Volume 2: Eagle vs. Dragon Chapter 35: Yizhuang
Wu Chengjian originally planned to get married after the Chinese New Year, so he could take his time. But when the weather turned cold, Wu Chengjun's condition suddenly relapsed. Although he was able to recover thanks to the efforts of Mr. He, the whole family was still worried.
Wu Guoying was an old-fashioned person, so he suggested moving the date forward to have a happy occasion. Wu Chengjian had no objection, so Cai Qiaozhu asked the fortune teller to pick a good date. However, the best day before the New Year was only half a month later, and Cai Qiaozhu was afraid that she would be too late to do many things.
Wu Chengjian said, "What's the big deal? Is there anything that can't be solved by spending money? If my sister-in-law has any difficulties, let Master Ci find a solution."
Cai Qiaozhu said: "That also depends on what the Ye family thinks."
When he asked the Ye family, they had no objection. Ye Dalin didn't take the matter too seriously and would rather finish it quickly. However, he asked someone to remind him, "I heard that Qi Guan has sent the troupe to your house?" The subtext of this sentence was to remind Wu Chengjian: the "deposit" has been paid, and you have to start the process of selecting a new general merchant.
Wu Chengjian replied: "We will do it soon, so that we can avoid any delays."
So the Wu and Ye families went ahead with the marriage. At the same time, Wu Chengjian spread the word that he was going to propose to Master Jishan to re-elect the head merchant of the Thirteen Hongs. This caused a sensation in the entire Xiguan.
Everyone thought: The Wu and Ye families had originally fallen out, but now they are getting married again, and it is said that they are planning to exchange many industries. This means they are forming an alliance again. It seems that Hao Guan is determined to get the position of chief merchant - otherwise why would he let go of the grudges before the reversal night and become the son-in-law of the Ye family, and marry a concubine's daughter.
Therefore, those who are waiting and watching are waiting, those who are watching the excitement are watching, and those who come to spread the news are spreading the news, just like a nest of restless rats.
Xiguan Street was bustling with activity, but Huachahao was deserted.
Since the banquet of thanksgiving in Shenxianzhou that night, Hao Guan has not come again. Not only that, Zhou Yijin is also preparing to move out recently. Although the silver flow from the Wu family to Huachahao has not been interrupted, how can outsiders know the inside story? There are inevitably many speculations.
Even Wang's mother was unstable. She came aboard several times to sigh and complain, and each time she said, "My daughter, you really did something wrong this time."
Tan Sanniang was still calm, but she was a little annoyed by Wang Mama's frequent visits, so she said to Bihe, "Pack up and let's stay at the charity cemetery for a few days."
Although Yizhuang is also in Henan, it is more remote and not close to Panjiayuan. Bihe said, "Miss, think about it carefully. If you go to Yizhuang, you will be even farther away from Haoguan. Whenever he thinks of you, it will be inconvenient for him to come."
Tan Sanniang said calmly, "To him, I am a close friend in a refined sense, and his mistress in a more vulgar sense. I should have stayed away from his wedding so as not to disturb his wedding."
As they talked, they really moved to the charity cemetery - there was a lot of construction going on there, and after arriving there, Tan Sanniang did not sit idle, but went to the fields and boats to help arrange various production and construction projects.
But her two words soon reached Wu Chengjian's ears. Wu Chengjian was so angry that he smashed cups and plates in the study room and said angrily: "She wants to hang me, fine, let her hang me! After we get married, I will bring my bride to Huachahao to show her how much we love each other!"
All the servants were blocked outside the study, and no one knew what was going on inside. Only Wu Qi was left in the study to endure Wu Chengjian's anger. He secretly complained in his heart, and found an opportunity to run to Manqian Penglai to ask Zhou Yijin what to do.
Zhou Yijin said: "You don't need to do anything. This is not your business."
Wu Qi said: "But seeing Hao Guan wasting time with San Niang like this, I feel bad too."
Zhou Yijin said, "This marriage has three layers of meaning. The outermost layer is what people in Xiguan say, that it is a marriage alliance between Wu and Ye. But the inner layer, not many people know about it, probably only a few of us know that there is a taste of impulsiveness here, Haoguan is fighting with Sanniang. He is ruthless to anger Sanniang, but if he really finds someone to marry, it will delay a girl's life, which is not what Haoguan is willing to do. Unexpectedly, at this time, the third lady of the Ye family bumped into him and just proposed this deal, so Haoguan went with the flow."
Wu Qi said: "But in the deal that day, Miss Ye San only said that she was willing to be a concubine."
Zhou Yijin smiled faintly and said, "For a girl's life and innocence, being a wife or a concubine is the same, and a concubine is not as good as a wife. But for Hao Guan, taking a concubine will not stimulate Sanniang, so it is better to marry her openly. It's just that he didn't expect Sanniang to be so patient and not be stimulated at all."
"I've thought of this level as well." Wu Qi said, "But what's the other level?"
Zhou Yijin's expression became slightly serious, and he said, "There is another layer... Even if I tell you now, you still won't understand."
After Wu Qi left, Zhou Yijin looked at his reflection in the water and murmured, "In fact, in this world, everyone is helpless."
At this time, a very pretty female role in the troupe came over and asked Zhou Yijin to point out some details in the Awakening from a Dream scene. Looking at the pretty face of the young female role, Zhou Yijin smiled, stopped thinking about those annoying things, and immersed himself in the troupe.
