Chapter 76: Nonsense, Utter Nonsense
Hong Ye at her side was so shocked her jaw dropped.
“Once this money is sent out, where is the reason to take it back? The Old Madam and the Marquis don’t even mind the shame.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes were full of sarcasm. It was a truth even a maidservant knew, yet they did not.
In her previous life, how blind must she have been to fancy someone like Lin Ningkun.
She now wished she could slap her past self a few times.
But since they wanted to take it back, why not give them some reason.
“I remember the Clan Leader seems to have a nephew who was recently promoted?”
Shugen immediately understood Jiang Ruanxi’s meaning, but still asked uncertainly, “Madam, you mean”
“The Old Madam doesn’t think her silver was spent, so let the Old Madam know exactly where her silver went.” Jiang Ruanxi said with a smile.
That afternoon, Madam Zhou got the news and hurried to Lin Runkun’s home.
“Clan Leader, you didn’t handle the matter for the Marquis, shouldn’t you return that silver? Madam Zhou came from a farming family and unlike noblewomen of the Capital, she never beat around the bush when speaking.
Any woman of the household wouldn’t beat around the bush.
So blunt and disrespectful, Lin Runkun’s face also darkened.
“What nonsense are you saying? The silver you gave me, I originally used it to pull strings, and the job was arranged for the Marquis. But who knew your family’s Marquis would have such an incident, causing the job to fall through. How could I get back the silver that was spent?”
“Mother, what nonsense are you saying?” Lin Ningkun hurried over upon hearing and spoke to stop Madam Zhou, even complaining about how she couldn’t keep her cool.
Madam Zhou paid no mind and questioned, “Clan Leader, that silver we gave you, did you really use it all to pull strings for the Marquis?”
Lin Ningkun paused slightly and also looked at Lin Runkun with suspicion.
Lin Runkun immediately got angry, “What do you mean? Are you saying I embezzled that silver?”
“The silver was in your hands, you can say whatever you want, anyway we others have no way to verify.”
Lin Runkun was so angry his beard bristled and eyes bulged.
“Nonsense, utter nonsense. At my age, how could I do such a shameless thing?”
“Then Clan Leader, explain this: the Marquis’s matter didn’t succeed, so why did your nephew Lin Shu get a good job? Clan Leader, don’t tell me Lin Shu found that job for himself.”
Lin Runkun was stunned, not expecting her to suddenly mention this. Thinking they knew something, panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly composed himself.
But it didn’t escape Lin Ningkun’s eyes, and he immediately understood Madam Zhou was right.
“Clan Leader, how could you use our silver to pull strings for Lin Shu?”
Since it was all known, Lin Runkun stopped pretending and said directly, “They are all Lin Family descendants. You don’t need it anyway, and the gift was already sent out, no need to waste it, right?”
For him, as long as it was a Lin Family descendant, no matter who succeeded, it was the same, as long as it could bring glory to the Lin Family.
Lin Ningkun’s face turned cold.
“Clan Leader, you can’t say it like that. If Lin Shu used his own silver to ask for your help, I have no issue, but he shouldn’t have used our Marquis Manor’s silver to pull strings.”
Lin Runkun also knew he was in the wrong.
“Now that it’s done, shall I have Lin Shu return the silver to you?”
Lin Runkun felt the mother and son were difficult, and since the matter hadn’t succeeded before, he’d kept it from them. Now that they knew, there was no need to say more.
“No.”
Lin Runkun frowned, a bit impatient, “Returning the money won’t do, so what do you want?”
“If Lin Shu hadn’t used our silver, how could he get such a good job? Just returning the silver, isn’t that not enough.”
Madam Zhou chimed in, “Yes, by this calculation, we are still Lin Shu’s great benefactors. Repaying such a simple way, isn’t this kindness too easy to repay?”
Lin Runkun looked at the greedy faces of Madam Zhou and her son, his expression turning grave, “How about this: you go back and discuss, see how exactly Lin Shu should repay you, and come back once you’ve decided, alright?”
“No need to think, we’ve decided. Either Lin Shu gives up this job position, or all his future salary is ours.” Madam Zhou spoke almost without thinking.
Jiang Ruanxi had just reached the door and heard this, a cold smile appearing at her lips.
Madam Zhou really was asking for the moon!
“I won’t agree to any of your conditions.”
While Lin Runkun was still shocked by these words, Lin Shu’s voice carrying some anger came from outside.
Lin Ningkun looked toward the voice and saw, besides the refined and frail Lin Shu, also Jiang Ruanxi.
He frowned slightly, with a hint of inquiry.
Why was she here?
Jiang Ruanxi offered no explanation, merely slightly averting her eyes.
His heart sank.
Madam Zhou’s sharp and harsh voice rang out, “What are you doing here? And bringing Jiang Ruanxi too, do you think this isn’t shameful enough?”
“I’m talking with the Marquis here, what are you butting in for?” After speaking to Lin Shu, Madam Zhou looked at Jiang Ruanxi, her eyes full of hatred.
If not for her words, how would their Marquis Manor have fallen to this state?
“Mother, you’ve misunderstood me. It wasn’t me who came on my own, it was the Clan Leader who called me.”
Madam Zhou and Lin Ningkun grew more puzzled and both looked at Lin Runkun.
“Indeed, I called her, but I called her for another matter.”
When facing Jiang Ruanxi, Lin Runkun’s expression was clearly much better.
“But before that, let’s settle Lin Shu’s matter first.” Lin Runkun looked at Lin Shu, “You heard what was just said, what are your thoughts?”
Lin Shu’s face was grave, “Uncle, I originally placed as an imperial graduate in this palace exam. Even without Uncle pulling strings for me, I could have gotten a decent official position. So if my cousin wants my position, as long as His Majesty agrees, I have no objection.”
Lin Ningkun’s face darkened, and Madam Zhou was dumbfounded.
She was just relying on being a woman to act tough, where would she really want that position?
Besides, His Majesty wouldn’t possibly give the position to Lin Ningkun.
“Also, as for my future salary, if you want it, I will explain the situation to the court, and from now on, you can go to the Marquis Manor each month to collect my salary.” Lin Shu spoke flatly, showing no emotional fluctuation.
Jiang Ruanxi saw Lin Ningkun and Madam Zhou red-faced and fuming.
She laughed inwardly.
It seemed to deal with shameless people, one could only be even more shameless than them.
“Oh dear, Marquis, Mother. Such a shameful matter, if salary is issued in the future, you should collect it yourselves. I certainly won’t go.”
