Chapter 43 — Changing Course (Bonus Update for 90 Pink Tickets)

In her previous life, Wang Shuying could still just barely manage to pass herself off as having been welcomed into the family. In this life, she had given birth five months after entering the household. Even if she were elevated to principal wife, those legitimate wives, protective of their own standing, would never associate with her. And as for Dou Ming's marriage prospects, they would likely prove even more difficult than in the last life.

"However," Cailan said, glancing at Dou Chu again, "the maternal uncle from the Zhao family raised two conditions. First, the Wang family must not interfere in the Fourth Miss's marriage. Second, half the West Household's property is to be set aside as the Fourth Miss's dowry, effective from the day the Wang family receives the document consenting to the elevation. A dedicated steward will manage the Fourth Miss's dowry from that day on. Should the Fourth Miss die after the age of thirty, she may dispose of the dowry as she pleases. Should she die before thirty and leave children, the dowry passes to them; should she die before thirty without children, the Fourth Miss's dowry shall be forfeited to the Zhao family as compensation."

"What did you say?" Sixth Aunt gasped, drawing a sharp breath.

Cailan looked at Dou Chu once more and repeated it all.

"How can this be?" Sixth Aunt said, pained. "Zhao Ruifu truly dares to say such things!"

Dou Chu was long since dumbstruck.

Fearing the Wang family would marry her off to just anyone—that she could understand. But to divide half the West Dou property... never mind Grandfather; even the Second Old Madam of the East Dou would surely refuse.

No wonder the Second Old Madam had been clamoring about "fifty years"!

Yet she quickly shook off her bewilderment and grew calm and clear-headed.

If the Dou family could make demands, why couldn't her uncle set conditions?

Just as the Dou family's demand that Wang Shuying be elevated was absurd, so too was her uncle's proposal to carve out half the West Dou property as her dowry—preposterous. But if the Dou family could do such a thing, why couldn't her uncle think of it?

Ask for the sky, then haggle on the ground!

Only an uncle with such a mind could protect himself—could keep from being devoured alive by the Dou and Wang families!

The corners of her mouth curved upward of their own accord into a pleased little arc.

Let the Dou clan burn their brains over this one!

Ji shi's slender, scallion-like finger tapped her on the forehead. "Silly girl, still smiling! Do you even know what your uncle has done for you?" She sighed. "Your uncle gave up his chance at promotion and fortune, wanting only for you to grow up safe and sound and marry a good husband. From now on, you must be a devoted, filial niece to him!"

Dou Chu nodded vigorously. "When I grow up, I'll be filial to Sixth Aunt too," she said sweetly.

She meant every word.

In her previous life, had she not listened to Sixth Aunt's words just before her marriage, she would surely have taken many a wrong turn. It was only a pity that in her previous life's eyes, Sixth Aunt was a Dou daughter-in-law who seemed gentle and courteous on the surface, yet always carried a faint air of aloofness and coldness beneath. She had no intention of pressing a warm face to another's cold one and cheapening herself, so her relationship with Sixth Aunt had remained fixed at a nod and a smile in passing.

In this life, though she was a naive, unknowing child, Sixth Aunt did not care whether she remembered her kindness. She not only looked after her with care but helped her plan how to survive in the Dou family, where wolves pressed in on every side... Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. This debt of gratitude she would never forget.

How could Sixth Aunt guess any of this? Beaming, she said, "Oh my, our Shouyuan has such a sweet tongue."

Dou Chu could tell—Sixth Aunt was very pleased.

That evening, Sixth Aunt and Old Wang talked in low voices. "...I kept worrying that Zhao Ruifu would go head-to-head with the Wang and Dou families. Now it seems we all underestimated him. Third Uncle went behind Fifth Uncle's back to see Wang Xingyi precisely to kick this ball over to Zhao Ruifu—'It's not that I don't agree to elevate Wang Shuying; it's the Zhao family making trouble.' And now Zhao Ruifu has cleanly kicked the ball right back—'It's not that I don't agree to elevate Wang Shuying; it's the Dou family that won't part with its silver.' Third Uncle has really lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot this time!"

"Isn't that the truth," Old Wang said with a laugh. "I hear the Old Master was so furious his vision went black and he fainted dead away on the spot. If Du An hadn't been quick and caught him, the Old Master would likely have toppled headfirst into the lotus pond. But our Old Madam—after smashing the teacup, she actually cheered up and spent ages chatting with Brother Lan."

"Of course," Ji Guan said. "If you ask me, if our Old Madam were a bit more clear-sighted, she ought to step forward and urge Third Uncle to accept Zhao Ruifu's terms. Those taels won't go to Shouyuan, but they wouldn't go to the East Household either. Better to do a favor and at the same time put Wang Shuying in her place. So you want to be elevated? Then hand over half the West Dou property as a gift to Zhao Guqiu's daughter. If that Wang Shuying got wind of it, she'd probably kick her quilt to shreds tonight."

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I think this idea of the Zhao family uncle's is quite a good one. What does everyone think... Don't forget to vote while you read—I'm about to catch up with everyone's vote count.

※RQ