You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 2 This poor family, let whoever wants to be it be it.
Liang Jiang was so angry that her lips trembled: "Fang Chengxu, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? Every shop in your Fang family is doing poorly. If it weren't for my hard work from dawn till dusk to manage them and turn a profit, where would the profits come from?"

"This is just a pretext for your illicit affair. Ah Zhao has always been upright; would she falsely accuse you? If she hadn't pleaded for you repeatedly, do you think you could have stayed in my Fang residence until now?"

"To catch a thief red-handed, to catch an adulterer in the act, you dare to slander me with just her mouth and teeth!"

Liang Jiang slammed the account book onto the dressing table with a "bang": "The household's account book is right here. Go ahead and check it one by one. Making baseless accusations here is not the behavior of a gentleman!"

"Investigate then!" Fang Chengxu grabbed the ledger and turned to leave. "Once I find the evidence, let's see what you have to say then!"

"Chengxu, how can you speak to Liangjiang like that?"

Someone outside the door scolded them in displeasure.

The old lady of the Fang family stepped across the threshold, snatched the account book from Fang Chengxu's hand, and reprimanded him with a stern face:

“In the year you were away from Fucheng, Liangjiang managed everything at home by herself. I can’t control how much trouble you cause outside, but you can’t wrong Liangjiang.”

Fang Chengxu tried to defend himself: "It's because she can't tolerate A-Zhao, and she insists on using money to force me to submit..."

"You've already let Liang Jiang down!"

Grandma Fang scolded sternly: "You don't know the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt until you're in charge of the household! How could you possibly know how to manage a household? Quickly apologize to Liang Jiang!"

Fang Chengxu scoffed, "This kind of fickle woman doesn't deserve it!"

Grandma Fang glared at him fiercely, then turned to Liang Jiang and earnestly advised her:
"I know Chengxu's temperament. He always responds better to gentle persuasion than force. You're just arguing with him out of spite, it's just a matter of words, don't take it to heart."

You must understand that in your mother's heart, you are still the one who matters most, no one can compare. This household still needs you to manage it; we can't let Tong Zhao'er have it."

If Liang Jiang hadn't already known that Old Madam Fang was fully aware of Tong Zhao'er's situation and hadn't spoken up for her, she would have been grateful.

But now, all I feel is hypocrisy.

Liang Jiang remained calm and composed, her expression serene: "Does Mother-in-law mean that you don't acknowledge Tong Zhao'er and won't let her into the family?"

With a troubled expression, Old Mrs. Fang advised, "The die is cast. If Cheng Xu abandons you after starting something, how can the Tong family forgive the Fang family?"
"Liangjiang, you've always been a woman of great wisdom and virtue. You wouldn't just stand by and watch Chengxu ruin his future and get into legal trouble, would you?"

"So, Fang Chengxu has no choice but to take this concubine?"

“How could A-Zhao possibly be reduced to a concubine?” Fang Chengxu corrected earnestly, “I want to marry her properly.”

Liang Jiang sneered: "So, where do you intend to place me? Demote me from wife to concubine?"

Fang Chengxu choked: "You never wanted to marry me in the first place, and now I'm just fulfilling your wish."

Grandma Fang grabbed Liang Jiang's hand and stuffed the account book into her grasp, making a solemn vow:
"Your mother will take care of this for you! You should know that titles are not important. What's important is to hold the power of managing the household in your own hands. Then no one can shake your position in the Fang family."

Liang Jiang understood what he meant; Old Madam Fang was just trying to coax her into continuing to serve the Fang family like a slave.

She said with a troubled expression, "Since Mother is so biased, I will tell you the truth. It's not that I'm angry with Chengxu, but the family is really short of money and can't come up with a single penny."

Fang Chengxu scoffed: "I know you're rich. You started complaining about being poor as soon as I got back. Are you trying to steal my money?"

Liang Jiang smiled slightly and said, "Isn't it your duty to earn money to support your family? Even if I have money, why should I keep subsidizing the Fang family?"

Grandma Fang stopped Fang Chengxu with a wink, and coaxed him with a smile:

"The imperial reward money hasn't been distributed yet, and the household is a bit strapped for cash. Do you think you could scrape together some money first? Once the reward money arrives, Chengxu will definitely reward you handsomely."

