Cui Yiran returned ho and as soon as he entered the room, he saw Guan Group with a pained expression on her face.
"Master has returned."
Guan Group stood up to attend to Cui Yiran, taking his cloak while lanting, "Today, Madam called over again to talk, hinting about the issue of festival gifts. She said that the festival gifts to the Zhao Family were too little, and even brought up the marriage of the Zhao Family’s older auntie from earlier this year, asking to help find items to add to her dowry. This ans she wants us to spend money to add to the Zhao Family’s older auntie’s dowry."
Upon hearing this matter, Cui Yiran felt extrely annoyed.
"You decide on this matter, if you are unwilling, just directly reply to Madam."
However, Guan Group felt embarrassed to refuse: "After all, she is the Madam. If it is made to look too bad, they will inevitably talk badly about outside."
At this mont, Cui Yiran also realized that Guan Group herself could not handle this matter, and she wanted him to stand up for her. In other words, she wanted him to do the dirty work of offending people.
Unable to restrain himself, Cui Yiran let out a cold laugh: "Household affairs are managed by you. You want to speak on this? How should I speak? Even though I am a stepson and keep so distance from the Madam, I’m not yet shaless enough to eagerly suggest adding items to the older auntie’s dowry. Would I not lose face?"
Guan Group’s face turned red from Cui Yiran’s words, and her eyes reddened as well.
She stuttered, her head bowed low, "I... I have no other way."
Cui Yiran waved his hand dismissively: "If you can’t handle it, then just add to the dowry. Anyway, I have no money; you figure out a way to get the money yourself."
Tears began to fall from Guan Group’s eyes.
Thinking of the difficult days she had endured, she couldn’t help but start sobbing over the table.
Cui Yiran, troubled by her crying, couldn’t stay put and stood up to leave.
Guan Group, with her ears tuned, heard Cui Yiran go to the side room where he frolicked with a few maidservants he brought as part of her dowry, their laughter reaching her ears in waves, making her even more upset.
Anning stayed at the Ji Family until it was nearly dusk, ready to leave, when she saw a young maidservant enter, "Old Master, Madam, Big Uncle Master has co."
Mrs. Ji smiled at Anning: "He’s co to pick you up, hasn’t he? It hasn’t been long since he returned, and he’s already rushed over."
Anning’s face turned red: "Madam is joking again. It’s getting dark, and he’s worried about , so naturally he would co."
While they were talking, Xiao Yuan entered the room.
He ca in and paid his respects to Mr. Ji and Mrs. Ji.
Soon after, Xiao Yuan said, "I went out with a few friends the other day and ca across so fine items, I couldn’t wait to bring so over for Second Uncle and Second Aunt."
Recently, Xiao Yuan had gone mountain hunting with so friends and had managed to get a deer, of which he kept so for his ho, and sent a portion to the Ji family. In the past few days, Xiao Yuan also gathered so spices and sent them over so Mrs. Ji and the Ji sisters could make the at taste even better.
Today, he had got a hold of so especially fresh fruits and had brought several baskets over.
Mrs. Ji, seeing the baskets of premium tangerines, along with fresh apples and pears, laughed, "These are good stuff indeed. Just the other day, your sister said she was tired of eating at and wanted sothing refreshing. I will have soone send so to her later."
Mr. Ji’s mood also lightened considerably, nodding at Xiao Yuan, "Thank you for the trouble."
Xiao Yuan waved his hand: "They’re all family, it’s only right."
Mrs. Ji had a very good impression of Xiao Yuan.
Mainly because since his marriage with Anning, Xiao Yuan had been in very close contact with the Ji family, rembering to send any good things he got to the Ji family, which made Mrs. Ji and the two Ji sisters quite fond of him.
"The Son-in-law has co; stay for a al before you go. Our hos aren’t far apart, there’s no need to fear the dark."
Mrs. Ji warmly invited them to stay as a guest, also sending the maidservant to the kitchen to prepare so delicacies.
During the al, Mr. Ji brought up the matter concerning Cui Yiran.
Xiao Yuan then said, "Cui Yiran is a complete scoundrel, his tactics are not respectable at all. As a grown man, he only engages in underhanded sches, capable only of scheming behind people’s backs, and cannot achieve greatness."
This view was shared by Mr. Ji.
Although the Ji family ca from a background in criminal justice, Mr. Ji later served in the military, and he possessed the forthright vigor of a soldier. He liked to conduct affairs with a grand air and disliked underhanded sches.
Xiao Yuan felt even more strongly about this.
