stingy landlady

Chapter 213 Sending Osmanthus Fragrance to the Wasteland (3)

Gui Xiang lowered her hand, which was about to knock on the door to go inside and get rice, a bitter feeling washing over her. This was the consequence of her impulsive decision; at this moment, regret seemed irreversible!

Gui Xiang desperately wanted to go back to her parents' home with Da Zhu and Gui Zhi right now, but these were such bloodsucking families. Even if she went back, they would still find ways to get money from her…

Sigh! I can't cause any more trouble for my family! Whether things are good or bad for me, I'll just have to live with Jiang Hongliang for now! A woman follows her husband wherever he goes. I'll just take it one day at a time!

Gui Xiang was grieving alone when Jiang Hongliang opened the door and was about to leave. Seeing Gui Xiang standing at the door, looking so self-pitying, he felt a surge of annoyance, unsure how much she had overheard. He said in a rather unfriendly tone:

"What are you doing standing in the doorway! Come in if you want to come in, and come out if you want to come out! Don't block the way! Haven't you heard that a good dog doesn't block the road?"

After saying that, he bumped into Gui Xiang with his shoulder, causing her to stumble, and then walked away!

Gui Xiang was in unbearable pain. She could only cook and serve the Jiang family with a bitter smile.

Granny Jiang took the land deed for fifty mu of wasteland to the land brokerage in town to inquire about the land price. The brokers laughed at her:

"Old woman! Can't you read? This is wasteland! Go outside and look, wasteland is everywhere! Anyone who wants to buy it can go to the government office. You know, rich people don't care about your little plot of land! But poor people want to buy it but can't afford it!"

Moreover, you need to cultivate this wasteland first. If you don't hurry back home to cultivate it now, what will you use to pay taxes in a few years?

Go back and clear the land! Sell it after the soil has been fattened up!

Granny Jiang was left empty-handed! The land deed was genuine, but it was a land deed that couldn't be sold!

Jiang Pozi was unwilling to give up and asked:

"Then can't I sell it for less than the government office?"

The brokers were kicking people out:

"No one wants it no matter the price! Wait until the land is fully developed and fertile before coming back! Then you can sell it for a better price!"

"Old woman! You should go back now, this wasteland is really no good!"

Granny Jiang left the brokerage firm, but unwilling to give up, she went to other brokerage firms to ask again, only to receive similar answers. In short, exchanging the land deed for silver was impossible.

Granny Jiang was very disappointed. She stood at the entrance of the brokerage firm in a daze for a long time before gritting her teeth and saying:

"You, Wang Dazhu! How dare you play these games with us! Since you're so heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless too! Since this land can't be sold, we'll fatten it up and let it mature!"

"Then let your daughter, Wang Guixiang, go and cultivate this fertile land for me! Trying to pull this stunt on us! Let's see who suffers in the end! Humph!"

Granny Jiang snorted coldly, then returned home full of fighting spirit.

Guihong was engaged, and the groom was to her liking, and the Zhou family was quite wealthy. But people say that happy lives are all alike, while unhappy lives are unhappy in their own way.

Mrs. Zhou used to like Gui Hong's cheerful and generous personality, but after visiting Gui Hong's home during the engagement, Mrs. Zhou discovered that Gui Hong had many shortcomings.

Gui Hong had never learned the proper etiquette and manners of many wealthy families. Her frivolous and flirtatious behavior in the shop every day brought shame to the Zhou family and made her unfit to be their young mistress.

Guihong didn't know how to dress or socialize in a wealthy family. Mrs. Zhou hired a governess for Guihong to teach her manners and etiquette.

At first, Gui Hong was quite grateful to Mrs. Zhou, but as the nanny taught her, Gui Hong gradually became uncomfortable.

Being a good wife and mother is essential, that's acceptable! Women's handicrafts and traditional female virtues are something to learn. But the idea that women shouldn't show their faces in public to do business is something Guihong can't accept.

The old woman's original words were:

"Miss Guihong! No one is restricting you from being the manager! It's just that the Zhou family is not a small family, and they don't need your little bit of monthly salary."

You must know that these wealthy and powerful families value their reputation above all else. If the second young mistress had to lower herself to become the manager herself just to make a living, she would have to spend all her time mingling with other noblewomen.

There are even many families that are no more noble than the Zhou family, yet the second young mistress personally receives them! This is something that would make people laugh and be considered rude.

Miss Gui Hong, please think it over carefully! It's best to make plans as soon as possible!

Gui Hong feigned ignorance and asked:

"Granny! I've always been the manager of our Lirenfang, everyone knows that! Does getting married mean I can't do it anymore?"

The old woman said sternly:

"Miss Guihong! Before marriage, she represented her maternal family; after marriage, she represents her husband's family! Before marriage, she was Miss Guihong; after marriage, she became Young Madam Zhou!"

Miss Guihong, if this shop is part of your dowry, you can easily find a manager to run it. Then you can focus on being a good wife and mother, and serving your in-laws!

This goes against Gui Hong's wishes.

“Granny! I like being the manager, I don’t want to be stuck in the back all day doing nothing! Besides, my mother-in-law knew I was the manager of Lirenfang back then, and she didn’t look down on me then, so I guess she won’t care so much in the future!”

The old woman chuckled:

"Miss Guihong is too naive! Before the marriage, the madam valued your character and personality! After the marriage, of course she will value a woman's manners and etiquette even more."

Establishing rules is often a way for mothers-in-law to intimidate their daughters-in-law! The real fear is that the daughter-in-law will still act like a young girl, without any inhibitions. She must always keep her mother-in-law's words in mind!

Guihong didn't think there was any conflict, but according to the old woman, she couldn't be the manager of the Beauty Pavilion after getting married. Guihong found this unbelievable and was unhappy.

Gui Hong enjoys being the manager of Lirenfang, which gives her a great sense of accomplishment. Having something she loves to do also fills her with confidence.

After thinking it over carefully for several days, Gui Hong finally made up her mind to find Zhou Shaoyu. Zhou Shaoyu was very happy to see Gui Hong and invited her into the inner room to talk:

"Guihong, is something troubling you today? You look so worried."

Gui Hong was indeed in a difficult position:

"Brother Shaoyu! I! I want to break off the engagement!"

Zhou Shaoyu was taken aback and asked urgently.

"Sister Guihong! Is there something wrong with your brother?"

Gui Hong shook her head and hesitated:

"Brother Shaoyu! It's me! It's because I'm not suitable for your family! The young mistress you found has to stay at home all the time, and I! I've thought about it over and over, and I can't do it!"

Brother Shaoyu! I still prefer being the manager of Lirenfang! But that would bring shame to the Zhou family! I can't let my actions affect the Zhou family!

"Brother Shaoyu! Let's call off the engagement!"

After hearing the reason, Zhou Shaoyu's brows finally relaxed.

"Does Sister Guihong think I'm incapable of taking the imperial examinations? That I can only be a steward or manager? Or even just someone who manages mundane affairs?"

Gui Hong shook her head and said:

"Of course not! Brother Shaoyu is a man of profound wisdom, far beyond my reach! I admire him so much, how could I dare to look down on him!"

Zhou Shaoyu raised his eyebrows and smiled, saying:

“Sister Guihong doesn’t look down on me! How could I possibly look down on you! We do the same things, we’re both innkeepers! How can you say I look down on you?”