Chapter 460: Interception

Jiang Yan actually listened to Dou Zhao's words and really stopped worrying about Chen Jia.

When Song Mo came out of Yizhi Hall, he felt that he had no place to vent his grievances. He looked up and saw that the servant beside Song Han was leading a tall and handsome man towards the east.

When he looked carefully, he found that it was Miao Ansu's brother Miao Anping.

Miao Anping also saw Song Mo at this time.

He hurried forward to greet Song Mo.

Song Mo disliked Song Han, so naturally he had no intention of dealing with Song Han's Yue family. He exchanged a few polite words with Miao Anping, and then left the Duke of Ying's mansion on the pretext of going to court.

On the way, Wuyi whispered to Song Mo about Miao Anping's attempt to become a constable in Jurong County, and said, "Uncle Miao has been coming to ask for information every now and then these days. This time he must have come for this matter as well."

Song Mo curled his lips slightly.

Song Han actually set up a meat table on the bell and drum tower - it was quite a large table.

What ability does he have to help Miao Anping seek the position of Jurong County Constable?

Song Mo thought for a moment and told Wu Yi, "Go ask Madam if there is anyone among the guards from Zhending who wants to go to Jurong County to be a constable. I will recommend him to be an official."

Wuyi trotted back to the Duke of Ying's Mansion.

Dou Zhao was confused after hearing Song Mo's words, so Wuyi told Dou Zhao the whole cause and effect. Dou Zhao couldn't help laughing, so he called Duan Gongyi and told him what Song Mo had said.

Duan Gongyi and Chen Xiaofeng had no intention of leaving the Duke of Ying's Mansion, but they both thought this was a good thing - if those who came with Dou Zhao could be recommended as officials, those younger ones would have a goal and hope, and would only be more loyal to Dou Zhao.

The two of them discussed it and asked the guards to recommend themselves.

Some were willing to go and some were unwilling to go, so Duan Gongyi and Chen Xiaofeng held an on-site selection to compare qualifications, loyalty, and skills. Finally, they decided on a candidate and reported it to Dou Zhao.

Dou Zhao wrote down the man's name and three generations of wealth to Wuyi and asked Wuyi to give it to Song Mo.

Song Mo hurriedly sent someone to Jurong County that day.

Miao Anping didn't know about these things.

He stood there, looking at Song Mo's crimson official robe with envy on his face until Song Mo disappeared. Then he followed the servant to the Green Bamboo Pavilion.

Song Han and Miao Ansu had already set a date to move. Miao Ansu was packing up. The furnishings in the house were inevitably a bit messy and sloppy. Miao Anping was shocked when he saw it and asked, "What's wrong?"

Miao Ansu just got up.

Song Han stayed in the room of Yuehong, another maid who came with her as a dowry, last night.

Ji Hong was helping her with her makeup. When she heard Miao Anping was here, she couldn't help but rub her forehead and complain, "Why is he so energetic? Isn't he afraid of gossip so early in the morning?"

These days, there was the division of the family, the marriage of the maids, and the Qixia incident. Song Han was very irritable and could find fault with everything. How could she have the chance to talk to him about the Jurong County Constable? But her brother was not at all worry-free and was aggressive and insisted on getting a result.

Ji Hong didn't dare to say anything, but the little maid who came to report was ignorant and fearless, and said with a smile: "Uncle met the prince, who was preparing to go to court, and he stopped to talk to uncle before leaving."

Miao Ansu was stunned and asked hurriedly, "What did the prince and uncle say?"

The little maid smiled and said, "She was just asking if Uncle had had breakfast yet, and that the weather was getting colder and colder, and that if we didn't light a fire in the house, we couldn't even stretch our hands to write."

Miao Ansu breathed a sigh of relief and went to the hall.

Miao Anping was standing in front of the shelf of the treasure cabinet, looking at a pair of red plum vases on it. He turned around when he heard the noise and saw it was Miao Ansu. He frowned and walked forward, saying unhappily: "The Duke of England wants to separate you and live separately. Why didn't you send someone back to your parents' home to tell them about such a big thing? The Duke of England's family property is at least 100,000 taels of silver if not 200,000 taels of silver. Aren't you afraid of being cheated by them? How much of the property will they give you? Did your brother-in-law sign and seal it? Who is the notary? On what basis do they separate you?" It was as if he was dividing the family property.

Miao Ansu said tiredly, "Even if I told you, what can you do to help me? Find a group of people to make a fuss? The Duke of Ying's Mansion has a custom - the eldest son inherits the family property, and the second son is divided out to live on his own." She was really afraid that her brother would offend her father-in-law who was very concerned about his reputation, so she had to patiently explain, "Mother-in-law's dowry was divided into three-fifths to the second master, and the other two-fifths to the eldest son. Later, the eldest son paid a high price to exchange the three-fifths of the property back. Mother-in-law's property has been settled. As for the property of the Duke of Ying's Mansion, it is all public property. At most, half of the property under the name of father-in-law can be divided with the second master. But father-in-law is in his prime now, how can he divide the property at this time..."

