At the Lu residence, Old Madam Lu's face darkened as soon as she noticed that the fruit tray didn't include her favorite banana pears.

  "What’s going on here? Why are there only these hard, unappetizing fruits?"

  Banana pears, known for their soft texture and sweet fvor, were a favorite of the old madam. However, they were difficult to store, prone to bruising and discoloration, and their appearance was often less than ideal. Moreover, banana pears were not locally grown in the capital and had to be transported from far away, making them quite expensive.

  Nearby, Lu Changju pouted her red lips and chimed in, "And where are my favorite tangerines? Apples, hawthorn, pears... I’m sick of them all. They’re no good."

  Lu Changju wasn’t asking for ordinary tangerines, but the rare and exceptionally sweet Lake Tangerines. These were not only scarce but also pricey, often going out of stock during bad weather.

  Qin Feifei suppressed her anger and smiled as she expined, "Mother, little sister, business hasn’t been doing well these past two months. The household expenses have been scaled back. Once things pick up, we’ll be able to afford them again."

  Old Madam Lu’s face darkened further. She pushed the fruit ptter away with her hand, which was adorned with multiple gold rings. "Business has always been fine. What’s going on now?"

  People who don’t run a household truly don’t understand how much things cost! Qin Feifei swallowed her frustration and maintained her smile. "Mother, please don’t worry. The business will improve soon."

  Lu Changju, still pouting, said, "Sister-in-w, when my elder sister was here, we could have whatever we wanted to eat. We never ran out of my favorite tangerines, even in winter."

  "Exactly, exactly! Eldest daughter-in-w, you should really learn from your elder sister!"

  Qin Feifei was so angry that her stomach ached, but she kept her composure, directing her fury inward. Qin Shuying, you wretched thing! If you hadn’t sabotaged the Lu family’s business, how would I be suffering like this? She also seethed at Lu Changju, who had brought up Qin Yaoyao several times in front of her. What an ungrateful brat! Yet, she responded with a beaming smile to Old Madam Lu, "You’re absolutely right, Mother."

  Old Madam Lu, a widow who had raised her sons alone, took great pride in her elder son's success and the promising academic future of her younger son. This pride made her overly conscious of appearances and eager to compare her family to more established households.

  However, her adherence to "rules" was selective. For instance, she was obsessed with maintaining a vish image.

  Old Madam Lu had two senior maids, two mid-level maids, two junior maids, and two nannies attending her. Lu Changju, imitating the daughters of noble families, had a simir retinue. Additionally, Lu Changxuan and Lu Changsong, the two brothers, each had two personal attendants, along with several maids.

  With gatekeepers, coachmen, cooks, and general servants, the Lu household had only five masters but employed dozens of servants. Maintaining this kind of lifestyle, coupled with Old Madam Lu’s penchant for "refinement" in her food, clothing, and daily living, strained the family's resources.

  Despite Qin Yaoyao’s meticulous efforts to grow the family’s wealth, her hard work only managed to secure the household a modest four-courtyard residence—far from the spacious luxury of the Qin estate.

  When Qin Feifei took over a few months ago, the family business initially provided a steady income. After deducting dividends for the Xu family, they still had over 1,000 taels of pure profit each month. Covering household expenses was no problem, and there was even a surplus of several hundred taels.

  However, the past month of poor business had turned the situation around. Not only was there no income, but expenses were mounting. With the additional year-end gifting and social obligations, the Lu family’s already modest savings were rapidly depleting.

  Now, without income and with dwindling reserves, Qin Feifei found herself at the helm of an empty shell of a household, with no solution in sight despite wracking her brains.

  Back at her quarters, Feiqiong Courtyard, Qin Feifei sat with a dark expression. Her personal maid, Nanny Wu, who was well aware of the household’s troubles, quickly helped her onto the chaise lounge, urging her to rest. "Madam, you’re carrying a child. Don’t upset yourself. You need to rest."

  Nanny Wu had accompanied Qin Feifei during her first marriage and followed her to the Lu family during her second.

  "It’s all because of that wretched Qin Shuying! She’s the reason I’m suffering like this!" Qin Feifei spat through gritted teeth.

  Nanny Wu nodded in agreement and added, “Madam, there are only 500 taels of silver left in the public fund. If this continues, next month’s household expenses will have to be further reduced.”

  The public fund was one thing, and her personal wealth was another—they were naturally separate matters.

  Qin Feifei, seething with anger, spat, “That wretch Qin Shuying is so stubborn, refusing both soft and hard tactics. This time, I’ll make sure she gets what she deserves!”

  Nanny Wu quickly echoed her sentiment, “Madam, with the First Madam handling everything, you only need to focus on resting and taking care of yourself. Given the current situation and your precious condition, perhaps it’s time to…”

  Qin Feifei interrupted, “I know what you mean, Nanny. You think I should let Old Madam take over the household affairs for now and wait until I’ve delivered the baby. But don’t forget, Old Madam is the type to never let go of meat once it’s in her mouth.”

  Nanny Wu bowed her head apologetically. “It’s my fault for not considering things thoroughly.”

  Suddenly, Qin Feifei smirked and said arrogantly, “Don’t worry about it, Nanny. Old Madam’s monthly expenses don’t exceed 100 taels. That’s a trivial matter. Cutting costs isn’t as effective as finding new sources of income. Once we have enough money, what’s 100 taels? Even 200 taels wouldn’t matter! Hmph!”

  She clenched her fists as she thought, Once Qin Shuying falls into my mother’s trap, the 200,000 taels of silver will be ours. Mother will surely share a portion with me, and the shop’s profits will naturally recover. The bck sugar business will also fall into my hands. Who in the capital could rival me then? Money will flow endlessly! At that point, 100 or 200 taels a month for Old Madam will be nothing at all.

  Nanny Wu’s eyes darkened as she observed Qin Feifei’s ambitions. First, she harmed her own elder sister Qin Yaoyao. Now, she’s pnning to target her cousin?

  Qin Feifei suddenly ughed and said, “It’s fortunate that Old Madam is satisfied with chicken, duck, and fish. If she started demanding shark fin and bird’s nest like the dies of noble families, we’d never be able to keep up.”

  Nanny Wu, snapping out of her thoughts, joined in with a chuckle. “And the eldest young dy is the same—she loves gold, silver, and shiny silk. If she were to develop a taste for jade, pearls, and Hangzhou silk, that would truly be a problem.”

  Qin Feifei sneered. “What does a small household know of sophistication? If it weren’t for the second branch’s hard-earned money, they wouldn’t even have seen gold bangles, let alone understood elegance. Covered in gold and silver, they look like nouveau riche and still think they’re stunning. Honestly, with her marriage coming up, the Miao family seems like a great match. Their business is thriving, and Young Master Miao is talented and handsome. Marrying Changju off to him would ensure a life of comfort.”

  Her disdain was evident, and Nanny Wu nodded in agreement.

  Lu Changju was turning fifteen after the New Year, and Old Madam Lu was actively seeking a match for her. Lu Changxuan had his eye on a poor schor, but Old Madam Lu opposed the idea due to his impoverished background.

  Qin Feifei, understanding Old Madam Lu’s preferences, secretly investigated several potential families. Most were wealthy merchants or illegitimate sons from prominent households. She then arranged for matchmakers to test the waters with these families. Sure enough, Old Madam Lu was overjoyed and overwhelmed with choices.

  However, none of these prospects ultimately passed Lu Changxuan’s approval.

  The Miao family, whom Qin Feifei mentioned, was a merchant family with an added advantage: Young Master Miao was diligently studying and preparing to take the imperial examination to earn a schor’s degree.