In the Wu family mansion in Xiguan, Cai Qiaozhu and Chuan Longci began to get busy inside and outside - they had to handle the wedding and arrange the move. On the contrary, Wu Chengjian, who was a hands-off shopkeeper in this marriage, saw that the family was very complicated with all kinds of people coming in and out, so he simply lived in Yihe Bank. If the shopkeepers had official business to find him, it would be more convenient here - there was a room for living and sleeping here. In the past, Wu Chengjun sometimes lived here for ten days and a half a month when he was the busiest. However, the living facilities in the bank were too simple after all. Wu Chengjun, who regarded his career as his life, could get used to it, but Wu Chengjian, who was used to enjoying life, could not stay for long.
Wu Chengjian's working style is different from Wu Chengjun's. Wu Chengjun almost does everything himself - otherwise he would not have become ill from overwork in just a few years. Wu Chengjian, on the other hand, focuses on the big things and lets go of the small things. In the morning, he meets with the six big shopkeepers, and in the afternoon, he has nothing to do.
Yihehang is located near the river and close to the water - after all, transporting bulk goods by water is the most convenient and cost-effective way - warehouses are near the docks, and shops are near the streets. Xingchenghang and Yihehang are very close to each other, almost sticking to each other, and the two nearest warehouses even share a wall.
Xingchenghang was Tonghehang, Tonghehang was Wanbaohang, Wanbaohang was Hongtaihang - one business after another, one warehouse after another, formed a century of prosperity. Most of China's export goods from inland provinces gathered here, entered the warehouses, and then were shipped overseas, and then collected shiploads of overseas silver.
Wu Chengjian sat on the arcade, looking at the river, thinking: "If we get off the boat here, we can enter Baietan in one row." The boat can go to Shenxianzhou to the left or to Huachahao to the right, but Shenxianzhou without Tan Sanniang is boring, and Huachahao... now even Huachahao is gone.
Wu Chengjian felt annoyed for a while, but he was also a little worried about Tan Sanniang , thinking, "I don't know how she is doing at the charity cemetery." As he was thinking, he suddenly called Wu Qi, "Let's go, drive a speedboat."
Wu Qi had been worried about Wu Chengjian's moodiness these days, so he asked happily, "Are you going to Shenxianzhou?"
"Go to your mother's fairyland!" Wu Chengjian said, "Go to the charity cemetery."
"Charity cemetery?" Wu Qi was stunned: "What charity cemetery?"
The charity cemetery purchased and built by Tan Sanniang is located in a remote area, far to the southeast of Henan Island and close to Lijiao Island. The land here was originally barren, and Tan Sanniang spent money to renovate it into a mulberry-based fish pond. However, due to limited soil fertility, the output was only mediocre.
A row of fishing villages were renovated near the water, and trees were planted around the charity cemetery. The trees serve as a forest wall, and when the trunks grow thicker, they can be used to make coffins in the future. The mulberry fish pond surrounded by the tree wall and the fishing village are the industry of the entire charity cemetery. After completion, these two items will be the main source of income for the charity cemetery.
The fields around the charity cemetery were rented out without collecting rent, and the grain collected was used directly as food for the charity cemetery. The fishing villages and fish ponds provided fish and meat for the fishing villages, and the silk produced by the mulberry trees was woven by the people in the charity cemetery and sold for a little money as a side business to generate some income. If all of these were added up and converted into silver, it would be so little that the guarantors of the Thirteen Hongs would laugh at them. However, if it was managed well, it would be enough to provide for the raising and burial of a hundred orphans, the elderly and the infirm.
The majority of the funding for this charity cemetery actually came from Wu Chengjian, but he himself had never been here before. This was his first time. The fishing village and the Sangji fish pond were already in operation, and now they were all closed in winter, but the charity cemetery was being built. When Wu Chengjian came, he happened to see rows of houses being built here. Each room was small and cramped, and could only accommodate a small bed, a cabinet, and a small table. In addition, there was not much room for maneuvering - it was slightly spacious for one person to sleep, but it would be crowded for two people. Each row of houses had a public stove, and the entire charity cemetery had a public bathhouse.
Wu Chengjian, Wu Qi, and Tietou Junba walked along the way, looking around without asking for directions. In fact, he had seen the design drawings of these houses, but seeing the drawings and seeing them with one's own eyes are two different things. People who are used to living in big houses suddenly frowned when they saw these houses and said, "These houses are too small."
Wu Qi also said: "Yes, how can people live here!" His room is not only this big.
Tietou Junba said , "These houses are well ventilated and well lit. The walls and tiles are also very thick and can withstand wind and rain. They are convenient for cooking and sleeping. They are all good houses. When I get old, I will get one here to live in."
Wu Chengjian scolded, "What you said is really pathetic! The money I give you a year is enough for you to build a big house in Guangzhou. If you follow me until you are old, it will be enough for you to open a small business. Why are you talking so depressingly about living here?"
Tietou Junba said, "The big houses in the provincial capital are too expensive, and there are many people who are jealous. It's better here. A few kilograms of coarse rice can make you live for a day, and three acres of land rent can make you live for a year. No one is jealous or resentful, and this is the only place where you can live long-term."
Wu Chengjian remained silent - in fact, this was the original intention of the planning of this charity cemetery. Tan Sanniang wanted to build this charity cemetery back then, but she did not want it to become a bottomless pit that sucked the blood of the Wu family after it was built, so Zhou Yijin made a comprehensive plan for her and chose such a remote and barren place. Because of its remoteness and barrenness, it would not cause conflicts with others. Also because of its remoteness and barrenness, those powerful people would probably not come to fight for it after it was built - what's the point of fighting for a place that doesn't produce much cash?
Even the design of the house reflects this idea: although the house is built to be solid and durable, it is narrow and shabby, so that the rich will not want to seize it, but it is enough for the elderly and the weak to live in and see them to the end of their lives.
