Chapter 7 Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The prefect's son refused to marry, and he didn't choose any of the cousins in the yard. So he found a wild man from somewhere and called him his son-in-law.
Housekeeper Cao was busy dispersing the crowd of onlookers, while Qian Tong and her "new son-in-law" were blocked in the corridor by the female members of the Qian family brought by Mrs. Qian.
Madam Qian's eyes swept back and forth between the two of them. She clutched her chest for a long moment before questioning, "Where on earth did this guy come from?!"
She asked the third and fourth wives, but no one knew this person.
Qian Tong said, "Song Yunzhen."
"What?"
Qian Tong noticed the motionless figure in his peripheral vision. He thought it must be so angry that it didn't even avoid the sun. He looked at Madam Qian and repeated, "His name is Song Yunzhen."
"Song, Song..." It doesn't matter what Song is.
Seeing him wearing low-quality coarse cloth, Mrs. Qian felt dizzy. Even the servants in the mansion were better dressed than him. "Are you under that bridge..." She picked up a random person.
What on earth was she going to do? Was she going to piss her off to death?!
"Mother, be careful with your words." Qian Tong didn't let her say the insulting words, interrupting, "He's listening. We'll see each other soon, so mother, please show some mercy to each other."
Acceptance is a process. Qian Tong ignored the look on Madam Qian's face as she was about to faint and took a step towards the young man, blocking most of his gaze. "You've seen him too. No matter who comes today, he's still my son-in-law."
They had promised it in person that from now on, no matter who she liked, it would be fine.
Now that she has made her own choice, they have no reason to stop her.
After meeting the new son-in-law, she turned aside and introduced them to the young man behind her one by one, "This is mother, third aunt, fourth aunt... They are busy today, so we won't bother them. We can meet them one by one another another day. I will take you to see father first."
After saying that, she stepped forward, pushing aside the crowd and waiting for the young man to catch up.
After walking a few steps and seeing no movement, Qian Tong turned back.
The young man's face was slightly red from the sun, but his eyes were looking at her coldly. He stood there without moving.
"Let's go." Qian Tong urged him.
So many people are looking at him, and the women in the inner chamber are prying into him suffocatingly. They want to see into his bones and see his whole body clearly. Doesn't he feel awkward?
Song Yunzhi was truly amazed at this woman's confidence.
There was no trace of guilt on her face forcing him, and her urging was as natural as if she was sure that he would follow her.
However...a little lack of patience will lead to great chaos.
At this point, we must not give up all our previous efforts.
After a pause, he finally moved his feet and followed her.
——
When Qian Tong led his men over, Qian Minjiang, the head of the Qian family, had already heard from the servant what had happened in the garden.
It would make no difference to the Qian family whether she married the prefect or anyone else.
After hearing the news, Qian Minjiang didn't even have the energy to be angry. So, when Qian Tong led people over, Qian Minjiang didn't even raise his head, "As long as you like it, I can't control you anyway as your father."
Qian Tong didn't respond to her. He asked his "son-in-law" to wait outside the door. He walked into the house alone and quietly came to the side of the head of the Qian family.
The head of the Qian family has been the most hardworking among his brothers since he was young. Except for sleeping, he spends almost all his time in the study. His eyes are almost damaged by the work, and he is buried in piles of account books every day.
The account book spread out in front of him at this moment was the bad debt he had collected yesterday.
As expected, nothing was harvested.
Qian Tong leaned over, picked it up and opened it.
Qian Minjiang glanced at her and said that she came to apologize. He only had this one daughter in his life, and his heart softened. "It's an old debt, and it doesn't matter if it can't be collected. Since the marriage is not promised to the prefecture, it won't be of any use for the time being."
He said this, but he was helpless and wiped his face tiredly.
The Qian family’s future is not optimistic. Having lost the marriage opportunity with the prefect, they have completely lost their support in front of the court. If they are abandoned by the court, what should the Qian family do?
Looking for Park's...
That is a last resort.
When the emperor came for help, the four major families sounded out each other and finally the Pu family took the lead in making the decision to reject the emperor. The other three families, including the Qian family, followed suit.
The four great families had supported each other since the beginning of the chaotic times. Today, the Pu family reigns supreme, their merchant ships dominating the southeastern seas, even the imperial court is wary. If it were still the chaotic times of those days, with the Qian family following the Pu family's lead, and the four great families joining forces to resist them once again, the imperial court might not be able to do anything about them.
But now the court has been in power for five years, the world is at peace, the army is getting stronger and stronger, it is no longer the same as it was in the past.
And the Park family was the first to stand in line.
Not long ago, the second son of the Park family was engaged to Princess Myeong-bong, the youngest daughter of King Pyeongchang.
