Ying Shuchang did not light the oil lamp, but just touched the exquisite lock box in the faint moonlight coming through the window.
This is Daddy's exquisite lockbox. Daddy has never hidden anything from her. He has told her how many properties the family has. He also said that he has placed the deeds of all the properties in the exquisite lockbox. He also told his daughter that he is working outside and there are certain risks involved. If anything happens to him, she should keep the exquisite lockbox safe. All these properties are left to her.
It was also because she was worried that Dad would not be able to make a living safely outside that Mom would follow him every time, and in the end, she got into trouble too.
The accident happened to Dad when he was delivering aromatherapy to other provincial cities. The aromatherapy made in our family workshop is not only sold in Raozhou City, but also sent to other provincial cities for sale.
Ever since her parents were killed by bandits, she, a girl, has been unable to make a living. Both her perfume and rouge and powder workshops have closed down, and now she only sells perfume and rouge and powder in a shop in Raozhou City.
Now she has to sell all her parents' properties.
Ying Shuchang put aside the messy thoughts in her mind, carried the exquisite lock box to the window, opened it with the key, and revealed the thick deed inside.
This is all the family property her father left her.
Ying Shuchang took out the deed, and put the stack of rice paper she had prepared in her arms into the exquisite lock box. Finally, she locked the box and put it back into the old lady's big box. She also put a few pieces of clothing back as they were, locked the box again, and returned the key to the old lady. Then she left quietly with the deed.
Ying Shuchang returned to her room with the deed. When she passed by the shrine, she looked at her parents' ranking again with tears in her eyes.
Back in the room, Ying Shuchang lit the oil lamp and looked at the deeds, including the deeds for three hundred acres of land, the big house they lived in now, two workshops, two aromatherapy shops, two rouge and powder shops, two three-story attic shops, several other properties and shops, and nearly one hundred thousand taels of silver notes. All the deeds and silver notes of the family business that her father had told her about were here.
Tomorrow, she will sell all these deeds.
She would rather start over than let these people get involved in her father's family business. They were really disgusting. If they really had some affection for her father, she would not have taken this step.
After a sleepless night, everyone in the house gradually woke up the next day, feeling refreshed. They had slept very peacefully and comfortably last night and had no doubts at all.
Only Ying Shuchang did not sleep all night.
As soon as it was daybreak, she put on her clothes and left the house with Nanny Zhang, and naturally Mrs. Zhao followed.
As for the old lady, after getting up in the morning, she checked the boxes as usual. After opening them, she found that the clothes were still placed on the exquisite lock box as she had folded them. She moved the clothes away, took out the exquisite lock box, shook it, and heard the rustling sound of papers rubbing against each other. Only then did she feel relieved.
She just didn't believe she couldn't find the key.
She planned to continue looking for something in Ying Shuchang's room today.
Ying Shuchang went to the street to have breakfast, and most of the shops had opened one after another.
She plans to go to the dental clinic.
Arriving at the pawnshop, Mrs. Zhao became cautious, "Madam, what are you doing at the pawnshop?"
Ying Shuchang glanced at her and did not answer her question.
Even Aunt Zhang didn't know why her mistress came to the pawnshop, but she was sure it was something. She said, "The little maid who was on night watch last night slept soundly. She was supposed to be serving the mistress at night, but she was treated like the master and could sleep whenever she wanted. When I went to her room this morning, she was still lying there soundly asleep. How could the mistress want a maid like that? She came here today to pick two maids that she likes."
Mrs. Zhao didn't say anything at this point. She also knew that the maid was arranged by the old lady.
Ying Shuchang went into the pawnshop, and Mrs. Zhao wanted to follow. Ying Shuchang said directly to the two pawnbrokers guarding the door, "I'm here to discuss some business with your boss. Please help me stop this old woman outside..."
Ying Shuchang is quite famous in Raozhou City. Ordinary people have only heard of her name but have never seen her in person. However, in the past two years, most people doing business have seen her. Even the dentists in the pawnshop recognize her and know her family's current situation. They know that Mrs. Zhao should be the person sent by the old lady to look after her.
