Chapter 197: Money, Money, Money
Li Laoer helped Xichuan get off the carriage in high spirits. The movement affected his wound which had not yet fully healed, causing him to bare his teeth, but the smile on his face did not diminish at all.
"Wait a moment, I'll go in and take a look." Li Laoer straightened his robe and pushed open the half-open gate.
The yard was not empty, but everyone was busy and didn't pay attention to the noise at the door.
The first person to discover him was Yuan, who came out of the kitchen carrying spices.
"Ah! Master, you're back!" Yuan's voice was like throwing a stone into a calm lake, instantly breaking the tranquility of the yard.
In a flash, all the busy people came out.
"Dad!" Dadan'er and Erdan'er's eyes lit up, and they rushed towards Li Laoer like wild horses.
Li Laoer was so frightened that he waved his hands hurriedly, "Slow down, don't hit me, my internal injuries haven't healed yet!"
The two dogs suddenly stopped in front of Li Laoer, scaring him so much that he gasped.
"You little rascal." Li Lao Er rubbed Dadan'er and Erdan's heads. "Help me over there. Bring me a stool. Do you miss me?"
Dadan hurriedly supported Li Laoer, and Erdan went to move a stool.
Qin Fangci also put down the work in her hands and walked out. "You're back? Is everything going well?"
After saying this, Qin Fangci saw Doctor Su carrying his medicine box behind him. She rolled her eyes at Li Laoer and walked towards Doctor Su.
"Doctor Su is here. You must be exhausted these past few days. Sit down and rest for a while. I'll make you a bowl of noodles."
Doctor Su smiled and waved his hand. "Look, it's convenient for me to go see the patient. You guys talk. I'm not hungry, so I don't need to go down."
Qin Fangci said to San Ya again, "Sanyah, go tell your mother that Doctor Su is here."
San Ya had already moved two stools over, placing one behind Doctor Su and the other next to Xichuan before going into the house to find Mrs. Du.
Li Laoer stepped into his own courtyard, feeling a sense of peace and security, like returning home from wandering. Seeing that everyone had suddenly stopped surrounding him, he straightened his back and raised his voice, "Mom, little sister, wife! I'm back today not only to bring myself back, but also to bring good things with me!"
When Yuan heard that it was good news, she gave him some face and said, "What good news? Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me quickly."
Qin Fangci looked past Li Laoer and looked at Xichuan, "Xichuan, I'm sorry to bother you again today. Please sit down and have a cup of tea. You must have a meal before leaving."
Xichuan laughed and said, "Okay, then I'll trouble you, old lady, to give me a bowl of rice to eat today."
Xichuan took off the bag he was carrying and said, "I came here this time on the orders of my master to bring you two things."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's attention was focused on Xichuan.
Xichuan took out a heavy coarse cloth purse and a folded document.
Unfolding the document, he announced, "The dried meat case has been concluded, and all the stolen money has been confiscated. Lord Ji and Lord Deng, mindful of the Li family's significant losses and their assistance in solving the case, have allocated one hundred taels of silver from the fines and confiscations as compensation. Furthermore, the 'Mingxiang Pavilion' teahouse in the city, formerly a base for the criminals, has also been confiscated. Lord Deng has authorized the transfer of the teahouse's land and property deeds to the Li family as a token of sympathy."
One hundred taels! And a teahouse!
This news was like thunder, shocking everyone. The yard was completely silent for a moment, with only the sound of heavy breathing as the rest of the room slumped.
Even Qin Fangci, who had been mentally prepared, took a deep breath. She had expected compensation, but she hadn't imagined it would be so generous.
Money is not a big deal. She had been to the teahouse before. It was a two-story shop with a backyard and a good location. Even in a small place like Guangyi County, it would cost at least a few hundred taels.
Yuan and Wang pinched each other, wondering if they were dreaming. Although the children had little idea what a silver shop was, they knew from the adults' expressions that this was a great opportunity.
Xichuan handed the document and a hundred-liang silver note to Qin Fangci, "Old Madam, please take a look. The land deeds and property deeds are all in the document bag. The relevant transfer procedures have been completed at the government office. Your family just needs to find a time to take over and take care of it."
Qin Fangci calmed herself down and took it with both hands. Her voice was calm but her excitement was barely concealed. "Thank you, Master Ji and Master Deng, for your kindness! Thank you, Brother Xichuan, for your hard work too! We, the Li family, will always remember this kindness! We will do our best to run the business in the future and will never let you down!"
"You're too polite, old lady." Xichuan smiled. "The master also said that he hopes the Li family will prosper in the future. That teahouse is in a good location. If it is well managed, it will definitely be a source of wealth."
The news was so shocking that it took a while before huge cheers broke out in the yard.
"Oh my God! We have a shop at home!" Li Yulan was the first to jump up. Is her porridge shop about to become a reality?
"One hundred taels! There's still another hundred taels! We're rich." Yuan's face flushed with excitement.
Wang pinched herself again, grimacing in pain without caring, and said with tears in her eyes, "It's great! After all the hardships, happiness has finally come. Our family has finally experienced happiness."
Although the children didn't fully understand, they jumped and danced along, and the yard suddenly became a mess.
Qin Fangci looked at her excited children and grandchildren, and a smile spread across her face. The fatigue of the past few days was swept away. She raised her voice and said, "Alright, alright. Everyone, be quiet."
Everyone gradually quieted down, but they couldn't hide the joy on their faces.
Xichuan pulled out a purse from his bosom and said with a smile, "Old lady, I have another thing to tell you. Xu Jiahuai has been stripped of his official title and sentenced to fifty strokes of the cane and three years' imprisonment. My sisters-in-law and daughters are clever and brave, so your Excellency will reward them with ten taels of silver."
"What, reward?"
Yuan rushed to Qin Fangci excitedly, "Mother..."
Qin Fangci took the purse and arranged it directly: "Give half to Yulan as a dowry, and the other half to Dadan and Erdan to pay their tuition for school in the fall."
When Yuan heard this, she nodded happily, "Mother, I'll arrange it."
Seeing his mother and wife so happy, Li Lao Er also reached into his arms, baring his teeth obscenely, like a big bad wolf with bad intentions. "Mom, wife, our family has three happy events today. I also have something very happy to tell you."
"Oh, I know, I know. Your safe return is the greatest joy. You don't need to say more. We are all very happy." Yuan tried to interrupt Li Laoer's spell.
Li Laoer got angry and took out a purse from his pocket.
"I have a purse here too!"
"What?!"
Yuan's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned back and said quickly, "Master, where did you get the money bag? Was it given to you by the master?"
Li Laoer: "..."
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