Even the Pu family has established connections with the imperial court, so the other three families can no longer sit still and are all ready to make a move. The Qian family's salt permits are in Yangzhou, and they have no connections in the imperial court. The only person they know is Lan Zhizhou.
Even if the marriage fails, the human feelings still exist.
He would go there later and spend some money to see if he could ask Magistrate Lan to say a few good words for the Qian family in front of the officials who came to investigate, or introduce an opportunity for him to go and establish good relations.
As a result, the marriage between the Qian family and the prefectural governor was no longer possible...
Qian Minjiang looked up at his only daughter. She was staring at the account book with a calm expression, completely different from the stubborn girl who had knelt in the ancestral hall two years ago and asked him "why".
Feeling a pang of guilt, but feeling helpless, Qian Minjiang finally looked at his future son-in-law outside the door and asked, "Where are you from?"
"From Kyoto." Qian Tong flipped through the account book without looking up and replied, "I used to make a living as a courier. My parents are deceased. I have a younger brother who is a scholar. I have been transferred to the freight side to keep accounts."
It is very common for rich families to pick up people.
But is she too perfunctory about her lifelong marriage?
Qian Minjiang finally came back to his senses, stretched out his finger and tapped Qian Tong's forehead, "You are simply..." Without waiting to call anyone in, he took the initiative to get up and go to the door, and carefully examined the young man standing outside the threshold.
Tall, broad shoulders.
Exceptionally good-looking.
A man in a green coarse cloth stood under the eaves, one hand clasped in front of his abdomen, the other behind his back, his expression calm and steady, his eyes without a trace of wandering, neither humble nor arrogant...
Probably knowing why she chose him, Qian Minjiang asked, "What's your name?"
There was a moment of silence.
Qian Tong, who was inside the house, turned around and caught the cold gaze the young man cast at him. It seemed as if he had been holding it in for a long time, and sparks were about to burst out from his dark eyes. Afraid that he would lose his temper, Qian Tong answered for him, "Song Yunzhen, Sunlight Yun, Zhen in the grass and wheat fields."
A barely perceptible trace of surprise quickly crossed the young man's tense face.
Even though it was fleeting, Qian Tong still saw it. He took out a few account books from the table and looked at his lover with eyes full of joy as if he was seeking credit.
She guessed right.
A person's name suits his character. If a person's name is closely related to his destiny, then he should be just these two words.
Song Yunzhi had no intention of commending her pride, only enduring humiliation. While the Qian family's patriarch was inquiring about him, he also inquired about the Qian family's patriarch. His age matched the information he had inquired about: in his fifties, slightly plump, wearing a Songjin jade belt, and an extremely exaggerated golden ring on his left thumb.
Typical wealthy businessman outfit.
I don’t know how long I can hold out if I go to jail in the future.
"Now that you have entered the Qian family, you will not be treated unfairly. However, there is one thing: the Qian family does not tolerate people of low moral character. Remember to do your duty well."
The person has been brought back and has passed everyone's attention. He can't be driven out again. Whether it will work or not, let's keep him in the mansion for a while to observe. Qian Minjiang called the servant and went into the house to find a set of inkstones and two silver notes worth one hundred taels as a gift.
Song Yunzhi didn't answer the phone, so Qian Tong answered it for him.
As he left, under the scrutiny of the Qian family's Patriarch, Song Yunzhi had no choice but to bow to his future 'father-in-law' and said, "Junior thanks Patriarch Qian."
——
On the way back to the corridor, Qian Tong held the account book and inkstone in his arms. He looked at his husband who had been sulking all the way and teased him, "Are you still angry?"
Song Yunzhi glanced sideways, and when he saw the smile on her face, he immediately turned his head back and said nothing.
Qian Tong didn't get angry. He walked beside him and said slowly, "I don't know how much you know about Yangzhou, or about my Qian family, but from today on, I can tell you everything you want to know."
The young man glanced lightly from the corner of his eyes.
She continued, "My Qian family has been mining salt for generations. With our mature salt mining skills, we obtained the Yangzhou Salt Permit and have been entrenched here for hundreds of years, becoming one of the four major families. Do you think we are very rich?"
Isn’t it?
Thinking of the gold hairpin on her head, he noticed that she was wearing a white jade pearl crown today. Judging from its quality, it must be more expensive than the gold hair crown.
Song Yunzhi tacitly agreed with her statement.
"Look, the people above think so too," Qian Tong said. "They think our four families are too arrogant and have too much money. We need to be disciplined. The Qian family is currently in a very difficult situation."
