Chapter 22: Then Where Is Your Dowry?
Madam Zhou’s mouth twitched, and Jiang Ruanxi pretended not to see it.
“You don’t need to worry about this. The Marquis is a filial person. Even if you don’t give him silver, I believe the Marquis will definitely take good care of you in the future. However, if the Marquis gets promoted, life will surely be better in the future, and he can take even better care of you. But if the Marquis’s promotion doesn’t work out, his future days won’t be easy, and Mother’s days probably won’t be much better either.”
How could Madam Zhou not understand this reason.
She naturally hoped that her son would live better and better, so that she would also have face.
But she really didn’t have that much silver!
“Mother, at this point, what are you still hesitating about? Could it be that you really don’t want to help me?”
Seeing that she was still hesitant, Lin Ningkun had clearly lost his patience.
“No, it’s not that. I want to help you.”
“Then why do you say you don’t have that much silver money?”
Madam Zhou fell silent again. Seeing that they couldn’t come to a conclusion, Lin Runkun also got angry immediately.
“What do you mean by this? Are you joking around? We agreed before that I’d help you find a way, and silver money wouldn’t be a problem. But now the promotion opportunity is right in front of you, and you can’t even make a decision? Fine, since that’s the case, I’ll go ask in the clan who needs it.”
Seeing this, Lin Ningkun panicked. Seeing that Lin Ningkun was about to leave, he quickly pulled him and said, “Second Uncle, we’re serious and not joking.”
Lin Runkun clearly didn’t believe it.
Lin Ningkun gave Jiang Ruanxi a look. Jiang Ruanxi looked at Madam Zhou, “Mother, do you really want the Marquis’s hard work to go to waste?”
Madam Zhou also became anxious and said flustered, “No, that’s not what I mean. It’s just that I really don’t have that much silver.”
“Mother, then where did your dowry go?”
“I…” Madam Zhou glanced at Lin Ningkun, then at Lin Runkun, before lowering her head and saying guiltily, “I gave it all to your Elder Brother.”
Lin Ningkun was stunned. Lin Runkun was surprised. Only Jiang Ruanxi pretended to be shocked, “Mother, Elder Brother is idle at home, and his daily expenses are covered by the manor. Why would he ask you for money when he’s doing fine?”
“You, your Elder Brother has some urgent matters and needs to use it urgently.” Madam Zhou stammered, without explaining the matter clearly. Even at this moment, she didn’t know what to say.
She just said affirmatively, “But rest assured, your Elder Brother said that this silver money came from my dowry, and he will definitely pay it back to us.”
Pay back?
Jiang Ruanxi felt a cold smile rise in her heart. Everyone knew that Lin Family legitimate son Lin Feng was someone who indulged in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling—good at everything.
He was originally ignorant and incompetent, a typical profligate son.
Otherwise, back when the old Marquis was alive, he wouldn’t have handed the family over to Lin Ningkun.
His promise to pay back the silver was just to deceive Madam Zhou.
“Mother, how can you be so muddleheaded?”
Lin Ningkun could no longer hold back his anger, his face carrying heavy fury, “Don’t you know what kind of person Elder Brother is? How can you give him the silver? And how can you believe his words?”
He was a typical wastrel, a bottomless pit.
Impossible to fill no matter what.
Madam Zhou also knew Lin Feng’s character, but she still felt her son wasn’t that hopeless.
“Ningkun, your Elder Brother isn’t the same as before. He’s changed on many things. Don’t say he won’t pay back. I believe he will.”
“Marquis, whether Elder Brother pays back or not isn’t important. Right now, your matter is more urgent.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s words instantly brought Lin Ningkun back to his senses. He knew Lin Runkun was still there, and he couldn’t lose his composure at this time.
“Second Uncle, there’s been a small emergency at home. I’ll give you a reply on the silver money tomorrow.”
No matter how angry he was, the family industry matters were private family affairs, and he didn’t want Lin Runkun to know.
“Marquis, this matter can be big or small. The opportunity is rare.” The Clan Leader said earnestly, “If you miss this opportunity, the next one will take a long time.”
Lin Ningkun naturally knew the importance of it, “Second Uncle, rest assured. No matter what, I will seize it.”
“Alright then. Bring the silver by noon tomorrow. Otherwise, I’ll assume you’re giving up this opportunity.”
After Lin Runkun left, Lin Ningkun’s expression became grave.
“Mother, where did Elder Brother go?”
Madam Zhou looked flustered and evasive, “Where else could he go? Didn’t I say he’s gone back to her maternal home with Elder Sister-in-law?”
“Mother, Elder Sister-in-law’s maternal home is near the Capital. It’s only an hour round trip. Elder Brother’s been gone for at least half a month. Staying at his in-laws’ place all the time doesn’t seem right, does it?” Jiang Ruanxi kindly reminded.
“You also know your Elder Sister-in-law isn’t used to living at home and goes back to her maternal home from time to time. Your Elder Brother is being considerate of her, so he went along to stay for a few days.”
She isn’t used to it?
A face that looked somewhat aged appeared in Jiang Ruanxi’s mind.
Madam He’s clan was a famous scholarly family in the Capital, but later the family fell on hard times. Madam He was of advanced age with no suitors, so the Lin Family picked up a bargain.
Elder Sister-in-law Madam He was from a scholarly family after all, so she naturally couldn’t stand her husband indulging in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling every day. She had made a fuss before, but with little effect, so she eventually gave up and simply stayed at her maternal home, no longer caring about Lin Family matters.
“Mother, how is it just a few days? Elder Sister-in-law hasn’t been home for a month. Didn’t Elder Brother go to pick her up?” Jiang Ruanxi thought of something and continued, “I remember when Elder Brother left, he was carrying quite a few valuable gifts. Now that I think about it, it’s been so long with no movement. Could Elder Brother have gone to the old place again?”
This so-called old place was Chunhua Tower, a place where men sought pleasure.
In her previous life, she remembered Lin Feng went there often.
“What nonsense are you talking? Your Elder Brother isn’t that kind of person.” Madam Zhou argued for Lin Feng.
Jiang Ruanxi smiled, “If that’s the case, then what’s this?”
She took out an IOU from her bosom and handed it to Lin Ningkun, “Marquis, this was sent by someone from Chunhua Tower this morning. They said if the money isn’t paid, Elder Brother will probably be sent to the authorities.”
What?
Not to mention Lin Ningkun being shocked, even Madam Zhou was stunned.
She simply couldn’t believe Lin Feng would do such a thing.
“What nonsense are you talking? Feng’er clearly promised me he was going to coax Madam He back. How could he possibly go to a place like that?”
“Mother, are you saying this IOU is fake?”