The pawnbrokers didn't know why Ying Shuchang came to the pawnbroker's shop, but they knew that Ying Shuchang was the master and Mrs. Zhao was a servant, so they naturally knew who they should listen to.
The two brokers stopped Mrs. Zhao. Mrs. Zhao cursed but didn't dare to force her way in.
Nanny Zhang followed her wife into the pawnshop and couldn't help asking, "Madam, what are you doing here at the pawnshop?" She had just said this only for Mrs. Zhao to hear.
Ying Shuchang said softly, "Mammy, I want to sell all the property left by my parents."
Nanny Zhang was stunned. "But, aren't all the things the master left behind in the exquisite lock box? How can you sell them? If you can get them, it would be nice for you to sell all your property and start anew. But even if you sell the silver bills, I'm afraid the old lady and the others will be interested in them..."
Nanny Zhang had no idea and felt very uneasy.
Even if I sell all my property, how can my wife protect the banknotes I have sold? I am afraid that when I return to the house, the old lady will tie me up and search and take away all the banknotes on me.
"Don't worry, Ma'am. I've got all the deeds back." Ying Shuchang smiled. "The incense I asked Ma'am to light last night actually has a sleeping effect, so I went to the old lady's room, found the exquisite lockbox, and took out the contents. I'll sell all the deeds to the pawnbroker later, and I've also kept all the banknotes Dad left behind. Once I've disposed of all this property, I'll go to the military camp outside the city and donate all the money!"
This was also the result of her discussion with Miss Xu yesterday.
In fact, at the beginning, Miss Xu only gave her the formula of incense, telling her that this incense could make people sleep very deeply, and then she could go to the old lady to take out her things. As for these properties, she could also sell them all and turn all the family property into silver.
Miss Xu also said that she could ask someone to help her get a travel permit and have someone escort her and Nanny Zhang to other state capitals.
Only in this way can she completely break away from the Ying family. Once she goes to other states, it will be easy for her to make a comeback with these banknotes.
But Ying Shuchang thought about it and refused.
She did plan to sell all her property, but she had no plans to leave Raozhou City. Her parents' graves were still here, and she didn't want to go anywhere else. Moreover, as a girl, she was unsure about going to a place where she was unfamiliar with with Aunt Zhang.
Since she had to stay in Raozhou City, she had to seek shelter for herself.
She donated all her money to the military camp just to seek shelter. I think the generals in the military camp would agree. Then, with the protection of people in the military camp, no matter how angry the Ying family was, they would not dare to touch her.
And at that time, she didn't have anything on her that would make the Ying family worry about her.
After a few years, she slowly opened a perfume shop and a rouge and powder shop.
By then she should have started a family, and the other members of the Ying family would no longer have any desire to covet her family business.
Nanny Zhang was completely stunned.
She stammered, "But, but if I donate all the banknotes, what will you do in the future, my lady?"
Ying Shuchang laughed, "Madam, don't forget. My most precious possession is the recipe my parents left me. As long as I have the recipe, I can continue to run the aromatherapy and rouge and powder shops. So, don't worry, Madam. After we sell all our family business, come with me to the military camp. Once we're there, we'll donate everything. The deal is done, and no matter how much the Ying family riots, it won't work."
Nanny Zhang was stunned. She wasn't worried about the family fortune left by the master and mistress, but she was worried about what would happen to her after she donated it all. How could she survive without some money? And after donating all the money, where would she live? What would she do in the future? These were all questions.
But my wife should keep the money for renting a small courtyard.
When the time comes, my wife will rent a small yard, and she will go out to do work and be able to support my wife.
Aunt Zhang said, "Well, no matter what Madam does, this old servant will accompany you."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Ying Shuchang's voice was soft.
The two of them entered the pawnshop, and Ying Shuchang asked someone to call out the owner of the pawnshop.
The shopkeeper was a plump middle-aged man. When he saw Ying Shuchang, he smiled and asked, "Madam Ying, why are you here?"
