Chapter 727: Chapter 689: Lu Yanbin Manages the Household (18th Update)
In the Furong Courtyard, Lu Yanbin was still in Mrs. Xiao Liuâs room, looking at the half-empty wardrobe, his expression becoming increasingly dark and gloomy.
Hong Xiang came in and, seeing the situation, said helplessly, "Young Master, todayâs issues are not yet resolved. Do you think itâs time to bring in the wives to report?"
Lu Yanbin said angrily, "Why not go find my... find Aunt Wen?"
Hong Xiang replied, "Aunt Wen is a concubine. Logically, unless Old Mrs. Lu says otherwise, these matters arenât her responsibility."
Lu Yanbin, feeling irritable, said, "Then have them go to Old Mrs. Lu."
Hong Xiang was speechless for a moment, "They just went. Old Mrs. Lu said that matters in your room are to be managed by yourselves; she has already handed over the authority and will not interfere."
Lu Yanbinâs temples were throbbing as he sat in the armchair, "Summon all the stewardsâ wives."
Hong Xiang exited, and soon two or three dozen steward wives lined up to enter. The leading one said, "Mr. Zeng on Back Street passed away. Should we arrange a coffin and some wreaths, or just give Silver?"
Lu Yanbin asked, "Who is Mr. Zeng?"
The wife replied, "Our ancestors fought in the war with our grandfather; there is some acquaintance."
Lu Yanbin felt a headache, asking Hong Xiang, "How was this kind of thing handled previously?"
Hong Xiang turned her head to the side, "Usually, itâs handled by the Young Madam. How would I know?"
Lu Yanbin told the wife to stand aside, "Next one, speak up."
The second wife said, "Many of the plants in the garden have insects; I need to buy medicine to treat them. Iâm here for the funds."
Lu Yanbin again asked Hong Xiang, "How much Silver for this?"
Hong Xiang didnât even give him a glance, her face tense, "I donât know."
The four words said coldly and indifferently left Lu Yanbin at a loss for words.
The steward wives that followed either asked for money to go out for purchases, or mentioned someone from a prominent family having a birthday requiring gifts, or another family hosting a banquet needing extra decorations.
After listening, Lu Yanbin just felt overwhelmed, sinking into the armchair, holding his head without speaking for a long time.
Hong Xiang glanced sideways, secretly resenting him. Let him be arrogant, let him look down on our mistress on ordinary days; now sheâs gone, itâs up to him to handle these trivial matters. Letâs see how long he can last!
Lu Yanbin raised his head and happened to see the resentful look in Hong Xiangâs eyes. He was taken aback, but soon he sat up straight and instructed the servant beside him to get the account books. He refused to believe that without Mrs. Xiao Liu, the family would fall apart. Household management could always be referenced from past examples.
In a short while, the servant returned with a thick stack of account books, piling them on the long table in front of Lu Yanbin.
Lu Yanbin casually picked one up; the account books were categorized, and from the first page, all were in Mrs. Xiao Liuâs handwriting. The recorded times were from before she married in, clearly indicating that she had organized and recopied the chaotic accounts from when Su Yi managed the household, resulting in this neatly structured, albeit dizzying, pile of account books.
Having never worried about these before, now handling them himself, Lu Yanbin flipped the pages, feeling an unnamed emotion surging within him.
Hong Xiang no longer wished to witness this personâs expression and quietly exited while Lu Yanbin was absorbed in the accounts.
The account books recorded by Mrs. Xiao Liu were easy to read. After going through several, Lu Yanbin finally managed to handle the dayâs affairs, albeit awkwardly, by following old examples.
In the evening, Old Mrs. Lu had the account books brought over for review and found several discrepancies, prompting her to summon Lu Yanbin to her room and berate him severely.
Lu Yanbin, with his head drooping, said, "Grandson is handling household affairs for the first time, mistakes are inevitable. If Grandmother wonât encourage me, why be so angry over the discrepancy of merely dozens of taels of Silver? Iâll make up for it from my own pocket tomorrow."
Old Mrs. Lu was so agitated that her nose almost twisted, "A daily discrepancy of dozens of taels of Silver, over time, what will you use to cover the deficit? Encouragement? Would encouraging you mean hitting women at whim?"
Lu Yanbin couldnât argue, "Grandson will try not to make mistakes tomorrow."
Old Mrs. Lu coldly snorted, "Your wife is at Wanâs home in a fit of pique. Youâd best find time to earnestly bring her back to help manage, or else relying solely on you for such a large household will lead it to ruin sooner or later."
