allonlinenovel Chapter 343 Finding a Teacher
Chapter 343 Finding a Teacher
The servant looked embarrassed: "Reporting to the young lady, the things we're moving are all part of the mistress's dowry..."
Ning Zhao's face darkened.
He knew Lin Wan wouldn't be so kind.
Knowing full well that Xian'er was born out of wedlock and didn't have much dowry, he deliberately emptied the courtyard to show off his generous dowry and embarrass Xian'er.
"I'm going to settle the score with her."
Ning Zhao arrived at Lanting Pavilion in a menacing manner.
"Lin Wan, she is your own sister. Why embarrass her like this? You've gone too far."
He lifted the curtain and came in, not caring whether there were maids or servants present, and immediately began to berate them.
Lin Wan was looking at the dowry list when she saw him coming over, so she put the list down.
"Green Bamboo, you all go out first."
"Miss."
Green Bamboo's eyes reddened. She was Miss's dowry maid. For the past five years, Miss had managed the Marquis's mansion with all her heart and soul. Not only did the young master not appreciate Miss's good deeds, but he also brought the second young lady back with him.
Now, they've embarrassed the young lady in public again.
When has this young lady ever suffered such injustice?
"Green Bamboo," Lin Wan called out again.
Green Bamboo snapped out of her daze, exchanged glances with the maids and nannies, and bowed as she withdrew.
After everyone left, Lin Wan looked at him.
"Husband, do you really think that way about me?"
As soon as she said it, Lin Wan's eyes reddened.
She was naturally beautiful, with dark hair, red lips, and fair skin; she possessed the beauty of a queen and was dignified and elegant.
This noble lady, raised in a prestigious family and virtuous in every movement, was now disheveled and lost all composure.
Ning Zhao's questioning words suddenly caught in her throat.
He looked uncomfortable: "Don't pretend, what do you really mean?"
"On the day of our wedding, His Majesty summoned us urgently. After we were married, we were separated for five years. During those five years, there were very few letters from home. I thought it was because of the busy war, but I didn't expect that my husband already had a new lover by his side."
Ning Zhao looked impatient: "Why are you saying this?"
“As a wife, the worst thing is to have a flawed character. I really don’t need to embarrass my second sister over such a trivial matter. Not only would I lose the dignity of the eldest daughter-in-law, but I would also be branded as jealous and ruin the family’s reputation.”
Lin Wan burst into tears.
“Besides, I’m just bringing out my dowry, why is my husband so critical of me?”
Seeing her trying to suppress her grievances, Ning Zhao felt slightly uneasy. Upon reflection, he realized that what she said made sense, and that he had indeed been overthinking things.
He felt guilty, but still decided to take the opportunity to make things clear.
“Xian’er and I have suffered a lot in the northern frontier over the years, and she has given birth to a son and a daughter for me. I have promised that she will be my only woman in this life. However, as long as you keep to your duty, I will not divorce you.”
This can be considered as giving her a promise and putting her at ease.
Lin Wan stared at him blankly, but still managed to force a smile while holding back her tears.
“My husband has made up his mind, and I cannot change his mind. From now on, I will only be filial to my elders and fulfill my duties as a daughter-in-law.”
"That's pretty much it."
Seeing that he had said his piece, Ning Zhao had no intention of lingering any longer.
But the image of Lin Wan forcing a smile while holding back tears lingered in his mind.
However, when he thought of the bond he shared with Xian'er, which had been through thick and thin with him, he forced himself to suppress it.
……
Lanting.
Green Bamboo lifted the curtain and came in, seeing her young mistress with red, indignant eyes.
“Miss, the young master is really going too far. How could he say such a thing? If the master knew, he would definitely not agree to such an absurd thing.”
Born out of wedlock, she was married into a noble family, and even being a concubine was the best she could hope for.
The Great Zhou Dynasty had strict distinctions between the noble and the lowly, which made the young lady a laughing stock in the entire capital.
Lin Wan wiped away her tears and glanced at the dowry list.
"Have everything in the storeroom been packed away?"
"I've put it away," Green Bamboo said. "Miss, should we tell the master?"
“If Father knew, he would naturally help me, but Ning Zhao is not a good man. It would be better to keep my dowry safe.”
she asked again.
"Have you completed everything on the dowry list?"
"The money has been replenished. The remainder is still stored in the manor's storeroom. There are about five thousand taels of silver in the manor."
Lin Wan nodded.
"Please keep this dowry safe for me. In the future, the expenses of the Marquis's mansion should not be covered by this. Also, I remember that there is a set of fine black lacquered furniture in the Marquis's mansion, which is the work of the Zhang school in the early years."
“Yes, there is a set,” Green Bamboo said. “I heard it’s part of the old lady’s dowry, meant to be a lasting treasure for Miss Yanran.”
With its black lacquer surface adorned with gold accents and Zhang-style carving, there are twelve of them in total, exuding grandeur and magnificence.
