Chapter 120
It is said that on this day, Gu Ran and Pei Liuniang said something to Manager Hang, then successfully sneaked out through the back door and started wandering around the capital.
Because the original owner was from the capital, and Pei Liu claimed that he had never been to the capital before, Gu Ran could only reluctantly act as a guide and introduce Pei Liu to the various sights of the imperial capital.
In fact, I just temporarily reviewed the original owner's memories and followed the map to travel around.
It was like reading in a book or hearing from others how magnificent a place was, but when you were there in person, the feeling was completely different. While Gu Ran was pretending to explain, he was secretly admiring the prosperity of the capital in his heart.
Pei Liu, on his side, was also listening and nodding. After all, it was the imperial capital, and it was much more magnificent than the city in his vague memory.
When the two of them walked into the crowded market, they couldn't help but stop: at the intersection, there was a shop that was the most imposing and spacious. On it hung four characters written in a flamboyant style. They were the "Fu Sheng Trading Company" that they were quite familiar with.
The two looked at each other, and Gu Ran said: Let's go in and take a look?
Pei Liu nodded: Go!
So he walked into the Huangshang shop with which he had always had a cooperative relationship.
It is said that land is very expensive in the capital, but the shop opened by the Xu family here is as big as the one in Jianzhou, and it has two floors, which shows that they are quite powerful.
There weren't many customers in the shop at this time. Gu Ran and Pei Liu were looking at the dazzling array of goods on the shelves when a clerk came over and greeted them warmly: "Dear guests, what would you like to buy from our store? Let me introduce it to you."
Gu Ran glanced at the waiter and calculated the time. If Xu Sanlang, who had returned to the capital to celebrate the New Year, wanted to take a boat back to Jianzhou, it would probably be in the next few days.
When they first came to the north, the frozen ports had all melted, and those that had not melted were crushed by icebreakers sailing out of the ports. Now it was late March, and the ports had resumed normal operations and the sea routes were open.
Although Xu Sanlang might have already left, Gu Ran still asked, "Is your Fusheng's young master, Mr. Xu San, still in the capital?"
It was their coming to the capital that caused such a stir, and it was the people from Jianzhou who came, and then there was the news about the second lady of the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion. With Xu San's cleverness, he wouldn't have guessed that it was them, right?
"So this lady knows our Third Young Master?" The clerk looked at the two customers in surprise. Just as he was about to explain something, he caught sight of a group of people approaching from outside the shop and immediately pointed, saying, "Hey, lady, you've got a real tongue! Look, here comes our Third Young Master!"
Xu Sanlang entered his own business, but at first he didn't notice someone he knew. It wasn't until the clerk kept calling out, "Master San Shao?" that he looked over and said, "Go check the warehouse for me. Are there any newly harvested century-old ginseng..."
Then he paused, in disbelief, and then immediately reacted, walked quickly to them, and asked in surprise: "Why are you here?"
Gu Ran smiled, "Yes, it's a rare trip to the capital, so I was just strolling around the streets and happened to see Fusheng Trading Company, so I came to ask if you had left."
"No, no, I almost left. I was already at the port when I heard about you, so I turned back. I wanted to visit you a few days ago, but there were so many people, and I thought you wouldn't be free, so I planned to go later." Xu Sanlang smiled. "So, today I was just about to prepare a gift to meet you, but I didn't expect to see you at my business."
"So, the century-old ginseng you just mentioned is a gift for us?" Gu Ran asked deliberately.
Xu Sanlang laughed even louder. "If you say so, then so be it. Come on, let's go up to the banquet hall on the second floor."
"It's a rare opportunity for the Third Young Master to invite us so we should naturally do the honor, right, Sixth Lady?"
Pei Liu's face, which had been slightly gloomy when he saw Xu San appear, brightened up a little. He nodded and followed Gu Ran and Xu San to the banquet hall on the second floor. He felt a gaze coming from the door of the shop. He turned around and saw a woman with her hair tied up in a bun, wearing decent clothes. She was staring at him blankly, and unexpectedly met his gaze, and hurriedly avoided it.
"Mom, mom? You said you would buy me canned oranges!" The little girl holding her hand next to her twisted her body like a twist and pulled her thighs to act coquettishly. She looked no more than three or four years old.
