Chapter 13: 013 Subsidy

Chapter 13 013. Subsidizing

After listening to the niece and aunt, Liu Yun lowered her eyes to conceal the coldness within them.

After they had finished subsidizing their own needs, they now wanted to drag the entire Gu household into the fray. When she looked up again, her expression was one of difficulty. "Reporting to Mother, this matter is somewhat difficult to handle. Father previously instructed that, aside from daily expenses, any large expenditures must receive his permission."

"What kind of large expenditure is this? It is merely repairing an ancestral hall, a matter of a few hundred taels. Give it to your second sister-in-law first, and I will speak to the Master personally later."

Liu Yun: "..." Such an arrogant tone. "A matter of a few hundred taels"—she had no idea that the entire household's monthly expenses were only a few hundred taels, and that this figure even included social obligations and gifts.

"It is getting late; Father and my husband should be returning soon. After all, repairing an ancestral hall is a significant matter, and since it concerns the maternal side, they will certainly attach importance to it. When they arrive, I will have the head of the household draw up a formal plan."

Liu Yun had no intention of handing over silver easily; otherwise, she would end up being the one blamed by everyone.

Did this mother-in-law have no self-awareness? Did she not wonder why the power of managing the household had fallen into her hands?

Not only did Liu Yun refuse to listen, but she also brought up the Old Master, asserting her authority. This was a blatant disregard for her position as the matriarch.

"Lady Liu, I am still the Old Lady of this house. Am I not even allowed to have a say in this? Even if Kaiping comes, would he dare defy me, his mother? I will, of course, explain everything to them personally afterward. Now, go and withdraw the funds immediately."

"Mother, it is not that your daughter-in-law is unwilling. I cannot withdraw over a hundred taels from the accounts. Are you not making things difficult for me?"

"Since when did our family have such a rule?" The Old Lady clearly did not believe her. When she was in charge, she could withdraw thousands of taels without issue.

"If Mother does not believe me, I can hand the household tokens over to my sister-in-law. If she goes to the accounts office herself, she will naturally know."

Liu Yun felt a sudden sense of relief at her father-in-law's foresight; it turned out he had been guarding against the two "great rats" in the house all along.

Receiving the Old Lady's gaze, Xu Yulan actually took the tokens. With her head held high and an aggressive air, she marched straight toward the accounts office with her maids and servants.

After only the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she returned, looking dejected.

Seeing her in this state, the Old Lady knew her eldest daughter-in-law was not lying. It seemed the Master was indeed guarding against her. She struck the table in resentment; she had truly lost face in front of her daughter-in-law today.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but vent her anger on Bai Suihe. If the third daughter-in-law had been more tactful, she wouldn't have been put in such a difficult position today.

She thought about summoning Bai Suihe to properly establish some rules, but seeing Liu Yun's undisguised look of triumph, she didn't want to lose face again. She said with hollow bravado, "I will speak thoroughly with your father-in-law about this. We are all kin; he will surely lend a hand."

Liu Yun responded respectfully. She reached out and took the tokens from Xu Yulan—which the latter was reluctant to return—claiming she still had household chores to attend to before withdrawing.

Back in her own courtyard, Gu An Tong was already waiting.

"Mother, what did Grandmother call you for again?"

Liu Yun did not hide anything and recounted the Old Lady's behavior. Gu An Tong immediately said with disdain, "Grandmother and Second Aunt are truly something. They don't know how to follow their husbands; instead, they blindly favor their own natal families."

"Does An Tong mean that you won't help your younger brother in the future either?" Liu Yun's expression darkened slightly. If her daughter held such thoughts, there was no need for her to plan for her.

Gu An Tong snapped out of it, hugged Liu Yun's arm, and said coquettishly, "Mother, I didn't mean that. Our family only has me and my brother, so of course we will support each other in the future. Besides, our An Liang is a celestial prodigy and a future top scholar; how could he be compared to that fallen Xu family? As his elder sister, I'll need my brother to back me up later."

"You, you..." Hearing her daughter praise her only son so highly, the resentment in Liu Yun's heart vanished instantly. "Don't worry, your brother will definitely support you in the future. However, I also hope you find a good husband so that you and your brother can complement each other. It is getting late; go back and rest well. You have a banquet to attend tomorrow."

After Gu An Tong left, Liu Yun summoned her servants and told them to stand guard at the front. If the two officials returned from work, they were to report immediately.

Unaware of the power struggles within the household, Bai Suihe had no intention of dealing with them. She had a beautiful sleep and felt her energy replenished.

She dismissed everyone and sat quietly in her room, beginning to communicate with the baby.

"Mother, you must rest more. That way, I can be more energetic too." The baby seemed exceptionally active. Bai Suihe stroked the bump on her belly, her face full of maternal love.

"Mother knows. With the treasure you gave me, the hope for us mother and daughter to survive has increased by a few percentage points. But this treasure is extraordinary; will it have any effect on you, baby?"

"Don't worry, Mother, there will be no effect. I'm still kicking and jumping here. And don't worry, this treasure was ownerless; I fought for it. Mother, aren't you curious about my origins?"

Bai Suihe's gaze deepened. "Baby, your origins must be extraordinary. I assume you can see that Mother also has an unusual background. But since we share this fate, we shall rely on each other for life."

Bai Suihe felt that since they now shared a secret, and the baby had just sent her a treasure upon their first contact, she would feel guilty if she kept things hidden.

"Does baby mind that Mother isn't your original biological mother?"

"Mother, why would you say that?" The baby's voice was filled with confusion. "You are baby's real mother. It has always been you."

Bai Suihe: "...But I came from another world."

"No matter where you came from, baby only has one mother..." The baby was very puzzled. It had always been the same person from beginning to end. Why would Mother say such a thing?

Lost in thought over this question, the baby completely ignored Bai Suihe's comment about them relying on each other, effectively forgetting the other party involved.

Bai Suihe was left dizzy. Could this be her past life? If so, her past life must have been quite miserable.

"Mother, don't think about it. From beginning to end, you have always been baby's mother. I couldn't contact you before, and there were many things I wanted to tell you. This time, all three of our family members have undergone a reversal of life; we certainly won't end up with a broken family like last time."

Bai Suihe: "..." She seemed to understand everything all at once, yet she also understood nothing.

What did "all three family members undergoing a reversal of life" mean?

The baby was extraordinary, and she had transmigrated/reincarnated. Does that mean the great villain in the book—her current cheap husband—also had a miraculous encounter?

Was he a transmigrator or a reincarnator?

Regardless, neither was good news for her.

She suddenly felt a headache coming on. She felt it would be better to remain ignorant of this news; at least then, she wouldn't suffer so much anxiety.

"Mother?"

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(End of Chapter)