"This Master He, he was rich and powerful for most of his life, but in the end he just had a hasty and simple funeral."
"It's already quite good that you could do it this well."
"I heard that all the maids and servants in the He family have been dismissed, and now it's an empty mansion, with only Young Master He keeping vigil."
"What about the concubines in the backyard?"
"Upon seeing that Master He had passed away yesterday afternoon, he fled early in the night."
I heard they also took a lot of valuables from the He family.
All those valuable decorative items were taken away.
"Yes, my aunt didn't get anything."
So she moved the set of water nanmu wood cabinets and bed from her room back to her parents' home.
"She's a concubine, after all; how can she be so shabby when she goes back to her parents' home?"
"It would be good enough to get a set of furniture made of Phoebe zhennan wood; that would be worth a fortune."
He could take it to the carpenter's shop and sell it for money; if he lived frugally for the rest of his life, he could make a living.
"The most pitiful one is Young Master He. I heard that no one from Young Master He's maternal family came to offer condolences."
"Isn't the young master He's maternal family in Jincheng?"
"It's in our Jincheng, but they're a prominent family. How could they possibly lower themselves to come here to offer condolences?"
"When Young Master He's mother died two years ago, didn't no one from Jincheng come to visit either?"
"Young Master He's mother was born into the Cui family, a prominent family in Jincheng, and was born to a concubine."
Wouldn't someone born from a concubine's womb be less favored?
The Cui family would certainly not come for a married illegitimate daughter.
The reason Master He agreed to marry her was because he valued her family background; he married her for the prestige of such a family.
To put it bluntly, they just wanted to be associated with this prestigious family name so they wouldn't be seen as nouveau riche merchants.
"The reason the Cui family was willing to marry off their daughter back then was simply because they were interested in the He family's betrothal gifts!"
Good heavens! Back then, there was a whole bunch of shiny silver ingots neatly arranged in front of the Cui family's gate!
That caused quite a stir in Jincheng at the time!
Leaving aside the silver, they gave us two whole chests of jewelry alone.
I heard that the Cui family invited the old lady of the He family to live with them right away.
When Master He first proposed to Madam He, he practically showered her with money.
"Hehe, that's exactly how it is. How could the Cui family refuse to let her marry into the family?"
Anyway, she was just an illegitimate daughter. Back then, people said that the Cui family was selling their daughter!
They happily saw Old Madam He off at the door, and a few days later, the eight-bearer sedan chair arrived at the Cui family's gate, and the bride was brought back in a proper marriage ceremony.
"Isn't this as obvious as a louse on a bald head?"
"It's a pity that the He family's business has been declining ever since the old lady of the He family passed away."
Not only has he fallen into such a miserable state, but a concubine also absconded with his property, ruining his reputation and leaving him with nothing!
If Old Madam He could know this in the afterlife, she'd probably be turning in her grave.
"So, what's the point of the Cui family coming if they don't have the talent?"
"All the money's gone, now there's nothing left to gain."
"The Cui family can't be that heartless, can they? After all, Young Master He is half a member of the Cui family."
Perhaps it's because the road is too far, they haven't arrived yet.
It takes at least half a day to get from Jincheng to our town.
It takes half a day to go there to deliver the message, and it also takes half a day to get here.
That should take about a day, so it should arrive tomorrow.
"Come on, ever since Master He passed away yesterday afternoon, Young Master He has immediately gone to inform the caravan that was passing through the town on its way to Jincheng."
I should have received the letter last night.
Even if it's late, I should have received the post this morning.
Look at what time it is now.
It's already late afternoon, don't you understand what the Cui family of Jincheng is up to?
Anyone with eyes can see it.
"Yes, Master He's family is in a rush to hold the funeral. Tomorrow is the last day. If the funeral isn't held soon, they'll have to take over the house, and then they'll have to tear down the mourning hall."
"Alas, the world is so cold! What was the state of the He family back then, and what is it like now?"
In my opinion, the Cui family of Jincheng simply doesn't intend to acknowledge Young Master He as their grandson.
Now they have no intention of acknowledging the He family as relatives anymore!
Anle, who was lying in the corner, fluttered her eyelashes twice, then looked away from the window, lowered her eyes, and pondered to herself.
She didn't comment on Mr. He, because he was a stranger and had nothing to do with her.
But given her relationship with He Yusheng, shouldn't she at least go and pay her respects?
I might as well go and see him.
...
In front of the He residence, Anle craned her neck to peer inside. Although she didn't know what it was like inside, the desolate and quiet scene at the entrance was enough to make her sigh.
This is probably what they mean by "the coldness and indifference of the world".
"Ah, how lively the He family mansion used to be! There were always guests coming and going in an endless stream."
My dad and I used to deliver firewood here, but we didn't go in through the front door; we went around to the back door.
I never expected to have the chance to enter through the main gate today.
An Yi glanced at the deserted He residence, muttered to herself, and pulled An Le inside.
The situation inside the mansion was just as the ladies and young women in the Paradise Dessert Shop had described: only He Yusheng was keeping vigil; the concubines and the like had all scattered like monkeys when the tree fell.
"He Yusheng, I've come to offer my condolences. I heard the burial is tomorrow?"
He Yusheng looked up at Anle.
Anle gave him a smile, lit three incense sticks, bowed to the mourning hall, and paid her respects. That was it.
An Yi followed suit and bowed, throwing a handful of paper money into the brazier as a gesture of condolence from the younger generation to the elders.
"After the burial tomorrow, where will you go? You need somewhere to go. I heard this place is going to be taken away."
He Yusheng lowered his eyes and remained silent, seemingly pondering where to go.
"Are you having trouble making up your mind? Why don't you stay at Paradise Dessert Shop?"
He Yusheng looked up, his gaze somewhat sharp.
"Are you pitying me, feeling sorry for me?"
Anle rolled her eyes.
"Who the hell pities you? Don't be like a hedgehog, pricking everyone you encounter. If you weren't useful, I wouldn't be keeping you around."
He Yusheng's slightly protruding Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his tightly pursed lips moved a little.
"What use am I? I don't know what I've been good for in all twelve years except eating, drinking, and having fun!"
"I see that you come from a merchant family and have quite a few trade routes, right?"
Even if you don't have connections, you should know quite a few people in the business world, and they'll probably come in handy someday.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have considered keeping you around.
This isn't about taking you in; it's about cooperation, business dealings, mutual benefit, and a win-win situation.
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