Ying Shuchang didn't waste any words and took out all the deeds on her body. "I want to sell all my family's property to the shopkeeper. Do you want to buy it?"
If you want to sell all your properties as quickly as possible without alerting the enemy, the fastest way is definitely to go through a pawnshop. Sell to them at a price lower than the market price so that they can also make a profit, which makes it easy to get rid of them.
The fat shopkeeper looked at Ying Shuchang in surprise. He also knew about the affairs of the Ying family and couldn't help but ask, "Madam Ying, have you ever thought about how you would keep these banknotes even if you exchanged all these assets for banknotes?"
The fat shopkeeper had some interactions and business dealings with Master Ying Er, so he was half a friend. He also knew how harsh Mrs. Ying was on Master Ying Er, so he hated these people in the Ying family. When they saw the couple pass away, they came to bully the orphan girl and covet the property.
You said that if you had been nicer to her when you were alive, she wouldn't have ended up like this. She would rather sell all her family property than let them take advantage of her.
But even if Miss Ying sold all her property, wouldn't the banknotes be easier to rob?
Ying Shuchang smiled and said, "Why should I protect it? I plan to donate all the family property left by my father. If I have the ability in the future, I will build a large family business myself."
The fat shopkeeper was a little shocked. With so much family property, this young lady was willing to donate it all?
I have to say that he is a man of great courage, and has inherited the temperament of Ying Lao Er. It's a pity that he is not a boy. If he was a boy, those people would not dare to come and rob the family property so blatantly.
The fat shopkeeper didn't try to persuade her much, knowing that Madam Ying was at her wit's end.
He looked at the deeds brought by Madam Ying and finally offered a price of 25,000 taels, which was a little lower than the market price, but not too excessive. He could still make 3,000 to 4,000 taels of silver from it. If it were someone else, he would at least dare to lower the price by half.
This was also the last thing he did for Ying Lao Er.
After putting away the banknotes, Ying Shuchang handed the deeds to the dozens of acres of land at the foot of the mountain outside the city to the fat shopkeeper, "Please do me another favor, shopkeeper. I will have someone send the deeds to the Bafang Inn and give them to a young lady named Xu Qinyu who lives in the Tianzi Room. Say it's a gift to Miss Xu."
She did not sell these fields to the brokerage firm, but left them specifically to Xu Qinyu, and she had no intention of collecting any money for them. Miss Xu had helped her so much, and if it weren't for Miss Xu's husband's help in preparing the incense, she wouldn't have been able to get these deeds, so she gave these small pieces of land to Miss Xu. As for why she didn't go there in person, it was because she was afraid of causing trouble for Miss Xu, and afraid that the Ying family would think it was Miss Xu's idea and go to find her.
Because in the evening, she will definitely have a big battle with the Ying family.
In fact, when she discussed with Miss Xu at the inn yesterday, Miss Xu also invited her to work as the manager of a restaurant outside the city, where she would be responsible for preparing perfumes, rouge and powder for the female guests.
However, Miss Xu said that her restaurant would probably not open until the beginning of next spring, and it would take more than half a year to build, which gave her time to consider.
She also planned to think about it carefully. In the next six months, she would take a good rest, save some money, and rent a small courtyard, which would be enough for her and Aunt Zhang to live on.
The fat shopkeeper naturally agreed.
If he practices honesty in business, he would not be greedy for these dozens of acres of land.
After Ying Shuchang finished her instructions, she took Nanny Zhang away, rented a carriage, and went to the military camp outside the city.
Mrs. Zhao also hurriedly followed.
Ying Shuchang ignored her and let her get on the carriage. Mrs. Zhao even muttered, "Where are you going, my lady?"
Ying Shuchang ignored her and let Mrs. Zhao jump into the carriage and go to the military camp with her. She wanted to see these people regretting their actions and getting angry.
The carriage quickly left the city and headed towards the southwest military camp stationed outside the city.
These military camps were stationed outside the city in an orderly manner. When you approached, you could hear the sound of soldiers training.
When Mrs. Zhao saw Ying Shuchang coming here, she was a little confused. "Madam, what are you doing here in the military camp?"
