Chapter 356: Too Embarrassed to Open Your Mouth
"Stop making that bitter face. I'm really busy every day in and out of the palace. I don't have the energy to guess what you're thinking. If you have something to say, just say it."
Jiang Wan couldn't stand seeing her husband, who was used to being carefree, being so awkward, so she just asked directly.
"Do you want money again?"
"………OK."
Li Laosi hung his head in guilt, not daring to look up at his wife. He recalled how he had patted his chest and confidently promised three days ago that he would not touch his wife for at least three months.
The evil he had just let out hasn't dissipated yet, and he's still shamelessly trying to touch his wife. It's a wonder he can hold his head high.
"That shouldn't be the case. I just finished reconciling accounts with the Minister of Revenue yesterday. His hole is almost patched up for now, so why would he come to you?"
Jiang Wan wondered if she'd been so busy lately that she'd misread the account books. She wandered over to the desk outside and was just about to flip through a few more books when Li Chengxiu, who had followed behind her, reached out and pulled her into his arms.
The couple sat together, and the big head habitually rested on the thin but tough shoulders, rubbing them very carefully.
"You've been tired all day, sit down and rest. There's no need to look through the account book. You remembered correctly, just listen to me."
The poor child sighed miserably.
"The accounts we settled with Old Chu were correct, but someone has dug a hole for us. Today, my eldest brother submitted a memorial saying that Xiao Jiye had come forward to ask him for money. I was..."
"Wait a moment."
Jiang Wan twisted her body and found a comfortable sitting position, then freed her hands to hold her husband's big head and asked suspiciously.
"Which department is this Mr. Xiao Jiye from? Why haven't I seen him on the bills sent by the Ministry of Revenue?"
"It's normal that you didn't see it. Old Chu did it on purpose."
Li Chengxiu sniffed, and his voice sounded dry and lifeless.
"According to the Ministry of Revenue, the whole world is definitely short of money, but everything has its priorities.
He had to deal with the debt collectors from the six ministries first. Those debt collectors from the Censorate, the Dali Temple, and the Imperial College were all waiting for him to pay their salaries for the New Year.
Of course, there are also the Taifu Temple, Taichang Temple, Taiyi Hospital, Wucheng Bingmasi and other living ancestors who have no milk to cry for their mothers, and each one is more difficult to deal with than the other.
So he put all those who were easy to talk to, uh, in the back of the line.
Xiao Jiye is the head of the Honglu Temple. He didn't dare come to me directly to ask for money, so he asked my eldest brother to help him put in a word.
"Is the Ministry of Revenue short of their salaries?"
"Of course there is a shortage. Old man Chu didn't even give me the salary of an emperor, let alone others. But Xiao Jiye didn't come here for this matter, alas."
Sighing, Li Chengxiu really felt that since he became this unlucky emperor, he had sighed out all the anger that he had not sighed in the past 10 to 20 years.
"Didn't I tell you a few days ago? That old man from Dali sent us a letter of credence, saying something very grand, but in reality, he just wanted to send his son to inquire about the situation.
Then everyone speculated that since Old Man Li had taken action, Lin Yue's grandsons would not just stand by and watch. That effeminate old emperor would most likely send people to join in the fun.
Now that the two big countries have come, how dare the small countries around them not come?
Xiao Jiye felt that the Sifang Pavilion of the Honglu Temple was too dilapidated, and was afraid that outsiders would come and embarrass us. So he wanted some money to renovate his one-third acre of land.
Jiang Wan nodded.
"Indeed, the image of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still very important."
"What department?"
"I'm talking about the Honglu Temple. Lord Xiao's considerations are indeed reasonable. We should not only spend our money wisely, but also carefully maintain our reputation. This is called demonstrating national prestige. Lord Xiao taught us this before, remember?"
"Remember, how could I not know that Xiao Jiye's worries were justified?"
Li Chengxiu smiled bitterly.
"He has a point, but I really don't have any money!"
"Poor thing."
Jiang Wan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and rubbed his dog's head. After figuring out the reason behind this man's abnormal behavior today, he spoke softly to comfort him.
"It doesn't matter. Things that can be solved with money are not worth worrying about.
Let’s transfer the money from the Imperial Medical Bureau to the Honglu Temple first. I’ll talk to the Chief Physician.
They need to wait a little longer, and I promise to repay them with interest after the New Year."
"Wife, do you have a plan?"
The little dog, who had been listless just now, immediately pricked up his ears and became alert.
"Not yet, but soon."
"What's the trick? Tell me! Is it about making big money or small money? Can you give me some reassurance?"
"Hey, don't be impatient, let go of my waist first! Look at your claws, they are like a bear's, do you want to break me in two?"
"Pooh, pooh, pooh! Children's words are blown away by the wind! What nonsense are you talking about? It's almost New Year's Day. Hurry up and spit a few times, hurry up!"
"Pooh, pooh, pooh, alright, alright, listen to me and I'll tell you in detail."
The queen held down the emperor, and then shared her joy with him with sparkling eyes.
"Let me tell you, glass is incredibly useful! Even though we can't make it right now, it doesn't matter. Scarcity makes things valuable, and we can make some quick bucks by making something small. I think plugging the hole in the Honglu Temple won't be a problem!"
"Really? I saw that thing last time we went to Qianji Pavilion. It was so weird and not very good-looking. How can it make so much money?"
"Who are you looking down on? My Jiang Han has a clever little brain. From childhood to adulthood, how could he ever produce anything bad?
The last time we went to see her, she was just starting to experiment and hadn't figured out the right way yet. But the little vase I went to see today was quite well made.
If I hone my skills for a while longer, the ones I make will definitely be better than now!"
"Yes, yes, I said something wrong, don't be angry, wife.
Our second daughter is really great. She never lets us down at critical moments. It’s worth it that we have loved her so much since she was a child.
Hehehe, this girl is really a good talent, it’s a bargain for Li Laowu! "
Li Laosi nodded his head noddingly at whatever his wife said. He had never made a mistake in all these years. Jiang Wan rubbed his ears with satisfaction.
"I didn't realize how many times you've helped Jiang Lao San to complain about his grievances since we were little? You even played crickets with him several times, saying that I was only partial to Jiang Han.
Oh, my sister is obedient, smart, pretty and well-behaved. Isn’t it normal for me to be partial to her?
Look at Jiang Han and then look at you and Jiang Yao. How blind must I be to be partial to you two?"
Thinking of the stupid things he had done as a child, such as being jealous of his favored sister-in-law with his brother-in-law, Li Chengxiu's face turned red with embarrassment.
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