158 Dowry

As expected, Yang Shuwan changed the topic and said with a smile, “In two days, your external family, the Xie family, will be visiting. This is a top-notch matter, so you have to manage it carefully. There will be many banquets at home, and there will be a lot of things to do. You’ve never hosted a banquet before, so I’m a little worried. I have to step in to manage it so that we don’t neglect our esteemed guests.”

Her words were generous and appropriate. At first glance, one would really think that she valued the people from the Xie Residence in Quanzhou. Anyone could tell what she was truly thinking.

Her thoughts were all openly revealed.

They looked very shallow.

When Yu Youyao heard that, she heaved a sigh of relief. “I was still worried about this, so I rushed to Grandmother’s house to discuss it with her. Now that Mother has recovered, I’m relieved to have her around.”

With that, she handed over the key generously.

Old Madam Yu smiled when she saw this.

Just by looking and listening, one could tell the difference.

Yang Shuwan did not think about it either, but Yu Youyao handed over the key easily. Looking at the large bunch of keys in front of her, she did not know if she should take them or not.

“Nanny Liu is in charge of all the matters at home. If Mother has any questions, you can ask her. However, even if Mother’s health has recovered, she can’t work too hard like before and suffer.”

Yu Youyao portrayed a considerate and sensible “stepdaughter” vividly.

No matter what, Yu Youyao had handed over the household manager’s key so easily. As long as she was willing to hand it over, Yang Shuwan was relieved. “During this period of time, you’ve been in charge of the family. I’ve seen everything. Even your father has praised you. In the future, you’ll have to help manage some of the family’s matters.”

With that, she reached out for the key and handed it to Mu Jin.

Knowing that this was just a polite greeting and not sincere, Yu Youyao smiled and replied calmly.

After obtaining the butler’s key, Yang Shuwan couldn’t sit still anymore. She accompanied Old Madam Yu and said a few words of filial piety before leaving in a hurry.

Old Madam Yu shook her head and turned to look at her granddaughter. “You handed over the key just like that?”

Yu Youyao held her grandmother’s arm and pursed her lips. “What’s so good about being a household manager? How can it be more important than living a comfortable life? I’m used to being lazy. I can’t change it, nor do I want to.”

Old Madam Yu pinched the tip of her nose and laughed. “You’re quite magnanimous, but you’ve forgotten all of Grandmother’s good intentions.”

Yu Youyao leaned against her grandmother. “How can that be? Grandmother wants me to show off my status as the eldest daughter of the first wife. With the honor of being the eldest daughter of the first wife, how can the people outside the residence look down on me? Now, who in the residence doesn’t know that I’m filial, polite and kind?”

Old Madam Yu laughed and pinched her granddaughter’s little nose again. “You understand it, but I can’t let you be lazy.”

Yu Youyao was stunned.

Old Madam Yu turned around and instructed Nanny Liu, “Go and get the accounts book from my room.”

Yu Youyao’s eyes widened, and her heart trembled.

No, it wasn’t what she was thinking!

“After managing the family for a while, you’ve also improved. It’s time for you to manage the assets that your mother left behind.” Old Madam Yu looked at her granddaughter’s terrified expression. All she knew was to eat and drink like a little piglet. She couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t reject it. Your mother left behind a lot of assets. Poor me. I’m already so old, but I still have to work for a little debt collector like you. I can’t even enjoy a good life.”

Back then, why had she handed over the family business to Madam Yang so early on? It was all because Madam Xie had left behind too many assets that she couldn’t manage them all, allowing Madam Yang to take advantage of the situation and reap the benefits.

Hence, she could only hand the role of the household manager over to Yang Shuwan and let her mess with her own family to prevent destroying Madam Xie’s dowry.

Yao Yao was still young, so the Xie family wouldn’t stand by and do nothing about the Xie family’s dowry. They would definitely ask about it. When the matter reached the point where the second wife “occupied” the first wife’s dowry and tried to seize her “stepdaughter’s” assets, not only would the Xie family not let it go, but the Yu family would also lose all face.

Yu Youyao pouted and looked like she was about to break down. “Since Grandmother has already said so, how can I not agree? Sigh, I’m still a half-grown child, but I have to manage things like an adult. It’s really unreasonable…”

When Old Madam Yu heard this, she was amused. “It’s something that others can’t even ask for, yet you still despise it. How did you develop such a big-hearted and indifferent personality?”

Yu Youyao threw herself into her grandmother’s arms and wheedled. “Isn’t it because I’ve been spoiled by Grandmother? It’s unreasonable for her to criticize me.”

Old Madam Yu chuckled. “You’re so heartless to make such a mistake after I spoiled you.”

Yu Youyao hugged her grandmother and said softly, “Grandmother, you’ve worked hard.”

When Old Madam Yu heard this, she was caught off guard and her eyes welled up with tears. She quickly took her handkerchief and pressed the corners of her eyes, stroking the top of her granddaughter’s head with a smile.

After being intimate with each other for a while, Yu Youyao pouted and asked Old Madam Yu to send her and the three boxes of accounts back to the Jade Courtyard.

At noon, Zhou Linghuai left school and came to the Jade Courtyard.

Yu Youyao moved over and sat in front of her cousin, complaining non-stop, “… There are so many big boxes of account books. I feel a headache just looking at them, but I can’t continue to let Grandmother work hard. Sigh, I’m still a little young, but I have to worry all day. I wonder if I’ll grow taller…”

Zhou Linghuai smiled when he heard this. “They’re all old servants who have accompanied your mother in her marriage. Old Madam has been in charge for so many years, but nothing has happened. It’s obvious that they’re all capable people. Your own people are more convenient to use than the people in the residence.”

Yu Youyao also felt that it made sense, so she felt a little relieved. “That’s true. They can take care of the dowry businesses. I don’t have to worry too much. In any case, those who came with my mother all had contracts and sold their bodies. In addition, the Xie family often takes care of them, so those people wouldn’t dare to be disloyal.”

Grandmother was probably thinking the same since she was willing to let her manage so many properties herself.

Zhou Linghuai nodded.

There were so many businesses she didn’t have to worry about, but she couldn’t just leave them to others to manage. Yu Youyao rolled her eyes. “Tomorrow, I’ll also meet the managers of the manor and choose a few more capable ones to work for me. That way, I can implement the new rules that the residence previously implemented. This way, I’ll really be less worried.”

Zhou Linghuai chuckled. No matter what the little girl did, she always wanted to avoid it.

Others only thought that she was smart and learned everything quickly.

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