Chapter 171: I Call The Shots

“You’re going to take full responsibility of the food,” Xia You added.

Ye Jiayao said without any hesitation, “I will serve food that was even better than the ones I did for the Old Ancestress’ birthday.”

Xia You was surprised. How could she jump into the task like that without even knowing the money she’s going to be receiving?

“Won’t you even ask who’s gonna be providing the silver?” Xia You asked.

“Chunfeng is Chunyu’s only full brother. We can’t ask to be paid for helping him. Besides, I have a dowry that will cover whatever the cost is,” Ye Jiayao told her. She and Chunyu had planned to lend 80,000 for the wedding anyway.

Xia You tried to hide her shock. Shedidn’t expect her new daughter-in-law to be so generous. However, she couldn’t let them pay for the wedding feast.

“Although it is nice for you to offer, there’s no need. I will be providing the money for the food, you just worry about making delicious things,” Xia You declined.

“Mother, I am serious. I just asked Chunyu yesterday if there was anything we can do to help with the wedding. I may not be able to do other things, but I am good at providing a feast. Please, let me do this for Third Brother,” Ye Jiayao pleaded.

Granny Sun interjected, “Madame, it seems that the Second Young Mistress has her mind and heart set to this. Let her have it.”

Xia You was silent for a moment as she thought it through. “Have it your way. However, if you encounter any difficulties with money, let me know and I will help.”

Ye Jiayao nodded happily. “I won’t let you down, Mother. One thing, though… can you promise me something?”

Xia You nodded in agreement.

“When people ask, can you say that you provided the money for the feast ?”

Xia You cocked a brow. “Why?”

“I’m just afraid that it might make things awkward if Big Brother finds out about it. I heard that Sister-in-law’s business may be having some difficulty.”

“But I heard that her business is doing very well!” Granny Sun contradicted.

Ye Jiayao pretended to be confused. “Really? But Big Brother couldn’t even pay for his meals.”

“Did he put it all in credit?”

“It doesn’t matter if Big Brother comes in to eat something. However, when I checked the account book and found that he owed more than two thousand silvers just this month alone, I had thought that he was having some financial difficulties.”

Xia You couldn’t help but feel angry and embarrassed. Chunli just takes advantage of people, much like his Third Uncle. She even had her suspicions that Chunli wasn’t Xia Chuonfeng’s son at all.

“Right. Well then, I promise to keep our agreement private. You may go now,” Xia You told her offhandedly, trying to rein in her temper.

As soon as Ye Jinxuan left the room, Xia You exploded, “Who does he think he is?”

“What the Young Master did is really…” Granny Sun trailed off with a sigh.

“He has borrowed money from Chunyu and Chunfeng before thinking that I don’t know about it. All he has done is meander around and ride on the coattails of his family name. Sooner or later, he’s going to run out of favor and karma will get him,” Xia You seethed.

“The Second Young Master took after the Old Marquis. He was always willing to give when it comes to his brother. The Young Master must’ve really been excessive if the Second Young Mistress was worried since she’s not the stingy type,” Granny Sun mused.

Ye Jiayao washed up, got dressed, and started reviewing the account books for the farm. She had thoughtthat it was easy to be a young mistress, but it turns out, it was not any easier than being a chef at Heavenly Residence.

Qiao Xi came in a few minutes later with a bowl of white fungus soup. “Madame, the kitchen made this for you. ”

Ye Jiayao took the bowl gratefull before asking, “Is there a small kitchen here in the mansion?”

Qiao Xi shook her head. “No, Second Young Mistress, all the cooking is done in the big kitchen. When the First Young Mistress was pregnant, she wanted to get a small kitchen, but her Lady Xia You didn’t agree.”

This was troublesome for Ye Jiayao since she was planning to ask her mother-in-law for one in the future.

Moments later, Chunyu came back, looking a little stressed.

After Qiao helped him take his clothes off, Chunyu quickly washed up and changed. When he got out of the bathroom, Qiao had already brewed some hot tea for him.

Xia Chunyu thanked her and then dismissed her for the night.

