Chapter 12: The Strange Force and Chaos of Confucius

Nan Guang brushed his wide sleeves and sneered, "What mistake? You squandered a thousand taels of silver recklessly today, isn't that a heinous mistake?"

Afraid that the old lady didn't hear clearly, he gestured and exaggerated his voice, "A thousand taels of snow-patterned silver!"

The room fell silent.

Nan Guang looked smug, as if he had won a game. He thought to himself that the people in the room must be frightened, and his mother would definitely teach his disobedient daughter a lesson later.

After a while, the old lady suddenly chuckled.

She angrily threw a teacup at Nan Guang.

The teacup hit Nan Guang's forehead, splashing tea and leaves all over his face. Even Nan Yan beside him got splashed with tea. The father and daughter looked disheveled.

Nan Guang was astonished, "Mother?"

"Don't call me mother!" the old lady couldn't contain her anger. "You haven't seen the world, but our Nan family is a prominent and wealthy family in Shu. What's a mere thousand taels of silver? As long as Jiaojiao is happy, even if she spends a thousand taels every day, it's worth it!"

"Yes, Third Uncle, a thousand taels is nothing to our family," Nan Baozhu casually took out two thousand taels of silver notes from her purse, looking puzzled. "Is this a large sum of money?"

Nan Guang was about to explode!

Why could his little niece casually take out two thousand taels of silver notes?!

Why could his daughter squander a thousand taels of silver so easily?!

If his family was so wealthy, why did his mother only give him two hundred taels of living expenses every month?!

It's unfair!

Too unfair!

Nan Yan's beautiful face twisted in the same way.

They were both the old lady's granddaughters, why could Nan Baozhu and Nan Baozhu live so lavishly, while she had to count every penny even for buying a gift?!

She envied them and her eyes turned red.

Suddenly, she stepped forward, speaking sweetly and innocently, "Grandmother, the books say, 'Eat less meat and more vegetables for three meals a day, coarse or fine, they are all delicious; don't pick clothes, whether new or old, they all keep you warm.' The books also say, 'Cultivate oneself in tranquility, practice frugality to cultivate virtue.' It shows that we should be frugal and thrifty, which is a traditional virtue."

Old people like to be frugal, so what she said must be right and could surely please the old lady.

Nan Baozhu nestled in the old lady's arms, unable to hold back her tears.

Nan Yan was out of her mind, not even considering what kind of family the Nan Mansion was. She just blurted out about frugality...

"But sister, grandmother is old and has worked hard for most of her life. She should enjoy her life. Besides, the Nan family's wealth also belongs to grandmother. What right do you have to ask her to live frugally?"

She hugged the old lady's neck affectionately. "Grandmother, Jiaojiao doesn't want you to live a hard life. You should enjoy the best delicacies and wear the most beautiful brocades. Grandmother should be the happiest old lady in the world!"

Her sweet and sensible attitude melted the old lady's heart.

She patted Nan Baozhu affectionately, "Our family is wealthy, so there's no need to live frugally. Don't listen to her nonsense."

However, Nan Guang felt that Nan Yan made a lot of sense.

He straightened his back, "Mother, don't always spoil Jiaojiao. If you do, she will become selfish and unkind. A thousand taels of silver, I don't know what she bought, and she didn't even use it to show filial piety to you and me."

"Grandmother..." Nan Baozhu looked aggrieved, "That money was my New Year's money that I saved for a long time. I bought a top-quality inkstone at Baoyan Studio and gave it to my second brother. He works hard in his studies and deserves a better inkstone."

The old lady felt delighted.

She looked triumphantly at Nan Guang, "Who said Jiaojiao is selfish and unkind? Thinking for her family is called kindness. Unlike your concubine, who talks a lot but is stingy and doesn't contribute anything!"

Nan Guang's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Who said Yan'er was stingy? She even bought walnut pastries to honor him!

Unlike Nan Baozhu, who was so self-centered. Instead of using a thousand taels of silver to honor herself, she bought a useless inkstone and gave it to that lowly adopted son!

What a waste of money!

Suddenly, a maid entered and respectfully said, "Old lady, Second Young Master is here to pay his respects to you."

Xiao Yi came in with a lingering and contemplative expression, ignoring everyone present, and greeted the old lady with a cold and indifferent manner.

The old lady glanced at the two maids and knew that he had brought them here to serve her.

The two maids had dignified and beautiful appearances, not like the seductive fox spirits. They should be able to serve him well.

She nodded in relief, granted him a seat, and smiled, "I heard that Jiaojiao gave you an inkstone?"

Xiao Yi paused his tea-drinking motion.

A thousand taels?

Didn't the little girl say she spent ten thousand taels?

And she even argued with him about reciprocating...

He glanced at Nan Baozhu, who had hidden herself in the old lady's arms, frightened.

The pale pink skirt at her waist swayed like flowing water, and a corner of the skirt was pressed down, revealing a glimpse of snow-white silk stockings, delicate and pleasing to the eye.

But it seemed that the silk stockings had some mud stains, probably from a fall.

He said lightly, "Did you fall?"

Nan Baozhu peeked out from the old lady's arms, admiringly looking at him, "Second Brother is observant, so amazing!"

Xiao Yi cursed silently at the flatterer.

He didn't know why Nan Baozhu suddenly changed her attitude, but since she willingly came to be bullied by him, he had no reason to refuse.

He stirred his teacup.

Standing behind him, Shang Xin immediately understood and continued, "It's because of the clash between people."

Everyone was stunned.

Shang Xin walked into the hall, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Nan Yan, and she confidently said, "You have a clash of fate with Miss Five. Your sudden arrival and collision with Miss Five caused her to fall. You will face retribution!"

Nan Yan: "..."

Who did she provoke?!

Silence gives rise to strange thoughts, but it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't. The old lady felt as if facing a formidable enemy, "Third son, I told you that they, mother and daughter, should not enter the mansion. Look, your concubine has indeed clashed with our delicate Miss."

"Mother!" Nan Guang became anxious, "Do you believe this maid's nonsense?"

"I am not speaking nonsense," Shang Xin knelt and bowed, "Miss Five and this young lady have a clash of fate and cannot live in the same courtyard. If the old lady believes me, she can arrange for Miss Five and the second young master to live together. The second young master has an unparalleled fate and can resolve all the ominous and calamities in Miss Five's fate."

The old lady pondered, "In that case, Jiao Jiao, your second brother's courtyard is dilapidated. You can move to Chao Wen Courtyard with him. Your second brother is exceptionally talented, and you can follow him. Grandmother can rest assured."

Ah, today's recommendation votes have exceeded five hundred, I'm so happy! Thank you, little fairies!