Volume 1: Mission in Danger Chapter 65: The Sealing Feast
The front and back doors of the Wu family were guarded by flag soldiers.
Not only that, there was also a group of guards who, following orders from unknown people, would patrol around the outer wall of Wu's house from time to time. Although they could not set up a guard post every five steps or a sentry every ten steps, they still kept a tight watch on the entire Wu's house.
Because Wu Chengjian had voted in the meeting to protect merchants and made a proactive donation, he had more initiative when facing Mr. Cai and the Guangdong Customs Supervisory Office, and was able to maintain his temporary dignity. Up to now , the banner soldiers have not even set foot inside, thus ensuring that the Wu family's inner residence is not harassed.
Moreover, because there were bannermen guarding the gate and runners patrolling, when the disaster was imminent, there was no incident of servants stealing property, selling property, or clerks from all over the city coming to extort money. Now, even if a servant wanted to steal property, they could not leave the Wu residence easily. If someone wanted to extort money, they could not get around the bannermen.
Servants who went out to buy daily necessities would be searched by the bannermen. Loose silver was allowed, but large pieces of gold and silver, or precious antiques, were not allowed to leave. Yang's trusted maid secretly wore fifteen or sixteen gold and silver bracelets, and Wu Chenggou's servant smuggled two small rare antiques in an attempt to sneak out, but they were both stopped.
Even those who came to collect debts could only cry outside the door and could not even step into the door.
Since the second day of the second round of investment, not even a fly has entered the Wu residence, and Wu Chengjian is happy to be quiet. But I heard that in the backyard, the old man is using family rules again. This time, in addition to the second young master of the Wu family, even Aunt Yang was slapped in the face.
A letter was sent from Huachahao. After reading it, Wu Chengjian called Xia Qing and said, "Take it to the right yard and the backyard and show it to the eldest sister-in-law and the old man."
Xia Qing asked, "Why do you want me to run errands?"
Normally, Chunrui would be asked to go for such things. If Chunrui was not there or could not leave, Qiu Wen would be asked to go. In the Wu residence, everyone thought that Xia Qing was the pretty maid that the Third Young Master kept in his room as his favorite. She was lazy and had a bad temper, so except for Zuo Yuan, she had a bad reputation in the family.
"Just go if I tell you to." Wu Chengjian said, "If you keep being lazy, you'll start to get fat. If you become a fat girl due to your laziness, I won't want you anymore."
"I'm not fat!" Xia Qing said angrily, "Even if I eat meat three times a day, I won't get fat."
But she still took the letter and went to the right first. Cai Qiaozhu opened the letter and read it. She was silent for a while before she said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness." She glanced at Xia Qing again and said, "I have also heard about what happened in the Zuoyuan these two days. You are also very good..." She glanced at the letter and said, "You are all very good. The ancients said that strong winds reveal strong grass, and turbulent times reveal loyal people - it is indeed so."
He asked Lian Qiao to take out two fine, intricately carved bracelets and gave them to Xia Qing as rewards.
Although the things were beautiful and valuable, Xia Qing had seen many good things in Wu Chengjian's room, so she just thanked the eldest young lady in a normal way. She just felt strange that the eldest young lady suddenly rewarded her, but she didn't ask any more questions.
Cai Qiaozhu had a very clear understanding of the people and things in the inner house. Seeing Xia Qing's demeanor and her character of not being tempted by gold and silver, she thought to herself, "No wonder Third Uncle likes her. She is indeed a good girl who is loved by everyone."
Xia Qing took the letter to the backyard and asked the old man to read it. Wu Guoying put on her glasses and read it once, then read it again. Then she put them down and sighed, "It's hard for Haoguan to spend so much money on her. After all, he is a man of love and righteousness. What a pity, what a pity, she fell into a lowly job by mistake, and she is a boat girl..."
He had just punished the concubine's son with family discipline, and was originally righteous. But when he saw the letter, his anger subsided by about 70%. He looked at Xia Qing again and said, "You are the one in Haoguan's room... called... called..."
"My lord, my name is Xia Qing."
"Oh, Xia Qing." The old man was in a good mood and liked Xia Qing: "Serve Haoguan well and make him live comfortably these days."
In the letter, Dan Sanniang told Wu Chengjian that she was planning to sell the Huachahao, but there was another thing she did not mention - her closing banquet was to be held today.
Wu Chengjian had originally insisted on being there, but Tan Sanniang thought, why bother him at this time of year, so she didn't mention it at all.
The invitations were sent out yesterday, and the time was set for lunch today. She spent some money to arrange some small boats for transportation back and forth between Shenxianzhou and Huacha.
If it had been during the heyday of the Wu family, with a scene like the one where Tanka Sanniang sealed the curtain, Wu Chengjian would have dared to sail the Huacha to the edge of Shenxianzhou and set up a joint attack between the two islands. He would have put thirty to fifty tables on the Huacha and another hundred to eighty tables on Shenxianzhou, with people flocking like mountains and wine flowing like water, and everyone in Guangzhou would have known about his commotion.
But now, the Huachahao is deserted.
Tan Sanniang had already budgeted less and only set up eight tables, intending to invite mothers and sisters who were familiar with her to come over for a gathering.
