Chapter 270 - 177 Like My Own Mother_1
Qian Sangui again had people pick some lotus leaves to deliver ten each to Master County Magistrate Sir Wong and County Magistrate Sir Hu, as well as five each to several officers who had been of great help to the Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop. He also gave five each to Steward Wong, Landlord Li, and other township Kun. He even told Steward Wong that if he planned to go to the provincial city, he should stop by their home first, as they had some to deliver to Song Mansion.
All these people were masters, and the leaves had to be delivered to each and every one of them.
Qian Sangui sent Huang Tie driving to the county town, and on the way, he was to pass a message to Shopkeeper Cui— if anyone else had the idea of picking lotus leaves, could Shopkeeper Cui please help ward them off.
Qian Sangui also withheld Su Sanwu’s salary for three months and had Old man Cai hold a meeting with the servants. He told them that only those within this courtyard were their true masters, and outsiders were forbidden from taking anything from the house without permission, not even relatives.
Old man Cai, while scolding Su Sanwu, said, "You fool with a rotten brain, you just let people take things from the house. Being in charge of this lake, don’t you know the value of lotus leaves? The master is truly kind. If it were any other master, you’d probably be beaten half to death and sold..."
Knowing he had caused trouble, Su Sanwu was both angry and frightened, his mouth gaping open as he cried nonstop. When his father, Su Ming, came back and learned about the incident, he beat him again.
Qian Sangui then had the elderly couple come over, to whom he relayed the chain of reactions and losses. Hearing this, the old couple was also filled with regret. Qian Yixiu, distressed, continued to cry, disregarding Old woman Qian, who fruitlessly tried to speak to her, leaving the old lady feeling snubbed and discontent.
After returning to the village, the elderly couple first went to Er Gui’s household to scold Qian Ergui.