Chapter 511 Dowry has been sold for seventy-eighty-eight
Shen Zhonglei raised his hand and pinched the center of his brow, leaned weakly on the pillow behind his back, and sighed: "I have been very kind to the Xu family over the years, and I have never interfered with your sister's support for her parents' family.
"I didn't expect that before her body was cold, you would already be thinking about her dowry!"
Xu Bingrong was shocked by what he said, but it was fleeting. He quickly came up with some righteous words and said: "I'm not doing this for myself. My sister's dowry back then, but my parents' dowry."
I borrowed money here and there. In order to get you married, my family tightened their belts and lived a hard life for several years.
"Now that my parents are old, it is a human tragedy for a white-haired person to give away a black-haired person. Now my sister doesn't even have a child left. Due to circumstances, shouldn't the dowry be returned to us, the Xu family?"
Shen Zhonglei said: "In that case, you should go find my old lady and explain this matter clearly!"
"I can't talk to your old lady!" Xu Bingrong wondered how he had ever played with that old fox. "Brother-in-law, you are now a parent. Do you think you have to move me out to solve such a trivial matter?"
"Although I have been working as an official outside these years, my three brothers in the Shen family do not have a family, and my mother has always been in charge of the family.
"Since you want to get back your dowry, you naturally have to go to the old lady and make it clear."
What Shen Zhonglei said was what Mrs. Shen had already told her.
She knew that Xu Bingrong was definitely not holding anything back when he came all the way to attend the funeral, and now she was right.
So Shen Zhonglei directly said goodbye to the guests, and Xu Bingrong had to be kicked out reluctantly.
He hesitated for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and planned to go see Mrs. Shen.
If you come all the way here, you can't come back empty-handed.
Mrs. Shen had made preparations long ago. She was not afraid that he would come, but she was afraid that he would not come.
As soon as Xu Bingrong entered the room, he was dazzled by several young and beautiful maids, and his eyes felt a little inadequate.
Old Mrs. Shen was sitting on top. She really couldn't stand his lustful and obsessed look, so she couldn't help but raise her hand to cover her mouth and coughed lightly.
Only then did Xu Bingrong come to his senses and stepped forward to salute and say hello to the old lady.
"Don't be so polite. If you have anything to do, sit down and talk." Old Mrs. Shen was kind, "Come here and serve tea."
The two exchanged pleasantries for a few words, and then Xu Bingrong got to the point and talked about Xu's dowry.
After hearing this, Mrs. Shen's expression changed slightly and she was not angry. She just sighed quietly: "Ordinarily, since the second brother has been an official for so many years, I should have separated the families for my brothers.
"I have always been embarrassed to say some things to outsiders, but since my uncle asked about it today, I won't hide it from you.
"The reason why the Shen family has not been separated all these years is not because I, the old woman, and the two brothers from my hometown need to rely on the second child to support them, but because the family has to subsidize them every year, so the family cannot be divided at all!"
"How is that possible!" Xu Bingrong is not new at all. The money Xu gives to her parents-in-law is getting more and more every year, and she doesn't seem to need help from her husband's family.
"I know that no one will believe these words."
"But there is no way, this is the fact!" Old Mrs. Shen continued to sigh, "Someone, please bring up the account book and show it to your in-laws."
Soon, a woman came in carrying several boxes and cages, placed them in front of Xu Bingrong, and opened the boxes one by one.
Inside the box are all account books.
Xu Bingrong took a look and realized that he had been prepared for it!
Since you dared to bring it up for him to see, you had already prepared it long ago, so there was no need to see it.
Besides, with so many boxes of account books, how long would it take me to look through them?
Do we need to hire a few accounting clerks to come over and check the accounts?
He was about to speak, but Mrs. Shen said before him: "With so many account books, my in-laws will definitely not be able to read them.
"But the account book at the top of the first box records the large expenditures in the past few years. It was all written by your sister. You can take a look."
As soon as she finished speaking, before Xu Bingrong could move, someone had already taken out the account book, opened it and handed it to him.
Xu Bingrong quickly glanced at it and saw that it was indeed Xu Yurou's handwriting.
It clearly lists the annual major expenses, including how much money the Shen family gives, and how much income is earned from the farm and shop. As for the major expenses, apart from the favors, the only expenses left are for the Xu family.
Seeing the amount increasing year by year, Xu Bingrong's eyes immediately began to dodge, as if he was burned by the contents of the account book.
Old Mrs. Shen sighed and said: "Although my parents were kind enough to have children, when your sister married into my Shen family, we also gave her a betrothal gift according to the rules.
"Even if we don't talk about the water thrown out by the married daughter, we don't try to find any clever tricks to get money from her husband's family to supplement her mother's family.
"Uncle, do you think this is true?"
Xu Bingrong suddenly raised his hand, knocked over the account book held in the maid's hand, and said with an angry face: "Old lady, I have always respected you as an elder, but this does not mean that I have no temper.
"My sister is dead and has no evidence to prove her death. What's the point of talking about this now?
"Whether it's black or white, it all depends on your mouth!"
Mrs. Shen shook her head helplessly and said, "If my uncle doesn't believe it, I still have someone here who can prove it."
"Who can prove it?" Xu Bingrong glared, "You Shen family members are naturally talking to the Shen family. I don't believe it!"
"Go and invite this person over!" After Mrs. Shen ordered the maid, she turned back and said to Xu Bingrong, "This person is not from Shen's house. It will take some time to come over. My in-laws will have a sip of tea first. Let's wait for a while!"
After almost half an hour, Xu Bingrong felt like he had a spike on his buttocks. He was twisting and turning and could hardly sit still.
Finally, someone opened the door curtain and came in: "Old lady, I'm here to invite you."
Xu Bingrong immediately turned to look at the door.
He actually knew the person who came in. It was Grandma Guo who came with Xu as a dowry back then.
Old Mrs. Shen said: "Mother Guo left her home half a year ago to live in retirement and enjoy herself, but she has been with your sister these years, and she knows these things best.
"Originally, I thought it would be a big deal if someone died, so I didn't want to pursue these matters anymore.
"Since my in-laws insist on breaking the casserole and getting to the bottom of it, I have no choice but to invite Aunt Guo back.
"If you don't understand anything, just ask her directly."
Xu Bingrong stared at Grandma Guo, never expecting that the witness in Mrs. Shen's mouth would actually be her.
She is Xu's wet nurse and her confidant. It is impossible for Xu's secrets to be hidden from her.
I heard Aunt Guo say: "Uncle, Madam's dowry has been sold for a fortune long before she came to Yongzhou Mansion."