NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 96
When speaking of giving out "money for the new year", it refers to the original form of red envelopes. In the days when there was no paper money, handkerchiefs or sachets were often used instead.
Ordinary people would use handkerchiefs, like Zhang Xianglian and her husband Zhang Qiuan, barely managing to wrap up a few copper coins.
Those of slightly higher status would use sachets, like Shopkeeper Hao, but those sachets were nothing more than the ordinary kind worth a couple of coins, with just a few broken silver pieces inside, still less than half a tael.
Then look at the sachet in Bian Wenxuan's hand - the level of sophistication could be called stunning. Every stitch and thread embroidered on it was extremely exquisite, and the bulging of the purse showed that the amount was not small either.
Zheng Ruqian's eyes shone brightly, and his right hand involuntarily raised up and pressed down several times, leaving only transparent drool trailing at the corners of his mouth.
Xu Mo was rather calm, only looking at Bian Wenxuan with a few more appraising glances.
"If it's silver, there's fifty taels." After observing for a while, Chang Yan whispered in Wen Zhiyun and Jiang Sheng's ears.
The two gasped, and looked at Bian Wenxuan differently.
Xu Mo had painstakingly earned just about a hundred taels in commissions for the entire past year. For Bian Wenxuan to give out fifty taels of "new year's money" in one go was truly excessive.
It was like if your annual salary was 80,000 yuan, and your boss gave you 40,000 yuan as new year's money. Would you dare accept it?
Fang Heng didn't dare.
He knitted his brows looking at Bian Wenxuan, and gently declined, "County Magistrate, you are too kind. We are not far apart in age, I cannot accept your new year's money."
Bian Wenxuan looked at himself, then looked at Fang Heng, and rolled his eyes.
He, County Magistrate Bian, was twenty-five.
He, little Fang Heng, was twelve.
Where was the similarity in age? Where was the "not far apart"? Bian Wenxuan felt that with some effort, he could give birth to a Fang Heng.
"It's not from me," the County Magistrate ran out of patience and shoved it over crudely, "It's from her." Fang Heng's motion of declining came to a halt, and the heavy sachet fell into his arms.
This "her" should be referring to his aunt, right?
He just didn't know why she didn't give it to him personally, and didn't come to find him herself.
Bian Wenxuan didn't linger for long after giving the new year's money. As soon as he was done, he got on his carriage and left.
In the end, Fang Heng didn't ask the questions in his heart out loud.
After Bian Wenxuan left, Zheng Ruqian was the first to pounce over, sniffing the fragrance of the Shu brocade, salivating. "Third brother, third brother, quick, see how much is inside, I heard Xiaowu say it was fifty taels."
The two horse carriages with five hundred catties of dried beans were only twenty-five taels. To think this one purse held a full fifty taels of silver.
This was indeed a wealthy family, wasn't it?
For the first time, Zheng Ruqian resented his own ordinary birth, resented not having a wealthy and noble fate.
Fang Heng was exasperated, and reached out to open it. The golden yellow dazzled his eyes.
Chang Yan frowned, only to realize he had guessed wrongly.
It wasn't that the number was guessed wrongly, but rather the type was guessed wrongly.
This was not fifty taels of white silver, but fifty taels of gold. Based on the exchange rate, that was a full five hundred taels of white silver.
It was worth five years of Xu Mo's tutelage, ten years of medicine for Wen Zhiyun, eight years of Zheng Ruqian's vegetable business, and Jiang Sheng's meals for ten lifetimes.
This was also the first time the six siblings had seen such a large sum of gold.
Not just Zheng Ruqian, even Chang Yan was startled for a moment.
Fang Heng held it in his hands like a hot potato. He hurriedly went forward, wanting to return it to Bian Wenxuan, but discovered that he couldn't even see a carriage shadow within his vision.
"County Magistrate Bian seemed to have fled for fear that you would return it," Xu Mo said softly.
Fang Heng placed the gold back into the sachet, feeling even more bewildered in his heart.
