Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 25

Liu Manman used to look down on those ancient matriarchs, thinking that managing a mere inner quarters could be so difficult. But once she actually got involved, she realized how deep the intricacies were.

Liu Manman was getting flustered while doing her accounts when Qin Shuangya walked in.

After Old Mrs. Qin emptied her savings to buy the medicine prescription, Qin Shuangya was also penniless and didn't even have a decent piece of jewelry.

However, after Liu Manman had been married into the family for more than half a month, Qin Shuangya had resumed the pomp and dignity of a noble lady.

She wore an apricot-yellow brocade jacket adorned with ten different floral patterns, and a flowing turquoise skirt with gold branches, green leaves, and a hundred flowers. Her hair was adorned with a golden begonia-shaped hairpin with pearl swaying, and she wore a pair of red-gold pearl earrings. Her entire outfit was made of fine silk and satin, sparkling with jewels.

Qin Shuangya came up warmly and saw Liu Manman doing accounts. She pretended to feel sorry for her and said, "Sister-in-law, you work too hard every day. Take a rest. You can't wear yourself out!"

Liu Manman felt a headache coming on whenever she saw Qin Shuangya like this.

During this time, her sister-in-law, Qin Shuangya, was very enthusiastic towards her, inviting her to go shopping together almost every day.

Liu Manman couldn't refuse, so she went out with her a few times, only to find that Qin Shuangya was just treating her like an ATM!

They went on a shopping spree at various jewelry and embroidery shops, making Liu Manman pay for everything, and kept saying how good Shen Lingjun had been to her in the past, and how many expensive things he had bought for her.

Liu Manman couldn't bear to be inferior to Shen Lingjun, so she could only buy it for Qin Shuangya as well.

Qin Shuangya's current outfit was all paid for with Liu Manman's money!

Qin Shuangya chatted idly with Liu Manman for a few minutes, but her gaze remained fixed on the icy green jade hairpin in Liu Manman's hair.

Finally, he revealed his intention: "Sister-in-law, your jade hairpin is really beautiful. I've been particularly fond of jade lately, but it's rare to find such good quality and color here..."

She took Liu Manman's arm and said coquettishly, "Good sister-in-law, can I have this hairpin?"

Before Liu Manman could speak, she immediately unleashed her trump card: "Shen Shi gave me many beautiful hairpins before, but I sold them all to raise money for my grandmother's medicine prescriptions. You are the sister-in-law I truly acknowledge, surely you don't treat me as badly as Shen Shi, do you?"

"..."

Liu Manman felt a lump in her throat and almost couldn't breathe.

She gritted her teeth and could only pull out the jade hairpin from her hair and hand it to Qin Shuangya.

He chuckled dryly, forcing out the words through gritted teeth, "It's just a hairpin. If you like it, you can have it."

Qin Shuangya smiled broadly, took the hairpin and left. As she left, she held the hairpin up to her head and gestured with it, clearly already imagining how she would look wearing it.

Liu Manman felt a surge of anger welling up inside her, and with nowhere to vent it, she grabbed the paperweight on the table and smashed it to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

Qin Shaoze's sister and mother are practically like bloodsucking leeches!

Not long after she took charge of the household, Old Madam Qin revealed her true colors, starting to ask her for this and that, wanting to add all sorts of decorations and utensils to Shou'an Courtyard, wanting the best Ruilin incense, burning the most expensive black gold charcoal, and eating bird's nest every day.

Qin Shuangya not only treated her like a fat sheep to be slaughtered, but also kept demanding things from her.

She was slightly displeased, and then she compared her to Shen Lingjun, praising Shen Lingjun for even emptying her dowry to pay for her mother-in-law's medical treatment...

Forced to lose face, Liu Manman had no choice but to comply with their demands.

The money in Liu Manman's dowry was spent as quickly as water. At this rate, even if she were extremely wealthy, it probably wouldn't be enough to keep up with her spending.

Just as Liu Manman was getting angry, her maid Bai Zhi rushed in.

"Madam! Li Ma from the estate has come to the Marquis's residence looking for you! She says her son has contracted tuberculosis and begs your treatment!"