating so much.

  Jia Min's words successfully turned Jia Lao Tai Tai's spearhead towards Wang Shi: "Wang Shi, I thought you were a good person all along, but it turns out that beneath your honest and kind face, you are actually a treacherous scoundrel. My wife has always known that you have never liked Min'er; because of Er Jie's relationship, my wife often turned a blind eye, pretending not to see. But now..."

  Mrs. Jia took a deep breath, her face pale as she stared at Wang Shi, who was kneeling on the ground; Mrs. Jia wasn't unaware that her second daughter-in-law and her beloved daughter didn't get along, but she hadn't realized that Wang Shi and Jia Min had such a deep conflict between them.

  Mrs. Jia looked at Wang Shi, who was kneeling on the ground and not speaking, and her heart had long been filled with regret; she had thought that Wang Shi was a good person at first, but how did she fail to see that this seemingly loyal and honest woman was actually a treacherous mastermind?