mtl008 Chapter 335 Investigation, the steward responsible for delivering silver
Chapter 335 Investigation, the steward responsible for delivering silver
The next day, Chen Shuhua called over the manager who had been responsible for delivering money and items to Shen Nianran and the others over the years.
"Greetings, Madam. I wonder what important matter you want us to come over for?" The steward in the lead, Lao Qiao, was someone close to Shen Wenting. He took care of all the chores in his life. He looked smart and capable. He had been following Shen Wenting since he moved into the Shangshu Mansion, and was considered an old man in the mansion.
"Old Qiao, you have been in this mansion for more than 20 years. Have I ever treated you badly here?" Chen Shuhua, who was sitting at the top, spoke without any expression on her face.
"Thank you for the care of the master and the mistress. They treat me like a family member and have never treated me unfairly. I am grateful and will always remember the master and the mistress's kindness." He felt a little numb in his heart because of what was wrong with the mistress today and why she suddenly asked this question, but he still answered politely.
"Just admit it! I think I treated you well! Why did you embezzle the money given to the eldest lady by the mansion? You made her and Haitang live in the countryside for more than ten years, living a life of hunger and cold!"
Chen Shuhua, who was always gentle, suddenly picked up the teacup in her hand and angrily threw it in front of Lao Qiao.
Old Qiao was shocked by Chen Shuhua's action and knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Madam, I am innocent. Even if you give me a hundred guts, I would not dare to do such a thing."
"Unfair? Then tell me, where did the money in this account book go!" She threw the account book in the manager's face. "It clearly records every sum of money and other things sent to the countryside over the years. There are thousands of taels of silver every year, but not a penny went to Haitang. Nearly 20,000 taels, you say it's unfair? Then explain it to me!"
"Madam, I had someone deliver the silver, how could you not have received it! There must be some misunderstanding. Maybe... maybe that maid embezzled the silver and came back to bite you back!" The steward knelt on the ground, looking calm and replied without the slightest panic.
"Old Qiao, since you are an elder in the mansion, I will give you another chance! Have you given any money to Haitang, who is by the side of the eldest lady, over the years?" Chen Shuhua asked calmly.
A trace of panic flashed across Old Qiao's eyes, but he calmed down and replied, "I have devoted myself to the mansion and have a clear conscience. If you don't believe me, you can let that servant confront me face to face."
"What a clear conscience! Someone, come! Bring him up!" Chen Shuhua shouted outside the door, and immediately a man was brought up. Chen Shuhua asked in a cold voice: "I wonder if you know him, Old Qiao?!"
"I know him. He's Zhao Qi, the man specially sent by the mansion to deliver something to the eldest lady. He's my nephew." The butler glanced at Zhao Qi and replied.
That's right, this Zhao Qi is Lao Qiao's nephew, who works as a handyman in the mansion, helping Lao Qiao to run errands for Shen Wenting. He likes to drink a little wine on weekdays and brag with the servants in the mansion. Looking at Lao Qiao, he seems to be doing very well in the mansion.
"Okay, tell me, what have you given to the young lady over the years, and to whom did you give it?"
Zhao Qi lowered his head and fluently recounted all the gifts he had given over the years without missing a single detail: "Madam, everything I said is true. We did not embezzle the young lady's money. It is unjust!" After Zhao Qi finished speaking, he began to kneel down and cry out that he was unjust.
"Well, you recited it quite well and fluently. It covers more than ten years of events, no matter how big or small. Don't worry, you will know whether it is unjust or not later." Chen Shuhua sneered and asked Yuzhu to bring Linglong over: "Zhao Qi, do you know the girl in front of you?"
"Madam, what do you mean? There are so many maids in the mansion, how could I know her?" Zhao Qi took a look and confirmed that he didn't know her.
Old Joe suddenly felt something was wrong.
"Linglong, have you seen the man in front of you?"
Linglong looked carefully and replied, "I have never seen it. My mother said that someone from the mansion sent money to us in the first two years when we went to the countryside. At that time, my servant and my young lady were still young and did not know about it. Since my servant and my young lady were old enough to understand, no one has come to visit us."
"Zhao Qi! You said that you sent money over regularly, then how come you don't know Linglong! She is Haitang's daughter! You go there so many times every year! Have you never seen her once?" Chen Shuhua slammed the table and looked straight at the two people kneeling on the ground.
"Madam, I delivered the silver to Haitang. It's normal that she doesn't know her daughter! You can't suspect me because of this. It's groundless. Maybe the mother and daughter embezzled the silver and deliberately put the blame on me." Zhao Qi looked at Linglong and said indifferently.
"You're lying! If you had sent the things over, would my mother have worked so hard for me and my young lady, washing clothes in the middle of winter and getting sick? You don't believe my words, but you should believe my young lady's words, right?"
"I don't know about that. The young lady was sent out of the mansion when she was young and grew up with Haitang. They are as close as family members. You tell her to say whatever she wants." Zhao Qi continued. She is just a country girl. It is too young to fight with him. As long as he doesn't admit it, no one can find out.
"Yes, ma'am! We are loyal to the mansion and the master. Over the past ten years, even if we have no merits, we have worked hard. You can't wrongly accuse us without any evidence. Although Zhao Qi likes to flatter and fawn on others on weekdays, he is still capable and impeccable when it comes to doing things." Old Qiao echoed from the side.
"Oh? Really? Let me ask you again, Zhao Qi, are you sure you delivered the silver to the young lady in person?"
"Yes, ma'am, I handed the silver to Haitang personally." Zhao Qi asked affirmatively.
"So when was the last time you put something in her hands?!"
When Chen Shuhua asked this question, Lao Qiao winked at Zhao Qi. Seeing that he didn't respond, he wanted to speak first. Chen Shuhua had already noticed it and glanced at him sideways in a cold voice: "Shut up! I'm asking him! Let him speak for himself!"
"The last time was half a year before the young lady came back. I went to the countryside in person and handed the things to Haitang. She was very happy at that time! She said that the young lady would be back soon after she got through it..."
"Zhao Qi, what nonsense are you talking about..." Old Qiao hurriedly stopped him, but before he could finish his words, Chen Shuhua had someone cover his mouth.
"What did you give as a gift?" Chen Shuhua continued to ask.
"Uncle, Madam, why did you block my uncle's mouth? What did he do wrong?" Zhao Qi was a little puzzled and looked at Chen Shuhua with contempt. She was just a lady in the back house who knew nothing. The master could make her happy with just a few words.
"Just say whatever the madam tells you to say! How dare you talk back!" The servant beside Chen Shuhua slapped Zhao Qi hard in the face, and blood instantly flowed out from the corner of his mouth.