He had once been an Emperor, held the position of a chancellor in a nation, harboring noble integrity in his heart, preferring to devise strategies openly rather than engage in secret sches.
Mr. Ji held Xiao Yuan’s thinking in high regard, lifted his wine cup, and clinked it against Xiao Yuan’s: "The Cuis are rely hanging on by a thread now, and internally, they’re already running on fus. Given this, it might not be a bad idea to add fuel to their fire."
Anning remarked, "But what about my aunt? If the Cuis truly run out of resources, my aunt’s life won’t be any easier."
Mr. Ji replied, "Let them divide the family property. I will discuss this matter with your aunt later."
After getting the information from Mr. Ji, Anning felt reassured and, after dinner, went ho with Xiao Yuan.
Once inside the ho, Xiao Yuan said to Anning, "I actually have a good candidate in mind for your second sister’s marriage. He is a man of good character, but... I’m afraid your Second Uncle might not find him suitable."
Anning asked Xiao Yuan eagerly, "Who is it?"
After Xiao Yuan ntioned a na, Anning smiled and said, "Oh, it’s him. He’s indeed a good match, but his stepmother is in charge of his ho, and he doesn’t have an easy life there. I’m worried Second Uncle and Second Aunt won’t agree."
Xiao Yuan waved it off, "I’m just ntioning it casually, not really expecting it to work out. I shared drinks with him recently, and after he had a few too many, he poured out his troubles to us and even asked us brothers to help him find a wife."
Anning nodded, "Then you all should help him look around."
The two chatted and then each went to wash up.
Over the next few days, Xiao Yuan stayed ho reading, while Anning kept an eye on the developnts with the Cui Family.
Mr. Ji acted swiftly indeed, sending for Cui Ji the very next day to speak with her.
It was unclear what the siblings discussed, but upon returning ho, Cui Ji seized upon several faults of the Guan Group and found many more issues with Cui Yiran, causing a commotion in front of Old Madam Cui, insisting on a family division.
Second Master Cui was averse to dividing the family property, but after Mr. Ji’s warning, he dared not refuse.
Cui Ji kicked up quite a storm, to the point that Old Madam Cui could hardly stand it.
Old Madam Cui had a thorough private discussion with Cui Ji, agreeing to let her manage the family again, as long as she didn’t bring up the division, anything would be acceptable.
However, Cui Ji was resolute in wanting to divide the family this ti.
The primary reason was that Second Master Cui now held a position in the Ministry of Industry, and Xiao Yuan had a particularly good relationship with Old Geng. After Mr. Ji’s conversation with Cui Ji, she knew that if the family divided amicably, Xiao Yuan could sway Old Geng to make a move on Second Master Cui’s official position.
In addition, Mr. Ji told Cui Ji about the owed silver to the national treasury, which hastened her eagerness to divide the family.
Not only did she cause a scene in front of Old Madam Cui, but she also rallied many clansn of the Cuis and even brought along the Young Sect Leader, single-mindedly determined to divide the family.
Eventually, Old Madam Cui was worn down by Cui Ji’s pestering and resignedly consented.
By the end of the year, the Cui Family formally settled the division.
The first branch, Cui Yiran’s side, received seventy percent of the wealth.
Cui Ji and Second Master Cui were left with thirty percent.
When Second Master Cui divided the family property, he chose a five-section mansion, several shops, and a manor, leaving the rest to the main branch.
Looking at it, Second Master Cui seed especially generous, deferring a great deal to the main branch, earning himself praise for his loyalty and honesty.
But in reality, everything was orchestrated by Mr. Ji, who had analyzed and planned step by step for Cui Ji.
The manor that the second branch picked was actually the best manor owned by the Cui Family. Though it seed unremarkable on the surface, it was better than the rest, and those several shops were profitable as well.
Most importantly, during the family division, neither the main nor the second branch ntioned anything about the owed silver to the national treasury.
The second branch deliberately omitted it, while the main branch might have simply forgotten.
After all, the silver had been owed for many years, even Old Master Cui had long since pushed it to the back of his mind.
Cui Yiran was exceptionally busy, and during the family division, Mr. Ji arranged for soone to keep Cui Yiran occupied, so he wasn’t present, which ant he didn’t have a chance to bring up the national treasury silver.
Only after the main and second branches completely separated, with the second branch moving into the new mansion before the New Year, did Cui Yiran recall the debt of silver.
Considering how the second branch took the mansion, shops, and silver and left without a care, leaving the main branch with a pile of debt, Cui Yiran was furious to the point of wanting to commit murder.
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