In his letter, Bai Quan described the process of buying the house.
The first and biggest problem is how to monetize it—Xu Rong gave him a pile of jewelry, which was valuable, but couldn't be used directly as money.
Taking it to a pawn shop won't work; once you go through that door, it's halved. And if you run into a shady dealer, it's not impossible for them to halve it again.
Bai Quan remained calm and composed. After arriving in Suzhou, he simply wandered around the city every day. After a month, he gradually infiltrated the homes of wealthy families. He was just a servant, but servants of powerful families like the Marquis of Ji'an's mansion were different from servants of ordinary families. Their words and actions exuded an air of arrogance and extravagance, which naturally provided him with an endorsement.
Having gained initial trust, Bai Quan began to weave a story step by step: A wealthy family in the capital had fallen on hard times, and its descendants were unable to maintain the family fortune, leading to a decline until the family was on the verge of collapse. At this point, the descendants suddenly realized their mistake and wanted to revive the family business. However, the fields and shops had already been almost completely lost. To raise capital, the women stepped forward, each contributing their most precious jewelry. But due to concerns about their reputation and the women's honor, they were reluctant to sell it in the capital, so they sent trusted servants...
The whole story is a mix of stagnation and triumph; even if the wealthy merchants don't spend money, their wives and concubines will.
Even if the jewelry of the ladies in noble families couldn't be worn out due to regulations, they were still happy to display it at home.
Moreover, Suzhou is thousands of miles away, and the rules of etiquette are not as strict as those in the capital. People there compete to show off their style and dare to wear whatever they want.
Thus, it took Bai Quan more than two months to slowly sell the large bundle of jewelry. At the same time, he visited several properties and identified two or three good houses for sale. He settled on one of them before the New Year. However, the New Year holiday came and all businesses were in a slump, and the government offices were closed. He waited until after the New Year to finally have the sixth branch of the family on duty. He went through the formalities, signed the deed, and found a reliable messenger to send the deed back with a letter...
Xu Rong looked at the bottommost contract paper, which was also crumpled up, and remained silent.
Xu Huazhang pulled his head back and smiled guiltily, "Sister, I didn't know he was carrying something so important. It's alright—it's not broken!"
He became self-righteous again.
Xu Rong didn't intend to scold him. He carefully folded the letter and contract separately and put them back into the envelope.
Bai Fu hadn't dared to speak until now, but seized the opportunity to ask, "When is my brother coming back? Is he already on his way?"
Xu Rong shook his head: "He's not coming back."
Bai Fu was stunned: "What?"
“Your brother said in his letter that he has some money left over after buying the house. He has seen the world this time and wants to use it as capital to travel further afield.” Xu Rong said to her with a smile, “Don’t worry, your brother is a capable man. He is willing to go out and make his own way. It’s more promising for him than to come back and stay in the mansion.”
Bai Fu was reluctant, but there was nothing she could do about her brother, so she could only say disappointedly, "...Oh."
Xu Huazhang remembered something and interjected, "Sister, what are you going to do with that house? Are you really planning to move that far away to live there?"
He wouldn't believe him if he told the truth, so Xu Rong said, "I have money and want to buy it."
Xu Huazhang: "..."
A hint of sadness was surprisingly revealed in his thin eyebrows and eyes.
“Sister, I’m so poor right now,” he cried. “Mother only gives me ten taels of silver a month. When I spend it all and ask the accountant for more, she starts asking me.”
Ten taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family of three to live on for half a year.
But for Xu Huazhang, it might really be a financial burden, as he can't afford to book a decent banquet outside.
Xu Rong chuckled: "So you and Young Master Zhang can still get along?"
Spending power largely determines one's circle of friends; this sounds realistic, but it really is.
“He’s even poorer than me.” Xu Huazhang puffed out his chest as he mentioned this. “His mother doesn’t give him a single penny now. If he wants to buy something, he can only ask the guards around him.”
Xu Rong laughed out loud.
After laughing, she lowered her head, took out three or four pieces of silver from her purse, and stuffed them into his hand: "Don't tell your mother, but don't spend them recklessly."
