Chapter 485 The Jiang Family Enters Beijing
She truly had no idea that her extra dowry and the five hundred taels of silver she kept hidden away came from this source.
If she had known earlier, she would have preferred to cancel the engagement rather than let her mother steal the old lady's shop money as her dowry.
However, her mother did all this so that she could hold her head high in the Gu family, so she couldn't blame her mother for anything.
All we can do is try to find a way to make up for that money.
"no!"
As soon as Yang Honglan finished speaking, Liao objected, "If the Gu family finds out what you're doing, how will you live in the Gu family?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Mother, have you ever thought about why the Gu family would marry me if it weren't for the old lady?"
Yang Honglan saw things more clearly than anyone else, so her attitude was very firm: "We cannot sever ties with the old lady!"
Liao bit her lip, still unwilling to give up, and said, "But the old lady doesn't lack these few coins, so why is she so fixated on us?"
"Our family has served her for decades, surely we're worth less than a thousand taels of silver?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Zhong slapped Liao across the face.
"Without the old lady, where would our family be today?"
"If you dare say another bad word about the old lady, believe me, I'll divorce you right now!"
Liao flinched, still unwilling, but ultimately kept quiet.
"Father, let's sell the house in the south and move back to the west," Yang Zhong suggested.
Ultimately, it was because they bought this house that they lacked the money to prepare a dowry for Lan Jie'er.
When they left the old lady's side, in addition to giving them fifty acres of good land in the suburbs of Beijing, she also gave them a considerable amount of silver. Combined with the savings they had accumulated over the years, they had more than two thousand taels of silver.
Such a large sum of money would be enough for any family to live comfortably for a lifetime.
However, because Yang Hongyuan had passed the imperial examination and was destined for a bright future, they began to plot to leave the western part of the city. So they spent all their savings to buy a house in the southern part of the city.
With the remaining one hundred taels of silver, plus the monthly salary earned by the three of them helping to manage the old lady's business, they were more than able to make a living.
But Yang Honglan had arranged a good marriage for herself...
Yang An nodded, and was about to agree.
Just then, Yang Hongyuan, who had been silent all along, spoke up.
"Father, Grandpa, let's not sell the house for now. Give me three days, and I'll find a way to get the old lady's forgiveness."
***
Qiao Qinghe knew nothing about the Yang family's affairs.
She has already begun arranging personnel to take over from the Yang family.
There are many capable people, but very few who are both capable and trustworthy.
Just as Qiao Qinghe was pondering which manager to promote, Wei Jia and her group finally returned to the capital.
"Why are you the only one here? Where are the others? Weren't we supposed to be going back to Beijing together?"
Qiao Qinghe was very surprised to see that only Wei Jia had returned.
Wei Jia explained, "My mother, my second brother, and my younger sister have all gone back to their own house. They said they'll come to see you again in a couple of days after they've settled in."
Qiao Qinghe, holding Wei Jia's hand, personally led the group to Suishan Residence next to the main courtyard.
"This will be your courtyard from now on. You can choose how many maids you need to serve you. If the ones in the manor aren't suitable, you can buy them from outside. It's all up to you."
"Thank you, ma'am," Wei Jia said with a smile.
"You should change how you address someone from now on," Qiao Qinghe reminded her.
“Yes, Mother.” Wei Jia readily changed her address, “But, about Jingyuan’s mother…”
Qiao Qinghe had noticed before that Wei Jia called Zhou Shi "Mother" and Qiao Jingyao and Qiao Yuanyao "Second Brother" and "Little Sister," respectively. This showed that they had already recognized each other's identities when they were in Huizhou.
However, now that we're back in Beijing, it's time to discuss the adoption with the Zhou family in person.
"I'll talk to my sister-in-law. You don't need to worry about it."
After leading Weijia into the house, Qiao Qinghe talked with her for a while before preparing to leave.
Wei Jia suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Mother, when we entered the city, we ran into Prefect Jiang and his entourage."
"Prefect Jiang? Which Prefect Jiang?" Qiao Qinghe couldn't think of it for a moment.
