The male supporting character was actually myself.

The food in the cafeteria is a bit oily, but you need to eat well to stay full in winter...

As Zhang Ziqiu listed the accounts and signed receipts, she quickly spent all but twelve of the two hundred silver dollars in the account. With a sense of satisfaction, she put down her pen and earnestly instructed, "Dongchen is usually very busy with many trivial matters and may not think of them at the moment. If the money in the account is not enough, you can come to my residence to find me. I will use my own dowry money to help him run the school even better!"

"There's no need for you to spend your own money, young mistress. The bank provides a generous monthly fund for the event, which should be more than enough!" The head of the finance department, pleased with the financial benefits, exchanged a few polite words, stamped the receipt personally approved by the young mistress, disbursed the funds, and then sent the logistics department on a large-scale procurement trip.

For a time, everyone in the school, from top to bottom, praised the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marshal's Mansion for her proper handling of affairs.

Meanwhile, Li Dongchen, who spent money like water, bought his sweetheart an expensive bottle of foreign perfume, instantly emptying his pockets. He knew the thugs at the Paramount Ballroom weren't to be trifled with if he couldn't pay the thirty-dollar "maintenance fee," so after delivering the perfume, he rushed back to school, already thinking about what excuse he could use to get the money this time.

"Damn it, this property was clearly given to me after the family division, but I still have to submit reports and get approvals to spend the money in the account. It's infuriating!" He scratched his head as he ran, trying to find a legitimate reason to take away the remaining two hundred silver dollars.

Anyway, it's almost the end of the month and there's no need to use the activity fund. It's just a reserve fund, and another 400 yuan will be deposited next month. What can a lousy school do to spend so much money?

Li Dongchen jogged into the finance department. "I need to withdraw some money. How much is left in the event fund account?"

"Twelve silver dollars." The other party took out the account sheet and placed it on the table for him to review.

"How much?" Li Dongchen thought he had misheard. He grabbed the account sheet, stared at it, and immediately became anxious. "This isn't an I-approved receipt! Who paid for this money?! Who gave you permission to spend money like this?"

He slammed his fist on the table in a fit of rage and roared, "Why are you buying so many quilts and mattresses for the teachers? The school is paying them salaries, and they even have to buy them a pair of cotton shoes? Are they out of their minds?!"

As for the coal mine payment, that was voluntarily delivered by Li Jiangchen. Who told you to rush over and give him money?

He holds military power and controls the mining area, why would he need a few dollars? And what's this about improving the food in the canteen? This is a place for students to learn for free, not a pig farm!

I didn't charge them tuition, yet they're here learning for free and even have to pay for their food and lodging. These days, even a poor student needs meat and eggs in their meals. Who the hell did this? Are they just here to enjoy themselves?

The other person's face darkened slightly, and he replied in a muffled voice, "It was the young mistress who personally approved the note. She said that if you're going to run a school, you should run it well, and that it's not easy for teachers to educate students..."

"Not easy my ass!" Li Dongchen jumped up and down cursing, grabbing the ledger and smashing it over his head. "Didn't I pay them wages? If they don't want to work, they can all get the hell out! It's only right to do things for money. They earn the money I give them and they think they're not having an easy time?"

It's easy for them to go home and be pampered like young masters, so why don't they just leave?

"Stop yelling at me and give me my money back right now. Zhang Ziqiu doesn't have the authority over the school; the approval she gave doesn't count!"

During recess, teachers and students were drawn to the noisy scolding and gathered around, causing an uproar in the school.

"It's a good thing the principal is a scholar. He's always hiding from the school, trying to make money. Now that the young mistress has finally improved everyone's living conditions, look how anxious he is!"

"No wonder he was only given a school and no other property when the family split up. With his penniless and shabby appearance, the school will have to squeeze some money out of him. If the other properties were in his hands, wouldn't he just squander them all?"

