Ms. Jia looked at Ms. Lu pitifully as she was speaking. "My dear sister-in-law, talk to him for us. Don't let Second Brother be angry with us."
Ms. Lu glanced at Xie Niushan and said while smiling, "You guys are overthinking. Niushan is bad-tempered. The money is indeed less this time, it's our fault. But the situation at home is tough for us. We have three children going to school, and the expenses are heavy at the academy. Eldest Daughter used 5,000 taels of silver earlier. We're running out of money all of a sudden. We can't give more.. We'll make it up to you next time when life's better."
The old lady stood up immediately. "5,000 taels!? All just for discipleship? Why would a girl need to go to school!?"
Xie Qiao raised her brows.
"Of course she has to. She's not living on a mountain. How can she find a husband if she isn't educated?" Xie Niushen glared at them. "Also, Eldest Daughter is pretty. If she stays home instead of studying, how would people know that I have a beautiful daughter?"
Xie Qiao was the Xie family's pride!
Let her stay home instead of going outside? That would not happen.
The old lady felt like her whole body was getting numb. "B-But it's so much money…"
Xie Niushan scoffed and smiled. "Not much. If I can't afford my girl's education, am I still a man?" He was indeed straightforward.
Xie Qiao had gifted a painting to enroll in the academy back then, but she had been given money as well, which she used to open her shop.
There was no need to try explaining to everybody now since the money had been spent anyway in the old lady's mind.
Ms. Jia could not help but mumble, "My, my. The money spent on Eldest Daughter's education could have been used to support the old lady for many years, no?"
"How can you compare Mother with my girl? Mother is just eating and drinking at home, how much does she need? It's different for Eldest Daughter. She's young, so we can't be stingy with her," said Xie Niushan.
The old lady trembled, feeling terrible.
She would stay at her second son's house occasionally. However, that rarely happened as she could not get used to it.
Her grandson, Xie Pinggang, was scary and fierce. She had a feeling that he would bring bad luck to her. Also, there were many maidservants over there. They looked more like a master than she did, which made her uneasy.
Therefore, she would live in this house most of the time.
Although there were neighbors around, they could not click.
Her son was an official, while the neighbors were just normal citizens. What could they talk about?
Just like what her second son had said, she was just killing time every day by eating and drinking. She did not need much money.
However, she could give it to her other two sons and grandchildren, right?
Unfortunately, she could not just say that out loud.
The old lady glared at Xie Niushan. Seeing that everyone was still standing around, she could only let it pass, whereby she said stubbornly, "Alright, never mind that it's lesser. How much longer can I live? I keep this money for you three useless things anyway—especially you, second one. You're spending money recklessly. How can I not be worried?"
Initially, she wanted to take over the family for her second son, but she was illiterate. She could count money but could not understand the account book.
"Have a seat!" said the old lady.
She said that, but she was actually asking the seniors, such as Xie Niushan and Ms. Lu, to sit. Xie Qiao, Xie Pinggang, and the rest had to stand.
However, Xie Niushan could never forget that his daughter was weak. Thus, he got her to sit right away upon noticing a seat.
Xie Qiao shamelessly took her seat.
Ms. Lu's facial expression changed. It was uncertain whether she was smiling or not.
The two wives were staring at Xie Qiao.
"Eldest Daughter isn't young anymore. When are you going to matchmake her?" Ms. Jia looked at Xie Niushan while smiling. "My nephew isn't too shabby. He's compatible with this girl…"