"Don't overthink, perhaps it's Aunt who wanted to support you," Zheng Ruqian patted his shoulder, only envying that he didn't have an aunt like that.
"That's right Third Brother. If you really have any doubts, you can ask Aunt herself when you see her in the future," Chang Yan also said.
That was all they could do for now.
Fang Heng pursed his lips, his longing to destroy the county magistrate Sun's position growing even stronger.
After discussing it thoroughly, they decided to temporarily remain in the prefecture city instead of returning to Xieyang County.
Zheng Ruqian had Pang Dashan deliver two lots of new year goods on his behalf, one lot to Bai Shopkeeper of You Ran House in Xieyang County, and one lot to County Magistrate Pang in Yunshui County.
After observing for half a month, they figured out the situation with the Wang Family.
The Wang Family had a total of two legitimate sons and daughters. The legitimate son was Fang Heng's deceased uncle, and the legitimate daughter was Fang Heng's birth mother.
The illegitimate daughters who had all married out were unimportant. What was worth mentioning were the Wang Family's three illegitimate sons.
Initially, with the presence of the legitimate son and daughter, the illegitimate sons didn't dare cause trouble, and were well-behaved and docile. The entire Wang Family lived in harmony.
Later, after the successive deaths of the legitimate son and daughter, their hearts started stirring. They felt that the Wang Family had to have a male heir to carry it on. Lady Wang and Miss Wang were women of gentle upbringing, insufficient to head the Wang Family.
This was the contradiction in the Wang Family.
In order to maintain the glory of the Wang Family main house, and suppress the restless illegitimate sons, Lady Wang was willing to sacrifice Fang Heng's life to continue obtaining the support of the Fang Family.
But the Wang Family illegitimate sons were unhappy about it. They wanted the power in the Wang Family, so they couldn't watch as Lady Wang allied with the Fang Family, and even more so, watch the might of Lady Wang's maiden family grow step by step.
In fact, the Wang Family illegitimate sons and the Sun Family were already at daggers drawn, just lacking an opportunity to light the fuse.
After deliberating over it several times, the final wise and critical choice fell on Wang Mingyu, the Wang Family eldest illegitimate son from the second household, who had previously charged through You Ran House on a carriage.
He was the precious legitimate son and the hope for the "usurpation" of the second household of the Wang Family.
Most importantly, he was an idiot.
Zheng Ruqian had merely pretended to be a petty merchant splurging money around. After accidentally getting acquainted with Wang Mingyu, and unknowingly revealing his "close relationship" with You Ran House, Wang Mingyu took him to be a good brother.
The two drank heartily at You Ran House, and "coincidentally" bumped into Miss Wang. Zheng Ruqian goaded Wang Mingyu to greet his cousin, so Wang Mingyu did so.
Naturally, he was not met with a good expression, and was even mocked a couple of times.
Wang Mingyu felt unhappy, and did not dare take action against the legitimate line. He could only vent his frustration elsewhere.
By coincidence, beside Miss Wang was also standing a young cousin from the Sun Family who zealously spoke up for his sister a couple of times.
And so, a huge fight broke out at You Ran House.
By the time Wang Mingyu and the young master of the Sun Family were pulled apart, both had bruised faces and neither was willing to back down.
"He bullied others first. They are just a family who relies on sucking blood from women. Who's afraid of whom?" Wang Mingyu yelled hoarsely.
The Wang Family illegitimate sons had always looked down on the Sun Family to begin with. With Zheng Ruqian stoking the flames a couple more times, it was unsurprising Wang Mingyu would have such thoughts.
Miss Wang and the young Sun master's faces were livid. They spoke sternly, "It was clearly you who lost your mind first. We will settle this issue!"
Then they hurried back to report the matter to the Wang Family.
Among the crowds, Zheng Ruqian secretly slipped back to the private room, emptied out the cups of cooling tea that could quell the flames, accomplished his mission, and perfectly exited the scene.