Madam Cui was reluctant to use it, intending to keep it as a treasure for her daughter, so that she would have great prestige when she married into her husband's family.
“Wei Rui Xuan is in short supply of these. Have someone take your husband to the storeroom and see if they are suitable.”
"Won't Miss Yanran cause a scene?"
"Whether it is more important for the husband to consider the reputation of his younger sister's husband's family or for his beloved woman to suffer injustice, that depends on how the husband weighs the options."
Ning Zhao certainly didn't want Lin Xian'er to suffer any injustice.
The servant mentioned it, and he personally took the storeroom key to retrieve it.
That's quite remarkable.
Ning Yanran is currently on a hunger strike to protest for her beloved husband.
When she heard that Ning Zhao had used her dowry to curry favor with others, how could she tolerate it?
She'd never tolerate that!
Ning Yanran is sixteen years old this year. She was born to the Cui family late in life. Due to insufficient fetal energy, she was born weak and frail. The Cui family watched her grow up from childhood and treated her like the apple of their eye, spoiling her rotten and making her very arrogant.
Her outburst turned Wei Rui Xuan upside down.
When Cui and Lin Wan arrived, the contents inside were smashed to pieces, startling the servants.
"Mom, this little bitch hit me and scratched my face."
Ning Yanran's hair ornaments were gone, her hair was a mess, she had no manners at all, and her clothes were disheveled.
When Cui saw this, she was shocked.
"Quickly, let your mother see where you're hurt."
She was both anxious and angry. Seeing Lin Xian'er being held safely in Ning Zhao's arms only fueled her anger.
"Zhao'er, Yanran has been beaten up like this, and not only do you not help her, you're protecting this little bitch!"
"She started it, so am I not allowed to hit back?"
"you!"
"Alright, Mother, say no more."
Ning Zhao had a headache from the noise.
"I had the servants move this set of furniture over. Yanran attacked Xian'er without even asking what happened. Does she think she did nothing wrong?"
"Brother, have you lost your mind? Using my dowry to beg this bitch? Am I not your real sister anymore?"
"That's right, Zhao'er, this set of furniture is Yanran's dowry, how can you bully your sister like this!"
Cui felt sorry for her daughter and disliked Lin Xian'er more and more.
Ning Zhao felt that Cui was making a mountain out of a molehill.
"Xian'er and I have suffered so much over the years, and she gave birth to the eldest grandson of the Marquis's family. Can't Mother even bear to part with a single piece of furniture?"
"You shameless scumbag who lives off coal, I don't want to waste my breath on you. Men, move this!"
"Who do you call a scumbag? Let's see who dares to move it!"
Lin Xian'er also has a temper.
Moreover, she didn't come to the Marquis's residence to be wronged.
The two sides argued fiercely, and Cui was so angry that she nearly died.
"Wan'er, what do you think we should do about this?"
"I?"
Lin Wan was just there to watch the show, but little did she know that Cui Shi had no intention of letting her off the hook.
"Mother, you should make the decision about this." She didn't want to take on this mess.
Cui was surprised that Lin Wan didn't respond at all.
In the past, he was generous and lavish at home to please her and Yanran, but he was so stingy today.
She knew that Lin Wan had a set of fine rosewood furniture in her storeroom.
The chair back was made from a single piece of rosewood, as tall as a person, and was very heavy and imposing.
The carving is even more extraordinary. It is a work left behind by Zhang Mingchang, an ancestor of the Zhang family, and it is incredibly lifelike.
It's far superior to hers.
After all that commotion today, she, as the sister-in-law, didn't say a word. She really doesn't respect her mother-in-law at all.
Cui could only suggest it herself: "Wan'er, I remember you also have a set of Zhang-style furniture in your storeroom. Why don't you lend it to Yanran for now, so she won't make a fuss?"
Lin Wan sneered.
She knew her mother-in-law was planning this.
It was the same in their past life. They said Ning Yanran wanted to have a grand wedding, so they borrowed her dowry to make it more impressive. But once they borrowed it, they never paid it back.
“Mother, it’s not that I’m unwilling. Last month, I took a fancy to a very good shop in southern Beijing. I originally planned to give it to Yanran as part of her dowry. Now is the time to use the money.”
"South of Beijing!"
Both Cui and Ning Yanran were shocked.
The area south of the capital is the most prosperous part of the capital, and those shops are so rare that they are priceless and cannot be bought even if you have money.
If you could own one, it would be like a constant flow of money, more than you could ever spend.
Is it even necessary to discuss which is more important, a set of furnishings or a shop?
"Sister-in-law, I never expected you to plan for me like this." Ning Yanran's eyes welled up with tears, and she stopped asking for furniture.
Cui was also pleased.
"You silly child, the thought is enough, why go to such lengths? By the way, which shop is it?"
"The restaurant at the intersection of Yongfeng Street in southern Beijing."
"Zui Xian Tower!"
