Liu Yun listened to the conversation between the aunt and niece, lowering her eyes to conceal the coldness in them.
They were the ones who wanted to involve the entire Gu Mansion after making ends meet themselves. When she looked up again, she wore a troubled expression, "Madam, this matter is somewhat difficult. Father has previously instructed that aside from routine expenses, any large disbursement must be approved by him."
"What kind of large expenditure is this? It's just repairing an ancestral hall, a matter of a few hundred taels. You give it to your second brother-in-law, and I'll speak to the master personally."
Liu Yun, "..." That's a bold statement. A few hundred taels? Don't they know that the entire mansion's monthly expenses are just a few hundred taels, including social engagements?
"It's getting late, and father and husband should be back soon. After all, this is a significant matter of repairing the ancestral hall, which is related to the maternal family, and they will surely take it seriously. At that time, let the head of the family propose a plan."
Liu Yun is not willing to easily take out the silver, or else she will end up being criticized no matter what.
Doesn't this mother-in-law have any sense? Doesn't she think about why the authority of the housekeeper fell into her hands?
Liu Yun not only didn't listen but even brought up the master of the house, showing that she doesn't regard her mother-in-law as an authority.
"Liu Family, I am still the old lady of this house. Can't I even make such a decision?
Even if Kai Ping comes, how could he defy me as his mother?
Afterward, I will surely explain to the father and son in person, so you quickly go and allocate the funds."
"Madam, it's not that the daughter-in-law is unwilling. I cannot withdraw over a hundred taels of silver from the accounts. Are you not making it difficult for me?"
"When has our family had such a rule?" The old lady clearly didn't believe it. During her reign, she could take out even a thousand taels.
"If Madam doesn't believe it, the daughter-in-law can hand over the house badge to the second sister-in-law. She will naturally know once she makes a trip to the accounts."
Now somewhat grateful for the foresight of the father-in-law, it turns out this was to guard against the two greedy individuals in the family.
Xu Yulan, upon receiving a glance from the old lady, really took the badge, carried herself with a haughty air, and led the servant girl directly toward the accounts.
But after just a cup of tea's time, she returned with downcast spirits.
Seeing her like this, the old lady knew that the eldest daughter-in-law's words were true; it seemed the master was guarding against her. Angrily pounding the table, she felt she had lost face in front of her daughter-in-law today.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help blaming Bai Suihe. If the third daughter-in-law had any sense, she wouldn't have been so troubled today.
About to summon her for a good lecture, she noticed Liu Yun's undisguised look of triumph and decided against losing face again in front of her, and said, outwardly firm but inwardly weak, "I will have a good talk with your father-in-law about this; after all, we are relatives, so he will surely lend a helping hand."
Liu Yun respectfully agreed, reached out to take back the badge that Xu Yulan was unwilling to return, stating it was needed to attend to the household chores, and then she withdrew.
Upon returning to her courtyard, Gu Antong was there waiting.
"Mother, why did Grandmother call you over again?"
Liu Yun didn't hide it, and after narrating the old lady's actions, Gu Antong immediately responded disdainfully, "Grandmother and the second aunt really don't know to follow their husbands after marriage, but instead, they are always favoring their own family."
"You mean you won't help your brother in the future, Tong Er?" Liu Yun's expression darkened. If her daughter had such thoughts, she wouldn't make much effort for her.
Gu Antong snapped back, holding Liu Yun's arm coquettishly, "Mother, I don't mean that. Our family is just my brother and me, siblings, of course, we will support each other in the future.
Besides, our Anliang is that heavenly Kirin, the top scholar on earth, how can he be compared to the declining Xu family? As his sister, I will need my brother to support me in the future."
"You," hearing her daughter praise her only son like this, Liu Yun's displeasure dissipated, "don't worry, your brother will definitely support you as his sister in the future.
But mother also hopes you find a good husband, so both siblings can complement each other.
It's getting late; you'd better go back and rest. There's a banquet to attend tomorrow."
After Gu Antong left, Liu Yun summoned the maid, instructing them to keep an eye on the front and report immediately if the two officials returned from their office.
Regarding the internal strife within the mansion, Bai Suihe was unaware and uninterested. She took a sweet nap, feeling recharged.
She dismissed everyone, sitting alone in her room, beginning to communicate with her baby.
"Mother, you need to rest more; that way, I can also be much more energetic." The baby seemed exceptionally lively as Bai Suihe caressed the bulge on her belly, her face full of maternal love.
"Mother knows; with the treasure you gifted me, our chance of survival has increased.
But this treasure is extraordinary; won't it affect the baby?"
"Mother, don't worry; I am hopping around just fine.
Also, rest assured, the treasure is a masterless object, which I fought for.
Mother, aren't you curious about my origins?"
Bai Suihe's eyes deepened, "Baby, your origin must be extraordinary. It seems you can also see that mother comes from an unusual background, but since we share this fate as mother and daughter, we will rely on each other."
Bai Suihe felt that now they had a common secret, and since the first contact, the baby had already gifted her a treasure, hiding it further made her feel a bit guilty.
"Does the baby care that mother is not the original biological mother?"
"Mother, why say that?" The baby's voice carried doubt, "You are my biological mother, always have been, haven't you?"
Bai Suihe, "... but I came from another world."
"No matter where you came from, the baby's mother is only one…" The baby was puzzled, having always been the same person. Why would mother say this?
In pondering this, it directly ignored Bai Suihe's earlier statement of relying on each other, completely forgetting about the other involved party.
Bai Suihe got dizzy, wondering if this was her past life, then she was living a rather miserable past life.
"Mother, stop thinking about it; you have always been, and always will be, the mother.
Previously, I couldn't reach you, many things wanted to be said to you.
This time, our family of three has all been reborn; it won't end in the demise of the family like last time."
Bai Suihe, "..." It seems clear, yet somehow not quite understood.
What does it mean that the family of three has all been reborn?
The baby is extraordinary; she has traveled and been reborn. Then the book's big villain, her current husband, does he have any fantastic encounters?
Is he a traveler or reborn?
But whatever it is, it's not good news for her.
She suddenly felt a headache, realizing knowing this may not be preferable to being ignorant, at least wouldn't feel as tormented.
"Mother?"