"I, I can’t remember all those details!" Shi Yumei quickly forced a smile to explain, "Mom, little brother, you have misunderstood. My husband was just reciting poems and discussing scholarship with a few friends! He didn’t do anything else and didn’t stay overnight, really!"
"You!" Mrs. Wang’s anger caused her liver to ache!
"It’s okay, I understand," Shi Fengju nodded, "Mom and big sister, don’t worry, I’ll send someone to settle it later." It’s nearly 3,000 taels, which will inevitably come out of his personal account. Shi Fengju thought to himself, fortunately, he had a few private shops outside; otherwise, he’d probably have to go back and sell off assets to cover it! How did he end up with such a brother-in-law?
"Big sister," Shi Fengju suddenly smiled again, "I think it’s better if you tell me the truth! Have you really settled things with the property in Meng County?"
Shi Yumei opened her mouth, thinking that her brother was going to send someone to Meng County to settle the accounts anyway and that she couldn’t hide it from him in the end, so she reluctantly spilled everything.
Turns out, what property was there in Meng County? Even the house was sold off by Ren Zhixian! The couple along with Cui Zhu came here to seek refuge, traveling light! Of course, there was also the suspicion of dodging debts. After all, as a scholar, being chased by clerks from restaurants and various shops, large and small, asking for money every day, how disgraceful would that be?
"How could this be! How could this happen!" Mrs. Wang was so angry her features twisted, unable to speak. She always knew her son-in-law was unreliable, but did not expect him to be unreliable to this extent!
She had thought that, as unreliable as he was, at least he was a scholar; once he passed the imperial examination and became an official, her daughter could at least lead a decent life! But who knew—
"I’ve committed a sin, truly committed a sin!" Mrs. Wang wept as she lamented, regretting that she had allowed this marriage to happen and wondering how such a promising man could have turned out to be today!
Shi Yumei also couldn’t help but weep bitterly and unfilially, yet tearfully said, "Mom, once he passes the imperial examination and becomes an official, he will definitely repay what he owes our family, certainly!"
This remark from Shi Yumei only made Mrs. Wang sadder and more irritated. Even she knew this was virtually impossible! It infuriated her that this damn girl was still so stubborn!
"Hmph! That day will come only if his ancestors’ grave starts to emit blue smoke!" Mrs. Wang was so frustrated, the words she blurted out were spiteful enough to kill without compensation.
Shi Yumei’s face couldn’t bear it, and she cried out covering her face, "It was you who married me off to him, and now you blame me! Have you decided that he can never amount to anything? If so, why did you marry me off to him in the first place! What can I do! I still have to live this life!"
Mrs. Wang and Shi Fengju exchanged silent glances, both secretly sighing: How did he end up !
Shi Fengju thought even deeper, thinking to himself that perhaps he was always this kind of person, just that previously, his parents were there to discipline him, and he never had to make decisions; now, it was just his true colors showing through! But in the end, his sister had married him!
Mrs. Wang and Shi Fengju quickly comforted Shi Yumei, with Mrs. Wang weeping even more out of sympathy, and Shi Yumei refrained from upsetting her mother further by curbing her tears.
"Big sister, mom was just speaking out of extreme anger, don’t take it to heart! In the end, isn’t it because mom cares and hurts for you? If it were someone else unrelated, who would go and say a word or half a word? A matter of a few thousand taels of silver is not worth much, I’ll take care of it! Our Shi family won’t miss a meal from you two anyway, from now on just settle down and live in peace!"
"Little brother..." Shi Yumei voiced her thanks with gratitude and also apologized to her mother, finally bringing an end to the commotion.
Shi Fengju then said, "In the future, if my brother-in-law needs anything, just have someone tell me, and I’ll arrange for it to be purchased! If there’s nothing urgent, let him peacefully study at home! If he gets tired, he can walk around the garden to relax. The outside streets are chaotic, going there often can easily distract him, which is harmful and not beneficial to his studying, Big sister, for your husband’s sake, you should keep an eye on him!"
Shi Fengju emphasized his words, making it seem as if Ren Zhixian’s future rested entirely on Shi Yumei’s management, involuntarily making Shi Yumei feel a heavy sense of responsibility. She immediately nodded and said earnestly, "Little brother is right! All sorts of people and matters outside there are messy, better to study in peace at home! Rest assured, I will keep him in line!"