Chapter Seven Sister-in-law

  As for this topic, Shen Qing also didn't know what to say. After all, it was someone else's scar, and speaking carelessly would not be good.

  Wan Yulin, who had been sighing for half a day, also realized his mistake and hurriedly laughed: "Younger brother, this is a big deal. I'll pay the 7,000 taels of silver for you. You can return it to me later when you have the money."

  As for Wan Yulin's generosity, Shen Qing dared not accept it and hastily waved his hand: "Absolutely not, my younger brother is also clear about this. If you really want to help me, just take over the fields and shops. Otherwise, I'll have to find someone else."

  What Shen Qing said was not wrong. Wan Yulin knew his character all too well, that is, he did not want to owe anyone a favor. This was also the reason why he had been different from himself in socializing these years, fearing that others would say he was climbing high branches. Now if this matter were to be insisted upon and he were to borrow the seven thousand taels of silver from him, it is feared that from now on the two would really become strangers.

  With a sigh, Wan Yulin said: "Alright, since that's the case, I'll agree to it. However, younger brother, remember that this shop and land are only temporarily stored with me. When your nephew becomes successful in the future, you can redeem them back with 7,000 taels of silver." Seeing Shen Qing wanting to speak again, Wan Yulin hastily waved his hand: "Younger brother, you also know my temperament. If I don't agree to this condition, then I won't make this deal, hehe."

  Looking at him like this, Shen Qing's heart was moved. After all, it was a family business passed down from ancestors. If it really belonged to someone else now, he would be somewhat sad. Now that Wan Yulin said this, it meant that when the day came and there was silver, these things would still belong to him.

  "Then thank you, Brother Wan." Shen Qing said gratefully. "Younger brother is being polite, haha." Wan Yulin waved his hand and continued to say: "Younger brother, it's getting late, I'll have someone prepare wine and dishes, let's drink a cup together, haha."

  With that settled, Shen Qing felt a weight lifted off her shoulders and was relieved. Today's conversation had been pleasant and she hadn't felt any awkwardness, so she agreed without hesitation.

  The two had not drunk together for many years, and it was inevitable that they would drink a few more cups with excitement, until finally the drunken Shen Qinghui was sent back home by the servants of the Wan Mansion with 7,000 taels of silver notes in his pocket.

  Such a big thing, Shen Chongming was completely unaware of it, still thinking deeply about his own Da Ming's first rich plan in the rice shop.

  "Hehe, finally moving house." Looking at the yard that always seemed a bit small, Yu Jing's mouth curled up into a smile. Who would have thought that ten years ago, a poor scholar who couldn't even afford to eat would end up as a seventh-rank official, owning a mansion worth 1,000 taels of silver next to the prefectural government in Shaoxing City?

  Today's Qiao Yan's joy, after some time, I should also be promoted. The governor is a student of Yan Ge, and it's just a matter of saying that my younger brother is entering the Imperial Academy. The reason for opening the price at 10,000 was not for his sake, but because I wanted to promote myself, but I needed a lot of silver. In the end, after deducting my own 2,000 taels, the remaining 8,000 taels were used to pave the way for myself. Having such an old father-in-law is indeed a beautiful thing.

  "Tomorrow, bring the servants with you to take a look at the new house. If anything needs to be purchased, you can handle it yourself." Yu Jinglin handed Shen Shi a 100-tael silver note.

  He was a minor seventh-grade official in the imperial court, and his annual salary was only more than 50 taels of silver. Suddenly, he bought a house and took out 100 taels to buy it, which frightened Shen's family. The punishment was severe, if he was corrupt, he would be skinned alive!

  "Where did you get so much silver from?!" Shen's face turned pale as she asked.

  Jing Lian furrowed his brow, displeased: "What's the point of asking so many questions? Just follow me tomorrow and you'll see." "But sir, where did all this silver come from?" Shen Shi refused to back down. She could ignore his philandering outside, but matters that concerned the lives of their whole family were not to be taken lightly.

  "That's enough, I have my own way of doing things. You're just a woman, why are you meddling in so many things!" With that, Yu Jinglun turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, leaving Shen Shi alone standing there, staring blankly at the 100 taels of silver note with a worried expression.

  "Dear son, don't go to the shop tomorrow, stay at home and rest for two days, and then go to Beijing." Shen Qing said to his son as he put down his bowl and chopsticks.

  Shen Chongming, who was eating his rice with big mouthfuls from a bowl, paused and muttered: "Why?"