The corridor was too empty, so she moved closer to him, strolling along while saying, "A tall tree attracts the wind, so be prepared for a rainy day. At this critical juncture, the only way to get through this safely is to keep a low profile. That's why I called you here, young master, not just on a whim. Humiliating you is to, firstly, narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, and secondly, to reduce the outside world's hatred of the rich, so that others can see that even we businessmen have our shortcomings."
In order to get closer to him, she opened her heart to him.
Song Yunzhi finally understood, slowed down his pace, paused in the corridor, and asked her, "Am I your unhappiness?"
She was not wrong, it was true.
She will be miserable.
Faced with Langjun's dissatisfaction, Qian Tong choked. It turned out that Young Master Song was not only proud but also sensitive. He shook his head and denied it, "No... You are my savior."
Did she want to see what she looked like? Song Yunzhi ignored her, retracted his gaze, and walked forward, then heard her call him, "Song Yunzhen."
Song Yunzhi regretted using his nickname. His mother was the only one in the family who liked to call him by it, and he had gotten used to it. He replied, "Yeah."
"I'm not looking down on you." The girl caught up with him. Standing against the light, she slightly turned sideways to avoid the glare of the sun. She faced him, the small glance she cast at him illuminated by the morning sun. Her eyes were as sincere as gold. She said, "I really want to spend my life with you."
Song Yun started with a biased attitude.
If the poisonous insect in my body was not still there, I would have been deceived by her.
It doesn't matter whether she is sincere or not. Sooner or later, she will fall into his hands and experience all the misery in the world.
"Take it." Before he could move forward, the young woman beside him threw everything in her hands into his arms, complaining softly, "It's so heavy."
Pinching his aching arm, Qian Tong took back his account book from his arms, leaving the remaining inkstone and two silver notes to him, and said soothingly, "The gift is a little small, but it's better than nothing. My dear, if you think about it this way, you've only been in Yangzhou for two days, and you've received two hundred taels of silver notes for free. Wouldn't you be much happier?"
Although he married into the Qian family and possessed countless wealth, one must know how to be content in order to live a happy life.
When they reached the intersection, she was busy and had no time to accompany him. She instructed him, "Go back and rest first. I'll have Ajin show you around the mansion this afternoon. You'll get what you deserve. Don't do anything to disappoint me."
She walked briskly, coming and going like a gust of wind.
Song Yunzhi turned around and only saw the flowing hem of her skirt. He saw her hand the account books to the maid and instructed, "Don't let anyone touch these account books. Take them back to the room and lock them up first."
Song Yunzhi took another look.
The servant Qian Tong called Ah Jin was a rather overweight man. He was one of the four gatekeepers who had blocked the door to the teahouse yesterday. He was a rather large and strong man, but he was very thoughtful and could read people's expressions. He stepped forward to take the inkstone from Qian Tong's hand and said, "Sir, let me take it."
Song Yunzhi turned around and two cold eyes stared at him.
Ah Jin had witnessed the entire process of the birth of the new son-in-law, and knew the meaning of his cold look. He smiled and changed the subject, "Master Song, let me hold it for you."
The person has already entered the door, and I don't know why he is being so stubborn.
——
Qian Tong went to the old lady's yard.
Old Madam Qian liked to worship Buddha, so the courtyard was built to look like a Buddhist temple. Passing through the garden where the owner lived, through a long and narrow alley, and then entering the courtyard, the scenery you see is completely different from before.
There are no flowers or plants, but towering old trees can be seen along the road. There is no sound of talking in the entire yard, and the atmosphere is solemn and quiet. As you walk in, the faint smell of incense hits your nose.
When the sweeping boys and maids saw her coming, they nodded quietly and saluted.
Qian Tong went straight to the old lady's Jingyuexuan.
As soon as the footsteps reached the eaves, the nanny who had appeared yesterday heard the message and came out to greet her, "Seventh Lady is here, the old lady is chanting scriptures, this servant will take you in."
At this time on normal days, the old lady would have finished reciting long ago.
Qian Tong took a look inside and asked Mammy softly before entering, "Is Grandma okay today?"
Nanny Xing smiled and said, "It's all good. Before Miss Qi came, the old lady had a big bowl of sweet potato porridge."
Half an hour had passed since the garden party, and the news that should have been spread had already reached here. In a good mood and with a good appetite, Qian Tong understood what Nanny Xing wanted to say.
She made the right choice, and the old lady had no objection to this son-in-law.
As expected, Qian Tong went into the house and waited.
The old lady loved peace and quiet when she was young. After she had many children and grandchildren, she did not follow the rules of other large families that required the whole family to come to "court" every day. In the early years, she exempted her children and grandchildren from paying their respects.
It was nothing serious. No one came here on weekdays. The yard was quiet and the furnishings in the house were simple. Apart from a few commonly used pieces of furniture, there were no extra additions. The original wooden floor was spotlessly clean. When the curtains on three sides were opened and the roller blinds were pulled to the top, light came in, making it clean and bright.