Before she finished her words, Miao Anping jumped up: "Are you stupid? If you don't get what you deserve now, do you still expect your father-in-law to leave half of the property to you when he dies? You also know that your father-in-law is in his prime. What if he remarries and has another child? Also, who told you that the Duke of Ying's Mansion has a custom? Have you seen this custom or have I seen it? It's all their talk! If they don't divide the property clearly, you can't agree to divide the family..."

Miao Ansu smiled bitterly.

If Song Han was the second son of the Duke of Yingguo… no, even a bastard, she could fight for him according to the rules of other bastards leaving the mansion. But Song Han's status was ambiguous, so she didn't dare to fight for him at all, and didn't dare to say anything. How could she, a daughter-in-law, fight for him?

She said unhappily, "The division of the family was agreed by the Duke, and the Second Master also agreed. Do you want me to argue with my father-in-law? You don't know my father-in-law's temper. The more you ask him, the less he will give you; the more obedient you are, the more he will pity you. That's why the Second Master said nothing and listened to my father-in-law about the division of the family. Didn't my father-in-law spend more than 10,000 taels of silver to buy us a house in Situo Hutong? In addition, my father-in-law also gave us a farm that pays 2,000 taels of silver every year, and said that he would give us another 4,000 taels of silver every year to live on. Don't you mess around here!"

"Bah!" Miao Anping said angrily, "Words are not enough, written evidence is needed. Where did he write that he would give you 4,000 taels of silver every year to live on? This is something that may happen this year but not next year. You were so smart when you were at your parents' house, how come you became so stupid after you got married? Besides, how can you divide the family without inviting your parents' family to be witnesses? Did my brother-in-law fool you into not knowing which direction to follow?"

As he was speaking, he saw Miao Ansu's face suddenly turn red and she winked at him.

Miao Anping's heart moved, and he turned around as if he had realized something, and saw Song Han walking in with a sullen face.

I don't know how much he heard?

Miao Anping muttered to himself.

He dared to be unruly in front of Miao Ansu, but he did not dare to offend Song Han who had something to ask for.

Miao Anping hurriedly put on a smile and greeted him, calling him "brother-in-law" warmly, saying, "Have you had breakfast? There is a crab roe bun shop near our house, and it tastes great. I brought a basket of them here, brother-in-law, please try it and see how it tastes."

Ji Hong brought in the buns quickly.

Song Han heard what Miao Anping said just now.

He couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

Idiot who knows nothing!

You think everyone comes from the market, and will roll up their sleeves and fight when things don't go their way, but afterward they can still smile and call you "brother" when they meet again.

If I don't agree to split up, the word "death" will be waiting for me!

If you have lost your life, what else is there to talk about?

It's better to divide it up.

Once you have established your own business, you will have an excuse to find a job.

Not having to live under Song Mo's watchful eye is better than anything else. Who knows what Song Mo will do to me when he gets mad?

Anyway, since his father didn't say anything, Song Mo couldn't accuse him of passing off a concubine's son as the legitimate heir. Was he afraid that no one would flatter him outside by relying on his title as the second master of the Duke of Ying's Mansion?

When Song Han saw the flattering smile on Miao Anping's face, he felt so disgusted that he almost vomited out the food he had eaten the previous night.

He stood up and said, "We have to move soon. I have to visit Uncle Lu and several uncles. I will have breakfast outside. You two brothers and sisters have a good chat." Then he walked out amid Miao Anping's continuous shouts of "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law".

Miao Anping felt humiliated and asked Miao Ansu coldly, "What does he mean by this?"

Miao Ansu glanced at him and said, "Who asked you to criticize other people's family affairs?"

"Isn't this for your own good?" Miao Anping muttered a few words guiltily. Seeing that the matter of the constable had not been settled again, he quickly stuffed all the crab roe buns he had brought with him into his mouth and then returned to Daxing.

Miao's father hurriedly asked him, "What did your brother-in-law say?"

"Don't mention it." Miao Anping told his father everything that happened in the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, and asked, "Tell me, did my sister get kicked in the head by a donkey?"

However, Miao's father was stunned by the house worth more than 10,000 taels of silver and the annual subsidy of 4,000 taels of silver.

He scolded his son, "Why do you care so much? Your sister has a father-in-law above her and a husband below her. If she doesn't listen to her father-in-law and husband, how can she listen to you?" As he spoke, his eyes rolled, and he added, "I wonder if the four thousand taels of silver should be paid in one lump sum or in installments? If it is paid in one lump sum, let alone other things, just take out half of it and lend it out, and you can earn at least one thousand eight hundred taels a year - our family only needs two or three hundred taels of silver a year for expenses."

Miao Anping immediately understood his father's intention.

He approached his father and whispered, "Don't let your uncle and his family know about this. I think it's best to say that this is a custom in the Duke's House."

Father Miao nodded continuously.

Miao Anping couldn't help himself and said, "Dad, how about I go and check out the market? Not everyone can lend money at high interest!"

"Of course." Miao's father urged him, "Go and ask our grandfathers so that we can come up with a set of rules."

"Yeah!" Miao Anping went out happily and came back drunk at night.

Of course, Miao's father couldn't get anything out of him.

The next day, Miao Anping slept until noon before getting up. However, as soon as he got up, his friends told him that the list of two new constables in Jurong County had been issued.

One is the nephew of the chief clerk of Jurong County.

One is the guard of the British Mansion.