  "Dear son, your brother-in-law has made arrangements for you to go to the Imperial Academy to study." Wang said lovingly to her son, as long as her son had a good future, giving up this family business was no big deal.

  The name of Guozijian, Shen Chongming knew that this was the highest institution of learning in the Ming Dynasty, far surpassing the Northern University and Tsinghua University of later generations. Such a place is not something you can just go to, even if your brother-in-law is a big shot in Shaoxing City, he doesn't have that kind of power.

  In that case, the only possibility is to sell the silver. As an ambitious person, Shen Chongming was also clear about his family's financial situation, and combined with Shen Qing's words just now, it is highly likely that he will sell the shop.

  Putting down his bowl and chopsticks, Shen Chongming raised his head and asked, "Have you sold the shop?"

  Shen Qing was taken aback for a moment, then forced a smile and said: "What business is it of yours? Just go and study hard with a clear conscience."

  "Father, mother, the shop and land have all been sold. What will we rely on to live in the future?" At this moment, Shen Chongming's heart was deeply moved, pitying the parents of the world, whose hearts would never change no matter what time it was.

  "My son, don't worry, your Uncle Wan's Wanjia Rice Store is short of a manager, and it's already been agreed that you'll go over there in a few days." Shen Qing said with a nonchalant expression on his face. Although he had changed from being the master to an employee, as long as his son would have a good future, what did he have to be resentful about?

  "Yes, dear child, your mother and I are still in good health, and we don't need too many servants at home. When the time comes, we can let a few of them go, and with your father's salary, we can make ends meet. You just focus on studying, and don't worry about family matters."

  "Your mother said that as long as you can get a good job and bring honor to our family, your father and I will endure some hardships, it's no big deal." Shen Qing said with a smile.

  The scene before him made Shen Chongming feel extremely familiar. Wasn't it the night before he left for college after being admitted?

  "Father and mother, you can rest assured that I will not disappoint your expectations!" Shen Chongming got up, took two steps back, knelt down on the ground and said, finally uttering the words "father and mother" that he had never spoken before.

  "Good, good, as long as you have this ambition, that's all that matters." Shen Qing said with moist eyes.

  "Brother Song, we will miss you." The corny farewell was taking place in front of the city gate, where a group of Shaoxing Prefecture scholars were surrounding the spirited Song Qingyang with sorrowful expressions.

  There were two people who were sent to the Imperial Academy by Shaoxing Prefecture. One was Shen Chongming, who spent 10,000 taels of silver, and the other was Song Qingyang, a talented young man famous in Shaoxing. The prefecture governor was not stupid; while money was important, he couldn't send only fools, or it would damage his reputation and hinder his career advancement.

  "Gentlemen, we'll meet again in the capital next year for the imperial examination." Song Qingyang said with a hint of pride, cupping his hands together in farewell.

  As for his own talent, Song Qingyang was also quite confident. Although the Imperial Academy in the capital city was a place where dragons and tigers hid, he had confidence that he would stand out among them. The current leader of the Imperial Academy, Gao Gong, was famous for loving talented people, and as long as he could get his recognition, he believed that his future career path would be smooth sailing. Compared to these people in front of him, he would definitely be much stronger.

  "My dear son, go to the capital and study hard. Your father, mother, and sister will take care of everything for you." Sister Shen said with tears in her eyes. She understood this younger brother very well, from now on he would have to live alone in the unfamiliar city, it was really a question whether he could take good care of himself.

  Shen Chongming didn't know what to say, he just kept nodding. Seeing him like this, Shen's family became even more worried, took ten taels of silver from the maid behind her and handed it to her brother, saying: "Guier, this is a little thought from your sister and brother-in-law, when you arrive in Beijing, don't suffer." As she spoke, tears couldn't help but flow down.

  Shen Chongming, however, declined. "Sister, at the Imperial Academy, food and lodging are all taken care of, I don't need to spend my own money. Besides, brother-in-law's salary isn't high, he just bought a new house, you'd better keep it for your own use."

  After hearing this, Shen Shi felt a flush of embarrassment as she connected all the events together. She also knew what was going on - her husband must have taken the silver for buying the mansion from that one million taels of silver. Although she felt extremely angry, she had married out to him and as a woman, she couldn't say anything.

  Yu Jinglun on the side also felt extremely embarrassed, after all, it was a matter of guilty conscience. "Guigui, you just take it, otherwise we won't be at peace either."

  Shen Chongming thought to himself, the future is uncertain, who knows what will happen when he arrives in Beijing. With enough silver in his pocket, he'll have the confidence to start something on his own. "Then thank you, sister and brother-in-law."