"What did you say you wanted to eat?"
"Canned oranges!"
"When did mother agree to buy it for you? You greedy cat!"
"Mother, just buy it for me. After I eat the canned oranges, I will definitely be filial to you in the future."
"No, no, didn't you hear the shopkeeper say there are no canned oranges for sale now? We'll have to wait until later."
“It will be more expensive later!”
"You know it's expensive, but you still want to eat it?"
"Mother~"
"There's nothing to sell, nothing to eat, let's go home!"
"Mother, mother, mother is starting to dislike me!"
"nonsense……"
Pei Liu finally felt relieved after the mother and daughter walked away. Gu Ran, who had gone up to the second floor earlier, called downstairs, "Sixth Mother?"
“Here I come!”
Xu Sanlang was also quite shocked when he heard that Gu Erniang and others had rescued General Qiao.
The deserted island where General Qiao escaped, a legend that was widely spread in the capital, was Dunzi Island, right? Wasn't it the deserted island that Gu Erniang bought to plant an orange grove?
He has been there!
So because of this, Gu Erniang discovered General Qiao's whereabouts. So why didn't he find it when he first arrived on the island? Otherwise...
Xu Sanlang felt regretful for having missed a good opportunity.
I heard that General Qiao's savior was summoned to the palace by the emperor and given a lot of rewards. If he is one of them, it will definitely be of great benefit to the Xu family and Fusheng Trading Company.
Suppressing the regret of missing out on such a great opportunity, Xu Sanlang and Gu Erniang inquired carefully about how they had discovered General Qiao and how they had confirmed his identity. When they heard that so many people from the three factions of the No. 1 Thief Group had attacked the orange grove at night, they couldn't help but twitch their eyelids and sighed.
"Mrs. Gu, I think you have some luck. Fortunately, General Qiao is here, otherwise..."
"Yes, I am also very fortunate to know Grandpa Qiao." Gu Ran smiled.
Although General Qiao said that she was his savior, in fact, wasn't General Qiao also her savior?
Putting things one by one, Gu Ran still saw it very clearly.
"In that case, can you tell me what General Qiao's plans are?" Xu Sanlang asked, "Or, what are your plans, the two of you?"
Gu Ran and Pei Liu looked at each other.
"What plans do we have?" Gu Ran mentioned that General Qiao was going to take the compensation money for the fallen soldiers back to Damao City. "We thought that since it's a rare trip to the capital, we should stay for a while. Once Grandpa Qiao has completed the tasks ordered by the emperor, we will leave the capital with him."
"On the way." Pei Liu added.
"So, Xu San, what about you?"
He said that after hearing that they saved General Qiao, he delayed his journey and wanted to visit them. Could it be something important?
"As for me, if you are going to set off with General Qiao, why not take me with you?" Xu San said with a smile.
Originally, he just wanted to pay a visit to Gu Erniang, whose status was rising rapidly. Now it seems that this is not only an opportunity to use Gu Erniang as a springboard to get close to the rumored general, but also an opportunity to further open up the Fusheng trade route.
"What do you want to do?"
Gu Ran was naturally not stupid. After hearing Xu San's question, he understood that this man must have other plans, so he asked directly.
Xu San suddenly opened the fan he had been holding: "Appreciate heroes, respect heroes."
Gu Rancai didn't believe Xu San's nonsense: "If you don't return to Jianzhou immediately, what will happen to the goods that need to be shipped back then?"
"It's simple. Just ask a trustworthy manager, or my second brother, to go to Jianzhou in person to escort the goods back." Xu Sandao.
Anyway, in the past three years, he has opened up the sea freight route to Jianzhou, and there is not much risk. As for Jianzhou, he has his own confidants in charge, so it can operate even without him.
Now it depends on how Fusheng Trading Company will expand its territory next.
For example, I can go to Damao City to see if there is a place for Fusheng Trading Company. Then I can talk to my grandfather at home and he will probably allow me to go.
No matter what Xu San planned, on that day, when Gu Ran and Pei Liu left, they left with a lot of belated New Year gifts from him.
Among them are two century-old ginsengs.
One was for Gu Ran, and the other was for Gu Ran to deliver to General Qiao.
He said he heard that General Qiao had been surviving on a deserted island for years and was not in good health, so he sent him a hundred-year-old ginseng to express his condolences.
