Ying Shuchang did not light the oil lamp, but touched the exquisite lock box in the faint moonlight coming through the window.
This is Daddy's exquisite lockbox. Daddy had never hidden anything from her. He had told her how many properties the family had and said that he had placed all the property deeds in the exquisite lockbox. He also told his daughter that he was working outside and there was a certain risk involved. If anything happened to him, she should keep the exquisite lockbox safe. All the properties were left to her.
It was precisely because she was worried that Daddy was not making a safe living outside that Mom would follow him every time, and in the end, she got into trouble too.
Dad got into trouble when he was delivering aromatherapy to other states. The aromatherapy made in our family workshop was not only sold in Raozhou City, but also sent to other states.
Ever since her parents were killed by bandits, she, a girl, has not been able to make much of 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' businesses.
Ying Shuchang put aside the messy thoughts in her mind, carried the exquisite lock box to the window, opened the exquisite lock box with the key, revealing the thick deed inside.
This is all the family property her father left her.
Ying Shuchang took out the deed, and put a stack of rice paper that 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 in the same way, locked the box again, and put the key back to the old lady. Then she left quietly with the deed.
Ying Shuchang took the deed back to her room. 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 the three hundred acres of land, the big house she lived in now, two workshops, two aromatherapy shops, two rouge and powder shops, two three-story shops with attics, and a few other real estate shops, as well as nearly 100,000 taels of silver notes. All the deeds and silver notes for 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 too disgusting. If they really had any affection for her father, she would not have taken this step.
After a sleepless night, everyone in the house woke up gradually the next day, feeling refreshed. They had slept very peacefully and comfortably last night, without any 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. Naturally, Mrs. Zhao followed them.
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 stacked 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 that she couldn't find the key.
She planned to continue looking for things 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 pawnbroker, Mrs. Zhao became cautious and asked, "Madam, why are you here at the pawnbroker?"
Ying Shuchang glanced at her and did not answer her question.
Even Madam Zhang didn't know why her mistress came to the pawnshop, but there must be something. She said, "The little maid who was on night watch last night slept soundly. She was supposed to serve the mistress at night, but she was allowed to sleep whenever she wanted, just like the master. When I went to the mistress's room this morning, she was still lying on the bed, sleeping soundly. How could the mistress want such a maid? She came here today to pick two maids that she liked."
Mrs. Zhao said nothing at this point, for she also knew that the maid was arranged by the old lady.
Ying Shuchang went into the pawnbroker's shop, and Mrs. Zhao wanted to follow. Ying Shuchang said directly to the two pawnbrokers guarding the door: "I came here to discuss some business with your shopkeeper. Please keep this old woman outside for me..."
Ying Shuchang is quite famous in Raozhou City. Ordinary people have only heard of her name but have never seen her in person. But in the past two years, most people doing business have seen her. Even the dentists in the dental clinic know 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 had no idea 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 at them but no one dared to force their way in.
Nanny Zhang followed her wife into the pawnbroker and couldn't help asking, "Madam, what are you doing here?" She just said this only for Mrs. Zhao to hear.
Ying Shuchang said gently, "Mammy, I want to sell all the properties left by my parents."
Aunt Zhang was stunned for a moment. "But, aren't all the things left by the old man 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 over. But the banknotes after selling them would probably be coveted by the old lady and the others..."
Nanny Zhang had no idea at all and felt very uneasy.
Even if I sell all my property, how can my wife protect the banknotes? I am afraid that when I return to the house, the old lady will tie me up and search all the banknotes on me.
"Don't worry, Ma'am. I 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 lock box, and took out the things inside. I will sell all these deeds to the pawnshop later, and I will also keep all the banknotes left by my father. After I deal with all these properties, I will 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 she could go to the old lady to take out her things. As for these properties, she could 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 pass so that someone could escort her and Nanny Zhang to other state capitals.
Only in this way can she completely break away from the Ying family. When 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 properties, but she had no plans to leave Raozhou City. Her parents' graves were still there, and she didn't want to go anywhere else. Moreover, as a girl, she felt uneasy 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 protection. I think the generals in the military camp would agree. Then, with the protection of people in the military camp, no matter how angry Ying's family members were, they would not dare to touch her.
Besides, at that time, she didn't have anything on her that would make the Ying family miss 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 should not even think about taking over her family business.
Nanny Zhang was completely stunned.
She stammered, "But, but if you donate all the banknotes, what will you do in the future?"