It's good that Madam Xu is strict, but keeping him under such tight control can easily lead to a rebellious phase. He should be allowed some breathing room occasionally.
Xu Huazhang was overjoyed and hurriedly took the loose silver, stuffing it into his empty purse, and bowed again, saying, "Thank you, sister!"
Xu Rong said to him, "Alright, if you have nothing else to do, go find Young Master Zhang. Don't linger here."
After all, it's a place where women stay, so it's not appropriate for him to keep wandering around nearby.
Xu Huazhang nodded and obediently ran off happily.
Xiao Xin had remained silent until now, when he finally spoke up: "Was this your arrangement?"
Xu Rong snapped out of her daze, realizing what he was asking, and nodded in reply: "Sort of—but that was before."
With a large dowry in hand, she had much more room to maneuver. Suzhou was her backup plan, but whether she had to use it was another matter.
Staying in the capital has its advantages and disadvantages. Currently, the disadvantages still outweigh the advantages, but the situation is gradually changing. If one day the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, she won't necessarily have to go that far.
The so-called "fallback plan" is about having a backup plan, not about using it. Once it's needed, it can no longer be called a "fallback plan".
Xiao Xin pressed further, "Before? And after?"
Bai Fu couldn't understand, and looked around blankly.
Xu Rong smiled, her eyes crinkling: "After that, it's up to you, Second Young Master. If one day you not only become a great man, but also have a broad mind and are still willing to lend a helping hand when I encounter difficulties, then I might have other plans."
People's thoughts change. As she invested more and more in Xiao Xin, her thoughts naturally changed as well: In terms of character, Xiao Xin was no worse than Zhen Jin. If he rose to prominence in the future, he would be a ready-made backer. Even if their cooperation ended, their friendship would still remain. It would be a pity to let him go.
A living, powerful backer is much more reliable than a dead house.
Of course, for the sake of both of them, she wouldn't bother Xiao Xin unnecessarily, but if trouble arose, she would have someone to ask for help.
Xiao Xin met her gaze, the coldness in his eyes gradually fading, and said in a low voice, "I understand."
What did he know?
Xu Rong pressed him further, "Second Young Master, does this mean you've agreed?"
Xiao Xin replied, "Hmm."
"I knew the Second Young Master was a good person," Xu Rong praised him happily.
Xiao Xin didn't answer this time. He handed all the boxes in his hands to Bai Fu before saying, "Tell your second aunt that I'm going over there."
He was referring to the male guests' area. There were fewer guests before, so they followed Madam Xiao to that place. Now that Xu Huazhang has arrived, it's not appropriate for him to go in anymore.
Xu Rong nodded. After he left, she led Bai Fu inside. When they entered the flower hall, it was indeed much more lively than before. Madam Zhang had brought in several more female relatives. They exchanged pleasantries and chatted and laughed. As soon as Xu Rong entered, their attention immediately gathered from all directions.
Xu Rong was a little overwhelmed. She was good at socializing, but that didn't mean she was good at it. She preferred to sit quietly under the eaves and daydream. Fortunately, Madam Xiao was understanding. After Xu Rong had greeted everyone, she smiled and said, "You probably can't stay here. Why don't you go for a walk? There's a garden here with flowers that bloom better than in our mansion. The eldest mistress took the eldest daughter and the second daughter there. You should go and take a look too."
Xu Rong breathed a sigh of relief and quickly withdrew from the group of ladies surrounding him.
After she left, she thought back and realized that it was no wonder she hadn't seen any young women in the flower hall; they must have gone for a stroll in the garden together.
Xu Rong slowed her pace. She didn't intend to fall into the circle of young girls again. She just wandered around casually. After a while, she suddenly saw the servants nearby start moving—heading in a unified direction, tense yet orderly.
Xu Rong, unaware of what had happened, stopped someone to ask questions.
The maid knew she was a guest who had come to offer congratulations, so she was very polite, but spoke very quickly: "It is His Highness the Crown Prince who has arrived. Please stay here with peace of mind, Madam."
Crown Prince?
