mtl008 Chapter 286: Jade Family Shop
Chapter 286: Jade Family Shop
"There are some things I don't know if I should say."
Jade stood behind Peng, gently massaging her temples as she spoke cautiously.
Her voice was tender and soft, with a hint of tentativeness, for fear of angering the lady.
Because Feicui was diligent, thoughtful, and attentive in her work, she gradually had more opportunities to appear in front of Mrs. Peng.
She knew that the lady had a bad temper, was intolerant, and would not listen to the servants' advice. But she really wanted to seize this opportunity to make timely suggestions, and hoped that the lady would listen to her.
At this time, several shopkeepers who came to report had just been sent away. These shopkeepers all had serious expressions, and the news they brought was not pleasant.
Mrs. Peng's brows were furrowed, and she looked exhausted, clearly troubled by these trivial matters. Seeing this, Little Jade pondered for a moment before slowly speaking to test the waters.
Peng closed her eyes, as if she didn't even have the strength to open them. She simply urged calmly, "Speak."
Little Jade was slightly relieved when she got the permission, but she was still young, so she spoke cautiously. "When I first came to the mansion, I heard the maids and servants talking while sweeping the floor. They said the two masters didn't dare to intervene because the previous lady had taken away all the property deeds."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Peng suddenly opened her eyes with a sharp look. Although her back was facing away from her, her movements were so big that they scared Feicui.
She quickly walked around the chair, ran to the front, and wanted to kneel down to apologize.
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Peng seemed to have suddenly realized something after listening to her words. Her tone was filled with enlightenment, "You're right. So it's not that they don't want to intervene, but they can't even if they want to."
After saying this, he patted the armrest of the armchair vigorously, as if he had accomplished something great, and then straightened his back.
Peng's mind suddenly became clear.
Why didn't she think of it?
It was precisely because these shops and farms were the dowry of the previous lady, and the house deeds and land deeds were not in the hands of the Marquis's Mansion, that the Marquis and the Crown Prince did not dare to act rashly.
If the matter is brought to the attention of the government, not only will the Marquis's Mansion lose face, but it may also attract more criticism, which is something the Marquis and Chu Xuan do not want to see.
Little Jade was relieved to see that her mistress hadn't questioned who had started the gossip. She had already prepared an excuse. In the first few days after entering the mansion, others might remember her, but she couldn't remember others. She knew it was the people in the mansion who were gossiping.
If the lady asked about it, she would be able to deny it completely.
Peng pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Feicui, her tone tentative: "So, what do you think we should do about this?"
When Little Feicui heard the lady's question, she was stunned for a moment. She had not expected the lady to ask for her opinion, and she was both surprised and delighted.
But she still kept a respectful look on her face: "This servant has never seen much of the world, so I dare not speak carelessly."
Her expression was not timid. It was obvious that she had some ideas in her mind, but she didn't dare to speak them out easily.
Mrs. Peng waved her hand, her tone softening a bit. "You can speak freely. If you speak poorly, I won't punish you."
Little Jade finally felt relieved and whispered, "I only know that whenever Madam interferes, people in the capital will turn their criticism of the Marquis' Mansion against you, saying that you stole the dowry of the previous one."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Peng frowned even more tightly.
She was not stupid. When she thought about the nasty things the onlookers said every time she dealt with disputes and compensation, and how they always compared her with the person before her, she suddenly felt a surge of anger in her heart.
If they don't care, the Marquis' Mansion will have no money to spend; if they really care, it will only harm her reputation.
Although she was angry, she couldn't think of any good solution for the moment. She could only narrow her eyes slightly and signal Feicui to continue massaging her shoulders.
Feicui continued to go to the back and helped Peng knead the silk while muttering to herself, "My parents originally left me two shops, but they were small shops in town that weren't worth much.
But he was still pawned and sold by his vicious uncles and aunts. They spread the word that his parents had owed a debt and sold him to pay it off.
They're just worried that I'll go back and cause trouble, but after a while, who will remember these things? I'm afraid that in a few years, the neighbors will have forgotten who I am."
She seemed to be talking about her own troubles, her voice a little choked, and she didn't notice that the lady was paying attention to her words.
When Mrs. Peng heard this, she immediately had an idea in her mind.
She should have thought of it earlier. The only thing she could be in charge of must be the dowry shop and farm of the previous lady, which was why she had to deal with so many troubles.
The original property of the Marquis' Mansion must still be in the hands of the two masters, and she cannot even touch it.
Mrs. Peng pretended to ask casually, "You don't have the deed to the shop either?"
Little Jade shook her head, her tone filled with helplessness. "Many houses and shops in our town are worthless. Buyers and sellers sign a contract, then have a meal with their neighbors as witnesses to the transaction. Few of them have clear procedures with the government. They just want to save the money."