inspire-indiana Chapter 23 Borrowing Money
Chapter 23 Borrowing Money
Meanwhile, Jiang Huanxi had already rushed back to the Xie family from the capital.
Although he didn't want to step into the Xie family's unlucky doorway, Jiang Yuyue was still the Xie family's daughter-in-law, so Jiang Huanxi naturally had to deliver this letter for her.
"Madam! The young master of the eldest young mistress's family has returned!!"
The servants' excited shouts excited everyone in the Xie family. With the help of her maid, Old Madam Xie hurriedly came out, leaning on her cane. But when she saw that only Jiang Huanxi had returned alone, the disappointment in her eyes was undisguised.
"Why are you the only one who came back? Where are Yue'er and Jinglan? I can't find them anywhere."
If it weren't for the fact that she was her elder, Jiang Huanxi would have just left without saying anything, but she held back and still reported it to her.
"My sister has found a renowned physician in the capital to treat the Third Young Master. Although his condition has improved, it will still take some time. My sister was afraid that the Old Madam would worry, so she asked me to send a letter back to let you know that he is safe."
After saying this, Jiang Huanxi didn't waste any more words and started to walk out.
Seeing his behavior, Madam Xie snorted coldly and glanced at the envelope hastily.
Jiang Yuyue's letter contained only ordinary greetings and polite words, telling her not to worry and to return once Xie Jinglan recovered.
After glancing at the letter, Madam Xie tossed it aside, sat down, leaned back in her chair, and her face suddenly darkened. She began to speak with deep sorrow and indignation.
"Qi'er's body is barely cold, and the widow has been gone for months. Not only does she not keep vigil at Qi'er's side, but she also doesn't wear mourning clothes. Instead, she's been having an affair with a concubine's son. If this gets out, where will the Xie family's reputation be? It's truly a tragedy—"
Just as Jiang Huanxi was about to step out of the Xie family mansion, he suddenly stopped, turned his head and swept his eyes across them with sharp, piercing gazes.
He was well-versed in such matters and heard everything he said clearly.
"Wasn't going to the capital to treat Xie Jinglan's illness something you, Madam, permitted? Did you not know that my sister was unable to observe mourning before you left? Why are you so concerned about this now?"
Madam Xie was taken aback when she met the boy's sharp gaze.
Before she could react, she heard him raise his voice and say, "Xie Jinglan is also a member of your Xie family. My sister sent him all the way to the capital for medical treatment, wasn't that also for the sake of your Xie family? Now, you're picking on my sister's faults. Anyone who doesn't know better would think that my sister dragged Xie Jinglan to the capital for her own selfish desires!"
Standing at the entrance, it immediately attracted countless eyes.
Being so bluntly refuted in front of everyone, Old Madam Xie immediately lost face. In a fit of anger, she almost had an asthma attack and had to be helped by her maid to drink water, otherwise she would have fainted.
Madam Xie was panting and unable to speak, glaring angrily at the young man standing upright in front of her.
No wonder Madam Xie was so anxious, because with Jiang Yuyue gone, the entire Xie family lost its source of income.
Outsiders might think the Xie family is wealthy, but only Old Madam Xie knows the truth: the family had finally raised Xie Yunqi to be a successful person, but he died young. The second son, Xie, was always idle and good for nothing but squandering the family fortune. The third son, Xie Jinglan, was a sickly and useless person. There was really no one to support the entire family.
Fortunately, Jiang Yuyue brought a generous dowry when she married into the Xie family. The old lady of the Xie family immediately entrusted her with the management of all the affairs of the Xie family, citing her high regard for her.
While seemingly showing trust in Jiang Yuyue, Madam Xie was actually taking advantage of the bride's shyness and reluctance to ask her in-laws for money, and her intention to cover any deficits in the accounts herself, all in a roundabout way, to scheme for Jiang Yuyue's dowry.
In her past life, Jiang Yuyue foolishly devoted herself to the Xie family in order not to betray the "trust" of Old Madam Xie. She worked tirelessly to manage the entire Xie family, but in the end, she was rewarded with her husband marrying another and her family being destroyed.
This time, Jiang Yuyue did not repeat the same mistake. Instead, she was extra careful and treated the Xie family members even better after her rebirth. Whether it was Xie Lao Er asking for money to gamble or Xie Lao Furen wanting to buy expensive tonics, Jiang Yuyue gave them money without batting an eye, raising their spending standards considerably.
Now that Jiang Yuyue has been away in the capital for three months, there is no one to support their extravagant spending. How can Old Madam Xie not be anxious?
Now, all he regrets is not securing Jiang Yuyue's dowry before leaving. Otherwise, the Xie family wouldn't be in such dire straits!
"Madam, about the second young master's matter..."
The maid patted Old Madam Xie's back to help her catch her breath, while glancing at someone beside her, subtly reminding her.
After recovering, Madam Xie coughed twice to clear her throat. "Now that Yue'er is gone, there is no one to manage the Xie family's affairs. Since you are her younger brother, you should take on some of her responsibilities."
Jiang Huanxi guessed that the old lady was up to no good, and sneered, "Oh? I wonder what responsibility the old lady wants me to take for my sister?"
"This matter is not a big deal..."
Madam Xie slowly recounted, "Just three months ago, Yue'er gave our second young master a sum of money to gamble. Although he won some money back then, Bo'er got addicted to gambling and has been using that money to gamble again recently."
“But you’re bound to get your shoes wet if you walk by the river all the time. This time, Bo’er had some bad luck and lost some money. Now those gamblers are coming to collect the debt. It seems that the money for gambling was given to you by your sister, so she can’t escape responsibility for this. Therefore, you should pay off this gambling debt for your sister.”
When Xie Jinbo heard the old lady bring up the matter, he quickly chimed in, "That's right! If she hadn't given me the money back then, how could I have gotten so deeply involved! You have to pay back this debt for me!"
Jiang Huanxi's forehead veins bulged as he listened to the Xie family's absurd words.
Although he already knew that the Xie family was shameless, he never expected that even the old woman would be so shameless!
"What the old lady said makes no sense."
Jiang Huanxi scoffed, his words dripping with sarcasm.
"My sister really misused the money she gave to your Xie family. According to the old lady, my sister deliberately gave money to your second young master to force him to gamble? That's really strange. My sister has been in the capital, thousands of miles away, for some time now. I don't know where she got the ability to force the second young master to gamble."
"When she won money, the old lady didn't think that it was my sister who gave her the capital, or that she should share the profits with her. Now that she's lost money, she's remembered my sister and wants to pin the gambling debts on her? How can such an absurd thing happen in this world!"
After saying this, Jiang Huanxi looked at Xie Jinbo again, crossed his arms, and completely ignored him.
"As for the money you mentioned that I should pay, firstly, this gambling debt has nothing to do with my sister, and even less to do with me. Besides, I'm not married yet, and the family finances are controlled by my parents."
"If you want money, Second Young Master, you should go and ask my parents for it yourself. I can't guarantee what outsiders will think of the Xie family's reputation if this matter gets out of hand."