"The eldest son of the Marshal's Mansion is not as sensible as a woman. The young mistress said that if there is not enough money, she will use her own dowry to help. Isn't it all for the school? If the school is run well, it will bring him honor. How can the principal be so confused?"

"What a pity! It would have been better if the young mistress had been the principal!"

"It's obvious he thinks spending money at school is too good for us; he doesn't have the money to go out and have fun..."

…………

After all that fuss, Li Dongchen didn't get a single silver dollar back. The money in the account was immediately spent on purchases and repayments, so how could he possibly get it back? Who would be willing to shamelessly ask for it back for him?

Once the 4:30 PM deadline passed, he couldn't come up with thirty silver dollars to continue supporting the Bai sisters. He could only watch helplessly as the small building's door remained tightly shut to him, and the thugs politely asked him to leave.

Li Dongchen lingered on the street until the city lights came on, still standing there blankly, unwilling to leave.

Ruan Xiangqin stood on the balcony, gazing longingly downstairs. Unfortunately, the two were too far apart for her to say a few words to her former lover, whose feelings for her had intensified and who had long since forgotten their past grievances.

Soon, new guests arrived, and Ruan Xiangqin, filled with pain and helplessness, could only be forcibly dragged into the house by her sister to greet them.

"Dongchen, you must redeem me!" She wanted to enter the Marshal's Mansion as a young mistress and no longer wanted to force a smile and deal with those stinky men to cater to their preferences. Before being dragged away, Ruan Xiangqin lost control and shouted, disregarding the people coming and going on the street, begging the other party to redeem her.

Hearing his beloved's heart-wrenching cries, Li Dongchen felt as if his heart was bleeding.

Redeeming her from her servitude? How easy is it to redeem Bai Moli, the most profitable performer, from the Paramount Ballroom owner?!

They could bring in at least thirty silver dollars a night for the Paramount. If they encountered a generous customer who gave them tips, they could earn dozens of silver dollars. This was their cash cow, so how could they be willing to let it go?

Thinking of this, Li Dongchen hated Li Jiangchen so much that he gritted his teeth!

Blame him!

If Li Jiangchen hadn't publicly insulted the Ruan Xiangqin sisters, who were driven to desperation and forced to sing for money, they wouldn't have been forced into prostitution. Li Dongchen would never forget his dream girl's tearful account of how her virginity was taken from her and how she struggled to survive, feeling like she was living a life worse than death!

Is it wrong for her to just want a peaceful and warm home?

Is it wrong for me to just want to date someone I'm compatible with?

Xiangqin, such a beautiful and gentle person, doesn't even deserve a happy and warm home?

Is it so difficult for me, the eldest son of a powerful family, to simply be by the side of the woman I love?

Why does God torment a pair of lovers who are deeply in love but are forcibly separated? Why can't God just let himself get rid of that slut Zhang Ziqiu and marry Ruan Xiangqin?

Why is it that Li Jiangchen, the culprit who kills without hesitation, holds great power and enjoys a smooth life, while I, who only wants to live a peaceful life and loves peace, suffer so much?

The world is unjust! Heaven is blind!

Staring blankly at the reflection of a fat, pig-like man embracing and kissing his beloved woman in the curtains upstairs, Li Dongchen felt a chill run through him, making it hard to breathe. He didn't know how he stumbled back to the Marshal's Mansion in a daze. The cold wind of the early winter night and the cruel reality almost made him stiff.

However, as soon as she pushed open the door, along with the warm atmosphere and the aroma of food that greeted her, she was met with a whip!

"Snapped!"

The whip struck the unsuspecting Li Dongchen, knocking him to the ground. The intense pain brought him back to his senses. When he saw that the one holding the whip angrily was his father, he was both anxious and angry, and completely bewildered. "Dad, what are you doing?"

"What are you doing? I'll beat you to death, you good-for-nothing!" Li Tianxing was so angry that he grabbed the whip and cracked it, cursing as he lashed out, "All those years of schooling you've received have gone to waste!"

