Chapter 98 Selling My Body for My Husband
Everything is settled.
Xie Yuduo withdrew two years' dividends from the shop account, totaling 5,872 taels of silver.
He left the small change of the money to his father for the immediate household expenses, then exchanged the whole amount for a banknote, and then went back to the house to find Chen Qi.
"My dear, this is the money I have earned from selling my body for the past two years. Please accept it."
Chen Qi took them without hesitation, checking the authenticity of each one and checking the number at the same time.
Xie Yuduo sat on the chair, crossed his legs, drank tea, and watched her carefully checking the banknotes, feeling very happy.
"Xiao Yue'er, you were so shy when you were newly married, why are you willing to accept it now?"
Chen Qi counted the money twice, divided it into half, put it on the dressing table, and threw the other half of the banknotes at him.
"For the past two years, you've been busy selling your body to earn money, and I've been busy too, taking care of the household every day. I've been exhausted. So, is that right or wrong? Also, I've given you a lot of business ideas. Do you agree? So, I have to give you half of the money you earned from selling your body. These two thousand five hundred taels of silver are my dividends for the past two years."
Xie Yuduo nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Of course, of course."
Chen Qi counted out five more silver bills from her own share and stuffed them into his sleeve.
"This is the money from the house on Magnolia Street. I'm returning it all to you, principal and interest. From now on, we're even!"
Xie Yuduo's smile was worthless.
"Thank you for the reward, Second Madam. I received it."
After saying that, he sorted out the stack of banknotes on his body and in his sleeves, put them together neatly, and handed them to Shen Qi with both hands.
"However, please keep it for me, Madam. If I need it, I can ask you to give it to me."
Chen Qi knew that he had no shortage of this little money and was intending to keep it for himself, so he took it without hesitation.
"I remember it. Three thousand taels for you, two thousand taels for me... But then, I had my reasons for not accepting it back then. And I have my reasons for accepting it today."
Xie Yuduo felt happy, smiled, tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and made a guess.
"Back then, when you were a new wife, you didn't know my temperament, so how could you accept my money? Now you have such power over me that you hold my life in your hands, not to mention this little money. I'm just borrowing it temporarily. Isn't that right?"
Chen Qi laughed out loud at his words and nodded in agreement proudly.
"That's right, as long as you understand it."
Xie Yuduo understood very well.
But she didn't know yet that the money she earned from selling her body in the past two years was far more than that.
…
When Shen's parents first learned that their daughter and son-in-law were going to the provincial capital, they each expressed their opinions.
Father Shen was very much in favor.
"Of course the provincial capital is better. There are many wealthy people and many connections, so business can grow big."
The mother was really worried about her daughter.
"Pingshan County is thirty miles from Baihe Town, which takes more than half an hour to walk. How far is the provincial capital from here? If you come back in the future, how long will it take you to get home?"
She was very worried that if her daughter went to the provincial capital, it might take a long time for her to come back.
The eldest brother of the Shen family agreed with his sister and brother-in-law to run away and comforted his mother.
"It's not very far, but it's not close either. Last year, I went there with Uncle Liu. If we took a car, we could have stayed at an inn for a night and arrived the next day."
Zhang's heart trembled when she heard this.
Sister-in-law Qiao quickly added.
"It's faster on horseback. If we set out after breakfast, we'll be home by dinner time."
Xie Yuduo was also there at the time, and Mr. Shen asked about his brother-in-law's business plans.
"Will you still be engaged in the herbal medicine business when you arrive in the provincial capital?"
Xie Yuduo answered truthfully.
"Not sure yet. I'm more familiar with herbal medicine, so I might try other things. It depends on where I can make money."
Father Shen nodded.
"Well, people go to higher places, and water flows to lower places. You young people should be more active in your thinking."
Finally, they persuaded their mother to be relieved, and the couple said goodbye and went home.
Before leaving, Shen Qi gave her mother some silver and asked her to keep it at home for emergency use.
Mother Shen refused it resolutely.
After giving in several times, Chen Qi took advantage of her unpreparedness and stuffed it into a box at home that was rarely opened, waiting to write to her later.
Moving is a big deal, especially moving to a provincial capital so far away. Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching and there will be many banquets for relatives and friends.
The relatives of the Shen and Xie families are fine.
Chen Qi didn't expect that Xie Yuduo had so many friends. Farewell banquets were held one after another. She brought the jade mirror and followed Xie Yuduo, eating at one family and another, and was busy all day long.
In the evening, Chen Qi returned home, immediately took off her hairpins and outer clothes, and collapsed on the bed.
"Eating a banquet is so tiring! You have too many friends!"
Xie Yuduo smiled and rubbed her waist.
"A single tree cannot make a forest, and a single flower cannot make a spring. We are merchants, so naturally we need more friends."
Chen Qi pinched the slightly bulging flesh on her belly.
"I eat feasts every day, with delicious meals. Look at the fat on my waist, arms, and legs. They've all gotten fatter."
Xie Yuduo grabbed her delicate arm and gave it a smack.
"It's plump and looks really nice. I like it."
Chen Qi laughed and punched him, and the two rolled together again...
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the day of their departure is getting closer and closer.
That day, Xie Yuduo handed over another invitation.
"Today, we are going to a banquet."
Chen Qi was too tired from the banquet and didn't want to accept it at all, so she just waved her hand.
"No need to watch it. I'll just ask Yu Jing to prepare her makeup. Then, we'll go wherever you take us."
"I'm not bringing the jade mirror today. They only invited my husband and me."
Chen Qi said "Hmm?" and suddenly became interested.
"That's strange. Who sent this invitation?"
"It's the one across from our shop. During the Lantern Festival two years ago, you even stopped by their door to rest."
Shen Qi thought about it.
"Oh, is it the one with the official?"
Xie Yuduo nodded casually.
"Well, probably."
Chen Qi asked again.
"Isn't there anyone at home?"
"It seems he's back recently. I guess he wants to make some friends, so please come over and have a chat at noon today."
Chen Qi pondered for a moment.
"They are...a family of officials. Should I prepare well?"
Xie Yuduo waved his hand and disagreed.
"What's there to prepare? Just do as usual. Who dares to laugh at us?"
Even after hearing what he said, Shen Qi still decided to take it seriously.
She carefully dressed up, put on her most appropriate and embroidered clothes, and took out the gold and silver jewelry that she usually didn't like to wear.
When attending a banquet at an official's house, one cannot let others think that one, a merchant's wife, is inappropriate.
Xie Yuduo sat aside, watching her busy for half a day, smiling happily.
After she had finished tidying up, he looked her up and down again and nodded in approval.
“Beautiful!”
Chen Qi looked at herself in the mirror and nodded in agreement.
They both laughed.
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