Ah Shuang, however, was the first to react, "Sister Wei Jia, uh, is the First Madam referring to Prefect Jiang of Huizhou City? The grandfather of Miss Jiang Hongling?"
Qiao Qinghe also remembered such a person, "Isn't he the prefect of Huizhou? How come he's in the capital?"
"Besides, isn't he closely related to the Min family of Huizhou? I remember his daughter is the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the Min family."
"When the Min family's property was confiscated, was the Jiang family not implicated?"
Qiao Qinghe had quite a few doubts in her mind.
Wei Jia shook her head. "The Jiang family was not implicated by the Min family. When the Min family's property was raided, it was Prefect Jiang who took the initiative to cooperate with the garrison's guards."
"As for the Jiang family's daughter who married into the Min family, Prefect Jiang severed ties with her on the spot, his attitude was very decisive."
"So, did Prefect Jiang come to the capital alone, or with his whole family?" Qiao Qinghe frowned.
Wei Jia thought for a moment and replied, "It should be the whole family together."
"More than a dozen carriages, and many escorts. They look like a family coming to the capital."
"They came together... Could it be that they've been promoted?"
Qiao Qinghe was startled. How could she forget that Jiang Huai had personally said that Min Ji not only had a great kindness to him and helped him get a smooth job, but also helped him to rise to the fourth rank. It was no exaggeration to say that Min Ji had given him a second life.
Therefore, she had long ago concluded that Jiang Huai was a staunch supporter of Min Ji.
Now, Min Ji may have returned to the capital, and Jiang Huai has followed him there.
For ordinary people, their career path usually ends at the fourth rank in their entire lives.
Jiang Huai had indeed served as the prefect for many years.
Could Min Ji's sudden promotion be another of his doing?
"Ah Shuang, quickly send someone to investigate what exactly happened with Jiang Huai's trip to the capital!"
"Yes. I'll go right away." Ah Shuang quickly left.
***
At the same time, the Jiang family's convoy successfully arrived at a house at the border of the East and South City.
Min Pan'er and Jiang Hongling were already waiting here.
Upon seeing the Jiang family members getting out of the car, Min Pan'er, leaning on her cane, stepped forward to greet them, "Grandpa Jiang, Uncle Jiang, Aunt Jiang, my sister Jiang and I have finally been waiting for you."
Jiang Hongling reluctantly stepped forward and called out, "Grandpa, Dad."
Jiang Fu glared at him and reprimanded sharply, "Didn't you see your mother was here too?"
Jiang Hongling rolled her eyes. That was her stepmother, and a treacherous one at that! Why was she calling her that?
Seeing Jiang Hongling's expression, Jiang Fu became furious and was about to scold her.
Madam Qian, standing to the side, said sarcastically, "Master, it's your first day in the capital, so please don't scold Hongling. She's been disregarding me for a long time now. Don't let such a trivial matter ruin your good mood for coming to the capital."
As she spoke, she glanced at Min Pan'er beside her and said with a look of disgust, "Isn't this Min Pan'er, the illegitimate daughter of the Min family? The entire Min clan has been raided and exiled, how come you're alright? And you even dare to show your face in the capital. Could you be a fish that slipped through the net?"
"Shut up!"
Jiang Huai, who had been silent all along, suddenly shouted a stern rebuke to stop them.
"From now on, Pan'er is the daughter of the Jiang family, the second young lady of the Jiang family. You are her parents. Do you understand?"
Jiang Fu retorted, "Father, what are you saying? What second young lady? The second young lady of the Jiang family should be my Yingluo!"
Madam Qian murmured softly, "At this time, instead of severing ties with the Min family, he's even bringing Min family girls into his home. What is the old man thinking?"
Jiang Huai glanced at her son and daughter-in-law, and declared decisively, "From now on, the Jiang family will have three young ladies. Eldest Miss Jiang Hongling, Second Miss Jiang Pan'er, and Third Miss Jiang Yingluo. Did you all understand?"
As he spoke, he scanned the entire room.
The servants behind him responded in unison, "We heard you clearly."
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