Chapter 20 Gift List

Shang Qillang is very kind to his brother who is a dozen years older than him.

There is both admiration and fear.

He also felt that it was inappropriate for his mother to indulge the uncles and grandparents from the third and fifth rooms to make trouble in the back house.

But after all, she was his own mother, and many of her words of advice to him as a son had little effect.

He plans to pursue a career as a civil servant in the future, so he naturally knows how important family power is.

If the business community really falls apart because of past events, I'm afraid that the business community may not be able to continue its prosperity in the government in the future.

That's why he had the courage to make this trip today.

However, he did not expect that no one would respond to what he said. He saw his sixth brother Shang Ji looking at him sarcastically, and then began to question him.

"Seventh brother, have you had too many smooth days? Do you think everyone should be as noble as you? When my Gu family sacrificed their lives for the country, how did the people in this courtyard arrange their heroic spirits?"

"When my eldest brother and mother died one after another, how did Madam Wei make the concubine the first wife? The widowed sister-in-law was weak, the nephew was submissive, the madam didn't pay much attention, and the eighth sister was ignored. What kind of life did they live in the East Garden? Do you know?"

"Why are you acting like a bodhisattva in front of me? Humph, I am not your father, and I cannot tolerate any grain of sand in my eyes. Don't let me hear what you said today for the second time, or else don't blame me for being ruthless. Luo Yuan, show me away!"

After saying these words, Shang Ji turned away.

He didn't show any brotherhood or face to Shang Qillang.

Luo Yuan came from the Gu family, so naturally he was devoted to the Gu family. He had to follow Shang Ji's orders, so he said to Shang Qilang with a sad face.

"Seventh Young Master, take care!"

He was a man who had been through a lot of hardships in the military camp, and his accent and tone of voice were as hard as bones.

Hearing this, Shang Qilang was helpless and could only get up and leave with a disappointed look on his face.

Before leaving, he glanced at Luo Yuan, who had a serious face, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Due to his indifference, Shang Qilang didn't say anything more.

Finally, when Butler He was seeing him off, he explained to Butler He anxiously.

"Butler He, you know me. I didn't mean that. Sixth Brother misunderstood me."

The annoyance was evident in his eyes.

It can be seen that he cares a lot about accidentally angering Shang Ji.

I'm afraid it will add more trouble to this crumbling relationship.

After all, Butler He is an old man who has been working in the rear house for many years, so his tone is not as harsh as Luo Yuan's.

There was a peaceful smile on his lips and there was calmness in his eyes as he looked at Shang Qilang.

Seeing that he looked annoyed, I began to comfort him.

"Don't worry, Seventh Young Master. The general has just returned to the mansion and has been riled up by such a commotion. Naturally, he will be angry and vent his anger. Once he has calmed down for a few days, he will be fine."

"Do you think Sixth Brother will still care about me in the future?"

"Seventh Young Master, you are worrying too much, aren't you? We still have to say hello when we meet."

What Butler He said was as good as nothing.

Even when casual acquaintances meet, they will say hello.

But they are a family, so it’s not appropriate to just say hello.

Thinking of this, Shang Qillang wanted to say something, but was politely rejected by Butler He.

"I still have to go to the Madam's courtyard to take care of some things, so I won't be able to talk to the Seventh Young Master. On your way back, be careful where you step."

After hearing this, Shang Qilang knew that he was useless, so he could only sigh and turn away.

After he walked away, Butler He spoke to the two servants guarding the gate to the East Garden.

"These days are a time of great trouble. Please keep a close eye on the door, understand?"

"Yes, I know."

After explaining everything, he headed towards Fuqiu Courtyard where the eldest lady was.

He certainly didn't lie.

Tomorrow is the day when the general and the young lady will return home, which is the top priority for their East Garden.

In Fuqiu Courtyard.

Madam Liu had wiped away her tears, calmed down, and was carefully looking at the list of return gifts that Yingtao had sent.

Everything inside is in accordance with rules and etiquette.

If it had been sent three years ago, it would have been decent and reasonable.

But that was three years ago.

Now that my brother-in-law Shang Ji has been promoted to a second-rank official, these gifts seem a bit insignificant.

So the eldest lady looked at the list and said to Butler He.

"Add another 30% to the gift list, and then add the Taihu Mountain stone screen that mother left for my sixth brother and his wife. In the past, the Du family was just a merchant family, so they couldn't afford such a thing. But now that my sixth brother has been promoted, I believe his wife will be promoted soon. If there is a lady of honor in the family, this screen will be the most appropriate in the main room."

The Taihu Mountain stone screen was Mrs. Gu’s dowry.

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!

Although it is not worth a fortune, it is still a rare item.

Moreover, it was originally intended for the couple, so it is appropriate to add it to the gift list today.

Upon hearing this, Butler He immediately nodded, and it was obvious that he agreed with the eldest lady's arrangement.

After the gift list was re-edited, Butler He hurriedly delivered it to Xitang Courtyard.

Coincidentally, Du Jingyi woke up from his nap.

He took the gift list and looked at it, with a look of slight surprise on his face.

Her family was just an ordinary merchant family. They were neither royal merchants nor officials with connections to the powerful. Therefore, the gift list seemed a little too heavy.

She thought about it and then spoke.

"Thank you for your kindness, sister-in-law. Will the bill be too high?"

Butler He smiled.

"Don't worry, Madam. This is all in accordance with the rules. Now that you are a general, your status will naturally increase as well. Not only this time, but also in the future when you visit relatives and entertain guests, you will also have to pay more according to the rules."

Hearing this, Du Jingyi nodded.

"In that case, I'll trouble Butler He."

Du Jingyi was polite, so Butler He naturally wouldn't take it personally.

After saying this, he bowed respectfully and left.

There were only three people left in the room: the master and his servant.

Lizhu was choosing clothes and pearl hairpins to wear when she went back home tomorrow, while Yingtao was sorting out the account books.

That thick stack of account books was Du Jingyi's dowry.

A total of 194 shops and tens of thousands of acres of fertile land rented by tenants were all recorded in it.

With the increase in income every year, the budget will also increase a little, so it is very important to be careful when sorting out this matter.

Cherries are the most suitable.

Cherry said happily while tidying up.

"If the master saw how well the young lady had done in the past three years, he would definitely be pleased."

She didn't quite understand most of the things in the account book, but she knew one thing.

The thicker the account book, the richer the private treasury of her young lady.

When it came, it was packed in a camphorwood box and was less than half full. Now it is over 60% full.

In time, this box might not be enough, so she had to prepare in advance and find a bigger one.

When Du Jingyi heard the maid Yingtao mention her father, she thought about him a lot.

(End of this chapter)