Xu Rong was stunned for a moment.
At this moment, Bai Fu, who had gone to inquire with another maid, returned. The two exchanged information and learned that the Duke of Yingguo had won a battle, and the imperial court's rewards had been issued a few days ago. There was also a reward for the Empress. The Empress was a thoughtful person. Considering that Madam Zhang's husband and two sons were away from home all year round, and that it was not easy for Madam Zhang to support the mansion alone, she specially ordered His Highness the Crown Prince to personally deliver the reward on the day of the banquet to show the imperial grace.
Because there was no prior notice, the British government was caught off guard and was caught off guard, causing some chaos.
But after a century of history, according to Xu Rong's observation, after the initial minor disturbance, the servants quickly calmed down, and everyone was all smiles, even walking with straighter backs.
This is a good thing and a joyous occasion; everyone in the British Duke's mansion is beaming with pride.
"It seems some people are secretly planning to visit His Highness the Crown Prince." After inquiring around again, Bai Fu returned with some interest and asked, "Second Madam, shall we go?"
She wasn't one to join in the fun, but the Crown Prince, with his imposing presence and noble bearing, was still worth sneaking a peek at.
Xu Rong hesitated for a moment: "Let it go, after all, we're in someone else's residence."
Making trouble out of turn someone else's good thing into a bad thing is not the way to behave as a guest.
After finishing speaking, seeing that Bai Fu was a little disappointed, he comforted her, "There will be other opportunities in the future. Maybe she will come to our mansion."
Bai Fu nodded understandingly, "Okay. Then I won't go."
The two continued to walk around for a while. Xu Rong felt a little tired and was about to go back to the flower hall. Before she could turn around, she suddenly heard several screams rise from the ground, startling several birds in the trees into flight.
The tree is on the main road of the government office, and the cries are coming from that direction.
Xu Rong and Bai Fu looked at each other in bewilderment.
Bai Fu asked cautiously, "...Shall we go take a look?"
Xu Rong decisively said, "Let's go."
Since something has already happened, it's no longer her concern.
But for some reason, she also had a vague, ominous premonition—
After bypassing several gates, when they finally arrived at the scene, their premonition came true.
The first thing that catches the eye is a group of aristocratic girls in pink and green, but they are glaring angrily, jumping up and down, crying, and one is lying in the arms of her companion. At first glance, only one of them has managed to maintain the so-called aristocratic demeanor.
It's Chang Shuyin.
The one who collapsed in her arms was Xiao Shan.
"You've been secretly following us the whole time!"
You lecherous scoundrel!
"You're throwing bugs to scare people!"
"I want to tell my mother, where is my mother, sob sob..."
The girls kept pointing and blaming at a tree.
"Who told you to keep talking bad about my sister the whole way!"
"I'm a lecherous man, and you're all sneaking off to see men, so you're all lecherous women!"
"I'll teach you a lesson for talking behind people's backs!"
A series of retorts crashed down from the thick branches, their voices incredibly loud, successfully drowning out the shouts of the noble ladies.
From Xu Rong's angle, she could only see the thigh of the person riding on the tree and the hem of their clothes. She was familiar with the color of the hem and even more familiar with the loud voice.
Xu Rong: "..."
Her feelings were truly indescribable. She was not unmoved by Xu Huazhang's protectiveness towards her, but Madam Xu had been talking about Xu Huazhang's marriage before, and she might have had similar thoughts in mind when she invited him here today.
That's good now.
Xu Huazhang, by his own efforts, offended a large portion of his potential partners—perhaps even all of them.
This ability to be destined to be single is a bit too strong.
"Ha ha."
Amidst the chaotic noise, a clear laugh suddenly rang out.
Xu Rong looked in the direction of the sound and saw another girl in an apricot-colored shirt standing a little further away. She crossed her arms, her posture not very ladylike, and she had a disdain for associating with those noble ladies.
Further away, another group of people appeared, but this group had a very clear purpose: they surrounded a young man in red robes in the very center.
The man's identity is self-evident.
Xu Rong stopped looking at him, slowly walked to the tree, and looked up: "Come down."
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