Tsk, the abacus beads jumped onto her face.
In consideration of their pleasant cooperation, Gu Ran reluctantly offered to say hello to the general on his behalf.
When the two happily returned to the Hang family's villa, Manager Hang was anxiously looking out the gate. Seeing them return, he immediately shouted, "Second Lady Gu, Sixth Lady Pei, we've been waiting for you to come back!"
"Is there something urgent that Manager Hang wants to talk to us about?"
"I'm not looking for you, but I'm really anxious. There's an important person in our courtyard who's here to look for you. He's been waiting for you for quite a while!"
Gu Ran was relieved to see that although Manager Hang looked anxious, he did not show any sign of panic or fear.
When the story of Gu Erniang from the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion returning to Beijing and becoming General Qiao's savior spread widely, many families that the original owner had known came to offer their invitations, but Gu Ran did not accept any of them.
She had returned to the capital to collect the reward from General Qiao, and she didn't want to take advantage of their previous relationship with the original owner to get close to her - to be honest, they didn't have much of a relationship, because when it was first revealed that the original owner was not the Ningyuan Marquis's biological child, the powerful ladies who had contact with the Ningyuan Marquis's daughter became estranged from Gu Er Niang. Later, when the Qin family, the one the original owner had married into, encountered trouble, there were almost no people who had contact with the original owner anymore.
Those who come up to you and try to get close to you at this time are nothing more than people who are trying to take advantage of the situation.
Just like the wife of the Ningyuan Marquis, she simply didn't meet anyone to avoid trouble.
Therefore, only a few old acquaintances of General Qiao came to thank them. Could it be that one of General Qiao's old acquaintances came to visit today?
But this time, Gu Ran guessed wrong.
The distinguished guest who came was a person from the palace, an official in charge of purchasing supplies for the palace, known as Eunuch Ren.
Eunuch Ren smiled as he watched Gu Ran and Pei Liu return. "I guess you two are Gu Er Niang and... Pei Liu Niang?" Eunuch Ren's sharp gaze fell on Pei Liu. He paused, then continued with a smile, "I've heard a lot about you!"
"You're welcome, Eunuch Ren. I wonder what Eunuch Ren wants to talk to us about? Or does His Majesty have any instructions?"
"I heard that Gu Erniang and Pei Liuniang were growing oranges in Jianzhou. They even have a special island planted with oranges."
"Not yet. There are less than a thousand plants at the moment, not even covering the entire island."
"Then, are the Gu family's tangerines that Fusheng Trading Company brings back to the capital from Jianzhou every year from Gu Erniang's family?"
"Eunuch Ren is indeed a man of good taste. That's right, the oranges we grow are called Gu's Little Oranges. We're currently working with Fusheng Trading Company." Gu Ran smiled and nodded, trying to figure out Eunuch Ren's identity. Could he be here to do business with her? No way?
"Of the Gu family's tangerines that Fusheng Trading Company ships to the capital every year, some are also sent to the palace. The Empress Dowager, the Empress, and even the late Emperor all really enjoy eating these Gu family tangerines from Jianzhou."
When Gu Ran heard what his father-in-law said, his heart started pounding.
"It just so happens that I heard that the owner of this Gu family orange is General Qiao's savior, so I submitted a memorial to His Majesty, thinking that if we could buy directly from the owner of the Gu family orange, wouldn't it save a lot of effort in collecting the palace's annual orange quota?"
Eunuch Ren smiled and said, "As for the orange jam, canned oranges, etc., if the palace is interested in asking Second Lady Gu to buy them directly, I don't know if that's feasible."
Gu Ran immediately grabbed Pei Liu's hand and almost couldn't breathe.
Does this mean that she can do business directly with the palace?
"It's feasible, of course it's feasible." Gu Ran nodded vigorously. His first reaction was to agree, and then explain, "But, Master Ren, let's be business-minded. This year, most of our tangerine products have been sold to Fusheng Trading Company. I'm afraid we only have a small supply of the marmalade and canned goods you requested. If you want a large quantity, you'll have to wait until next year. As for the tangerines, the early-ripening batch this year, how many do you want? Just tell me the number and I can raise some for you."