At this moment, just hearing Mrs. Xiao Liuâs name vexed Lu Yanbin, "If she wants to leave, just let her go, the farther the betterâa scheming woman with murderous intentions. Why bring her back? To continue killing?"
Old Mrs. Lu angrily threw the account book, hitting him in the face.
Lu Yanbin bent down to pick up the account book, "If Grandmother has no other matters, Iâll take my leave first."
After Lu Yanbin left, it was some time before Old Mrs. Lu caught her breath and sent someone to summon Lu Pingzhou.
Earlier in the day, Lu Pingzhou had already heard about Mrs. Xiao Liu leaving with Wen Wan. When he received the summons from Old Mrs. Luâs courtyard, he surmised it was about Lu Yanbin and his wife, which indeed proved true upon arrival.
However, Old Mrs. Luâs demeanor towards him was different from her attitude toward the reckless grandson. Knowing this son was not someone easily confused, her tone softened a bit, yet her expression remained displeased, "For the sake of a concubine, he dared lay hands on his legitimate wife. Eldest, you and Aunt Wen have been too indulgent with him. The Lu Familyâs prominent status today attracts attention. Donât give outsiders cause to gossip about our family being rotten from the top down. I wonât stand for it."
A rotten top makes for a crooked foundation.
These words carried weight.
Yet Lu Pingzhou did not argue.
The situation between Lu Yanbin and Su Dai was much like his own with Aunt Wen, both having known the concubine first, then being compelled to marry a legitimate wife.
But Mrs. Xiao Liu was different from Su Yi.
Su Yi was an outright viper, who not only cuckolded him but daringly gave birth to her loverâs child under the roof of the Lu Family. Such a woman, relegated to exile, deserved no sympathy.
Ever since Mrs. Xiao Liu entered the household, whether in showing filial piety to her in-laws or managing household affairs, she never made a mistake, a testament to her diligence.
Her contributions to the Lu Family, her kindness to Lu Yanbin, were clear to all the elders.
Even if, as a husband, Lu Yanbin couldnât offer her romantic love, he ought to at least respect the basic bonds of marriage.
Yet Lu Yanbin, captivated by a concubine, continuously neglected his legitimate wife when she was alive and now, suspects her involvement in the concubineâs death, even resorting to violence.
He lacks any sense befitting a noblemanâs scion!
Upon returning, Lu Pingzhou found Aunt Wen anxiously waiting outside his room.
Aunt Wen had already heard that the Princely Heir had been summoned to Old Mrs. Luâs quarters, anticipating that Old Mrs. Lu would be furious over Mrs. Xiao Liu being beaten, so she lingered there to listen to Lu Pingzhouâs counsel.
Seeing Lu Pingzhouâs grim expression, Aunt Wen, filled with worry, asked, "Master, how did it go?"
Lu Pingzhou gazed at her quietly.
A chill ran down Aunt Wenâs spine.
Lu Pingzhou, without showing any sign of anger, calmly stated, "From today forth, all household affairs are to be left to Lu Yanbin; no one is to intervene, including you. If he makes an error, heâs to cover it from his own pocket. Should I discover heâs drawing from the accounts, gambling outside, or lending at usury, I wonât pardon him!"
Aunt Wen was dumbfounded, "Master, Brother Bin has never managed the household."
Rumor has it that today alone he miscalculated several times, leading to discrepancies of dozens of taels of Silver.
If no one aids and guides him henceforth, and he errs again, from where will he find the money to supplement it?
Lu Pingzhouâs face remained expressionless, "Wonât happen, just lift the carriage and invite Mrs. Xiao Liu back from Wanâs home to help manage. If he makes another mistake, I wonât spare him!"
Aunt Wen was stunned, "My Lord, Brother Bin has never managed the household."
Upon entering his room, Lu Pingzhou didnât permit Aunt Wen inside; she sighed before going to find Lu Yanbin.
During this time, Su Daiâs coffin was carried out and the Feixue Courtyard was left sealed. Lu Yanbin sat in his room, absently holding a sachet made by Su Dai.
Without looking, Aunt Wen could guess what he was hiding, feeling somewhat annoyed, "Sheâs gone, whatâs the use thinking of her now?"
"I heard today you struck Mrs. Xiao Liu?"
"She deserved it!" Lu Yanbin replied.
"Did you find any evidence?" Aunt Wen asked.