Chapter 5 King
Jing When Shen Changze woke up, he saw only two children but not Cheng Jinchu. After asking, he learned that she had gone to ask her mother for advice, so he didn't take it to heart.
He had just returned to the capital, and there were many things to do. The most important thing at the moment was to visit the uncles and elders in the clan.
When he returned home after his work, it was late at night. The two children had already gone to bed, but Cheng Jinchu was still counting by candlelight.
"Let's count tomorrow, don't hurt your eyes." Shen Changze took the account book from her. Cheng
Jinchu asked him with a gloomy look: "Do you know the situation of the Marquis' Mansion?"
Shen Changze thought for a moment and understood: "But the warehouse is empty"
Not only is it empty, this huge Marquis' Mansion is clearly an empty shell!
Whoever wants to get into this frame must hold it up by himself. And once he holds it up, he cannot let go, otherwise the frame will collapse and everything will be damaged, and he can't run away even if he wants to.
This is not a noble honor, it is clearly a hot potato.
After listening to Cheng Jinchu, Shen Changze blushed: "I didn't know that the Marquis's Mansion has been so tight."
When he left Beijing six years ago, the Marquis's Mansion still had a small amount of savings. Could it be that in the past few years...
Before leaving the mansion the next day, Shen Changze went to find Shen's mother and asked about the savings.
"It has nothing to do with Shu'er." Shen's mother sighed: "Half of that little property was given to Qingrong as a dowry, and half was given to Changhuai as a betrothal gift."
Shen Qingrong is Shen Changze's legitimate sister, and Shen Changhuai is his half-brother.
The Marquis's family has few descendants, and this generation has only two brothers, Shen Changze and Shen Changhuai.
Although Shen Changhuai was born out of wedlock, he has been striving for success since he was young. He studied hard and passed the imperial examinations. Two years ago, he was sent to Hengzhou to serve as a parent official. Although
the official position is not high, it is more reliable to eat royal food and salary, and there is a lot of room for promotion, and the future is immeasurable. In the future, the
Marquis's family and Shen Changze will need his help, so Shen's mother is very tolerant of him. "I understand, mother, please help me with Jinchu's management of the family." Shen Changze stood up and was about to leave.
Shen's mother called him and said helplessly: "A good cook cannot cook without rice. It is better to return the power of the household to Shu'er."
"You bow your head to Shu'er, coax her a few words, and stay in her courtyard..."
"Mother, give your son some face." Shen Changze walked away with an embarrassed look.
Shen's mother looked at his back, smiled bitterly and murmured: "Face can't be eaten..."
Jiang Shu was happy and quiet, but the noise of children coming from the Yunyuan Courtyard across the wall all day long made her upset, and she wanted to go out for some fresh air.
Chu Yu informed Shen's mother, and Jiang Shu went out wearing a veil.
Shangjing City was as lively and prosperous as ever, and it would not change because of someone's unhappiness.
"Madam, the Jiuxiangzhai is in front, do you want to eat lotus seed cake?" Tan Yu asked. Jiang Shu, who was lost in thought
in the carriage, hurriedly said, "Stop the carriage."
After the carriage stopped, Jiang Shu wanted to get off the carriage to buy it himself.
