TSWRLM -Chapter 123 Hand Over Control of the Household

“You’ve only been in the residence a few days, and you dare to ask for control of the household? If something goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?”

Madam Mo shouted sharply, casting a venomous glare at Mo Yunwan.

She already knew that scheming girl was unreliable. She had thought letting Cao Chun Xi handle the promotion banquet would be enough—but now, Chun Xi had the audacity to demand full control of the household as well.

After this, who in the entire Hou residence would even respect her as the head lady of the household?

Mo Yunwan hadn’t expected Chun Xi to make this move either. She quickly said, “Cousin is the legitimate eldest son of the Hou family. As the eldest daughter-in-law, it is only proper that Sister-in-law gradually takes over the household affairs. But since she has never managed these matters before, it’s just right to use this promotion banquet as practice. If the banquet goes flawlessly, then asking Aunt for the household control won’t invite criticism, right?”

Mo Yunwan smiled warmly, her tone gentle, but her words were deliberately vague.

She was merely persuading Chun Xi to take on the banquet; she never promised that Madam Mo would hand over control of the household.

Madam Mo, catching the loophole in Mo Yunwan’s words, nodded in agreement: “Wan’er is right. You must first prove your ability with the promotion banquet before discussing the next step.”

Chun Xi lowered her eyes, showing a trace of melancholy: “Mother’s health has been poor lately. My intention in taking the initiative to manage the shops and ask for control of the household was only to help relieve your burdens, so you could rest peacefully. But if you don’t trust me, then I suppose you should personally handle the promotion banquet.”

With that, Chun Xi stood and prepared to leave.

Madam Mo didn’t stop her, but Mo Yunwan spoke up: “Sister-in-law, wait!”

Chun Xi showed no hesitation, striding quickly; in a few steps she was at the door. If Mo Yunwan hadn’t spoken, she might have been gone entirely before anyone noticed.

Chun Xi didn’t even look at Mo Yunwan, only glancing at Madam Mo: “Mother, is there anything else you wish to say?”

Madam Mo glared at Mo Yunwan with malice.

This promotion banquet had been designed as a trap by them to embarrass Chun Xi in front of everyone. Now, inexplicably, it had become Chun Xi’s leverage. If Madam Mo actually handed over household control, and something went wrong later—or if the control could never be reclaimed—she would have lost both her authority and face.

Mo Yunwan understood Madam Mo’s thoughts and spoke gently: “Aunt, Sister-in-law makes sense. Your health has indeed been poor recently. Since she believes she can manage the household, why not let her try? If any mistake occurs, you can take back control afterward—it’s not too late.”

Madam Mo was reluctant to take this risk but then heard Mo Yunwan continue: “If Sister-in-law is to organize the promotion banquet without control of the household, she will inevitably need to trouble you when problems arise. Wouldn’t that defeat your original intention of resting and recovering?”

Mo Yunwan’s words carried a deeper meaning, and Madam Mo immediately understood.

After all, as the head lady of the Hou family, even if Chun Xi mishandled the banquet, she—the mother-in-law—would still bear some responsibility. If she handed over household control as well, any mistake could not be pinned on her, no matter how clever Chun Xi’s tongue.

Moreover, Chun Xi had requested the control herself, and there were many witnesses present. Even Shen Qingyuan would have no way to intervene.

After weighing the situation carefully, Madam Mo finally relented: “Since you insist, I will give you control of the household. But you must promise that the promotion banquet will go flawlessly. Otherwise, you will not only return the household control but also restore all the dowry left by the Xiao family!”

Chun Xi was far more straightforward than Madam Mo. She immediately nodded: “Very well. Mother, if you still worry, I can sign a written agreement.”

Of course, Madam Mo worried. She immediately had Nanny Jia fetch ink, paper, and brushes. Chun Xi wrote two identical documents in one go, signing her name, sealing them with her handprint, and then told Madam Mo: “Mother, you should sign one too. I’m afraid you might later deny it.”

Though Madam Mo was confident Chun Xi couldn’t organize a perfect banquet, when it came time to sign, she couldn’t help feeling nervous.

That Cao Chun Xi was unpredictable. What if something went wrong?

Madam Mo instinctively looked at Mo Yunwan, who softly reassured her: “Aunt, it’s fine. Just sign. Sister-in-law isn’t afraid—you needn’t be either.”

The last remark hit Madam Mo’s pride.

Indeed—she was the esteemed head lady of the Hou household. Could she really be intimidated by a newly married young wife?

Madam Mo finally stopped hesitating and signed the documents.

Chun Xi put her copy away and smiled: “Since household control has been granted, please also hand over the keys to the estate treasury. I will begin checking the accounts and start preparations for the promotion banquet.”

Seeing Chun Xi’s triumphant expression made Madam Mo’s chest tighten. She signaled Nanny Jia to fetch the treasury keys.

As soon as Chun Xi left, the managers began to complain again.

“Madam, you had us oppose the Young Mistress. Now she’s fired us all—how are we supposed to survive?”

“Yes! Madam, now that she has the household control, shouldn’t we have been notified in advance?”

Madam Mo’s head ached from the commotion. She shouted irritably: “It wasn’t I who fired you! Why are you shouting at me?”

“But if you hadn’t instructed us to oppose the Young Mistress, we wouldn’t be in this situation…”

Seeing the chaos, Mo Yunwan stepped forward: “Everyone, don’t worry. Even though you’ve been dismissed, your wages for this month will still be paid. After some time, Aunt will reclaim the shops and rehire you.”

Hearing that this month’s wages would be paid calmed everyone, though some remained skeptical: “The managers Young Mistress brought are formidable. We heard they were recommended by Old Madam Xiao. The shops were part of the Xiao family dowry left to the late first Madam of the Hou family. Can Madam really take them back?”

“Of course, rest assured,” Mo Yunwan said lightly, calm as ever.

No one wanted to make things too difficult for their former mistress, so after some thought, they returned home to wait.

After the managers left, Madam Mo could no longer contain her anger: “I knew this Cao Chun Xi wasn’t an easy one! Just giving her a banquet, and she dares to demand household control! I will make her pay for this at the banquet!”

Mo Yunwan comforted her softly: “Aunt, don’t worry. Cao Chun Xi is so arrogant and reckless—she can’t possibly organize a perfect banquet.”

Lowering her eyes, Mo Yunwan’s gaze briefly flashed with hatred.

If it weren’t for this interloping Cao Chun Xi, Shen Qingyuan would have been hers, and the position of wife to a third-rank minister would also have been hers!