Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1299: Tang Family Assets

The Dou Family has been established in the Capital for many years; why has Junior Minister Ming suddenly taken action when he has not before?

It appears the reason is that Great Chu has begun to descend into chaos.

Mai Cong is no weak scholar; he is a fierce tiger, a man-eating beast, seeking a financial windfall in these turbulent times, likely with the ulterior motive of plotting for his own ambitions once the chaos subsides!

Do not argue that Mai Cong is a confidant of the Emperor and would not betray him... Chaos breeds instability, and it becomes easy for people to harbor new aspirations. Anyone with ambition seeks to exploit the opportunity to advance their own interests.

Moreover, Mai Cong possesses a naturally rebellious spirit and is exceedingly capable; how could he possibly content himself with being subordinate to others?

Young Master Dou, having seen through Junior Minister Ming’s intentions, felt a surge of displeasure. Gazing at the invitation before him, he offered a slight smile before accepting it, stating: "The Ming Family’s Jiuyue Feast is a prestigious gathering for the royal family, and I am truly honored to receive such an invitation. However, recent domestic affairs have been numerous, and Dou Ou Bank still demands my attention; I am uncertain if I will still be in the Capital by then."

It was clear he had no desire to attend.

Ah Ji chuckled upon hearing this, not anticipating that this Dou would dare refuse Junior Minister Ming. However, he replied: "Young Master Dou, the Jiuyue Feast is still some time away; you may take your leisure to consider. Should you choose to attend, you may present yourself then, and the Ming Family will undoubtedly extend a most gracious welcome."

Having spoken, he heard hurried footsteps approaching and took his leave of Young Master Dou with a respectful bow.

Young Master Dou escorted Ah Ji to the door, then turned to admonish the servant who had delivered the news: "Why the haste? Is the old man seeking me?"

The housekeeper nodded: "Indeed, the Old Master is clamoring to see the eldest young master."

Young Master Dou adjusted his collar and declared: "Since the old man is so eager for a scolding, I shall go and provide him with one."

The housekeeper nearly submerged his head in his collar; the eldest young master's speech remained utterly unrestrained, suggesting the father and son were surely destined for a fierce argument this time.

...

With a resounding bang, upon arriving at Manager Dou’s courtyard, Young Master Dou kicked the door open. He observed Manager Dou, who had just had his medicine changed, lying in bed: "I heard you were looking for me; what is the matter? Speak."

With a clang, Manager Dou angrily seized the medicine bowl and hurled it towards Young Master Dou. The latter deftly dodged, further enraging Manager Dou as he bellowed: "Ungrateful child, I am your father, is this how you address me? And the vile words you use; after merely spending a few days in the countryside, you have adopted the coarse speech of bumpkins, utterly disgracing the Dou Family!"

"You still acknowledge yourself as my father, yet have you ever conducted yourself as one throughout these years?" Young Master Dou retorted with a laugh: "What is wrong with bumpkins? Bumpkins possess far greater loyalty and righteousness than you. And who is it that has tarnished the Dou Family's reputation? The one who has truly brought shame to the Dou Family is that vile Ms. Meng!"

"Watch your tongue; she is your mother, how can you..."

"Why can't I curse her? Is she not a vile person? If she were not vile, how could she have possibly climbed into Prince Heng's bed? Father, your cuckoldry is as green as it gets; it would be best to hand over the Dou Family to your son, lest you venture out and become a public spectacle."

Manager Dou, incandescent with rage, nearly fainted. He pointed a trembling finger at Young Master Dou and shouted: "Ungrateful child, silence, silence!"

Yet, Young Master Dou did not cease his tirade and continued: "Considering that the second child was born a mere ten months after Ms. Meng entered the household, the nannies frequently remarked on her 'pleasant sitting,' implying good fortune. Ha! If she was not merely 'sitting pleasantly' but arrived already pregnant, father, your public humiliation would be even more profound."

"Ungrateful child, how dare you spout such nonsense; I shall beat you to death!" Manager Dou, consumed by fury, attempted to rise from the bed to strike Young Master Dou with a teapot; however, having been subjected to twenty blows, his hips throbbed with unbearable pain, causing him to collapse after only a few steps.