“What’s the situation with the war?” Ye Jiayao inquired gently.

Chunyu took a sip of his tea and sighed. “Helian Xuan’s ready to set off. If he doesn’t go there, I’m afraid that we’re going to lose. The front line has been defeated again and again and King Xi Meng has been besieged. If the palace is broken through and Prince Azari take the right of the King, we will be in trouble. Prince Azari has always been ambitious and militant.”

“So, will you go there?” Ye Jiayao asked worriedly. She knew that Chunyu and Helian Xuan had always been good partners.

Chunyu glanced at Ye Jiayao. He really wanted to go with Helian Xuan, but he was more worried about her now that Princess Liu Li was set to arrive soon.

“Helian Xuan said that he would send for me if he needs me,” Chunyu told her.

Ye Jiayao sighed with relief. She didn’t want him to go. It was too risky. She heard that the soldiers of the Ximeng were very ferocious and was even compared to the historical Turks. They were brave and their tactics are very advanced, making it difficult to defeat them.

“What are you looking at?” Chunyu asked her.

“The farm’s books.”

“Have you found anything?”

“Nothing yet. I need more comparison to find out if it’s only you who’s having a bad harvest.” She was planning to ask Zhao Qixuan for tips as soon as she’s free. She continued, “You should also know that Mother tasked me with preparing for the wedding feast. I accepted it, including all the expenses, so I didn’t give her the 80,000 banknotes.”

He nodded, a bit worried. “You will be exhausted again.”

“Don’t worry. I feel sorry for Chunfeng so this will be his compensation. We’re gonna split the cost together.”

“Look at you being generous,” he teased.

“Oh, you want me to be stingy? Let’s start with your Big Brother then, who had been a frequent customer of the restaurant this month.”

Xia Chunyu looked away, feeling uncomfortable. “Um….but he is my brother.”

“I know you are very embarrassed by your brother. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if it was only him, but he comes all the time with other people. I also heard that he would often borrow money from you. Did he ever pay it back?”

“He’s my brother,” was Chunyu’s only defense.

“It’s good that you’re generous, but there should be a limit. Do you think we can we take clothes from his embroidery shop for free? Do you think he’d be willing to do that for you? I get that he’s your brother, but as I said, there should be limits. The next time he asks you for money, let me deal with him. If I find out that you dealt with him privately, I will be very unhappy and I wouldn’t forgive you easily,” Ye Jiayao told him seriously.

Xia Chunyu shifted around, feeling awkward. He really didn’t know what to say.

She continued, “You can’t let your brother continue to use you like this. He’s taking advantage of you. I am looking out for you here. Your brother is lazy and instead of working, he’s using you as a crutch to get by.”

He thought about it for a while before nodding. “You are the boss. Just don’t stiff him too much, you’ll embarrass all of us.”

“He should be embarrassed!” Ye Jiayao exclaimed.

“No! Don’t confront him! Can’t we solve this peacefully?” Xia Chunyu was afraid that she was going to start trouble.

“I am not stupid. I told Mother about it, let her handle it.”

Xia Chunyu asked, surprised, “You talked to her about this? What did she say?”

“Oh, she’s happy right now. I think she’s going to take this opportunity to educate your father as your uncle’s habit is similar to your brother’s,” she said. “It’s better to nip this as early as possible unless you intend to support him for the rest of his life. Be more like Chunfeng. Chunfeng always refuses him so your big brother doesn’t come to him anymore.”

Ye Jiayao closed the account book and climbed on the bed.

Xia Chunyu sat there for a long time, mulling over Yaoyao’s words and thinking of the actions he should take next with regards to his brother.

“Yaoyao, Yaoyao…” he called as he joined her on the bed.

“What?”

“Thank you for handling this,” he said with a tender smile.

Ye Jiayao turned around to face him. “Promise me that I will always have your support.”

He nodded. “I promise.”

Ye Jiayao hugged him and said, “Turn off the lamp.”

Xia Chunyu eagerly turned the lights off and jumped back in bed, hugging her close.