She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 95 - 94 How Much Will It Cost Us

Chapter 95: Chapter 94 How Much Will It Cost Us

Whenever the topic of his own siblings came up, Qi Yougui’s thoughts immediately turned to Qi Yourong, "As for the second brother, the third is also our sibling. Shouldn’t you ask him and then we can discuss further?"

Ye Xinyan, who had been sitting on the side, waiting for an opportunity to interject, heard Great Uncle was indeed mentioning the Third Branch family. Seeing Qi Younian looking hesitant to speak, she bluntly cut in, "Great Uncle, Great Uncle’s family has always been busy and couldn’t spare the time to help with other families’ work. Besides, after how they’ve treated Qi Jia over the years, now that there’s an opportunity to make money, we should prioritize their family? How can we justify the hardship Jiajia has endured these past years?"

Qi Younian scolded, "What’s all this ’his family, his family’? Showing no respect for the rules at all," after admonishing Ye Xinyan, he turned back apologetically to Qi Yougui and continued, "Ye Zi is a child who sticks to his principles and is unwilling to hand over the family business to those who do evil. Brother, what do you think?"

Qi Yougui hesitated, "In the matter of Jiajia, the third brother’s family indeed did too much. However, after all, we are blood brothers, and as the eldest, it’s not good to hold onto this matter stubbornly. Us countryfolk, earning a small amount of silver is not easy, and to completely leave out the third brother doesn’t seem right."

Ye Xinyan truly disliked hearing this, she thought not seeking revenge on Qi Yourong’s family was generosity enough. And now Great Uncle wanted to pass the advantage she held to the Third Branch? Was that not a mistake? Were there not notions of right and wrong in this matter?

"Great Uncle, I am a junior, and by convention should not interfere with the elder’s affairs, but I’d like to say a few words on this matter. In conducting ourselves and our business, we should know what is appropriate. If my family were to give the rice tofu stall to Great Uncle’s family now, would anyone praise my grandfather? Probably not, people would likely think my grandfather doesn’t understand the ways of the world or know what’s good for him," she continued.

Ye Xinyan paused before speaking out, "You want to help our brothers live better lives, but that also depends on what kind of people these brothers are. To put it more bluntly, you are pushing my grandfather into an untenable and unrighteous position."

Qi Yougui’s face turned unsightly, yet Ye Xinyan didn’t care and pressed on, "If you’re worried that Great Uncle will hold a grudge against you, troubling you, then we should simply give the rice tofu stall to another family. There are plenty who would want it. As long as you don’t mind dealing with the complaints from Great Aunt and my uncle afterward."

Qi Younian coughed and then said to Ye Xinyan, "Child, what way is that to speak? Go help Nanny Jin with the dinner, we are keeping Great Uncle over for tonight’s meal, so make sure the dishes are well-prepared."

Ye Xinyan knew when to quit. The unpleasant truths had been said, and her opinion was made clear; the rest was now up to Qi Younian.

Once Ye Xinyan had left, Qi Younian apologized, "As you know, my family’s Ye Zi is straightforward and can’t stand the sight of the Yourong family. However, the child’s words have some merit—if the greedy and selfish can have all the benefits, who would wish to do good and help others? Brother, don’t you think that’s true?"

"But, Yourong is ultimately our own brother. If we all live well and just leave him out, it would not sit well with our conscience as his elders," he said reluctantly.

Qi Younian urged further, "When I left home, Yourong was still young, and I truly wasn’t accustomed to his selfishness, ignoring others. Furthermore, Ye Zi can handle work, and the business she can do isn’t limited to just this. If we give him the benefits this time, what about next time? And after that? What if he becomes more demanding?"

Qi Yougui remained silent, struggling to decide.

Qi Younian said helplessly, "How about this: The rice tofu stall was set up by Ye Zi, and the capital was her own. Let’s not involve ourselves in the affairs of the older generation; Ye Zi decides to give it to Chengzi, then it’s given to Chengzi. This affair concerns the cousins, nothing to do with the three of us elders."

Qi Younian ultimately chose the idea proposed by Ye Xinyan. That was also fine; his granddaughter always murmured about disliking Lady Han and didn’t want to deal with her. Now, with Lady Han unable to get involved with the rice tofu stall, it exactly catered to Ye Zi’s satisfaction.

Qi Yougui opened his mouth but, in the end, he said nothing. He really couldn’t let his own brother’s business be given to an outsider. With such weight on his mind, he had no desire to dine at Qi Younian’s. Insisting on going home to think it over, he firmly refused to join the Second Branch family for the meal and, hands behind his back, strolled on home.

As soon as Qi Yougui entered his house, Lady Wang noticed that something was off with the old man and blurted out, "Old man, what did my second brother want with you?"

Once the words escaped Lady Wang, she realized she shouldn’t have asked. After all, if it were merely idle talk, it would have been the second brother himself who would have come over to speak. If it was Nanny Jin who came to summon someone, it definitely meant that there was urgent business, something they didn’t want the rest of the main family to overhear.

Scanning her two daughters-in-law who were laying out the meal, Lady Wang noticed that indeed, Lady Han’s gaze kept sneaking peeks in her direction.

Lady Wang, annoyed, said, "What are you looking at? Can’t even serve a meal without causing a fuss, where are your eyes darting off to?" This second daughter-in-law was capable and tough in her work, but her habit of prying into gossip was not a good one.

After the evening meal, Lady Wang sent all the family members young and old away before Qi Younian relayed the details about the Second Branch family seeking him out.

Qi Yougui told her about the Second Branch family’s plans to give the rice tofu stall to Qi Cheng and also hinted that Ye Xinyan might have other business prospects, which was why they wanted to recall Nanny Jin and thus couldn’t manage the rice tofu stall anymore.

Lady Wang was indifferent to whether the Second Branch family had other businesses or not. What pleasantly surprised her was that the scrupulous Ye Zi from the Second Branch was actually willing to hand over a money-making deal to their family for nothing.

"Old man, did you hear it right? My second brother’s family wants to give the rice tofu stall to our family, not just to help them run it and settle for a laborer’s wage?"

He had already made it very clear, why was she still asking? Qi Yougui glanced at Lady Wang impatiently, not even deigning to respond.

Lady Wang wasn’t the least bit embarrassed and continued to press, "And what about, at the time they set up the stall, there was a bit of initial capital, didn’t my second brother mention how much they’re charging us for the tables, chairs, and utensils?"

Qi Yougui glanced at Lady Wang with dissatisfaction, "Do you think everyone’s as petty as you, holding on tightly to things as trivial as a needle’s breadth, fearing they might be taken? The second brother made it clear, that stall is being given to our family for nothing, all the equipment included at no cost. I’ve figured it out; the granddaughter the second brother has taken in is no ordinary girl. And you, as her Great Aunt, always act petty, fearing she might take a share of your property, so often giving her the cold shoulder. She doesn’t even bother to squabble with a village woman like you."

At this moment, Lady Wang didn’t care about Qi Yougui’s mockery—she was ecstatically planning in her heart. Considering the rice tofu stall could sell two big pots daily, this breakfast stall could make three to four taels of silver a month. If this continued year after year, their family would have some savings, finally making them a wealthy household.

Qi Yougui said, "First, call Dazhu and Chengzi over. The second brother and Ye Zi both said that Chengzi and his spouse have learned to make rice tofu, but I don’t know how well they’ve managed. We need to ask them clearly, and if there are still tasks they aren’t skilled at, we’d better learn them from Ye Zi as soon as possible."