"Yes."
hiss-
Cui and Ning Yanran looked at each other, both of them excited.
Zuixianlou was a truly lucrative establishment that made a fortune every day.
“Mother, Yanran is of marriageable age. As her sister-in-law, I am afraid that she will be mistreated in her husband’s family. Lu Zhou’s family is poor, but he is of noble character. If he can be helped by our Marquis’s Mansion in the future, what difficulty will it be for him to rise to a high position?”
These words struck a chord with Ning Yanran.
“Mother, my sister-in-law is right. No matter how poor the Lu family is, I have land and shops to rely on, so how could I feel wronged? Besides, Young Master Lu is very talented and will surely pass the imperial examination in the future to win a title.”
Cui's resolve began to waver.
Earlier, her daughter had been making a fuss at home, and she was actually planning to give in to her. Now that Lin Wan had made a promise, she was happy to go along with it.
"Fine, children are all debts, and as their mother, I have no choice but to go along with her."
Ning Yanran was surprised that Lin Wan had actually persuaded her mother. She was extremely grateful to Lin Wan and her face was full of excitement.
Lin Wan then looked at Ning Zhao.
"My lord, there is something I would like to say as well. My second sister has just arrived at the manor, and we really cannot let her suffer any grievances. I am in charge of Yanran's dowry, so why not entrust the management of the household to my second sister?"
Ning Yanran panicked. How dare this little bitch hand over the power of housekeeping?
However, upon hearing that it was about preparing her dowry, she obediently remained silent.
Cui thought so too.
Nothing is more important than her daughter. Besides, her eldest grandson is about to be brought back, and she is worried that Lin Wan will mistreat them. This suggestion is exactly what she wanted to hear.
Ning Zhao frowned, not believing she was being so kind: "What exactly are you up to by trying to please both sides like this?"
"Husband..."
Lin Wan was taken aback, never expecting him to think of her that way.
"I just don't want Yanran and my second sister to suffer. Why does my husband think of me like this?"
"That's right. They damaged the clothes and had to pay for them, but they ended up paying for a fake one, and then they started arguing."
These days, there's no concept of wearing counterfeit goods.
However, as soon as Wang Cui said that, some people immediately felt that wearing counterfeit goods was a very shameful thing.
"Look everyone, this old man isn't afraid to talk back. My son's shirt is a limited edition that was shown on TV. Even Olympic champions wear it. Look at the fabric, look at the stitching. What's this?"
She shook the counterfeit garment: "If you can't afford to pay for it, you can't afford to pay for it. You're trying to fool me with a fake. Do you think I can't tell the difference? If I wear it out, I'll be laughed to death."
"What are you saying! So what if it's a fake? As long as it looks good on you, that's all that matters."
These words made her feel a little insecure.
Outsiders think so too.
At first glance, the two pieces of clothing seem quite similar in style and color.
But when you put them together, it's a different story.
It's really white, and the red fabric is very bright. Not to mention the tailoring, every stitch and seam is solid and meticulous.
Even the zipper is made with much more exquisite craftsmanship.
What about counterfeit goods?
The fabric is poor quality, the colors are not vibrant, and more importantly, it feels limp and lifeless when worn.
Comparing the two, it's impossible to tell which is better or worse.
"If you ask me, this big brand is just different; it can't compare to counterfeit goods."
"Hey, didn't you buy one for your son too? Won't he get laughed at at school?"
"This is a fake. Only people who can't afford it buy fakes. If you can afford it, you can buy any other model, let alone the champion model."
Some women were stirring up trouble in the crowd.
Everyone had only one thought in their minds.
Wearing counterfeit goods will make you look down upon; there is a fundamental difference between counterfeit goods and designer brands.
Those who were planning to buy the champion edition have given up on their plans.
Even if there's no champion edition, any official version will do.
It's much better than counterfeit goods.
If people find out, I'll be so embarrassed.
They don't care as long as the adults can wear them, but what about their sons and daughters? Will they be laughed at at school?
No matter how tough things get, we can't let our children suffer.
Parents put down the counterfeit goods they were holding, went to the department store, and prepared to compensate their children by gritting their teeth and buying them genuine products.
The woman who was arguing with Wang Cui exchanged a glance, and it was a done deal!
After such an argument, Wang Cui led a group of elderly women to many shopping malls, especially choosing places with high foot traffic.
According to Xu Zilong, that would be inciting public opinion.
People have a herd mentality. For example, with glass and jade, if the price of jade remains high, it will compete with the price of glass.
Wang Cui discovered that since the counterfeit products appeared, their brand actually sold better than others, and it wasn't just the champion model.
Now, as long as there's stock on the shelves, there's no worry about selling it.
Zhou Bapi also noticed this reaction.
The goods are not only selling well, but also in short supply.
His shop is located in the city's central department store, and his daily turnover is equivalent to a month's sales of mobile phones.
Pagers and pagers are high-end products; ordinary families don't buy them often, so the consumer groups are different.