My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 36

“How could that be? We’re tied together now. If we don’t return to Bianjing, it would only be because you passed the imperial exams and got assigned to an official post elsewhere.” Cheng Yi looked at the young girl before her, sensing that she was someone particularly lacking in a sense of security.

Lu Jiahe furrowed her brows as she stared at the other, unsure why, but she found herself somewhat unwilling to let her leave her side. Yet, if the other had a better option, she wouldn’t mind letting her pursue a better life.

“Alright, don’t worry. No matter where I go, I’ll take you, my little shadow, with me.” Cheng Yi gently bumped Lu Jiahe with her shoulder before gathering all the items on the table and taking them back to the kitchen.

Seeing this, Lu Jiahe embraced her role as the shadow, picking up the remaining items and following closely behind Cheng Yi.

After the two had washed and cleaned everything, they decided it was too late to trouble themselves with returning to the Lu residence, so they rested at the shop for the night.

Early the next morning, Lu Zhengliang went to his mother’s courtyard as soon as he woke up.

Having heard about the events of the previous night, he had already made up his mind to arrange the marriage between the two ahead of schedule.

“Aren’t you going to ask the children for their opinions?” The elderly Madame Lu sat in her master’s chair, watching her son.

“Marriages have always been decided by the parents. I will naturally make the proper arrangements for them.” Lu Zhengliang saw nothing wrong with his approach.

Upon hearing her son’s words, Madame Lu shook her head helplessly. “What if I told you Cheng Yi isn’t pregnant? Would you still make them marry? Are you doing this just to give your grandson a legitimate status?”

Lu Zhengliang was taken aback. Not pregnant?

“Is what you’re saying true or false?”

“Whether it’s true or false, what does it matter? Liang’er, have you ever truly treated Jiahe as your own son?” Madame Lu placed her hand on the armrest of her chair and let out a long sigh.

At his mother’s question, Lu Zhengliang’s expression darkened. “He is my son. I provide him with food and clothing, how could I not love him?”

“Do you know how sensitive Jiahe is? She lost her mother at a young age, and after Diao Shi entered the household, she was repeatedly bullied and humiliated. Are you telling me you didn’t know about these things?”

Lu Zhengliang, who had been so confident moments before, was left speechless by his mother’s words. He was indeed aware of these matters, but out of consideration for his relationship with Diao Yuqing, he had always turned a blind eye.

“If providing food and clothing counts as love, then if I found a beggar on the street and gave him food and clothing, would he become my son?” Lady Lu’s tone suddenly turned stern. “I had hoped that with Miss Cheng’s arrival, you would change somewhat. But it seems you’re still the same. How can I rest in peace when I’m gone?”

Realizing he had spoken wrongly, Lu Zhengliang quickly rose to apologize to his mother. “You’re overstating it, Mother.”

“Hmph!” Lady Lu glared at him. “If this is how it is while I’m still here, will Jiahe end up begging on the streets once I’m gone?!”

Lu Zhengliang hung his head, his face dark, not daring to utter a word.

“It was my fault for forcing you into the marriage with Jiahe’s mother back then. But is Jiahe to blame? Was her birth unrelated to you? I don’t ask you to treat her exceptionally well, only to let her live like an ordinary child, so she doesn’t even want to return to her own home!”

Old Lady Lu rubbed her temples and said, “You may leave. Since you cannot change, I have nothing more to say to you. Regarding the marriage, I will first ask the two of them for their opinions before making a decision. In the future, there’s no need for your wife to worry that He’er might take any property from you. I will leave my own land and assets to her, that will be enough.”

“If nothing else works, let’s divide the family property while I’m still alive!” With that, Old Lady Lu stood up and returned to her room to rest.

Lu Zhengliang frowned deeply as he watched his mother’s retreating figure. It was true that he had paid little attention to Lu Jiahe in the past, hardly even knowing what she liked or disliked, let alone how much she had suffered.

After returning to her room, Old Lady Lu lay down on the bed and instructed her old maidservant to bring out all the land deeds and bank deposit slips she had stored away.

“Do you think this will be enough for He’er to live on in the future?” Old Lady Lu opened a wooden box and carefully examined its contents.

The old maidservant leaned slightly over the bed and said, “Old Ancestor, you’ve raised her well. Our young lady is not like the eldest and second young masters, who love to spend lavishly. She understands how hard it is to earn every coin and every grain of rice.”

Hearing such praise for her He’er, Old Lady Lu’s anger subsided considerably. “Having them marry now might actually be a good thing. I just wonder what the two children think about it.”

“Judging by how inseparable they are, I’m sure they’re willing,” the old maidservant replied. Having grown up by Old Lady Lu’s side, she knew exactly what her mistress liked to hear.

“Ah, I hope so.” Old Lady Lu placed everything back into the box and handed it to the maidservant. “When they return this evening, have them come see me.”

The old maidservant understood her mistress’s intention, she wanted to entrust all her assets to the young lady. “Yes, Old Ancestor.”

Meanwhile, Lu Jiahe, who was about to be overwhelmed by a sudden windfall, had just left the academy.

“Third Brother, these are for you and Eldest Brother.” Lu Jiahe took two membership cards for Yiju from her book bag. “Keep one for yourself and give the other to Eldest Brother on my behalf.”