Qian Tong didn't sit down. Instead, he went to the statue of Guanyin enshrined in the shrine and lit a stick of incense.
After bowing and standing up, he saw Nanny Xing walking in with the old lady.
The old lady is nearly seventy years old, but her waist is still straight. Due to years of worshiping Buddha, her face has become more and more dull, but her clear eyes still vaguely show the shrewdness and ability of her youth.
"Grandma." Qian Tong saluted her.
Madam Qian nodded, raised her hand and gestured for her to sit down. She spoke in a steady voice, "Your father will never understand the truth that a tall tree attracts the wind. You've made a good move."
It was rare for the old lady to praise someone. Nanny Xing raised her head and looked at the well-behaved and obedient Seventh Lady sitting in front of her, with a smile on her face.
"You've done everything you can to find this person, and you're satisfied." Old Madam Qian looked at her, "Find out the details thoroughly, don't be vague."
Nothing in the Qian family, big or small, could be hidden from this old ancestor, and her kidnapping could not be hidden from her either. Qian Tong nodded and replied, "Yes."
Old Madam Qian didn't say anything else. Her eyes fell on her, and she inquired quietly.
Qian Tong didn't say anything and always maintained an upright sitting posture.
After a long silence, the old lady finally withdrew her gaze and said slowly, "The eldest wife of the Cui family, after all, your eldest sister is still here, don't block all the roads, give her some respect."
——
What Fu Yin feared most was going to the old lady's yard, as she felt suffocated. Later, Qian Tong saw her fear and stopped taking her with him. She went there alone every time.
As Qian Tong came out of the old lady's yard, he saw Fu Yin blocking the door and said, "My lady, please don't go back to the yard."
Qian Tong was curious: "The debt collector is here?"
Fu Yin shook her head, but it was almost the same. "The door was about to be squeezed open. The Third Master and the Fourth Master went to the head of the family to reason with him, and the Third and Fourth Madams came to my wife to ask for an explanation, asking why my wife couldn't choose my cousin."
Why choose?
It's not surprising that those women who have nothing to do all day and think they know more than anyone else come up with any weird ideas. She has been busy all morning and hasn't eaten a single grain of rice. It's past lunch time. If she goes back, she probably won't be able to eat.
If you can't afford to offend, avoid it. Qian Tong asked Fu Yin to prepare the horse, "Let's go to the restaurant."
The four major families in Yangzhou each had their own territory. The Qian family held the salt permits in Yangzhou, and the Cui family occupied all the major restaurants and teahouses in Yangzhou. Almost all the larger shops were owned by the Cui family.
Qian Tong chose a teahouse near the downtown area.
Although the four families were competing secretly, they were still connected after all. They maintained harmony on the surface and interacted with each other on a daily basis. As soon as Qian Tong showed up, everyone recognized her.
The shopkeeper enthusiastically led her to the private room.
When the wine and food were served, the person who came in was not the shopkeeper, but the prefect's youngest son, Young Master Lan.
The young master is famous for his romanticism. His eyes are full of spring and he looks at everyone with deep affection.
Qian Tong didn't expect to meet him here. Later she realized that she had probably come to the wrong place. This teahouse no longer belonged to her elder sister. It was transferred to the Cui family and now belonged to Young Master Lan.
"Madam Qian." Young Master Lan greeted her with a bow.
Qian Tong stood up and returned the greeting, "Master Lan."
The former fiancés' encounter was bound to be awkward. Master Lan smoothed his sleeves and asked tentatively, "Madam Qian, why are you here at the teahouse today?"
The day before, someone passed on a message asking him to marry another beautiful woman, and the next day he came to someone else's teahouse. This was indeed easy to cause misunderstandings. Qian Tong explained: "I..."
"I knew Madam Qian would come." Young Master Lan couldn't wait to interrupt and added, "I didn't take what you said yesterday seriously."
Qian Tong looked at him unexpectedly.
"The Patriarch of the Cui family invited my father to have tea today." Young Master Lan, like a whistleblower, said anxiously, "He arrived half an hour ago."
Qian Tong was surprised and didn't quite understand Young Master Lan's intention. Did he want her Qian family to get wind of the news and rush over to compete with the Cui family, with two women competing for one man?
He is mentally ill.
Young Master Lan took a step closer, "Qiniang, my parents' orders were not my original intention, I..."
"I'm here to collect the debt." Qian Tong interrupted impatiently.
Young Master Lan was stunned.
"This teahouse has been on credit for salt from my Qian family for several years, and we owe them a total of 25,700 taels. I heard that Young Master Lan has been very wealthy recently, so please settle the bill."
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