Chapter 8 Delivering Two Baskets of Coal to Miss Lin "After dealing with him, we can't..."

That evening, Li Chengwu and Miao Zhenchuan returned from inquiring about news at the Wanping County government office.

Li Chengwu was one of their own, so Mu Chuan didn't try to hide anything from him. Miao Zhenchuan said directly, "The land deed is in Zhou Rui's name. It's thirty-five mu of land, priced at six hundred taels. That county magistrate back then is now the tax official of Chongwen Gate."

Mu Chuan laughed: "Putting everything else aside, if I were to find some good jobs for the brothers that guarantee a stable income regardless of drought or flood, the best option would be the tax officer position at Chongwen Gate."

"You've all worked hard these past few days, so please get some rest."

Mu Chuan had only said one sentence when a servant knocked on the door again: "Sir, there is an invitation for you."

When Mu Chuan received it, he saw that it was a letter from the Rongguo Mansion, written in Lin Daiyu's own handwriting.

Strip away the unnecessary greetings and formalities, and to sum it up, it's simply, "I have a slight cold and cannot see guests."

"Your handwriting is quite beautiful," Mu Chuan said with a smile. "A teenage girl's handwriting is much better than our strategist's."

Miao Zhenchuan was still somewhat unconvinced. He leaned over to take a look, chuckled, and joined in mocking the strategist: "He is indeed better looking than the strategist."

Although it seemed a bit lewd to bring the scent close to his nose, Mu Chuan did indeed smell a faint fragrance. "The strategist is still taking stock of his assets at the new house, and you're making up stories about him like this. Tomorrow, have him write another letter, inquiring about her health, and send two more baskets of charcoal over."

Miao Zhenchuan, being a trusted confidant, naturally knew that his general had no past relationship with Lin Ruhai, but Li Chengwu did not. He asked, "Fourth Uncle, if he really did have a past relationship with Lord Lin, this is probably... a young girl, isn't that inappropriate?"

Mu Chuan glanced at him: "You know about the Ning and Rong mansions, and you know about the Jia family?"

Li Chengwu, unaware of the situation, nodded.

"That's the only clean person I have left." Mu Chuan put the letter away and placed it on the table: "I'm an innocent person, so I can only have a past relationship with the Lin family."

As night fell, Granny Liu, having traveled all day, switched from a mule cart to an oxcart, and finally spent a fortune to get a horse-drawn carriage, and finally arrived in the capital before dark.

The three of them, grandfather, grandson, and granddaughter, carrying cloth bags, hurried to the back gate of Rongguo Mansion.

"I would like to trouble you to see Aunt Zhou."

Although Granny Liu hadn't seen the masters of Rongguo Mansion since she brought things over the past few years, and hadn't even seen Miss Ping who had specifically mentioned liking dried vegetables, she had still become somewhat familiar with them. The old woman behind the gate didn't know the inside story about the masters, so she still politely said, "You'll have to wait a little while, it's time for Zhou Mama to eat right now."

Grandma Liu put down her bag, rubbed her sore legs and feet, and sighed.

Zhou Rui's wife was right at the back door. Upon receiving the news, she was still somewhat puzzled: "Last time, Madam said she wouldn't let her come to beg for money anymore. It's only been a few years, and the money is all gone?"

Zhou Rui returned after collecting the land rent. He was in charge of the Rongguo Mansion's land rent for the spring and autumn seasons. His superiors were ignorant and easy to fool, and they always managed to siphon off a lot of benefits.

He had just received a benefit, was in a good mood, and was at his most magnanimous time of the year.

"Go and take a look. After all, we are related to the Wang family. As servants, we should share our master's burdens. Since Madam is unwilling to see her, we cannot let this matter be brought to Madam's attention."

It was cold at night, so Zhou Rui's wife put on a thick coat before heading to the back door.

"Sister-in-law Zhou." From afar, Granny Liu greeted her first.

"Grandma Liu," Zhou Rui's wife said with a rather ambiguous smile, "you've become quite well-off in just a few years."

"Thank you, thank you." Granny Liu said politely, "These are freshly dried vegetables, which Miss Ping specifically requested."

"Why did you deliver it personally?" Zhou Rui's wife replied absentmindedly. In which year didn't Granny Liu deliver it personally? It's just that in previous years she would leave after dropping off the things and never asked to meet.

