Transmigrated as A Farm Girl Making Her Family Rich

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Under Suspicion

Mrs. Li trembled, knowing she could not escape punishment this time, as tears had already started to drop from her face.

Always fond of cleanliness, Mrs. Li was wearing a new set of winter clothes provided by the estate today, which included some cotton fabric that was very warm and comfortable.

This was, of course, ten times better than the coarse clothes she wore at home, not even in the same class. @@novelbin@@

“Mrs. Li,” the Madam said with a stern and irritated expression she had never shown before, “I’d like to hear any excuses you might have.”

“What excuses could she possibly have? Corrupting my son, this housekeeper seems honest on the surface but is actually full of deceit. She’s taking revenge because I wouldn’t let her go home to visit her family.”

While the Madam was interrogating Mrs. Li, a pregnant woman walked in from outside, supported by her maid Jufeng.

...

This person was the young madam who, after a long absence and not coming to pay respects to her mother-in-law, couldn’t help but question and chastise Mrs. Li in front of the Madam upon hearing the maid’s betrayal.

“Why have you come? She is just a wet nurse, and I, as your mother-in-law, am still capable of questioning her.”

The Madam knew how anxious the young madam was to come here after learning she was pregnant. Usually, she was excused from paying respects to rest, but even in the best mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships, there are taboos.

Of course, the mother-in-law would not want the daughter-in-law to seize power, insisting that everything stay under her control.

The young madam sat down on a chair to the side, supported by Jufeng, and then looked back at her mother-in-law:

“I haven’t been to pay respects in such a long time. This morning, I sent my son to visit me first, but who knew he would say he wanted to pay respects to you first? I knew he must have something on his mind, so I followed him here.”

The young madam would certainly not foolishly reveal that someone had informed on her, for such a confession would let the mother-in-law know that her own compound was being watched.

“Mhm, it’s good you’re here, so we don’t have to go back and forth. Let’s properly question her today.”

After Madam finished speaking, her gaze returned to Mrs. Li.

Mrs. Li, kneeling in the living room with her head lowered the entire time, had heard that the households of the wealthy were too complex before. One must be careful and cautious when serving in a wealthy family, yet even with her vigilance, people still framed her.

She wanted to just throw in the towel and return home, but as an honest person, she could not bear the stigma of being wrongfully accused and driven out.

Such a bad reputation would follow her for a lifetime; she would be cursed by her in-laws, and she’d live in shame in her village, unable to face her own family.

“Grandmother, mother, you can’t blame the wet nurse; this was really my idea.”

Tang Shunyan had initially clung to his grandfather’s feet, then his grandmother’s, and now that his mother had arrived, he ran over to embrace her legs.

“Son, you are still young, and you should not readily accept what others say. You never used to ask your mother for monthly salary, nor would you speak such words. Mrs. Li came to the house only a little over two months ago, and you’ve changed so much. Can it be that accusing Mrs. Li is a wrongful blame?”

The young madam looked at her son, feeling a sense of estrangement, wondering how her own flesh and blood could be swayed by others.

Whether or not Mrs. Li had committed the act, in her eyes, the woman was guilty.

“Mother, I have grown up now. Should I still ask you for money every time I need to buy something? Am I still the son of a wealthy family? I am worse off than a merchant’s son. They receive pocket money and can freely spend it.”

Tang Shunyan was able to say so many words in one breath. Don’t think that just because he’s so young he doesn’t have his own thoughts. He had had thoughts before but had not expressed them. After pondering for several days, he had already memorized a string of words in his heart.

“How could Shunyan say such a thing? You have not studied outside the estate. When you get older and go to the academy, your mother will naturally give you money. How could you carry money with you casually when you’re so young?”

The young madam was insistent, believing that someone must have put her son up to asking for money.

“Mother, this time I played with so many cousins, as well as Meng Zhaojun. They all have the autonomy to use money. Even though the monthly salary is not much, it still belongs to me. Our family’s enterprise is so vast, mother, why won’t you let me use my monthly salary?”

The young madam couldn’t believe what she was hearing from her son, who was only a little over two years old, about to turn three. Could such fluent speech really come from such a small child?

When she thought of herself at that young age, wasn’t she doing whatever her own mother asked of her?

In the living room, aside from the young madam, both the Old Master and Madam were somewhat incredulous as they watched Tang Shunyan. This child, at the tender age of two or three, was able to argue with an adult with such cleverness.

Mrs. Li was still kneeling there, more and more terrified as she listened to the Young Master’s words.

She had never heard the Young Master speak in such a manner. No wonder the master’s family accused her of instigating trouble. If a small child could say such things, if she were in the master’s shoes, she too would believe an adult had taught him.

Even if it was an injustice to her, Mrs. Li wasn’t as heartbroken as before. Now, it was the Young Master who was causing trouble.

“Grandson, you keep talking about managing money. Do you have some thoughts on this? Can you share them with your grandfather? If you can convince me with a reason, I will take charge and give you a monthly allowance. If your mother gives it all to you, your grandfather will give you an additional monthly salary.”

Mr. Tang and his wife had different thoughts. Sometimes men need to have money on them in order to get things done.

Women always want to transfer their husband’s money into their own private stash, but men need to save some money to accomplish big tasks too. When going out, one must socialize; in a household like theirs, who does not spend generously?

“Husband,”

“Old Master,”

Mr. Tang raised his hand to stop his wife and daughter-in-law from speaking further. Men control the outside, women control the inside. Many matters in the house were left to his wife to handle, and he took care of external affairs. However, when it came to major decisions involving family members, it was still for him, the head of the house, to decide.

“Grandfather, grandson has no ulterior motives. Before, I was unaware of the hardships of life, but since the wet nurse came, I learned that her family is so poor. Her sisters have to work at such a young age,”

“The wet nurse didn’t go home this time. I saw her secretly crying in her room at night. I thought, when I have money one day, I could buy some gifts to visit the wet nurse’s sisters. If I don’t have a single penny with me, I won’t be able to buy any gifts.”

“After all, I am a young master of a rich family. It would be too shameful not to be able to present a gift when seeing the wet nurse’s sisters.”

Perhaps it was because Tang Shunyan had kept these thoughts in his heart for the past few days, that at such a young age he could speak so articulately and logically, without a hint of vagueness, as maturely as an adult would speak.

The living room was very quiet, everyone looked at Tang Shunyan in shock. Was this the little child they knew? Could these words really be coming from a child still being breastfed?

“Clap clap clap,”

Suddenly, the sound of clapping came from the entrance of the living room. A rich young master entered, it was Mr. Tang, the Eldest Young Master, who came in clapping his hands and then gave his son a thumbs up, saying:

“Worthy of being my son, so young and already knows to buy gifts when meeting people, understands compassion and pity.”