Liang Jiang frowned slightly: "How could I not want to? But the dowry my mother gave me has already been used to pay off the Fang family's debts, and most of it has been used up this year. Miss Tong's expenses have been high these past few months, so where is there any money left?"

Grandma Fang hesitated for a moment, then said shamelessly, "Your mother has plenty of money. Could you go to your mother's place again?" Liang Jiang said seriously, "How can I tell my mother that I borrowed money to help my husband take a concubine and raise children?"

Grandma Fang looked worried: "Chengxu's bright future is in General Tong's hands. If we treat him too lightly and displease the Tong family, we may never have a chance to turn things around."

Liang Jiang sneered inwardly, but her face remained warm and friendly: "Mother-in-law, you are overthinking it. Fang Chengxu and Miss Tong are deeply in love. How could General Tong bear to mistreat his son-in-law?"

Even if all else fails, my mother-in-law can borrow more money from a money lender at high interest rates, just like she did when she married me. Once Miss Tong enters the household and takes charge, her generous dowry will fill the gap.

One sentence left Old Mrs. Fang blushing.

Fang Chengxu was also furious: "Mother, why waste your breath on her? Ah Zhao comes from a noble family and doesn't scheme like her. Let's go!"

Liang Jiang remained calm and unperturbed: "Take care, and don't bother seeing me off!"

Old Mrs. Fang's plan failed, and she was still somewhat unwilling. Fang Chengxu forcibly dragged her out of Tingzhu Garden, and she immediately dropped her pretense, scolding her with a look of disappointment:

"Can't you be a little more gentle with Liang Jiang? Now that you and Tong Zhao'er are getting married, you need money for everything. If you anger Liang Jiang, what will you do?"

Fang Chengxu asked her incredulously, "Is the situation in your household really that difficult?"

"Your family had already fallen on hard times when your father was alive, so he was just putting on a show. Otherwise, why would your mother have arranged for you to marry a doctor's daughter? It's just that they were an orphan and a widow, and they were outsiders with a wealthy family. Could they buy you a future?"

These words immediately extinguished the last glimmer of hope in Fang Chengxu's heart.

"No wonder she's so fearless. Is what you said in your letters to A-Zhao about her staying out all night and having an affair true?"

Grandma Fang insisted, "Would your mother lie to you? Your sister saw it with her own eyes."

Fang Chengxu gritted his teeth: "She still has the nerve to keep arguing with me! Originally, when General Tong forced me to marry A Zhao with the rites due to a principal wife, I felt guilty and refused. But now I can't let her stay."

However, I have no evidence. If I were to divorce my wife directly, aside from my reputation, I fear I would be impeached by the censors in the imperial court, and my future would be ruined.

“Mother had a clever plan to make Liangjiang and her widowed mother obediently submit to us and beg us to listen to her every word.”

Fang Chengxu's face lit up with joy: "What brilliant plan?"

Old Mrs. Fang's eyes gleamed: "If you listen to your mother, you will stay in Liang Jiang's courtyard tonight and do everything you can to coax her and take her virginity."

Fang Chengxu refused without hesitation: "I find such slutty women disgusting, and I would never stoop to using such bedroom flattery tactics."

Grandma Fang frowned slightly, took out two identical white handkerchiefs from her sleeve, and stuffed them into Fang Chengxu's hands.

"Letting you have sex is just a pretext! The real trick is here!"

Fang Chengxu looked completely bewildered: "What does this mean?"

Grandma Fang raised an eyebrow smugly: "Do you know why Mother didn't let Liangjiang consummate your marriage before you went to the capital?"

Fang Chengxu shook his head: "Isn't it because you've been busy with the child's marriage that your old illness has flared up and you need Liang Jiang to take care of you personally?"

"Of course not," said the old lady Fang smugly. "Mother is afraid that if Liang Jiang tastes the sweetness of it, she might not be able to stay in her empty room in the future."

Furthermore, it's all about foresight, so that you can control her today.

Fang Chengxu became increasingly suspicious: "Does Mother want me to use this to test whether she has lost her virginity?"

(End of this chapter)