"Take the children to see the capital, especially my granddaughter—" Granny Liu pulled Qing'er along: "She's getting old, it'll be good for her to broaden her horizons and get married."

“That’s something we should take a good look at. Look, I’m still eating.” Zhou Rui’s wife drawled, her forced smile almost gone.

"Well, there's something I thought I should tell you about," Granny Liu said slowly. "It's about the land that Gou'er helped Zhou Rui buy a few years ago. The owner of that house has returned."

Zhou Rui's wife knew about this. Buying the land was not only to leave some property for her descendants, but also to prepare for the future after she was freed from slavery so that she would have someone to rely on. However, Zhou Rui must have used some tricks when he contacted Wang Gou'er to buy the land.

With the Rongguo Mansion as their backing, only a fool wouldn't take advantage of it.

"What? You think the money isn't enough?"

"Sigh." Granny Liu sighed, "It's not about the money. That land belongs to the loyal and brave Earl who presented the captives at the Meridian Gate a few days ago."

A bolt from the blue! Zhou Rui's wife froze.

But over the years she has also become more experienced, especially since her master is easy to fool, she has become increasingly bold.

In short, let's keep Granny Liu calm first.

"Oh, I thought it was something serious. It's nothing, you don't need to worry about it. If he wants it back, just give it to him, it's just a matter of a few acres of land. Our Rongguo Mansion has seven or eight estates, do you think we'd be short of something like that?"

Zhou Rui's wife was very confident, and her words even carried a hint of disdain for this first-class uncle. Granny Liu felt relieved and a smile appeared on her face.

"Ahem, I just came to let you know, so that if news comes suddenly, your household won't be caught off guard."

Zhou Rui's wife took out two silver coins from her purse and stuffed them into Qing'er's hand: "These are for her dowry."

Granny Liu thanked her again, and Zhou Rui's wife said, "Take a good stroll around the capital, it's very lively. Don't worry, I'll go back and tell my master, and when the Fifteenth Madam goes to the palace, I'll tell the Imperial Concubine. It's not a big deal. A first-class earl, fussing over such a small piece of land, even the Emperor would think he's making a mountain out of a molehill and not being magnanimous enough."

These light and disdainful words completely dispelled the last trace of doubt in Granny Liu's heart. She smiled and said, "You should go back and eat quickly, or you'll get a stomachache from the cold. We're leaving now, it's getting dark, and we still need to find an inn."

Inns in the capital are expensive, and besides, Granny Liu is traveling with a young girl and a boy, which isn't safe. Unfortunately, Zhou Rui's wife was preoccupied with her own thoughts and had no intention of keeping her. She simply said, "Be careful on your journey," and turned to leave.

Zhou Rui's wife hurried back and told Zhou Rui what had happened. She then said, "I'm thinking we can't tell Madam. If we step in and take the blame for him, wouldn't all the blame fall on us? We should let the Earl of Zhongyong vent his anger on them first. What do you think?"

Zhou Rui nodded, then said angrily, "He's the one who framed me! He thinks I'm stupid. He knows we have a lot of work to do in our household, and he knows I don't have time. He wanted to help me look after the land and become a second landlord or estate manager. How could I let him have his way? He's taking our hen to lay eggs. He's dreaming!"

Over the years, Zhou Rui has had many things to do. He squinted and recalled for a long time, "It was a good piece of land, worth several hundred taels of silver. He spent less than a hundred taels in total. Who knows what he sold to us? There might be something wrong with that land. He must have cheated both sides."

As they talked, Zhou Rui's wife also remembered: "...Madam has been kind enough to find a way for our son-in-law to go into the antique business."

Moreover, once the two of them had established themselves, Madam Wang had completely taken control of the Rongguo Mansion, and Second Madam Lian began to charge into battle. With more opportunities to make money, who would still be thinking about farming in misery?

"Never mind," said Zhou Rui's wife. "We're in the Rongguo Mansion anyway, what can he do? He can't possibly turn against the Rongguo Mansion for a few acres of land."

Zhou Rui was drinking and eating, and said with a smile, "Wang Gou'er deserves to be taught a lesson, but if we teach him a lesson, we can't teach me one."

The next morning, Mu Chuan got up and calculated the date. It was already the eighth day of the tenth month. Dai Quan had said that he had to fulfill his duties as the Grand General of the Dragon Guard within five days, so there needed to be a plan.