Young Master Dou let out a laugh, walking over and looking down at Manager Dou with a face full of mockery: "Ha! Manager of the Imperial Merchant Dou Family, one of the ten wealthiest in Quan Dachu, and now reduced to such a pathetic state? What sin have I committed to be saddled with a father like you?"

Manager Dou, hearing this, roared: "Ungrateful child, how dare you look down upon me! If not for me, do you think you could live so carefreely? Do you believe you could have become Young Master Dou? Everything you possess, I bestowed upon you!"

"Bah, my current standing is partly my own doing, and partly the Tang Family's contribution!" Young Master Dou initially did not wish for a major conflict with Manager Dou, but since the topic was brought up, he couldn't help but retort. "The Dou Family's ascent to Imperial Merchant status relied on the Tang Family. Yet, Dou Wen oppressed the childless, broke promises after becoming Imperial Merchant, and intended to violate the agreement by not passing the Dou Family to me but to Ms. Meng's son. Furthermore, he aided Ms. Meng in plotting my death, the Tang Family's sole maternal grandson... You are my father, and I hesitate to curse you, but you are truly worse than a beast!!"

Young Master Dou, hurling fierce accusations at Manager Dou, faced no familial restraint, all because Manager Dou had broken his agreement with the Tang Family.

The Dou Family's assets were not solely theirs; they also belonged to his maternal Tang Family.

Hearing this, Manager Dou panicked and cursed back, "Ungrateful child, I am your biological father! How dare you curse me? Believe me, I will expel you from the Dou Family and disown you!"

"Ha, expel me from the Dou Family? Fine, I wouldn't want to stay in this dilapidated Dou Family residence anyway." Young Master Dou laughed, then continued, "Half of the Dou Family's assets belong to the Tang Family. These are mine, and I will take them all. You won't keep a single bit."

Did he think he could be easily dismissed? Was it that simple? He had worked so hard all these years; if he couldn't claim the Dou Family, his life would have been in vain!

He added, "Don't even dream of denying me. Grandfather left a will, and it's officially recorded in the government archives. Your dreams of denying it will be in vain."

Ms. Meng's desire to kill him was solely to ensure the second and third sons could smoothly inherit the Tang Family's estate.

As long as he was dead, even if grandfather left a will and it was recorded in the government archives, it would be useless. The property would naturally pass to the living relatives.

Matters concerning the Tang Family had always been Manager Dou's weak point. Seeing Young Master Dou about to leave with the Tang Family's assets, he immediately softened his tone. "Brother Ke, why the rush? You have such a temper. Every time your father tries to speak with you reasonably, you lose your temper. Alas~"

"Why the sighing? Can you stop pretending?" Young Master Dou sneered. "You can't bear to part with the Tang Family's assets, just say so. Why put on a false display of fatherly love? Don't you think it's too late to start pretending now?"

Young Master Dou possessed a sharp tongue and dared to speak his mind. Manager Dou was incensed, coughing incessantly. "Cough, cough, cough!"

With great effort, he ceased his coughing, glared at Dou Ke, and asked, "At this juncture, what is it you want?"

He added, "The painstaking efforts of several generations of the Dou Family have elevated us to Imperial Merchant status. You cannot take away the Tang Family's assets and cause the Dou Family to lose its standing as Imperial Merchants!"

If their strength was insufficient, the Dou Family could indeed lose its Imperial Merchant status.

Young Master Dou let out a laugh. "Admitting defeat? It's good that you have."

Young Master Dou pulled over a chair, sat in the center of the room, looked at Manager Dou, and declared, "Before October, summon all the stewards and elders of the Dou Family from across the land to the Capital, and personally announce the transfer of control of the Dou Family to me."

Manager Dou was shocked, pointing at Young Master Dou. "Ungrateful child, do you truly wish to seize your father's power?!"

Young Master Dou laughed. "Ha, I'm not seizing power. Did you think I was acting with you?"