Tan Yu said, "Madam, I'll go buy it." The wife of a noble family cannot show her face in public. If she is seen, people will inevitably gossip. "Good Tan Yu, I'm wearing a veil hat." She was really suffocating and wanted to take a breath. Tan Yu had no choice but to accompany her into the snack shop. Jiuxiangzhai is a well-known pastry shop in Shangjing, famous for selling only nine kinds of pastries with excellent taste. "Two catties of lotus seed cakes, three catties of osmanthus cakes, and one catty of plum blossom cakes." "Sorry, madam, the lotus seed cakes are sold out." The shopkeeper smiled apologetically. Tan Yu frowned: "Is it all gone? My wife has had a poor appetite these days, so she missed this." "The last pound was bought by that young man, it's really gone." The shopkeeper pointed behind them. Jiang Shu turned around and lifted a corner of her veil, and saw two young men in brocade clothes, one big and one small, sitting at a small table in the store. The younger one was only about six or seven years old, and was putting lotus seed cake into his mouth. She knew these two people, they were Prince Jing Yu Zheng and Young Master Zhuang of General Pingxi's mansion. Both of them were dressed in a noble and elegant manner, which was out of place in this pastry shop. When Jiang Shu looked at them, Yu Zheng also raised his head and looked over. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he was extraordinary and elegant. He was wearing an indigo-blue waisted brocade gown with gold patterns embroidered on it, which made him look calm and dignified. Even when he was sitting, his aura of dignity and solemnity was very compelling. "Sorry to bother you." Feeling rude, Jiang Shu quickly put down her veil and bowed to apologize, and asked Tan Yu to buy some cakes and leave. "Madam, wait a minute." Yu Zheng called her, his voice as cold as the morning dew in the mountains. Jiang Shu didn't understand: "What advice do you have, young master?" She didn't reveal Yu Zheng's identity to avoid unnecessary trouble. Yu Zheng stood up with half a bag of lotus seed cakes, and stood three steps away. He said calmly: "My nephew is young, and he will have to eat a pound of lotus seed cakes. Madam, can you help him eat half a pound?" "This..." Jiang Shu was embarrassed. There was no reason to refuse with such an excuse. "Thank you for your gift, sir." Jiang Shu could only bite the bullet and accept it. "Madam, take care." Yu Zheng curled his lips and watched Jiang Shu get on the carriage and leave. She still didn't recognize him, but he could recognize her through the veil. Lifting his hand and touching his face, Yu Zheng was a little puzzled. It is said that girls change a lot when they grow up, can men also change a lot? In the carriage, Jiang Shu opened the paper bag, picked up a piece of lotus seed cake, brought it to his lips and took a bite. "Crack--" The crisp sound exploded in her mouth, making her squint her eyes and curl her lips unconsciously. After eating her favorite lotus seed cake, Jiang Shu's depressed heart was relieved a lot. Sure enough, it was right to go out for a walk. "Madam, do you know that young master?" Tan Yu looked curious. Jiang Shu shook her head: "Not really acquaintance, but I have seen him twice at the banquet." "Whose young master is he?" Tan Yu asked. Jiang Shu poked her head with her index finger and joked: "You will be scared to death if I tell you." "No way, I have seen all kinds of nobles following you, Madam." Tan Yu pouted and didn't care. "Prince Jing." "Cough cough cough... Madam, what did you say? Did I hear it right?" Tan Yu was startled by her own saliva.
Jiang Shu ate the lotus seed cake comfortably and watched her perform the facial expression.
No wonder Tan Yu was so surprised, it was because Prince Jing's status was too noble.
The emperor has seven sons, and Prince Jing is the third son of the concubine. He is the most favored prince, and even the crown prince has to give way to him.
It is rare for such a noble man to appear in a street pastry shop.
Shen Changze was busy for a few days and finally had some free time.
Cheng Jinchu checked the accounts for many days and sorted out the internal affairs of the Marquis's mansion.
That evening, Cheng Jinchu said to Shen Changze: "I have calculated carefully. The silver in the treasury plus the reward from the emperor and the banknotes my father left for me can only maintain the expenses of the mansion for half a year. So we can't live off the savings and have to increase income and reduce expenditure."
"What are your plans?" Shen Changze put down the teacup and listened carefully.
Cheng Jinchu took out the aura of the mistress of the house and said: "First, reduce unnecessary expenses in the mansion and reduce expenditure, and then buy a shop to do business to increase income."
"But there are so many wealthy businessmen in Shangjing, and all kinds of businesses are already saturated. It is difficult to make money." It's not that he didn't think about it, but he felt that the feasibility was not high.
"I have a way." Cheng Jinchu smiled slyly.