Chapter 388 We Only Like Real Gold and Silver
"The fan ribs are made of Kunlun Mountain jadeite, and the fan surface was painted by Tang Bohu. Eight hundred taels is really not much. I heard that there is one in the palace, and this is the only one left in the world. It can be said to be a unique piece." Jia She was very excited.
"Master, do you intend to use this fan regularly?" Wang Xifeng asked deliberately.
Jia She glared and raised his eyebrows.
“Such treasures, who would be willing to use them? They are all meant to be treasured and left to future generations.”
“Since it’s being left to future generations, then I have a say. Sir, this stuff isn’t edible or drinkable. We think gold and silver are more practical. There’s no need to leave this to us. We don’t want it.”
Wang Xifeng smiled and said that although she didn't know anything about antiques, she had heard the saying that antiques were valued in prosperous times and gold in chaotic times. She didn't think that the present was a prosperous time.
Jia She wanted to say something to refute his daughter-in-law, but found that what she said seemed to make a lot of sense. He couldn't find a way to refute her, so he could only hug his fan and leave angrily.
Then his eldest son, Jia Lian, inexplicably added another sentence.
"Sir, remember to return the fan to its owner. Such a valuable item cannot be sold so easily!"
Jia She really had no intention of returning it. As the dignified master of the Rongguo Mansion, he had agreed to buy a fan, but in the end, he had to return it. Wouldn't he have any face left?
This fan cannot be returned, absolutely cannot be returned.
With this in mind, Jia She turned around and went to Jia Zheng to borrow money.
Jia Zheng didn't have that much cash on hand, so he went around to other places and managed to buy the fan back for Jia She, so that he wouldn't be too embarrassed.
However, soon news spread throughout the capital that the master of the Rongguo Mansion was borrowing money everywhere to buy a fan that cost eight hundred taels of silver. It was said that the Rongguo Mansion couldn't even come up with eight hundred taels of silver now, which was truly pitiful!
When Jia Lian and his wife heard these rumors, they simply laughed it off, letting them all misunderstand! Let's see who dares to sell things to Jia She indiscriminately in the future, or he might not be able to pay them!
The matter was discussed for a few days and then faded away. There are always new things happening and new gossip in the capital every day, so this incident involving the Rongguo Mansion is really nothing.
The biggest news right now is that all the empresses are preparing to return to their parents' homes for a visit. The courtyards of each family are almost ready, and they are starting to take well-known figures from various places to tour the courtyards first, and then take the opportunity to promote their own courtyards, so as to bring honor to their empresses.
Among the homes of these imperial relatives, the Rongguo Mansion was the most low-key.
Jia Zheng also wanted to bring his colleagues and friends to tour his courtyard, but after Jia Lian took him there, Jia Zheng never brought up the topic again. He even refused when others asked to visit his courtyard.
He always knew the courtyard was simply built, but he never imagined it would be this simple.
It was practically just a prop for a stage play; the only redeeming feature was the abundance of fruit trees and melons planted throughout the courtyard.
When Jia Lian introduced the fruit trees to Jia Zheng, he said that they were transplanted from the estate of the former master and that they would bear fruit this year. When the garden was full of fruits, it would be a very lively scene.
Of course, most of them are already bearing fruit, and it does look quite lively.
Jia Zheng felt utterly exhausted.
After returning home, he asked Madam Wang, "How much silver is left in our second branch's private treasury?"
"Master rarely asks about these things, why did you suddenly bring them up today?"
Lady Wang was somewhat uneasy, after all, the incident of Jia She coming to borrow money a few days ago was still fresh in her mind. She had made an excuse to hide away at the time, and when Jia Zheng sent someone to look for her, she pretended to have a headache. In the end, Jia Zheng did not get any money from the second branch's property.
Madam Wang wondered if the master's question meant he wanted to borrow money.
"I was just asking so I could make plans early. Even if you haven't read many books, you should know the importance of being prepared for a rainy day," Jia Zheng said, offering an excuse.
Hearing this, Lady Wang had no doubt. So she took out the account book and the key to the private treasury, and led Jia Zheng to take a look.
Knowing he was confident, Jia Zheng spoke with more conviction.
"Today, Lian'er and I went to the newly renovated courtyard. It's not even as nice as our current courtyard. What do you think we'll prepare to receive Her Majesty when she comes?"
After saying these words, Jia Zheng felt a little anxious.
"Master, go find Lian'er and his wife! They were in charge of building this courtyard. Could it be that they embezzled the money and aren't building it properly? I'm going to find them!"
Lady Wang was furious and was about to go find Wang Xifeng, but Jia Zheng stopped her.
“I’ve seen the budget for building the courtyard. It’s only 20,000 taels of silver, and half of that is just for flowers, plants, and trees, not to mention other things. It’s already quite good that the couple managed to put together this.” Jia Zheng was reasonable, but Madam Wang didn’t think so.
"There's still a month before Her Majesty returns to visit her family. I'm planning to give Jia Lian some money ourselves so he can renovate the courtyard properly, at least to make it presentable."
Jia Zheng was not seeking Lady Wang's consent, but rather informing her.
Madam Wang's face paled slightly.
“Master, this is a public matter, we shouldn’t contribute a single penny! The benefits of the Empress’s status are not just for our family, but for the entire clan. If we’re lazy and inefficient when it comes to contributing money and effort, that won’t do!” These past few days, Madam Wang was in a bad mood and wanted to take this opportunity to find Wang Xifeng and deflate her arrogance.
Wang Xifeng had no idea that someone was "concerned" about her; she was still rummaging through the account books in Rongyue Courtyard.
She had only rested for a few days when the pile of account books was almost as thick as a palm, and she was getting dizzy just looking at them.
"Sister Feng, you're working so hard, are you planning to become the top scholar in the imperial examination?" A mischievous laugh came from outside the window.
Wang Xifeng looked up and saw Daiyu approaching with her maids.
"My little darling, why did you come here? Why didn't you send someone to the manor to let me know so I could have sent someone to fetch you?"
"Don't I have a carriage? It's so close, I could come whenever I wanted." Daiyu smiled and handed the box to Wang Xifeng.
“My husband said that this ointment is very effective in removing those sudden lines and spots on the body, and told Grandma Lian to remember to apply it on time.”
Daiyu handed a slender bottle to Wang Xifeng, who smiled and accepted it.
She naturally knew what these things were and what they were used for, but she couldn't tell Daiyu.
Speaking of which, when did Sister Yuan start ordering Daiyu around to do these errands?
Wang Xifeng was puzzled when she heard Daiyu say,
"The master has been very busy lately because I will be participating in the imperial examination next year, so they have been discussing it at the Imperial Academy for many days!"
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