Chapter 727: Chapter 689: Lu Yanbin Manages the Household (18th Update)

In the Furong Courtyard, Lu Yanbin was still in Mrs. Xiao Liu’s room, looking at the half-empty wardrobe, his expression becoming increasingly dark and gloomy.

Hong Xiang came in and, seeing the situation, said helplessly, "Young Master, today’s issues are not yet resolved. Do you think it’s time to bring in the wives to report?"

Lu Yanbin said angrily, "Why not go find my... find Aunt Wen?"

Hong Xiang replied, "Aunt Wen is a concubine. Logically, unless Old Mrs. Lu says otherwise, these matters aren’t her responsibility."

Lu Yanbin, feeling irritable, said, "Then have them go to Old Mrs. Lu."

Hong Xiang was speechless for a moment, "They just went. Old Mrs. Lu said that matters in your room are to be managed by yourselves; she has already handed over the authority and will not interfere."

Lu Yanbin’s temples were throbbing as he sat in the armchair, "Summon all the stewards’ wives."

Hong Xiang exited, and soon two or three dozen steward wives lined up to enter. The leading one said, "Mr. Zeng on Back Street passed away. Should we arrange a coffin and some wreaths, or just give Silver?"

Lu Yanbin asked, "Who is Mr. Zeng?"

The wife replied, "Our ancestors fought in the war with our grandfather; there is some acquaintance."

Lu Yanbin felt a headache, asking Hong Xiang, "How was this kind of thing handled previously?"

Hong Xiang turned her head to the side, "Usually, it’s handled by the Young Madam. How would I know?"

Lu Yanbin told the wife to stand aside, "Next one, speak up."

The second wife said, "Many of the plants in the garden have insects; I need to buy medicine to treat them. I’m here for the funds."

Lu Yanbin again asked Hong Xiang, "How much Silver for this?"

Hong Xiang didn’t even give him a glance, her face tense, "I don’t know."

The four words said coldly and indifferently left Lu Yanbin at a loss for words.

The steward wives that followed either asked for money to go out for purchases, or mentioned someone from a prominent family having a birthday requiring gifts, or another family hosting a banquet needing extra decorations.

After listening, Lu Yanbin just felt overwhelmed, sinking into the armchair, holding his head without speaking for a long time.

Hong Xiang glanced sideways, secretly resenting him. Let him be arrogant, let him look down on our mistress on ordinary days; now she’s gone, it’s up to him to handle these trivial matters. Let’s see how long he can last!

Lu Yanbin raised his head and happened to see the resentful look in Hong Xiang’s eyes. He was taken aback, but soon he sat up straight and instructed the servant beside him to get the account books. He refused to believe that without Mrs. Xiao Liu, the family would fall apart. Household management could always be referenced from past examples.

In a short while, the servant returned with a thick stack of account books, piling them on the long table in front of Lu Yanbin.

Lu Yanbin casually picked one up; the account books were categorized, and from the first page, all were in Mrs. Xiao Liu’s handwriting. The recorded times were from before she married in, clearly indicating that she had organized and recopied the chaotic accounts from when Su Yi managed the household, resulting in this neatly structured, albeit dizzying, pile of account books.

Having never worried about these before, now handling them himself, Lu Yanbin flipped the pages, feeling an unnamed emotion surging within him.

Hong Xiang no longer wished to witness this person’s expression and quietly exited while Lu Yanbin was absorbed in the accounts.

The account books recorded by Mrs. Xiao Liu were easy to read. After going through several, Lu Yanbin finally managed to handle the day’s affairs, albeit awkwardly, by following old examples.

In the evening, Old Mrs. Lu had the account books brought over for review and found several discrepancies, prompting her to summon Lu Yanbin to her room and berate him severely.

Lu Yanbin, with his head drooping, said, "Grandson is handling household affairs for the first time, mistakes are inevitable. If Grandmother won’t encourage me, why be so angry over the discrepancy of merely dozens of taels of Silver? I’ll make up for it from my own pocket tomorrow."

Old Mrs. Lu was so agitated that her nose almost twisted, "A daily discrepancy of dozens of taels of Silver, over time, what will you use to cover the deficit? Encouragement? Would encouraging you mean hitting women at whim?"

Lu Yanbin couldn’t argue, "Grandson will try not to make mistakes tomorrow."

Old Mrs. Lu coldly snorted, "Your wife is at Wan’s home in a fit of pique. You’d best find time to earnestly bring her back to help manage, or else relying solely on you for such a large household will lead it to ruin sooner or later."