Afraid that Grandpa Ren would be angry, she quickly added, "You know, these oranges are seasonal fruits. If you miss these few months, you won't be able to buy them anywhere else!"
"That's right. We're also thinking about having a batch of oranges this fall. As for the marmalade and canned oranges, they're supposed to be next year."
"So, does Eunuch Ren also plan to cooperate with Gu's Xiaoju starting this autumn?"
"That's right." Eunuch Ren nodded.
Gu Ran couldn't help but be delighted. "Then what are we waiting for? Eunuch Ren, could you please set a certain number of oranges that our Gu family's Xiaoju needs every year? Could you also give us some advice on the rules that should be followed?"
"Okay, since Second Lady Gu can agree, our family will naturally teach you how to do it."
Can the Gu family’s oranges that are sent directly to the palace be called tribute oranges in the future?
If it becomes a tribute orange, its value will definitely increase.
After Eunuch Ren left, Gu Ran looked at Pei Liu with a cheerful smile, and said excitedly: "Sixth Lady, will the oranges we grow be called tribute oranges from now on?"
They all made a living by working with the royal family of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Her little Ju from the Gu family had indeed made it big.
After Gujia’s oranges were declared tribute oranges, how much could the value of their own orange grove increase?
The reputation value of being the royal concubine is immeasurable. With this title, no one in Jianzhou would dare to look down on Gu's oranges. It could even attract more merchants to buy and sell orange products.
Before returning to Jianzhou, Gu Ran couldn't help but imagine the grand occasion of Dunzi Island's oranges becoming world-famous in the future.
By then, she will own the entire Dunzi Island and can make a living from the orange fruit business every year.
The future of lying down and living a leisurely life is right in front of you!
Gu Ran was in such a good mood that night that he even ate an extra bowl of rice.
This trip to the capital was absolutely the right decision.
What broke Gu Ran's good mood was the news the next day when Manager Hang told her that the Yuan family came to her to recognize her as a relative.
"Yuan family?"
When Gu Ran heard this, he couldn't remember who the Yuan family was until Manager Hang coughed twice and said, "Second Aunt Gu, they are your biological parents as rumored."
Only then did she realize that it was the Yuan family that the original owner had never recognized.
The original owner's surname was not Gu, but Yuan.
If she was mistakenly taken away, the original owner would be a young lady named Yuan.
However, although the fact that the daughter was mistakenly taken into the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion was accidentally revealed, the original owner did not want to return to her commoner status and had never met the Yuan family. After being adopted as a daughter by the Ningyuan Marquis' wife, she became very estranged from her biological parents. Except for some New Year gifts sent by the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion because they had raised their own flesh and blood and were now the parents of their adopted daughter, and the original owner sending some silver coins from time to time, they had no further contact with each other.
The biological parents of the twins were also sensible. They received benefits from the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion and the original owner, and never mentioned anything about recognizing their own flesh and blood.
Perhaps it was because of his tact that when something happened in Prime Minister Qin's Mansion and the original owner was exiled to Fujian, he never showed up. It was just like the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion. His own daughter - if the original owner had not died, he would have lived in Fujian for so many years, but he never asked about her.
Why would such a tactful family come to visit Gu Er Niang when she returned to Beijing to receive her reward?
Gu Ran naturally knew what was going on in his mind.
"If you don't want to see them, just say that I, Gu Er Niang, don't have parents with the surname Yuan, and let them go!"
I'm afraid that after hearing that Gu Erniang severed her relationship with Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, she came to ask for favors from her under the banner of being the original owner's blood relative!
Gu Ran naturally guessed right.
When General Qiao entered the city and the news that his saviors were received into the palace by the emperor as rewards, and that one of them was the second lady of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion, became a hot topic, the Yuan family could not help but prick up their ears to inquire about the news, big and small.
Wasn’t the former second wife of Ningyuan Marquis’ Mansion their daughter?
The original second lady of the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion was obviously a descendant of their Yuan family, but she was pampered by the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion for a while and became arrogant. Even when she proved that she was not the flesh and blood of the Gu family, she was unwilling to recognize them. Later, she recognized the Ningyuan Marquis's wife as her adoptive father and mother, and never showed up at their Yuan family, as if their Yuan family was a shame to her.
But then again, their Yuan family is just an ordinary family that can be seen everywhere in the county town. How can they compare with the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, which is so wealthy and powerful?