However, when it was almost time for dinner, not only were eight tables occupied, not even one was full - in such a large island like Shenxian Island, only two small boats arrived. One was for Mother Wang, who bought a Tanka Sanniang to join the flower business. According to the rules of the flower business, the two of them were considered to have a "mother-daughter relationship". The other one brought a third-class flower girl who had not yet opened for business.
There is no one else.
Of the eight tables filled with food and drinks, seven were empty.
A dozen or so good sisters in the past sent some gifts out of courtesy. Qiu Ling also wrote a short message, saying that a benefactor had insisted on staying and she couldn't leave today. As for Shen Xiaoying, Ginkgo and others, they didn't even get a piece of paper.
"I have only just learned the fickleness of human nature..." Tan Sanniang sighed, and then invited Wang Mama and the third-class Hua Niang to sit at the main table: "Thank you Mama for today, and thank you this sister."
Mother Wang said, "Sanniang, don't feel sad. It's human nature to be with a rich man and a poor woman. Don't you see this kind of thing happen often in Shenxianzhou?"
Tan Sanniang smiled, with a hint of bitterness on her lips: "I understand the truth, but when it really happens to me... I still feel a little sad."
"It's sad, but once this difficulty is over, everything will be fine in the future!" Mother Wang said, "Today was a good and bad thing. I won't talk about the bad things, but only the good things. It made you recognize people and the situation. You should know that you are no longer the same as you were yesterday. You have lost all the support that you had on the Third Young Master in the past, and there are a lot of people who are ready to take advantage of you. Sanniang, don't blame me for being nosy. You have to think carefully about the rest of your life. You should stop spending too much money. If you should stop it now."
"How can that be possible!" Tan Sanniang said, "The first phase of the manor has been built, and some sisters have moved in. I am afraid I am powerless to carry out the subsequent construction, but the houses that have been built in the first phase, as well as the mulberry, rice and fish fields that have been prepared, are enough for the sisters who have moved in to live out their lives. If I take back the manor, what will the sisters who have already moved in rely on?"
The third-class lady suddenly left the table, stood up and kowtowed to Tan Sanniang.
"Sister, what are you doing? Get up quickly."
The girl was only fifteen years old, hadn't even started school yet, and couldn't speak much.
Mother Wang said, "You don't recognize her, but she recognizes you as her benefactor. She is a child from the flower shop. Her mother accidentally got pregnant and couldn't abort the baby, so she gave birth to the child. Her mother got sick a few years ago and now has nowhere to go. Her daughter is not old enough to make money yet. If you hadn't taken her in at the charity home you built on Henan Island, she might have starved to death. Even if she hadn't starved to death, she would have been wandering the streets now."
If a prostitute is sick or old and has no savings, her end will be extremely miserable. She is actually worse than a beggar. People only despise beggars because they are dirty and poor, and may have some sympathy for them. A destitute prostitute has a moral stain and will be spit on by others.
Tan Sanniang helped the third-class Xiaohuaniang up and asked, "Sister, what's your name?"
Mother Wang said, "She stutters. Her name is Yu Lian'er."
Tan Sanniang carefully looked Yu Lian'er up and down and sighed, "Your eyes and eyebrows are actually quite pretty. What a pity! If I had known that you were so affectionate and righteous, I would have let the Third Young Master comb you and help you up, and you would have gotten a silver hairpin. Now... I'm afraid you'll have to bear the brunt of my troubles."
"Of course I will." Mother Wang said, "There are actually people in Shenxian Island who are grateful to you, but the only one who dared to come here today is this silly girl."
After the second round of investment in the business insurance, the Yang family suffered an extremely tragic end, but the Wu family remained silent for two consecutive days.
Ye Dalin felt more and more suspicious. He discussed with Ye Zhong and other confidants for a long time, but could not come up with a reliable opinion. He then discussed it with Ma. Although Ma was smart and capable, she was far inferior to her husband when it came to external affairs, and she could not explain the reason.
Ye Youyu happened to be listening and suddenly interrupted, "Father, no matter what the Wu family wants, our Ye family should also make more preparations."
Ma scolded: "You little slut, what do you know!"
Ye Dalin said casually: "Preparation? What preparation can we make at this time!"
Ye Youyu whispered, "As long as we spend the money quickly, won't our Wu family be safe?"
Ye Dalin was stunned for a moment, then he jumped up, scaring even Ma!
But then Ye Dalin shouted, "That's right! Why didn't I think of that?"
He was very active. Although it was already afternoon, he still called seven or eight upstream suppliers before sunset. During the conversation, he showed that he was willing to settle the bill in advance. In previous years, the insurance merchants usually settled the bills with the suppliers half a month to a month later, and it was not surprising that it took a year or two. After all, the big businessmen in Guangdong have already understood the principle that money flows like water. If the money stays in their hands for one more day, they will get countless benefits.
The Thirteen Hongs were in a sensitive period recently. The collapse of the Yang family also bankrupted dozens of upstream cooperative merchants, which made many suppliers feel sympathetic. When they heard that Ye Dalin wanted to settle the bill in advance, their eyes lit up. At this time, the sooner they got the money, the sooner they could feel at ease.