Jiang Huai took the cards and glanced at them. Wow! Their usually frugal younger sister had actually given them two membership cards to the most popular restaurant in Bianjing!

“This it doesn’t feel right for us to accept these.”

Although the Lu family was wealthy, everyone who knew Lu Jiahe was aware that she was not well-regarded in the household. Moreover, Yiju’s membership cards required prepayment.

Lu Jiahe looked slightly embarrassed and said, “Don’t overthink it, there’s no money loaded on them. You can use the cards to get discounts when you dine there.”

Jiang Huai looked at her skeptically. Yiju’s membership cards were typically prepaid, and she had never heard of any that could be used without spending money. “You’re not tricking me, are you? Where did you get these cards?”

Lu Jiahe sighed in exasperation. “No, I’m not. Someone gave them to me.”

“Who? Which young lady has fallen for our little sister?” Jiang Huai squinted and scrutinized her.

Seeing the expression on his face, Lu Jiahe immediately regretted giving him the cards. “Forget it, give them back. I don’t want to give them to you anymore.”

“Wait, wait, wait, I was just joking with you! Don’t take it so seriously.” Jiang Huai hurriedly tucked the wooden card into his backpack, afraid that if he delayed even a second, the other person would snatch it back. “Since you gave me a membership card, why don’t we go to Yiju for a meal right now? My treat.”

To avoid having Cheng Yi and her identity as the owner of Yiju exposed, Lu Jiahe quickly made up an excuse to decline the offer. Then, grabbing her backpack and taking Lu An with her, she hurried back to the shop.

When she stood at the back door of Yiju, she deliberately glanced around to make sure no one was following her.

Creak!

The back door opened from the inside, and Cheng Yi stood at the entrance, squinting as she scrutinized the furtive-looking Lu Jiahe.

“What are you standing at the door for? Why not come in?”

Hearing this, Lu Jiahe looked up at her and quickly stepped into the courtyard, closing the door behind her. “I was afraid someone might be following me.”

Cheng Yi looked at her, puzzled. “Someone following you? Who?”

“My third brother. As soon as I gave him the membership card, he wanted to come here to eat. I was afraid he might be tailing me and discover our secret.” Ever since Xue Wanning had knocked on Yiju’s back door last time, Lu Jiahe had become particularly sensitive about such matters.

“Ah, it’s fine. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Even if we’re discovered, it’s not like we’ll lose a layer of skin.” Though Cheng Yi acted as if the other was making a big deal out of nothing, deep down, she understood that Lu Jiahe was doing her best to protect her.

Afraid that Lu Jiahe might overthink it, Cheng Yi pulled her over to sit on a stone stool and added, “Even if we’re accidentally discovered, it’s no big deal. I won’t blame you.”

Lu Jiahe nodded in response. Though she had no idea what was going on in Cheng Yi’s mind, she figured it was best to just go along with whatever she said.

During their meal, Cheng Yi proactively mentioned that the shop had been making a lot of money lately and suggested setting aside a portion to give out bonuses to everyone.

“That’s a great idea. It’ll motivate everyone to work even harder.” Lu Jiahe thought Cheng Yi’s proposal was excellent, so she agreed without a second thought.

“Alright, but don’t tell them just yet. We’ll distribute the bonuses together at the end of the month.”

Although Cheng Yi could have decided this matter on her own, Lu Jiahe was, after all, half-owner of the shop. Even if she always went along with Cheng Yi’s decisions, it was only proper to go through the motions of consulting her.

Lu Jiahe stared at her for a while, but when Cheng Yi showed no sign of continuing, she finally asked, “What about me? Can my allowance be increased a little?”

Oh, so this is what she was waiting for!

Cheng Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at her with amusement. “How much do you want?”

“Twenty taels, what do you think?” Seeing that there was a chance her allowance might be raised, Lu Jiahe grinned and held up two fingers.

Cheng Yi nodded. “Sure, but.”

As soon as Lu Jiahe heard that word, a sense of foreboding washed over her. “But what?” she asked, her face scrunching up in a mix of dissatisfaction and complaint.

“You eat here for lunch and dinner every day. From now on, you’ll pay me ten taels a month for your meals.” With that, Cheng Yi took ten taels of silver from her purse and handed it over.

Lu Jiahe accepted the large silver ingot, examining it carefully in her hand, all the while cursing herself inwardly for not asking for more!

Because they had developed a new dish the previous night, Yiju’s business was exceptionally good again today, causing the two of them to return to the Lu residence later than usual.

The maid who had been waiting at the entrance immediately led them to the matriarch’s courtyard upon their return.

“Grandmother, why haven’t you rested yet at this late hour?” Lu Jiahe looked at the old lady, noticing her complexion didn’t seem well, and grew quite concerned.

“I’m fine, it’s just that it was too hot today, and the heat has left me feeling a bit restless.” The old lady couldn’t help but beam with joy as she looked at the two of them. “I called you here urgently today because there’s something I want to discuss with both of you.”

Lu Jiahe frowned slightly as she observed her grandmother, sensing that the old woman seemed to have something on her mind but was hesitant to voice it.

The old lady motioned for the elderly maid to bring over her wooden box. Then, in front of everyone, she unlocked the box, took out its contents, and laid them out one by one before the two.

“I’ve worked hard for this family for most of my life and now I wish to rest. Since your marriage has been settled, I thought I’d use what little I have left as an old woman to give you both a wedding gift.”