If it weren't for someone from the Coal Bureau, I wouldn't have known. How can you, as the principal, manage a school?!

Ziqiu is sensible and knows what's wrong with her. In front of so many teachers and students, you were jumping up and down, cursing and rejecting her approval notes for just a few dollars.

"You can't even save face for your wife when you're out in public. Don't you know the principle that a husband and wife share both glory and misfortune? What's more, Ziqiu went to help you and smooth things over for you, and instead of being grateful, you only confirmed your incompetence and greed!"

Li Dongchen cried out in pain as he was beaten. Seeing this, Zhang Ziqiu rushed forward and leaned against him, gently shielding him from the whip while pleading, "Father-in-law, please stop hitting me!"

This is not Dongchen's fault; it's just that I made the decision on my own without consulting him.

"Please stop hitting him! He's been working all day in this freezing weather and hasn't even had a hot meal yet. Beating him will make him sick!"

"Look how your wife protects you!" Li Tianxing was furious. He pointed his riding whip at his eldest son's face and shouted, "Look at how you treat your wife!"

What did Ziqiu do wrong?

It suddenly got cold recently, and even when she went out, she still thought about going to the school to see if you were working hard. She went but didn't see anyone. The teachers were dressed so lightly, and the dormitories looked terrible. If word got out that the teachers had caught a cold, how embarrassing would it be for our school?!

Free education is a good thing that benefits the country and its people. Why is it necessary to spend a few dollars to improve the conditions for teachers?

Buying cotton-padded clothes and quilts doesn't cost much, but it warms people's hearts!

You think improving the cafeteria food will bankrupt you? I've seen the accountant's books. You spent over sixty yuan on some cultural salon that nobody saw, and the cafeteria only charges a few yuan for a little meat and eggs, yet you're so stingy!

There's also the settlement of coal payments with the coal mining bureau; this is where Ziqiu has considered things most thoroughly!

Even close brothers should keep clear accounts. Now that you two have separated, you each have your own businesses and your own accounts.

As soon as the weather got cooler, Jiang Chen had someone deliver some high-quality coal to show his care for the teachers and children. This was his way of showing his appreciation. If you just take it without paying, how can you, as the older brother, save face?

They claim to run the school voluntarily, but they don't charge ordinary people a pittance.

You didn't have to pay a single penny for any of the expenses. A special bank account was set up for you to allocate funds for running the school. In addition to the teachers' salaries and various expenses, you were given an extra 400 silver dollars every month for emergencies. What's wrong with Ziqiu spending every silver dollar wisely?

On the contrary, you've been organizing this and that event, taking away nearly two hundred yuan in just a few days. Where did it all go? At least let us see a ripple!"

Li Dongchen was speechless after being reprimanded.

He glanced guiltily at his father, then stole a look at Zhang Ziqiu, whose face was streaked with tears as she fussed over him. A sense of regret welled up in his heart.

It's wrong to shout and make a scene at school and offend people. I was really looking forward to spending all my money with Xiangqin. It was a bit of a loss of composure to be extremely disappointed when I saw that I had no money in the account.

The result was that he offended people and ultimately gained nothing.

Sure enough, I had barely left when someone complained about me! Ha, it must have been those poor, stinking intellectuals at school who came up with this dirty trick, they're so damn unethical!

Chapter Thirty-One: How could you do this?

"Look at you, such a pathetic sight! You haven't done a single good thing since you came back from studying abroad!" Li Tianxing became more and more angry as he spoke, raising his whip as if to strike again.

Zhang Ziqiu, her face streaked with tears, desperately tried to stop him, "Father-in-law, Father-in-law, please calm down and talk things out. Don't ruin your health. Dongchen, why aren't you apologizing to Father? You've made him so angry, say something!"

Already disheartened by missing the chance to spend the night with his dream girl, Li Dongchen was further angered by being scolded and whipped by his father, who always favored and favored him. In order to avoid being beaten, he could only mutter a few soft words and beg for mercy.