At this moment, just hearing Mrs. Xiao Liu’s name vexed Lu Yanbin, "If she wants to leave, just let her go, the farther the better—a scheming woman with murderous intentions. Why bring her back? To continue killing?"

Old Mrs. Lu angrily threw the account book, hitting him in the face.

Lu Yanbin bent down to pick up the account book, "If Grandmother has no other matters, I’ll take my leave first."

After Lu Yanbin left, it was some time before Old Mrs. Lu caught her breath and sent someone to summon Lu Pingzhou.

Earlier in the day, Lu Pingzhou had already heard about Mrs. Xiao Liu leaving with Wen Wan. When he received the summons from Old Mrs. Lu’s courtyard, he surmised it was about Lu Yanbin and his wife, which indeed proved true upon arrival.

However, Old Mrs. Lu’s demeanor towards him was different from her attitude toward the reckless grandson. Knowing this son was not someone easily confused, her tone softened a bit, yet her expression remained displeased, "For the sake of a concubine, he dared lay hands on his legitimate wife. Eldest, you and Aunt Wen have been too indulgent with him. The Lu Family’s prominent status today attracts attention. Don’t give outsiders cause to gossip about our family being rotten from the top down. I won’t stand for it."

A rotten top makes for a crooked foundation.

These words carried weight.

Yet Lu Pingzhou did not argue.

The situation between Lu Yanbin and Su Dai was much like his own with Aunt Wen, both having known the concubine first, then being compelled to marry a legitimate wife.

But Mrs. Xiao Liu was different from Su Yi.

Su Yi was an outright viper, who not only cuckolded him but daringly gave birth to her lover’s child under the roof of the Lu Family. Such a woman, relegated to exile, deserved no sympathy.

Ever since Mrs. Xiao Liu entered the household, whether in showing filial piety to her in-laws or managing household affairs, she never made a mistake, a testament to her diligence.

Her contributions to the Lu Family, her kindness to Lu Yanbin, were clear to all the elders.

Even if, as a husband, Lu Yanbin couldn’t offer her romantic love, he ought to at least respect the basic bonds of marriage.

Yet Lu Yanbin, captivated by a concubine, continuously neglected his legitimate wife when she was alive and now, suspects her involvement in the concubine’s death, even resorting to violence.

He lacks any sense befitting a nobleman’s scion!

Upon returning, Lu Pingzhou found Aunt Wen anxiously waiting outside his room.

Aunt Wen had already heard that the Princely Heir had been summoned to Old Mrs. Lu’s quarters, anticipating that Old Mrs. Lu would be furious over Mrs. Xiao Liu being beaten, so she lingered there to listen to Lu Pingzhou’s counsel.

Seeing Lu Pingzhou’s grim expression, Aunt Wen, filled with worry, asked, "Master, how did it go?"

Lu Pingzhou gazed at her quietly.

A chill ran down Aunt Wen’s spine.

Lu Pingzhou, without showing any sign of anger, calmly stated, "From today forth, all household affairs are to be left to Lu Yanbin; no one is to intervene, including you. If he makes an error, he’s to cover it from his own pocket. Should I discover he’s drawing from the accounts, gambling outside, or lending at usury, I won’t pardon him!"

Aunt Wen was dumbfounded, "Master, Brother Bin has never managed the household."

Rumor has it that today alone he miscalculated several times, leading to discrepancies of dozens of taels of Silver.

If no one aids and guides him henceforth, and he errs again, from where will he find the money to supplement it?

Lu Pingzhou’s face remained expressionless, "Won’t happen, just lift the carriage and invite Mrs. Xiao Liu back from Wan’s home to help manage. If he makes another mistake, I won’t spare him!"

Aunt Wen was stunned, "My Lord, Brother Bin has never managed the household."

Upon entering his room, Lu Pingzhou didn’t permit Aunt Wen inside; she sighed before going to find Lu Yanbin.

During this time, Su Dai’s coffin was carried out and the Feixue Courtyard was left sealed. Lu Yanbin sat in his room, absently holding a sachet made by Su Dai.

Without looking, Aunt Wen could guess what he was hiding, feeling somewhat annoyed, "She’s gone, what’s the use thinking of her now?"

"I heard today you struck Mrs. Xiao Liu?"

"She deserved it!" Lu Yanbin replied.

"Did you find any evidence?" Aunt Wen asked.