“Mother, they devote themselves to Buddhism and Daoism, accumulating merit and gaining respect. What have we cultivated? We can’t even get a simple pastry. Do you really expect her to sincerely pray for us in front of the gods?” Cheng Liu-niang said.
First Madam Cheng felt dizzy from her daughter’s shaking.
“It’s just a pastry. They’re a temple, not a pastry shop. How can they make pastries all the time to sell?” she said. “You’re overthinking it.”
“Mother, small things reveal bigger truths,” Cheng Liu-niang replied. “It shows that we don’t matter to her, and she’s not sincere with us.”
First Madam Cheng responded, “I understand, I understand, I will ask her about it.”
Only then did Cheng Liu-niang leave at ease. Just as First Madam Cheng was about to lie down and rest, a maid hurried in, leaned close to her ear, and whispered a few words. First Madam Cheng’s face turned ashen.
“So what if I favor her?” she said, clenching the hands resting on her knees, gritting her teeth. “Her mother’s dowry has been feeding and clothing this whole family. If I want to give her daughter the best food and drink, so what? Is that unfair?”
She let out a cold laugh.
“If you want fair treatment, go find yourself a mother with a rich dowry,” she said.
The maids lowered their heads and said nothing.
When women are close, there is no distance between them. But once there’s a rift, even the tiniest crack becomes as wide as the Milky Way, impossible to cross.
Who would have thought that the Cheng family sisters-in-law, who had always been as close as real sisters, would, in just half a month, not even want to see each other anymore?
Where did it all start?
It began with food and drink. After so many years of peace, why did this suddenly cause trouble now?
It all started when that daughter returned.
The maids sighed inwardly. Indeed, wherever she goes, misfortune follows, turning everything into chaos.
“Go,” First Madam Cheng spoke again, interrupting the maids’ wild thoughts. “Raise Jiao-niang’s monthly allowance to the same standard as mine.”
The maids were startled.
“Madam, isn’t that inappropriate?” one quickly tried to persuade her.
“Why is it inappropriate? She may be a fool, but she’s still a patient. Her food and supplies should be carefully provided for. Do others really need to compare themselves to a fool?” First Madam Cheng said. “The money will come from the shop and estate earnings. She’s using her own, so who does it affect?”
After all these years, they finally remember she’s a patient…
The maids responded with a quick “yes” and didn’t dare to argue further. Both madams were holding back their anger, and it was clear nothing could be done to stop it.
“Madam, Madam, the master says someone from the Zhou family has arrived,” a maid hurried over and said.
First Madam Cheng let out a breath; this endless dispute was dragging on.
“It’s not the same four people from before—new people from the Zhou family have come,” the maid added.
First Madam Cheng was momentarily stunned.
“It seems the Zhou family is determined to take back that dowry,” she said, feeling a mix of emotions. “As long as Jiao-niang is here, that dowry belongs to her. Since her surname is Cheng, we can’t hand it over to the Zhou family.”
She stood up, and a maid helped her put on a cloak as they headed toward the hall where First Master Cheng was meeting the guests.
However, Second Master Cheng and his wife weren’t there; only First Master Cheng was receiving the guests.
How strange, why hadn’t the couple come?
“You’re here to take Jiao-niang away?” First Master Cheng asked, thinking he must have misheard.
Weren’t they here to talk about the dowry?
First Madam Cheng was surprised but thought perhaps they had come up with a new way to ultimately get the dowry.
“Yes,” Steward Cao replied, downing the cup of tea in front of him in one gulp without bothering to speak further. He motioned to the maid, “Good tea, another cup.”
First Master Cheng was at a loss for words. If it weren’t for the visiting card and the fact that his family’s steward had met him during his last trip to the capital, he might have doubted whether this man was really a steward from the wealthy Zhou family in the capital.
Had he never had tea before? Since entering the house, he hadn’t said a single word but had already drunk three bowls of tea.
The maid poured another cup and retreated to the side.
“Yes,” Steward Cao finally paused from drinking, took a breath, and said, “It’s almost the anniversary of the Old Madam’s death. The Master and Madam remembered that, in life, Old Madam was most concerned about Jiao-niang. Hearing that she has returned home, and since she was able to make such a long journey, they assume she must be in much better health. So, they want to invite her over to stay for a few days.”
First Master Cheng and First Madam Cheng exchanged glances, both seeing the same doubt and surprise in each other’s eyes.
Would the Master and Madam of the Zhou family really care so much?
They turned their attention back to the steward.
“Good, good, another bowl,” Steward Cao said to the maid, not even glancing at them.
First Master Cheng couldn’t help but let out a snort through his nose.
“That’s right, Master Cheng. They’re in a hurry on that side, so I’ll be taking Jiao-niang on the journey today,” Steward Cao said as he watched the maid pour tea.
“You’re just taking her to stay for a few days?” First Madam Cheng asked.
If there’s something to say, just say it—no need to hide it anymore.
Are they just taking the person, or the person and the dowry as well?
“Oh, right, there’s something else,” Steward Cao suddenly remembered.
Here it comes.
The Cheng couple immediately straightened up, alert, and stared intently at the steward.
But Steward Cao didn’t continue, looking rather awkward.
“Um, I—I apologize,” he stammered, “I need to, uh, relieve myself.”
This visit had already been a complete embarrassment, so at this point, he didn’t care anymore.
First Master Cheng was stunned, while First Madam Cheng averted her gaze.
What kind of person had the Zhou family sent? This wasn’t just a matter of being rude anymore; it was outright crude.
Watching Steward Cao awkwardly follow the servant out, First Master Cheng let out an annoyed snort.
“If they’re thinking of taking both the person and the dowry, they can forget it,” First Madam Cheng said.
“Do they think taking her will give them the dowry as well?” First Master Cheng replied. “No matter where she is, her surname is still Cheng. As long as she’s a Cheng, she’s part of our family.”
Speaking of the Cheng family’s daughter, First Madam Cheng quickly looked outside.
“Where is Second Master?” she asked. “How could he not come for such an important matter? Moreover, Jiao-niang is his daughter; it’s better for him to make the decisions, or else you and I will end up being good people with no good intentions.”
First Master Cheng frowned.
He valued harmony among brothers and couldn’t stand such strange talk.
“They said there are guests arriving, and the appointment has been made,” he said. “Go find out if anyone can come here.”
The servant quickly responded and hurried away. Shortly after, he returned, pale-faced, and whispered a few words in First Master Cheng’s ear.
First Master Cheng’s expression immediately changed.
“Is it true?” he exclaimed.
What happened? First Madam Cheng looked over in confusion, just about to ask when Steward Cao returned from the restroom.
First Master Cheng, with a grim face, waved his hand to send the servant away, indicating that while the person could leave, the dowry must remain.
Steward Cao was taken aback but also sighed in relief.
The most important thing now was to take the person away; as for money and possessions, who could care about those?
Moreover, after nearly being worn out from dealing with a single maid, he dared not even think about scheming for the dowry of her mother. Steward Cao felt a renewed thirst coming on.
This feeling, he thought, was best left for the Cheng family to enjoy themselves.
