Chapter 7
“This is getting out of hand!”
Song Jiyun chuckled angrily, then calmly lit another incense burner and brought him a cup of tea.
The man sniffed the tea and disdainfully asked, “What other teas do you have?”
She had lived here for over a decade and could barely distinguish tea flavors, yet this man was picky.
Song Jiyun said, “Aside from this Dragon Well tea, we also have Xinyang Maojian, Junshan Silver Needle, and Wuyi Rock Tea.”
“Maojian, then!” he replied, his tone condescending.
Suppressing her complaints, Song Jiyun went to prepare a cup of Xinyang Maojian for him.
By the time she handed him the tea, he could barely lift his hand.
Satisfied with the results, Song Jiyun said, “I’ll have Liuzi assist you, young master.”
The man gave her a long look before slowly raising the teacup.
The pale golden tea rippled in the cup.
Song Jiyun worried he might spill it on himself.
He was wearing a new set of clothes that Zheng Quan had yet to put on, and if they got dirty, she would have to find him another outfit.
Just then, Xiang Zan ran in with a loud “Da-da-da” and exclaimed, “Miss, Second Madam and Third Master are here!”
Startled, Song Jiyun quickly called for Liuzi, instructing him to tend to the young master in the silk cabinet before leaving with Xiang Zan to greet them.
She had barely reached the main hall when she ran straight into her mother, Madam Qian, and her uncle, Song Sanliang.
Before she could greet them, Madam Qian, her eyes red and swollen, rushed forward, grabbed her arm, and choked out, “Yunduo, quickly, hand over your father’s seal to your Third Uncle!”
Song Jiyun immediately looked at Song Sanliang.
In the dim evening light, her uncle stood in mourning clothes, his refined features marked by anxiety and urgency.
Fixing her gaze on Song Sanliang, she asked her mother, “What happened?”
Noticing her scrutiny, Song Sanliang instinctively smiled politely at her.
However, his overly radiant smile, emerging from his supposed worry, seemed insincere and shallow.
Song Jiyun sneered inwardly.
Madam Qian wailed, “Registrar Wang is extorting us for 10,000 taels of silver! If we don’t pay, he’ll seal off our house, and your father’s funeral won’t be able to proceed!”
Pulling out a handkerchief, Song Jiyun gently wiped Madam Qian’s tears and softly said,
“Don’t worry, Mother. Let’s talk this through calmly.”
As she spoke, she supported Madam Qian and led her toward the hall.
Madam Qian, however, twisted her arm free and urgently said,
“Yunduo, this can’t wait! The county office’s people are coming to seal our doors any moment now!”
Song Jiyun decided to address the issue right there under the eaves.
“You said the county office’s people are coming to seal our doors?” she asked, unhurriedly.
“Who told you this? Has anyone from the county office been here?”
Madam Qian looked confused and turned to Song Sanliang for an answer.
Clearing his throat twice, Song Sanliang said to Song Jiyun,
“Niece, I heard it from a friend of mine who works at the county office. It’s absolutely true. Earlier today, didn’t Registrar Wang come with people to search the house? They said a nobleman from the capital disappeared in your father’s old study. The person hasn’t been found yet.
“Registrar Wang couldn’t give an explanation, so he pinned the blame on your family.”
After listening, Song Jiyun said, “Third Uncle, this is a serious matter. This isn’t the place to discuss it.”
“You’re right,” Song Sanliang quickly replied. “I got so anxious I forgot myself!”
Supporting her mother, Song Jiyun led them to the main hall and seated them in the grand chairs.
Xiang Zan tactfully brought out refreshments.
Turning to Song Sanliang, Song Jiyun asked,
“Did Registrar Wang personally tell you about extorting 10,000 taels of silver? Or did one of his subordinates tell you? Or did your friend inform you?”
Stunned, Song Sanliang hesitated before replying,
“Of course Registrar Wang told me personally. How could such an important matter go through someone else’s mouth?”
“And what was your response?” Song Jiyun inquired.
Sighing, Song Sanliang said, “Your father may have been called a tycoon, but merchants rank the lowest in society. When trouble arises, everyone steps on them…”
He was a licentiate—an older scholar at thirty-six—still fancying himself a man of letters.
Politely but firmly, Song Jiyun interrupted, “Did you agree to Registrar Wang’s demand?”
Frowning, Song Sanliang sighed again. “How could I dare refuse?”
“It’s already late,” Song Jiyun said.
“The silver vault is closed. Even if I gave you the seal, you wouldn’t be able to withdraw the silver. Besides, the vault’s rules require a two-day notice for sums over 10,000 taels. Why don’t we rest for tonight and address this tomorrow?”
“That’s not how it works,” Song Sanliang protested irritably.
“Your father stored so much silver in the vault. He must have special privileges. If we inform them early, we’ll get the silver early. If they can’t even manage that, we won’t use their services anymore.”
He spoke as though the silver was his.
“It depends on whether the vault has that much silver in stock,” Song Jiyun replied.
“Ridiculous!” Song Sanliang exclaimed. “How could a vault not have 10,000 taels in stock?”
As they argued, their voices grew louder and louder.
“Enough, enough!” Madam Qian timidly interjected, looking between her daughter and brother-in-law.
“I still have some gold, silver jewelry, antiques, and paintings. If all else fails, we can use those to cover the debt.”
Privately, Song Sanliang rejoiced.
All he wanted was the seal before the eldest brother could intervene, and now there was an unexpected windfall.
Before he could speak, however, Song Jiyun loudly declared, “Absolutely not!”
Turning to Madam Qian, she said, “Mother, never say such things again. Father never touched your dowry while he was alive, and now that he’s gone, how could we spend your savings? Father’s spirit would never rest in peace.”
Hearing this, Madam Qian thought of her late husband and began sobbing uncontrollably.
If Song Sanliang was only after the seal, her mother’s temperament would have given away everything.
Comforting her mother, Song Jiyun seized the moment to persuade her:
“Father is no longer with us. You must maintain his dignity. Your dowry is meant for me, my two sisters, and the child in your belly. We can’t let anyone think that, without Father, our family has lost its principles.”
Madam Qian nodded repeatedly.
Song Jiyun instructed Xiang Zan to escort her mother to the west room to wash her face, leaving her to speak with Song Sanliang privately.
“Registrar Wang’s family runs a pawnshop, so he must know the vault’s rules. If he sends people to seal our doors before the three days are up, that’s unreasonable. I think I’ll have to visit the county office tomorrow.”
Song Sanliang was visibly alarmed, his voice trembling. “What are you planning to do?”
“I should meet Registrar Wang personally,” Song Jiyun mused. “You said it yourself—this matter shouldn’t go through others. I can’t send someone else to deliver my message.”
Song Sanliang’s face turned pale.
He walked to the west room, raising his voice, “Second Sister-in-law, look at this niece of yours! How can an unmarried girl involve herself in such matters? If word gets out, how will she ever get married?”
At seventeen, Song Jiyun’s marriage prospects were already a sore point for Madam Qian.
Hearing this, Madam Qian rushed out and anxiously said to her daughter, “Yunduo, your uncle is right. Leave this matter to him. A girl’s reputation is everything.”
Song Jiyun fell silent.
At that moment, a sound of something falling came from the silk cabinet…
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment