Chapter 87 It's just money, I have plenty!
She had just checked the gift list; it included ten thousand taels of silver. The Grand Madam could take it with her on her journey south. The other gifts were also valuable items. If the Grand Madam ever ran out of money, she could exchange them for cash.
Min Qiao understood Wei Jia's thoughts, but she still shook her head and stated her decision: "Keep them. When Rongrong gets married, add them to her dowry."
Wei Jia immediately became anxious: "Madam, these are gifts from the Earl of Enping, especially the ten thousand taels of silver, which the Earl of Enping personally promised..."
"Stop talking, just do as I say." Madam Min sighed and comforted her, "I know you feel guilty because Rongrong's matter has caused me trouble, so you hope I will accept these things as compensation. But I don't want to have too much involvement with the Enping Marquis's Mansion, so I can't accept these things."
Wei Jia looked somewhat dejected, hesitated for a long time before muttering a sob: "I clearly felt that that little devil Ajiu was spending too much money, and I was afraid that the Grand Madam wouldn't have enough money when she went south."
Min Qiao looked at the awkward Wei Jia and couldn't help but smile. She had clearly been exposed, yet she was using A Jiu as a scapegoat. A Jiu had watched her make a fool of herself earlier, so she deserved it.
"Alright, it's just a matter of money. Do you think I'd be short of money?"
Madam Min Qiao smiled and said, "However, you have reminded me. Ajiu needs to take her medicine continuously for a year without interruption. On this journey south, I will have to collect medicinal herbs for her along the way, so I need to bring plenty of money."
Wei Jia said dejectedly, "The medicinal herbs that Ajiu needs are all expensive and rare! These days, the Grand Madam has had people visit all the major medical clinics in the capital, and has almost spent all of the Grand Madam's cash."
"You haven't seen it, but Steward Yang's hair has almost turned white from worrying about money these days."
"Right now, the only silver available for the Dowager Lady to take on her trip to Jiangnan is two thousand taels. Steward Yang said that's all the cash they have. Any more, and they'll have to sell their estates and shops."
Wei Jia spoke with a bitter and resentful tone, looking dejected, but Madam Min Qiao seemed indifferent.
She listened to Wei Jia's complaints as she walked towards the warehouse. By the time Wei Jia finished speaking, they had reached the warehouse door.
"It's just money, I have plenty!"
He pointed to the warehouse door and said, "Open it. Take out that red coral ornament and sell it, then you'll have the money."
Previously, when the Dowager Princess of the Chang'an Prince's Mansion celebrated her birthday, she wanted to "cause trouble" by using someone else's territory. Therefore, as compensation, she planned to send a more valuable gift.
Wei Jia found this red coral ornament at that time.
If it weren't for Granny Fang stopping her, this red coral ornament would have been given away on the spot.
Now, this red coral ornament has come in handy again.
Exchange for silver!
Yes, if I remember correctly, it can be exchanged for 100,000 taels of silver!
It's just going to collect dust in the warehouse; it's not something you can eat or drink.
Don't even mention keeping it as a family heirloom. She has nothing to leave to her descendants!
She wanted to spend, use, and enjoy all the good things while she was still alive. She wouldn't leave a single penny to her unworthy descendants!
“Madam, perhaps we should just give up on it? Didn’t Granny Fang say that this red coral ornament is of great significance to you? Selling it for money is really not a good idea.”
Wei Jia quickly waved her hand to refuse, then suggested, "How about we borrow the silver that the Earl of Enping sent? Anyway, Rongrong won't be getting married anytime soon. We can borrow it for now and pay him back later."
Madam Min Qiao said firmly, "Not a single penny of the silver sent by the Earl of Enping can be touched. Listen to me, take the red coral ornament and sell it."
"Keeping this red coral ornament is just a keepsake. I'm going back to my parents' home soon, and I'll be able to see them. What's the point of thinking about a red coral ornament?"
Wei Jia thought about it and agreed, "Then let's sell it?"
"Sell!"
"What if Granny Fang finds out and tries to stop us?"
"If she dares to stop me, I won't let her come back to Jiangnan with me. Let's see if she still tries to stop me then!"
"Pfft!" Wei Jia couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Granny Fang wants to return to Jiangnan even more than the Grand Madam. If she's really not allowed to go back, she'll probably kill her.
Having dispelled all her concerns, Wei Jia then called for someone to bring out the red coral ornament and place it in the center of the main room.
Everyone was amazed when they saw the half-person-high red coral ornament.
"So beautiful!" "So pretty!" "The color is so red!"...
Many young maids gathered around to see what was happening.
Wei Jia told the little girl to stay away and be careful not to bump into or hurt herself.
The maids all stood obediently at a distance to watch.
Wei Jia then asked Madam Min Qiao, "Madam, how do you plan to sell this ornament? Are you going to send it directly to a pawnshop?"
One of the items in Min Qiao's dowry was a pawnshop.
However, in order to prepare for the Grand Madam's trip south, and later the Grand Madam wanted to do everything she could to purchase precious medicinal herbs for Ajiu, Manager Yang emptied the cash reserves of all the shops.
In order to keep the pawnshop running, although it had some silver on hand, it would never be able to come up with 100,000 taels of silver!
Therefore, if you want to pawn something, you can only send it to another store.
Madam Min shook her head. "We won't sell them at pawnshops; we'll sell them at home."
Wei Jia was taken aback, then realized, "Does the Grand Madam mean that if we let the word out, people who want to buy will naturally come to us?"
"Yes. Only by seeing this red coral ornament in person can one know its true value."
“But this might not be good for the reputation of the Dowager Madam!” Wei Jia hesitated. “I’m afraid the Marquis and his wife might not be happy about it either.”
"Do you think I still care about my reputation?" Madam Min Qiao curled her lip in disdain. "If I don't even care about my reputation, why would I care about the opinions of Min Rong and the others?"
Wei Jia gave an awkward smile, speechless.
"Alright, do as I say."
"yes."
"Hurry up, Min Hui's wedding is in two days. Try to sell the red coral within ten days. Once we have the money, we'll head to Jiangnan."
"Yes, I will go down and discuss this matter with Steward Yang right away."
"Go."
***
Meanwhile, in the Begonia Courtyard, Madam He said to Madam Wu with an indignant expression, "Sister, aren't you angry?"
Without even glancing at He, Wu said in a calm tone, "What do I have to be angry about?"
Madam He was annoyed by her lack of self-respect, saying, "Sister is the Lady of the Marquis's Mansion, and she is the mistress of the mansion! Yet the people from next door come and say they want to visit the Grand Madam, without even mentioning that they are here to pay their respects to Sister and the Marquis."
"Now they're bringing boxes and boxes of gifts to the Grand Madam's courtyard! Why don't they send anything to my sister and the Marquis?"
"This Marquis's family is surnamed Min, not Qiao!"
"Besides, the Grand Madam is too inconsiderate. She received so many good things, and not only did she not send them to the Marquis's mansion, but she also didn't share any with my sister, the Marquis, or the children."
"Are you trying to sow discord between me and the Grand Madam?"
Madam Wu dropped her needlework, glanced at Madam He with disdain, and said sarcastically, "I've even given you the power to manage the Marquis's mansion, so what kind of mistress am I? Aren't you the mistress of this mansion?"
"What? You couldn't get anything good out of the Grand Madam, so you want to incite me to go against her? Ha, you think you can use me as a tool?"
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