Ying Shuchang laughed, "Madam, don't forget. My most precious thing 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 the family business, come with me to the military camp. Once we get there, we'll donate all the things. It's a done deal. No matter how much trouble the Ying family makes, it won't work."
Aunt Zhang was stunned. She didn't feel bad about the family property left by the old master and his wife, but she was worried about what would happen to her after she donated all the property. 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 yard.
When the time comes, my wife will rent a small yard, and she will go out to do some work, and she will be able to support my wife.
Aunt Zhang said, "Well, no matter what you do, I will accompany you."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Ying Shuchang said softly.
The two of them went into the pharmacy, and Ying Shuchang asked someone to call out the pharmacy manager.
The shopkeeper was a fat middle-aged man. When he saw Ying Shuchang, he smiled and asked, "Why are you here, Madam Ying?"
Ying Shuchang didn't waste any more words and took out all the deeds on her body, "I want to sell all the family property to the shopkeeper, do you want to accept it?"
If you want to sell all your properties as quickly as possible without causing any trouble, the fastest way is to go to the property brokerage firm. Sell to them at a price lower than the market price so that they can also make a profit. This way, it will be easy to sell.
The fat shopkeeper looked at Ying Shuchang in surprise. He also knew about the Ying family's affairs and couldn't help but ask, "Mrs. Ying, have you ever thought about how to keep all these properties in banknotes even if you exchange them for banknotes?"
The fat shopkeeper had some interactions and business dealings with Mr. Ying Er, so he was considered half a friend. He also knew how harsh Mrs. Ying was on Mr. Ying Er, so he hated these people in the Ying family. When they saw that a couple had passed away, they came to bully the orphan girl and coveted 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 property than let them take advantage of her.
But even if Miss Ying sold all her properties, wouldn't the banknotes be easier to snatch away?
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 courage, just like Ying Lao Er's temperament. It's a pity that he is not a man. If he was a boy, those people would not dare to come to his house so brazenly to rob his family property.
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 twenty-five thousand taels, which was a little lower than the market price, but not too excessive. He could still make three or four thousand taels of silver from it. If it were someone else, he would at least dare to cut the price in half.
This was also the last thing he did for Ying Lao Er.
After putting away the banknotes, Ying Shuchang gave the deeds of the dozens of acres of land at the foot of the mountain outside the city to the fat shopkeeper, "Please do me one more favor, and have someone send the deeds of these fields to the Banfang Inn and give them to a young lady named Xu Qinyu who lives in the Tianzihao room. Say that they are given to young lady Xu."
She did not sell these fields to the brokerage firm, but left them specifically for Xu Qinyu, and she had no intention of collecting money for them. Miss Xu had helped her so much. If it weren't for Miss Xu's husband who helped her prepare the incense, she would not have been able to get these deeds. So she gave these pieces of land to Miss Xu as a gift. As for why she didn't go in person, it was because she was afraid of causing trouble for Miss Xu and afraid that the Ying family would think that it was Miss Xu's idea and go to find Miss Xu.
Because in the evening, she and the Ying family will definitely have a big battle.
In fact, when she discussed with Miss Xu in the inn yesterday, Miss Xu also invited her to work as a manager in a restaurant outside the city, where she could be responsible for preparing perfumes, rouge and powder for female guests.
However, Miss Xu said that her restaurant would probably have to wait until the beginning of next spring to open, 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's life.
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, madam?"
Ying Shuchang ignored her and let Mrs. Zhao jump on the carriage and go to the military camp with her. She wanted to see how these people regretted their mistakes and became angry and frustrated.
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 we approached, we could even hear the sound of soldiers training.
When Mrs. Zhao saw Ying Shuchang coming here, she was a little confused, "Madam, what are you doing in the military camp?"
You can't barge into a military camp without permission. Before Ying Shuchang even reached the front of the camp, she was stopped by a patrolling soldier nearby and shouted, "What are you doing? This is a military stronghold. Do you want to die if you barge in without permission?"
Ying Shuchang took out all the banknotes on her body, which added up to about 130,000 taels. "I came to the military camp just to donate some money. Please go in and tell the military officer that all my wealth will be donated to the military camp."
Several patrolling soldiers were a little surprised. It was not uncommon for people to come to the barracks to donate silver and food before, but this was the first time they saw a young lady donating more than 100,000 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, trembling all over. "Are you crazy? You actually donated all the family business that your parents have 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 donated it all to the military camp, leaving nothing. You are really crazy, crazy."
As she said this, she even wanted to rush over and snatch the banknote from Ying Shuchang's hand.