You can't trespass in the military camp. Before Ying Shuchang even reached the front of the camp, she was stopped by a patrolling soldier who shouted, "What are you doing? This is a key military area. Do you want to die by trespassing here without permission?"
Ying Shuchang took out all the silver notes she had on her, which added up to about 130,000 taels. "I came to the military camp just to donate some silver. Please go in and tell the general that all my wealth is donated to the military camp."
Several patrolling soldiers were a little surprised. It was not like there were no people who came to the military camp to donate silver and food before, but this was the first time they saw a young lady donate tens of thousands of taels of silver.
Mrs. Zhao was stunned. It took her a long time to react after listening to what Ying Shuchang said.
She pointed at Ying Shuchang, her whole body trembling. "Are you crazy? You actually gave away all the family property that your parents worked hard for over the years? Are you stupid? Even if you gave it to the old lady, she would treat you well, and you would have a share of the money. Now you donate it all to the military camp, leaving nothing. You are really crazy, crazy."
As she said this, she actually wanted to rush over and snatch the banknotes from Ying Shuchang's hand.
If the old lady knew that she had watched her wife donate all her wealth, she would have no peace of mind when she returned.
"How dare you rob a military camp!" Two soldiers immediately rushed forward, grabbed Mrs. Zhao, pushed her to the ground, and pointed their spears at her head. "If you dare to cause trouble again, you will be killed on the spot."
If anyone causes trouble in the military camp, they can kill the troublemakers on the spot.
Mrs. Zhao didn't dare to move, but she still stared at Ying Shuchang, "Madam, you have to think it through."
The other soldiers also looked at Ying Shuchang, "Young lady, please don't make trouble. Is your master here?"
Ying Shuchang still said the same thing, she wanted to donate money to the military camp.
The soldier had no choice but to return to the barracks and spread the news. The general was also very surprised when he heard it. He came out to take a look and asked, "You little girl, you don't look very old. Where did you get hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to donate to the barracks?"
Ying Shuchang knelt down and said, "I, Ying Shuchang, am willing to donate all my wealth to the military camp. I hope the general will grant my wish."
The Ying family?
The general understood it in his heart.
He would go to Raozhou City on weekdays, so he heard about the Ying family.
After all, in the past month, the affairs of the Ying family have been the topic of conversation for everyone in the city after dinner, and almost everyone knows about it, so he has heard some of it. He didn't expect that Mrs. Ying would rather donate all her wealth than give the Ying family a penny. It seems that the old lady was too harsh on her second son and granddaughter, otherwise she would not have forced her granddaughter to do such a thing.
The general has been very worried these days. He went to the city because of the military pay corruption case.
The imperial court embezzled military pay, and as a result, the food supply was reduced. The barracks were full of grown men, all of whom were big eaters. They were reluctant to spend their daily military pay on food and drink, and asked others to take it back for their families. But now they were short of food, and could only eat half full every day. The general felt very guilty and wanted to get to the bottom of the case of embezzlement of military pay as soon as possible, so that the soldiers in the barracks would not suffer any more grievances and could have enough food.
These hundreds of thousands of taels of silver can provide the military camp with sufficient food for a period of time and solve the current urgent needs.
He said, "Okay, I'll take this money."
Since he accepted the silver, he knew that Miss Ying was actually using these hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to exchange for the protection of the military camp.
The general knew clearly that if Miss Ying did this, her reputation would be affected.
But a great man like the general didn't really care much about this reputation. Seeing that Miss Ying had made up her mind, and thinking that others were willing to donate hundreds of thousands of taels of silver notes, he signaled the soldiers to go back to his tent and get a small wooden plaque, which he handed to Ying Shuchang, "Keep this plaque, Miss. This is a tribute plaque from our camp. We give this plaque to those who have made certain contributions to the camp. This plaque is also useful. If anyone is ignorant and bullies you, just go to the prefectural governor's office in Raozhou City or the guards in the city for help."