When they sent the eldest lady of Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion, the Gu family member whom they had raised, into the mansion, they saw that the mansion was decorated with carved dragons and painted rafters, and they wondered how much more magnificent it was than their own small house.
Considering that the lady was raised in such a big house, it is understandable that she is so proud and arrogant that she is even unwilling to acknowledge them.
But there is a thorn in the hearts of Yuan's father and mother.
They also raised Madam Yuan - no, Madam Gu - well. When she grew up, although they gave her more chores to do and more children to look after, and there was no way for her to learn to read and learn etiquette, play the piano, or learn to paint, they still took care of her like ordinary people would their own daughters and were never harsh on her.
We are just ordinary people, how can we ask for too much?
But at this time, hearing that Madam Gu Er, their own flesh and blood, would rather die than return to their Yuan family, he still felt a little angry in his heart.
If they don't recognize her, then they don't. What's the big deal? If they really recognize her, there will be one more mouth to feed at home. Besides, this lady who has been pampered by this marquis's mansion has many faults and is picky. If she follows them home, I might have to serve her again.
If you don’t want to reply, then don’t reply!
Anyway, a wife who was not raised by you is neither close nor familiar to you.
On the contrary, staying in the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion would bring them many benefits - they could be taken care of by the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, and they could also receive silver from Gu Er Niang from time to time as a token of filial piety, which was enough!
Therefore, when the Yuan family's financial situation gradually improved, no one thought of asking any more questions about Gu Er Niang in the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion.
Later, when Gu Er Niang married into the residence of Prime Minister Qin, they were even happier: originally, because of the relationship between Aunt Gu and Gu Er Niang, they were able to establish a relationship with the Ningyuan Marquis's residence. Now, their own flesh and blood was actually Grandma Qin Si of Prime Minister Qin's residence, which meant that their Yuan family had also become relatives with Prime Minister Qin.
The Yuan family has finally brought honor to the family!
The Yuan family, who had been unknown before, suddenly became famous among their neighbors again.
Yuan's father and mother were even more proud. Fortunately, they didn't bring Gu Erniang home. Otherwise, with their abilities, how could they find her such a good marriage with the Fourth Young Master Qin?
It is even more impossible for them to become relatives with Prime Minister Qin!
Although they still couldn't see their daughter who had been living away from home since birth, the benefits she brought to them were real: in the beginning, the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion would inevitably send New Year gifts to the Yuan family during festivals, and they could also get money from Gu Er Niang. Now, in addition to one share from the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion, there would also be one share from Prime Minister Qin's Mansion, and there would also be small change from Gu Er Niang.
The status and position of the Yuan family have risen rapidly, and Yuan's father and mother are very happy!
Until something happened to Prime Minister Qin, the girl and Qin Xiang's entire family were sent to jail.
Now that Prime Minister Qin is dead, the girl will be exiled from the capital to southern Xinjiang along with the rest of the Qin family.
The status of the Yuan family plummeted in an instant, and Gu Erniang, who they had previously talked about marrying the son of Prime Minister Qin, also became a taboo for the Yuan family.
It's treason. Anyone who dares to commit such a crime will be punished with death like Prime Minister Qin. At the very least, he will be exiled to a barbaric land like the Qin family, or like Gu Er Niang as they call her!
The person he used to be proud of has now become a person that no one dares to mention. He lives in fear all day long, fearing that the affairs of Prime Minister Qin's family will affect their Yuan family, and they will be implicated and become criminals and thrown into prison.
As for whether or not to find a way to rescue Gu Er Niang, no one had this idea. They just wished they had never given birth to this daughter.
Even if someone else deliberately came to inquire about the situation of the fourth grandmother of the Qin family, the Yuan family members all waved their hands and said, "That is not our daughter of the Yuan family!"
"That's right, she was raised by someone else and has never called us dad or mom. We should just pretend we never had this daughter!"
"The Qin family was chosen by someone else for her husband. We have no right to interfere. We can't blame our Yuan family if something goes wrong, right?"
In order to show their own position, they did not even dare to show up, meet, or see off the person on the day of exile. They just wanted the person who could bring disaster to leave the capital as soon as possible!
But from this time on, the Yuan family began to decline.
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