A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 7

Taking Back the Dowry

A Good Golden Thigh to Cling To

The servants of the Jiang Manor were currently divided into two factions. There were six guards trained by Wu Daoyuan, and three domestic servants led by Nanny Wu. On the other side were the manor’s original older servants, such as the two women in the kitchens, and the old couple at the gatehouse who were Chuntao’s parents. The carriage driver, Erzhuzi, was the cook’s son. Back when their Miss was still young and weak, these people had no choice but to keep their heads down, forced to act like they were in the Cao camp but their hearts were with Han¹.

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Now, things were different. Their Miss was married and had a backer; these old servants finally stood tall. Chuntao’s mother marched forward with her head held high, shoved Nanny Wu aside, and escorted Chuntao back to retrieve the dowry list. Nanny Wu stomped her feet in fury, but Wu Daoyuan, seeing how useless the old woman was, had no other recourse. The successive unforeseen events of the past two days had left him struggling to parry the blows.

Written on red paper edged in gold was the dowry Master Jiang had left for his granddaughter before he passed away. Knowing his own daughter was incapable of managing affairs, he had no choice but to prepare it in advance.

“Chuntao, read it,” Jiang Chenyu ordered.

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“Yes, Miss.” Chuntao unfurled the list with a sharp snap and began to read with clear, resonant enunciation:

“Five pairs of jadeite bracelets, five pairs of white jade bracelets.”

“Ten pairs each of pearl, jadeite, gemstone, and agate earrings.”

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“One pair of emerald pendants, one pair of jadeite and southern pearl pendants.”

“Ten bracelets in total of pearl, jadeite, coral, and aloeswood.”

“Ten rings in total of pure gold, ivory, white jade, and gemstone.”

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“Ten long hairpins in total, including pearl-inlaid, gemstone-inlaid, and gold filigree phoenix hairpins.”

“Fifty bolts of fabric in total, including floral brocade, antique satin, gold-woven cotton, peacock silk, light smoke gauze, and plain gauze.”

“Ginseng, angelica root, fleeceflower root…”

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The exhaustive, sprawling list went on and on. Listening to it, Shen Hetang was secretly astounded. She really had lacked worldly experience; only by being here in person did she truly understand why ancients began saving for a daughter’s dowry the moment she was born. However, Old Master Jiang had grasped the balance perfectly. The amount of pure gold jewelry was limited. While these items were all fine goods, they did not incite the urge to claim them for oneself nearly as much as the sound of raw gold and silver would have.

Immediately after came the main event. One clothing shop on West Street, one pastry and preserves shop on East Street, two hundred mu² of fertile farmland, and a three-courtyard estate³. Bringing out her utmost skill, Chuntao finished reading the dowry list without missing a single word.

Shen Hetang remarked inwardly that this was an absolute wealthy jiejie, a true golden thigh⁴.

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During the earlier sections, Wu Daoyuan had managed to remain somewhat composed, but when it came to the shops and the estate at the end, his expression faltered. He looked entirely like he had just eaten shit. The Jiang family owned fifteen shops in total. Because the old man had started out as a traveling peddler, the family’s businesses covered a wide range of industries with numerous investments, unlike other families who focused on a single trade. After Wu Daoyuan took over, even using all his tricks, he could only keep them from going bankrupt, earning just enough to cover expenses over the year.

Hearing Chenyu’s dowry, the relatives knew that all together, it was still less than half of what Wu Daoyuan held. They were actually quite resentful. Why should an outsider be given so much, while they, the blood relatives, could only watch helplessly? Since the family assets were being divided, the three of their families should each be given a shop! Back when Jiang Guangsheng was down and out, they had all offered him charity, hadn’t they?

Great-uncle was thinking exactly this, and he said it aloud too. The demand turned Wu Daoyuan’s face green with anger, but right then, Jiang Chenyu poured oil on the fire. “If Father agrees to take out two shops to divide among Great-uncle and the others, then I am also willing to contribute one pastry shop to help out our relatives.”

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The moment she said this, she won the approval of all the relatives. One after another, they began to argue with Wu Daoyuan. In the end, her aunt even declared that if Wu Daoyuan refused, they would see him at the Yamen⁵ and have Jiang Chenyu sue him for embezzling the Jiang family’s property. Although Wu Daoyuan had been running in Qingyuan County circles for many years, he was an outsider after all. If things really escalated to that level, even if he won, all these assets would end up lining the County Magistrate’s pockets, and he would have offended the entire Jiang clan in the process.

Thinking of this, he stared fixedly at Jiang Chenyu, putting on a deeply wounded expression as he said, “Chenyu, as father and daughter, we’ve depended on each other for so many years. Do you truly not care about our bond at all?”

Hearing him say this, Jiang Chenyu recalled that he had indeed treated her well over the years. But she was no fool. She was well aware of the dark intentions he harbored. Thinking of his ‘kindness’ toward her now only made her feel sick.

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Seeing her remain silent, Shen Hetang assumed the young girl had been swayed by him and replied on her behalf. “Father-in-law, Chenyu doesn’t wish to do anything excessive to you. She is merely taking back the small portion that belongs to her. You still inherit more than half of the Jiang family’s estate. For a matrilocal stepfather, the Jiang family has shown you the utmost sincerity. As compensation for protecting Chenyu and her mother, no one has treated you unfairly. I must ask my father-in-law to hurry and bring out the documents.” Shen Hetang’s calm tone carried a finalized, undeniable authority.

“That’s right, Nephew-in-law. Our Jiang family hasn’t treated you poorly! Now that Chenyu has her own family, dividing the household with you couldn’t be more natural. Just divide it!” The crowd surrounded Wu Daoyuan, tossing remarks left and right. Finally, he gave in and agreed to divide the family assets.

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