This sign is not an important token, it is just a small thing. The families of some young generals in the military camp will live in Raozhou City, and they are bound to be bullied by some ignorant people, so this tribute sign was created, which is just a thing to scare people.
Ying Shuchang didn't expect to get the small wooden sign of the military camp. She happily accepted it and thanked the general.
The general waved his hand, stuffed the banknotes into his lapel, and then turned back to the barracks.
After returning to the military camp, he ordered several soldiers to go to Raozhou City and hang around the Ying family's house. If they saw Miss Ying in trouble, they should remember to go in and help.
…
Ying Shuchang got on the carriage and returned to the city.
Along the way, Grandma Zhao kept scolding her, asking if she was crazy, crying and making a fuss.
Ying Shuchang didn't care at all. She felt a peace and comfort she had never felt before in her heart, and all her knots in her heart were untied at once.
She knew that after returning to Ying's house, she planned to pack her things. There was not much to pack, just her own clothes and her parents' belongings, and then she could leave.
She also made an appointment with the owner of the pawnshop, and at dinner time, she would have someone from the pawnshop come to take over the house.
Ying Shuchang returned to the house and started packing up.
When the old lady learned that she had returned, she immediately came to visit her granddaughter.
Today she came to her granddaughter's house again to look for the key, but still found nothing.
Ying Shuchang ignored her and just focused on packing her things. Her clothes were also easy to pack and were all packed in a large box. The owner of the pawnshop would help her move her luggage when the time came.
The old lady was stunned when she saw her packing up. "What is Shuchang planning to do? Why is she packing up?"
Could it be that the granddaughter finally came to her senses and planned to give her the deed and the house?
Ying Shuchang still didn't say anything. The old lady could only turn around and ask Mrs. Zhao, who looked panicked and hesitated, not daring to tell the truth.
The old lady shouted sternly, "Hurry up and tell me!" She also realized that something was wrong.
Mrs. Zhao then cried and told the old lady everything that had happened today, from Ying Shuchang leaving the house to go to the pawnshop, then selling all the family property to the pawnshop, and finally going to the military camp to donate all the 130,000 taels of silver notes to the military camp.
When the old lady heard this, her face turned pale and her whole body went limp. She collapsed to the ground, crying and scolding Ying Shuchang, and asking her how she had taken the things out of the exquisite lock box.
The old lady's crying attracted everyone from the first and third rooms to cry too.
When the people from the two families heard that Ying Shuchang had donated all the family property, the eldest and third sons of the Ying family were so angry that they raised their arms and wanted to hit Ying Shuchang.
Ying Shuchang was not afraid of them and took out the wooden plaque given to her by the general. "See? This is a tribute plaque given to me by the general. If you try to touch me, I will not let this matter go."
As soon as these words were spoken, the eldest and third brothers of Ying did not dare to take action. Instead, they madly insulted Ying Shuchang, calling her stupid and ungrateful. They hated and were angry, and were so heartbroken that they almost fainted.
Ying Shuchang ignored them and packed her things.
She only took her own clothes and jewelry, and also placed her parents' tablets in the box.
The Ying family still wanted to stop her from leaving and tried to get her to go to the military camp to get all the money back.
Just as the commotion was going on, a dozen soldiers and the owner of the pawnshop came over.
With these soldiers and the owner of the pawnshop, the Ying family did not dare to continue making trouble.
Ying Shuchang had someone help her move all the boxes and crates onto the carriage outside. As she left, she tossed the key to the exquisite lockbox to the old lady and said, "This is the key you've been looking for for a month. It's behind my father's tablet. You'd find it if you'd cleaned it for him. But you've lived in this house for over a month, and you haven't cleaned the tablets for my parents once, nor have you ever offered sacrifices to them."
After saying this, she no longer paid any attention to the Ying family and left the Ying family with Aunt Zhang.
She also gave the indentures of the remaining servants of the Ying family to the owner of the pawnshop, asking him to return them to the servants of the Ying residence after she left. As for the artisans in the perfume shop, the rouge and powder shop, and the workshop, she also left money with the owner of the pawnshop, asking him to give them severance pay and this month's salary.
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