Volume 1, Chapter 20: Six thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight taels—are you trying to send off a beggar?

Mrs. Xie looked at Xie Zhi’an like that and finally realized that the bill might not be what she had imagined.

She unfolded the bill and examined it line by line.

The next moment, she immediately flew into a rage.

“Six thousand nine hundred eighty-eight taels? Shen Yurou, are you crazy? How could the Xie family possibly give you that much money? Let me make this clear: once you leave the Xie family, don’t expect a single copper coin from us.”

Shen Yurou laughed bitterly at this.

What kind of logic was that?

Little wealth, yet so easily angered; unjustified, yet so stubborn! How was Mrs. Xie’s behavior any different from a common street ruffian?

“Madam Xie, you’re mistaken. This isn’t ‘asking for money’; it’s simply reclaiming the funds I have advanced on behalf of the Xie family over the past few years.”

Mrs. Xie threw the bill onto the ground and argued stubbornly.

“How can you expect the Xie family to pay so much just based on a piece of paper? You’re being wildly unrealistic. How do I know if these accounts are accurate?”

Before Shen Yurou could respond, another voice came from behind the crowd.

“My daughter learned her accounting skills from me; how could there be any mistake?”

The voice was rich and confident.

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a well-dressed, well-maintained woman being supported by a handsome young man as they entered the courtyard.

It was Shen Yurou’s brother, Shen Bingyue, and their mother, Wen Zhi.

Shen Yurou quickly walked to her mother’s side, grasped her hand, and cast a reproachful glance at her brother.

“Why did you trouble mother to come all this way?”

The Shen residence was not close to the Xie estate. Even by carriage, the journey took a good hour of jolting.

Shen Bingyue pouted pitifully.

“Mother was worried about you living alone outside. She insisted on coming to bring you home. How could I refuse?”

Shen Yurou had no words to say. It was her own fault for overlooking her mother’s deep love.

She lowered her head, full of guilt.

“Mother, your daughter has caused you trouble again.”

Wen Zhi gently rubbed her daughter’s soft face and lifted the corners of Shen Yurou’s lips into a smile with her fingers.

“Silly child, what trouble is this? Cheer up. Once this is settled, you’ll come home with me.”

The mist blurred everything before her eyes, and Shen Yurou felt as if she had returned to the days when her mother protected her as a child.

Wen Zhi took a bill from Bi Huan’s hand and carefully examined it line by line.

She nodded in praise.

“Hmm, not bad. The items are clear, reasonable, and well documented. You’ve truly inherited your mother’s teachings.”

Shen Yurou smiled sweetly.

“Thank you for your compliment, Mother.”

“However,” Wen Zhi’s tone shifted, “there are still a few entries you missed. These are sums I personally lent to Xie Zhi’an. Yurou, be sure to include these as well.”

A maid then handed over a wooden box. Shen Yurou opened it to find neatly stacked IOUs.

She flipped through them and was astonished.

All these IOUs were written in Xie Zhi’an’s own hand.

He had secretly borrowed so much money from her mother without telling her!

Xie Zhi’an knew exactly what was in that box and also knew it was an astronomical debt he couldn’t repay.

So, he resorted to mischief.

“Stop piling up IOUs. Just say I owe it. I don’t recognize this.”

Shen Yurou sneered.

“Your Excellency, the Colonel General, your eyesight has sharpened remarkably if you can tell those are IOUs from so far away.”

Xie Zhi’an was struck dumb, embarrassed beyond measure.

Shen Yurou then took a magnanimous tone.

“Over the next few days, Your Excellency can take some time to carefully review these accounts. If there are no issues, just repay seven thousand taels for now and issue an IOU for the rest. Once we settle the divorce, the remaining debts can be paid off gradually.”

With this first victory, Shen Yurou’s step as she turned to leave was filled with joy.

Just as she stepped out of the Xie estate’s gate, Xie Fangying hurried after her.

The playful smile she usually wore was gone, replaced by a dark, unclear expression.

“Sister-in-law, are you really going to divorce?”

Her voice grew softer and softer, the last two words barely a whisper.

Shen Yurou stepped forward and took Xie Fangying’s hand.

“Fangying, this has nothing to do with you. If you ever need anything, you can still come to me.”

Xie Fangying immediately pulled her hand away, frowning.

“I don’t understand. You endured so much from Mother before. Now that Brother has just taken a few concubines, why are you making such a fuss?”

Shen Yurou’s expression turned serious.

“Fangying, this is different.”

Anger flushed Xie Fangying’s face.

“How is it different? You can’t keep your word. You said you’d protect Brother and me for life, but now you’re abandoning all of us!”

As she spoke, tears streamed uncontrollably.

Shen Yurou raised her hand to wipe the tears but was pushed away by Xie Fangying.

Xie Fangying ran back into the residence with quick steps. Shen Yurou did not follow.

Time would be the best balm.

When Fangying grew older, she would understand Shen Yurou’s difficult position.

After Shen Yurou and company left, Mrs. Xie furiously struck Xie Zhi’an twice.

“Tell me, how could you keep such things? You’re truly foolish.”

Xie Zhi’an frowned deeply and patted his mother’s shoulder to console her.

“Mother, don’t forget, your son is now an official. If necessary…”

Mrs. Xie immediately caught on and nodded in satisfaction.

Back at the shop, Shen Yurou personally made a pot of cloud cakes, sprinkled with a handful of sweet and sour plum sauce, then placed it on the table.

“Mother, please try this. It’s a new recipe I just thought of.”

Wen Zhi squinted and took a bite. Tart and sweet, soft and lingering, it was a flavor she had never tasted before.

She praised generously.

“My daughter truly excels at everything.”

Shen Yurou shyly lowered her head and mumbled.

“Not really. When it comes to finding a husband, your daughter… hasn’t done well.”

Wen Zhi tucked Shen Yurou’s stray hair behind her ear and tenderly cupped her face.

“Yurou, trust your mother. This is no big deal. Once you’ve passed this detour, your life ahead will be smooth.”

“Is that so?” Shen Yurou chuckled.

Shen Bingyue, eating his own cloud cake spiced with chili, chimed in.

“It’s true. No one can cheer you up like Mother.”

The three of them laughed softly, enjoying the peaceful moment together with the cloud cakes.

As dusk once again descended, Shen Yurou rose to bid farewell to her mother and brother.

Wen Zhi held Shen Yurou’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

“Are you really not coming back with me to the Shen residence?”

Shen Yurou squatted down, pouted, and shook Wen Zhi’s arm.

“The shop’s been busy lately. Once this rush is over, I’ll come back, okay?”

In truth, Shen Yurou had two other concerns.

The divorce was not yet finalized.

She wasn’t sure if Xie Zhi’an, given his temperament, might do something extreme.

Until everything was settled, it was more convenient to live outside alone and spared her mother daily worry over her affairs.