If the old lady knew that she watched her wife donate all her assets, she would have no good life when she returned.
"How dare you steal things from a military camp!" Two soldiers immediately stepped forward and grabbed Mrs. Zhao, pushing her to the ground and pointing their spears at her head. "If you dare to cause trouble again, you will be killed on the spot."
If anyone causes trouble in a military camp, they can kill the troublemaker 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 stop making trouble. Where is your master?"
Ying Shuchang still said the same thing, she wanted to donate money to the military camp.
The soldier had no choice but to go back to the barracks and tell the general. The general was very surprised when he heard it. He came out to take a look and asked, "You look so young. Where did you get 100,000 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 clearly.
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. Almost everyone knows about it, so he has heard some of it. He did not 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 embezzlement case.
The imperial court embezzled military pay, and as a result, rations were also reduced. The barracks were full of grown men, all of whom were big eaters. They usually didn't want to go out to eat and drink with their military pay, and asked others to take it back to 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 quickly get to the bottom of the case of embezzlement of military pay, so that the soldiers in the barracks would not suffer any more grievances and could eat their fill.
These hundreds of thousands of taels of silver can provide enough food for the military camp for a while and solve the current urgent needs.
He said, "Okay, I'll take the money."
Since he accepted the silver, he knew that Miss Ying was actually using the hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to buy the protection of the military camp.
The general knew in his heart that if Miss Ying did this, her reputation would be affected.
But the great generals didn't really care about the reputation. Seeing that Miss Ying had made up her mind, and thinking that people were willing to donate hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, he signaled the soldiers to go back to his tent and take out a small wooden sign, and handed it to Ying Shuchang, "Keep this sign, Miss. This is our barracks' tribute sign. People who have made certain contributions in the barracks will be given a tribute sign. This sign is also useful. If someone is blind and bullies you, just go to the governor's mansion in Raozhou City or the guards in the city for help."
This sign is not an important token, just a small thing. The families of some young generals in the military camp will live in Raozhou City, and it is inevitable that some ignorant people will bully them, so there is this tribute sign, which is just a thing to scare people.
Ying Shuchang had not expected to receive a small wooden sign from the military camp. She happily accepted it and thanked the general.
The general waved his hand, stuffed the banknote into his lapel, and then turned back to the barracks.
After returning to the barracks, he instructed 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.
All 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 pawnbroker's shop, and at dusk, she would have someone from the pawnbroker's shop go and collect the house.
Ying Shuchang started packing up as soon as she returned home.
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 concentrated on packing her things. Her clothes were also easy to pack and were all packed in a large box. The owner of the dental shop would help her move the luggage when the time came.
The old lady was stunned when she saw her packing up her things. "What is Shuchang planning to do? Why are you packing up your things?"
Could it be that the granddaughter finally came to her senses and decided 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, "Why don't you tell me now!" She also noticed that something was wrong.
Mrs. Zhao then cried and told the old lady everything that had happened today, starting from Ying Shuchang leaving the house and going to the pawnshop, then selling all the family properties 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 caused everyone in the first and third rooms to cry too.
When the people from both families heard that Ying Shuchang had donated all her family property, the eldest and third sons of Ying were so angry that they raised their arms and wanted to hit Ying Shuchang.
Ying Shuchang was not afraid of them either. She took out the wooden sign given to her by the general and said, "See? This is a tribute sign given to me by the general. If you try to touch me, I will not let this matter go."
After hearing this, the eldest and third sons of the Ying family did not dare to take action. Instead, they insulted and cursed Ying Shuchang crazily, calling her stupid and ungrateful. They were filled with hatred and anger, and were so heartbroken that they almost passed out.
Ying Shuchang ignored them and just 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 scene was getting chaotic, a dozen soldiers and the pawnshop owner came over.
With these soldiers and the pawnshop owner around, the Ying family didn't dare to continue making trouble.
Ying Shuchang asked someone to help her move all the boxes to the carriage outside. When she left, she threw the key of the exquisite lock box to the old lady and said, "This is the key you have been looking for for a month. It is behind my father's tablet. You can find it if you have wiped the tablet for my father. But you have lived in this house for more than a month, and you have never wiped the tablets for my parents or worshipped them once."
After saying this, she no longer spoke to her family and left the Ying family with Nanny Zhang.
She also gave the indentures of the rest of the servants of the Ying family to the shopkeeper, asking him to help her return the indentures to the servants of the Ying family 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 shopkeeper, asking him to give them severance pay and this month's salary.