However, the Dragon Guards were just a joke, as you can tell from their numbers. What could three hundred men possibly do? There were more than that many guards at the palace gates.

Therefore, these people certainly did not hold official positions, and they certainly wouldn't visit the palace every day.

As Mu Chuan pondered this, he packed his things and went to Bei'an Gate to find Eunuch Mei: "I'll trouble you to inform the Imperial Guards about tomorrow's training."

"Oh dear," said Eunuch Mei, "I can't make that decision. I'll go find Eunuch Dai."

Not long after, Dai Quan came out. After exchanging pleasantries, Mu Chuan repeated what he had said. Dai Quan said, "That's right. They are all sons of military officers. Let His Majesty see their demeanor. I will send someone to inform them in a moment. They all live in the inner city, and they will definitely all arrive by tomorrow."

Mu Chuan nodded and said, "I haven't returned to my hometown yet. After tomorrow, I'm afraid I'll have to ask for a few days off."

"It's alright," Dai Quan said with a smile. "You were supposed to have a month's leave anyway. General, just go back. The Emperor Emeritus has no place for me."

He could take that with a grain of salt; he just wanted to test the waters. He definitely needed to ask for leave in person, otherwise, what if Dai Quan interfered?

Who would believe in the integrity of a eunuch?

Mu Chuan smiled and said, "Then I'll entrust everything to Eunuch Dai."

After finishing this matter, it was already noon. Mu Chuan thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Let's go see the chieftain. I wonder how he's doing in the capital."

Accompanying Mu Chuan today is Dou Changzong, also from the outskirts of the capital. He has been a soldier for over twenty years and has been under Mu Chuan's command for the past few years. He is a reliable and hardworking man.

Mu Chuan brought him back to explore the possibilities first, whether it was finding him a job or starting a business in his own shop, he needed to give it a try. There were still many soldiers of marriageable age who needed to be settled.

The imperial court's policy was to return to one's place of origin, but most people were illiterate, and even he searched for several years before finally finding his way home.

In short, Mu Chuan would never abandon his responsibilities.

Dou Changzong laughed and said, "How is it not good? The capital is much better than Beili. It's snowing in Beili right now."

The two headed towards Ningyuan. At this time, Mu Chuan's reply and two baskets of charcoal were also delivered to Rongguo Mansion.

While they were still packing, the Marquis of Zhongyong's family wrote a reply and immediately brought over two baskets of charcoal that Eunuch Mei had specially delivered yesterday.

—The finest red charcoal, specially made for the retired emperor.

Winter days are short, and as Grandmother Jia gets older, she needs less sleep and is even less inclined to take a nap. After meals, she chats with everyone until she feels sleepy before continuing her conversation.

In the past, only the grandchildren were present, but because a loyal and brave uncle said he had a past with the Lin family, both Aunt Xue and Lady Wang were somewhat flustered and appeared in Grandmother Jia's room without prior arrangement.

They called it "being tired too," and suggested relieving fatigue together.

The old woman at the second gate, carrying a letter and followed by two baskets of charcoal, arrived at Grandmother Jia's room.

Grandmother Jia's eyesight was poor, so Jia Baoyu used the excuse of reading a letter to her to take something and sit down next to Lin Daiyu, saying, "Take a look first."

Madam Wang felt increasingly uncomfortable. How could someone possibly go to such lengths to please her? They weren't even trying to hide anything.

Why should the old lady sacrifice her son to take care of her granddaughter?

When she enters the palace at fifteen, she will definitely have a good talk with Yuan Chun.

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "It's just two baskets of charcoal. We can just send them to Daiyu's room. Do we have to bring them here for Grandmother to see?"

As she spoke, she stood up, walked slowly over, and said with a smile, "Let me see what kind of good charcoal it is."

Upon closer inspection, she spotted the yellow silk cloth from the Imperial Household Department on the frame. Xue Baochai's expression immediately changed: "It's actually a red basket of charcoal."

In front of Madam Wang, Tan Chun didn't laugh out loud, but asked, "Our household uses silver wire charcoal, what? Is this even better than silver wire charcoal?"

A note from the author:

----------------------

Although this gift is a bit strange, you should believe that the male lead will give many more strange gifts in the future.