The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

They walked in silence until they entered the main house of the Shen family.

Hua Sirong originally intended to personally help Shen Shi with her washing up, but was refused.

"I have so many people here to serve me, I don't need you. Just sit aside and watch."

"Thank you for your kindness, Auntie. I'll just sit here and watch my sisters' cooking," Hua Sirong said with a smile.

Wen Hua was combing Shen Shi's hair at the moment, while Wen Qin was looking for suitable headdresses for Shen Shi to take a look at.

Shen was multitasking, checking her own makeup while occasionally chatting with Hua Sirong.

"Yesterday I asked Wang Mama to invite you to come over for breakfast today, but I didn't expect you to come so early. Go back and rest for a while later." Madam Shen then picked up a white jade hairpin with plum blossoms and put it in her hair.

"I go to bed early every night, but I'm not keen on sleeping in the morning. I'm here to have a meal at my aunt's today, and the time is just right." I can't be too late and make my aunt wait for me to eat; that would be impolite.

"You're a planner." He smiled and pointed at Hua Sirong, then turned back to ask, "Where's Seventh Miss? Why hasn't she arrived yet?"

Upon hearing this, a maid immediately came to report, "The maid from the Seventh Miss's courtyard just came to say that the Seventh Miss will not be disturbing Madam and Miss Biao's meal today; she has gone directly to the school."

Shen was not annoyed when she heard this, and just joked with Hua Sirong, "That girl is not afraid of disturbing our breakfast. She just turns into a sleepy bug every morning and can't get up."

If it weren't for the daily schoolwork that required her to attend and being late would result in the teacher spanking her hands, she could sleep until late morning.

Hua Sirong smiled and said, "Auntie's words are an exaggeration. Even if the Seventh Miss is a bit spoiled, no girl in this era can sleep that late."

Does she even care about her reputation anymore? The label of "lazy wife" can ruin the lives of all the women in her family.

"My cousin works hard every day at school, so it's normal that she doesn't want to get up in the morning."

"What a close family of cousins, making excuses for her. Never mind, let's not talk about her anymore, let's go have our meal."

To cater to Hua Sirong, breakfast consisted entirely of small, delicate steamed buns, flower rolls, steamed egg custard, and several kinds of porridge. Each of them also had a small bowl of bird's nest in front of them. There was no meat on the table, and even the stir-fried vegetables were cooked with vegetable oil.

It's clear that they put their heart into it.

After breakfast, the Lady Hou sent someone to tell the Old Madam that she would be visiting later that day.

She then dismissed all the maids around her, leaving only Wang Mama, who served Hua Sirong, and Wenqin, who served her personally, in the room.

"Rong girl, sit closer, let's have a good talk, mother and daughter." Madam Shen pulled Hua Sirong to sit down next to her.

She pushed the box that Wang's mother had brought yesterday in front of Hua Sirong and said, "Take the things back and come stay at your aunt's house. Treat it like your own home. There's no need to bring gifts here."

Besides, your parents are both gone. As your aunt, am I supposed to be the villain who kicks you when you're down and seize your family fortune? If that's the case, why did you leave your hometown and travel so far to come to me for help?"

The Marquis's family wasn't so poor that they had to pawn things to survive. She had sons and daughters, and future grandchildren. She didn't want to bear the bad reputation of taking advantage of an orphan.

Some back and forth is necessary.

Hua Sirong bowed to Madam Shen before saying, "Aunt, please listen to me. I am staying at the Marquis's residence, and my expenses for food, clothing, and daily necessities are considerable. It is only right that I should pay money to the Marquis's residence every year to subsidize my expenses."

Otherwise, my niece would really become a freeloader, which I don't want. So I give her two thousand taels every year as a token of my affection. Aunt, just consider it my pride acting up." After saying that, she imitated the Seventh Sister and acted coquettishly towards Madam Shen.

Whether two thousand taels is a lot or a little, as long as it conveys that Hua Sirong is not a freeloader, that's fine.

Shen listened to Hua Sirong's explanation with a smile, neither saying it was good nor bad, but her expression looked very troubled.

Seeing that Madam Shen did not make any further moves, Hua Sirong continued to explain: "In addition, the ten thousand taels in the box is my filial piety gift to my aunt, to thank her for saving me from dire straits. If it weren't for my aunt, I would probably be either living as a concubine or hanging myself with a white silk ribbon right now."

Hua Sirong was telling the truth. This world is especially harsh on women. She was all alone and had fallen out with her father's family. What way could she possibly survive?

She gave the ten thousand taels of silver willingly.

Madam Shen held Hua Sirong's hand and said that she had a hard life, but with her aunt supporting her, she didn't need to be afraid of those tigers, leopards, wolves, and jackals.

"Then there are those two shops in the box. I actually know that my father specially bought these two shops for my cousin and my cousin when he was still alive. One was for my cousin's wedding, and the other was for my cousin's dowry when she got married."

I presume to speak on behalf of my father, but these were gifts from our elders, and we cannot refuse them. Therefore, there is absolutely no reason for my aunt to return these two shops to me.”

Madam Shen was pleased to hear this. Since it was a gift from her third sister's husband, she couldn't refuse it too much.

It wasn't that she wasn't reserved enough; it was just that those two shops were prime locations in the capital, making a fortune every day. Asking her to return the goose that lays golden eggs was something she really couldn't bear to do.

Especially recently, I've been having some troubles about money.

Hua Sirong's gift truly touched her heart.

Now, this niece looks pleasing to the eye no matter how I look at her.

However, "Since Rong'er has said so, I can't make a decision for your cousins. Putting all that aside, you still need to take back these two thousand taels."

"Since you're staying at your aunt's house, it's your own home. There's no reason for you to pay me when I'm staying at my own house. If word gets out, my aunt will lose face in the capital."

Hua Sirong looked at her aunt who was still holding her hand and smiled, but she looked rather pitiful. "I know that my aunt is sincere to me, but there is still the old lady in the Marquis's mansion, and there are people from the second and third branches of the family. If I move in and eat and wear more, they will spend less."

I don't want people to talk about me, so please, Aunt, consider this my selfish wish.

Madam Shen sighed inwardly, "This child is so young, yet so beautiful, and so thoughtful in everything he does."

As the head housekeeper, Shen was able to know almost everything that happened in the mansion immediately.

Since Hua Sirong entered the manor, the second and third branches of the household have indeed had some complaints, simply because Hua Sirong is not staying in the manor temporarily, but will stay for several years, and there is a very high chance that she will marry out of the manor in the future.

The second and third wives, especially their illegitimate daughters, dared not compare with the Marquis's illegitimate daughters. However, a daughter from a poor family of the Marquis's wife could very well take advantage of the Marquis's wife's relationship to seize their resources, especially marriage. How could they not gossip about her behind her back?

Shen stroked Hua Sirong's hair affectionately, sighing that she was a promising talent and that with careful training, she would surely amount to something in the future.

"Alright, your aunt will grant your wish. This money will stay with me for now, and I'll return it to you as part of your dowry later."