"You're half-dead, you have no youthful vigor whatsoever! I'm furious just looking at you!" With his daughter-in-law standing between them, Li Tianxing, maintaining his respect, could only put down his whip and reprimand her, warning her, "I'm giving you one last chance. If you make any more mistakes in your behavior, you can forget about being a principal. If you continue to corrupt students and disgrace the Marshal's Mansion, you'll only bring shame to the family!"

Zhang Ziqiu wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and observed the situation. After her father-in-law left, she hurriedly went forward to help him up.

"Where did you get hit? Let me see how serious it is. Does it hurt? I'll go find Doctor Yang to put some medicine on it."

"Are you hungry? We have food set out in the house and I'm waiting for you to eat. You haven't eaten yet, so let the maids heat it up again."

"Oh dear, your hands are so cold! Come inside and warm up!"

"Why are your boots all wet and covered in mud? Did you walk back instead of taking a bus? Honestly, why try to save such a small amount of money? Your legs must be sore from walking so far from home. Don't do this again."

"Xi'er! Xi'er, quickly bring the young master a basin of hot water, he can soak his feet and warm himself up!"

Seeing his considerate wife both asking about his well-being and busy making arrangements, Li Dongchen was a little impatient but couldn't just let go as usual.

Anyway, there was no chance to be intimate with Xiangqin tonight. Having a woman by his side to keep him company and warm his feet was much better than being alone in an empty room. With that in mind, he half-heartedly let Zhang Ziqiu pull him back to the east courtyard, into the house to wash his hands and face, change his clothes, and after getting ready, they warmed a pot of wine and ate dinner together.

"As expected, Xiuer was right! A philandering man like you is a born bastard..."

That night, the bedroom was pitch black except for the even breathing of Li Dongchen as he slept soundly. Zhang Ziqiu quietly got up and, using the dim light from outside, looked at her beloved husband's face and couldn't help but sneer.

Cutting off his source of income, without money to spend on prostitutes, he immediately went home to sleep obediently.

Ha, I really don't understand how he can be so indifferent. Aren't women who are ridden by thousands and stepped on by tens of thousands of men dirty? When he was going in and out, did he not think that other men were doing the same thing as them? Doesn't he feel disgusted sharing one with them?

"Dongchen, I'm doing this all for your own good. Father-in-law said those prostitutes carry a lot of dirty diseases. If you get infected, your whole body will rot away. You're so handsome, you certainly don't want to rot into a pile of stinking mud so early, right?" She smiled faintly, touched the sleeping man's face, and her mind became more and more organized.

To hold onto the man beside her, she had to be ruthless and tough, just like Xiuer said!

Patience is only temporary. Once the plan succeeds, Li Dongchen will belong to her alone. There will be many days ahead for them to embrace and love each other. There's no need to rush...

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhang Ziqiu got up, washed her hands, cooked a meal, and even sent a portion to her father-in-law, claiming it was to apologize on behalf of her husband and to hope that her father-in-law wouldn't get too upset.

"Look, look at Ziqiu, she's much more sensible than that bastard!" Seeing this, Li Tianxing's anger dissipated, and he sighed to Lieutenant Li, "If she can always be this obedient and sensible, it will truly be a blessing for Dongchen."

Do you think I'm getting old?

Why does it feel different from before? I used to think Dongchen was perfect, but now I just can't stand him. He's such a disappointment, always doing shameful and disgraceful things!

The fluffy little cat squatted on the table next to her, yawned, and meowed: "You really have to thank my soft and cute little cat for this. Since I came back, I've basically been keeping an eye on the male lead. Every time, you've managed to successfully avoid his protagonist's brain-draining aura."

You're not senile anymore; his foolishness, without its protective aura, can't be transformed into genuine character, so of course you'll find him increasingly unpleasant to look at.

Lieutenant Li pondered for a few seconds and shook his head, saying, "The commander-in-chief seems to be in a younger and more energetic state recently, while the young master is indeed not as good as before."