BXBX NOVEL Chapter 418 - 418: Reliant on Wife
Zhou Jia glanced at him and replied indifferently, “How do you want me to support you?”
Old Master Zhou rolled his eyes and said with a smile, “You’re also a fifth-grade official now. I heard that His Majesty thinks highly of you. You even live in such a good house. You know that I like to eat well and dress well. I like to watch opera and play with calligraphy and paintings. That’s all for now.”
Zhou Jia looked at him coldly and smiled self-deprecatingly. “I’m not afraid of you laughing at me. His Majesty gave this house to my wife. I’m still relying on my wife to support me now!
“According to you, you still want to live a carefree life in the past. My salary can’t support you. I don’t want my wife to support me and even help me support my uncle. I can’t afford to lose face. You should go to the government office and sue me for disobedience!”
Old Master Zhou put down the chopsticks in his hand with a bang and stood up to look at Zhou Jia. He glared at him and said, “You’re bluffing me! She’s a woman from the countryside. Would His Majesty reward her with such a good house? What can she use to support your family? You…”
“Uncle,” Zhou Jia shouted unhappily. He stood up and looked at Old Master Zhou. “I’ll tell you the truth! The high-yielding rice seeds planted near the capital were cultivated by my wife.
For this matter, not only did His Majesty give her this residence, but he also conferred her the title of First-grade Madam Protector of the Nation. In the capital’s Dafeng Food Bank, 10% of the seeds are hers. Do you think she can afford to raise me?”
In Old Master Zhou’s understanding, women were all like Old Madam Zhou and Madam Huang, managing the butler to buy clothes and jewelry. In order to fight for favor, they did not hesitate to scheme. For example, his old lady even wanted to murder her daughter-in-law and harm her descendants.
Zhou Jia’s words overturned Old Master Zhou’s understanding. His eyes widened and he blinked a few more times. He sighed and said, “Why is your wife so powerful? I know about the Dafeng Food Bank. 10% of it can support this entire family. However, you’re only a fifth-grade official. When can you reach the first grade? How embarrassing. Your rank isn’t even as high as your wife’s, and you still have to rely on your wife to support the entire family.”
Zhou Jia looked at him and replied indifferently, “I’m indeed useless. If not for my wife, I would have long been killed in the mountains by the people Aunt sent.”
Zhou Jia recalled his coldness all those years, causing his mother to die unjustly. He looked at him resentfully. “Do you think I’m like you, only caring about drinking and fooling around? You were not even willing to protect your wife and children. Forget it! Go to the government office and sue me! It doesn’t matter if I retain my position as an official or not.”
Old Master Zhou looked at Zhou Jia’s resentful gaze and stammered, “I didn’t expect them to dare to do such a thing! Back then, I was muddle-headed. I always thought that they forced me to marry your mother and Madam Huang.
Old Master Zhou looked at Zhou Jia with a pleading gaze. “Jiahe, now that they’ve already suffered retribution, I really have no choice. I won’t do anything. If I continue to be like this, I can only pawn the old residence. If I pawn the old residence, I’m afraid I’ll be beaten to death by my father again after I die. Xiao Xi, you…”
“Don’t call me Xiao Xi.” Zhou Jia interrupted Old Master Zhou and looked at him. “What I can take out is my monthly salary. I can only give you a small portion of it. If you think it’s fine, let’s discuss how you want to live in the future for the money to be enough.”
Old Master Zhou looked at Zhou Jia in a daze for a while and nodded. “I promise you. You can use it however you want.”
Zhou Jia pointed at the chair. “Sit down and listen to me. My monthly salary is 20 taels of silver now. I’ll split it into three portions. One portion is for me to socialize with my colleagues, and the other is for my son to study. I’ll allocate seven taels of silver a month to you. I’ll hire an old woman to cook for you. My wife will prepare the clothes for the four seasons for you. After deduction, I’ll give you three taels of silver a month. After using them, it’ll be gone. If you think it’s feasible, do as I say. No, I’ll still say the same thing. You can sue me at the Censorate and the Imperial Office.”
Old Master Zhou calculated that he had received seven taels of silver from the twenty taels of silver. Seven taels of silver should be enough. After thinking for a moment, he raised another condition. “I want to come to your house three, no, four times a month to eat good food and wine. Your wife can agree to this request, right? Also, I’ve pawned the bedding, mosquito net, and tables, chairs, and benches…
Zhou Jia reached out and said, “Let me take a look.”
Old Master Zhou took out a stack of pawn notes from his pocket. Zhou Jia took a look and laughed in anger. “This set of tables and chairs is made of rosewood.
You actually only treated it as 30 taels. The redemption period has passed. Also, the bookcase in your study…”
“Forget it. You can’t redeem the good things anymore. I’ll get someone to buy you a set that can be used. I’ll deduct 500 copper coins a month from you until I have fully deducted the money from the purchase. If you use pawn something again, I’ll deduct the money from your monthly salary.”
Old Master Zhou nodded aggrievedly. “You have the final say. Remember to make up for it after deduction.”
Zhou Jia nodded and looked at him. “Have you thought carefully about it?”
“I’ve thought about it. Remember, I’ll come to your house four times a month to eat good food and wine,” Old Master Zhou declared again.
Zhou Jia nodded. “Alright, think about it. Let’s make a contract first. Also, I’m an official in the Imperial Court now. Please consider my face and don’t do anything inappropriate outside.”
When Old Master Zhou heard this, he flew into a rage out of humiliation. He reached out and said, “Why are you talking so much nonsense? Give it to me,
I’ll sign it.”
“Wait a moment. I’ll get a pen and paper.” Zhou Jia stood up and left.
Yangyang ran into the house from the corner and looked at Old Master Zhou curiously. “Are you really my grandfather? Why haven’t I seen you before?”
“You’re Xiao Xi’s son?” Old Master Zhou looked at Yangyang happily and searched his body before remembering that his pouch was empty. He looked at Yangyang, who was looking at him curiously, and rubbed his hands shyly, not Imowing how to reply.
Zhou Jia returned with a pen and paper. When he saw Yangyang standing there and looking at the shy Old Master Zhou, he said to Yangyang, “Yang’er, greet your uncle!”
Yangyang nodded and Imelt down to kowtow. “Greetings, Uncle.”
“Get up quickly. I came in a hurry today. I’ll make up for it the next time we meet,” Old Master Zhou replied helplessly.
“Yes, Uncle.” Yangyang got up and looked back at Zhou Jia. “Father, why do you call him Uncle? Mother said that he’s my grandfather.”
Zhou Jia pulled a long face and looked at him. “Yang’er, go to class quickly. I’ll tell you when you grow up.”
“Oh! I’ll go down.” Yangyang pouted and bowed to the two of them before turning to leave.
Zhou Jia wrote the contract and asked him to sign it. Ever since Old Master Zhou saw Yangyang, he was no longer as shameless as before. He signed the contract without a word. When the ink dried, he folded his share and placed it in his pocket..