“Young Master Jin is indeed quite eloquent,” Ye Wanning closed the wooden window and praised sincerely.
“Of course,” Ye Mingyue said with pride. “People say we’re good-for-nothing idlers in the capital, but they don’t know our strengths. Jin Ziguan is articulate, Xu Sanlang is skilled in music, and Wu Laoyao is absolutely brilliant at woodworking.”
Speaking of his friends, Ye Mingyue beamed with smiles. After a pause, he steered the conversation back to Zhou Yu. “I’ve already arranged for storytellers to fabricate stories about Zhou Yu as they please. We’ll first tarnish his reputation, then expose the matter with Xu Zhuling, leaving him defenseless.”
“Thank you for your efforts, Second Brother.” Ye Wanning had been thinking the same. “Zhou Yu was able to maintain his facade in front of us for so long, which shows he’s composed and patient. Don’t underestimate him, Second Brother. He’s worked tirelessly to climb the social ladder and won’t give up easily.”
Ye Mingyue said he understood.
The siblings walked out of the bookstore together when the sound of galloping horses approached from afar, causing both to stop.
It was Xie Bohuai passing by with men from the Zhenfu Si.
Seeing Xie Bohuai, Ye Wanning couldn’t help but recall last night’s events. People said he drank blood and was the reincarnation of a war god. Last night’s Xie Bohuai, with blood splattered on his right cheek, had remained calm and composed.
It was truly frightening.
Perhaps because she had been staring a moment too long, Xie Bohuai turned to look her way. Ye Wanning hurriedly boarded the carriage.
“Yesterday when Lord Xie came to our residence, Second Brother, you haven’t told me what it was about?”
“He came looking for eldest brother. Princess Longyu is about to return to the capital, and the city isn’t very stable. He had some matters to discuss with eldest brother.” As the carriage slowly made its way toward the Ye Family residence, Ye Mingyue took out two silver notes. “I heard you sold the estate. Although I don’t know your intentions, these hundred taels are from my own savings—take them for your expenses.”
Ye Wanning was very surprised. “Where did Second Brother get so much money?”
“Just use it without worry. Men have their ways of earning money, and this is legitimate.” Glancing out the window, Ye Mingyue stopped the carriage. “Even if the sky falls, eldest brother and I will hold it up for you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, little sister. If you don’t marry Zhou Yu, there will be better husbands in the future. Your brothers will ensure you never suffer!”
Afraid that Ye Wanning might return the money, Ye Mingyue quickly got off the carriage, turned a corner, and headed toward a money house.
Without an official rank or private property, he naturally couldn’t save any spare money. The hundred taels were borrowed from several friends. To repay the debt, he had secretly taken on work as an accountant.
For a young master from an aristocratic family to humble himself to this extent showed how much his family meant to him.
Ye Wanning looked at the silver notes in her hand, her eyes stinging. Whoever said her second brother was a good-for-nothing—to her, he was an exceptional person.
She would keep these hundred taels for Second Brother for now. Once she earned more silver in the future, she would repay him double.
Fortunately, heaven treated her kindly. Two days later, just as in her previous life, Princess Longyu selected the wasteland Ye Wanning had purchased.
When officials from the land department came to the Ye Family, Ye Mingyue represented his sister and handled all the documentation.
In just six days, Ye Wanning had multiplied her eighty taels of silver tenfold.
Even the Ye Family members were curious about how Ye Wanning had thought to buy that particular land.
As the family sat together, Ye Wanning offered her pre-prepared explanation: “Fusheng has a cousin who’s skilled with fruit trees and flowers. I wanted to start a business, and since that land was cheap, I was tempted to buy it. That Princess Longyu took a liking to it was purely coincidental.”
Hearing this, no one questioned her further.
The money was obtained from selling her dowry, and none of the Ye siblings would envy it. Only Consort Cheng remarked, “The eldest young lady is truly fortunate. If such an opportunity arises again, could you let me know? I would also like to…”
Before she could finish, Ye Wanyu turned to look at her. Consort Cheng had always been afraid of her daughter and immediately fell silent. With so many people around, she didn’t even dare to mutter under her breath.
“Eldest Sister, don’t pay attention to my mother. She has no business sense. It’s better for her to keep her money for her old age.” Ye Wanyu had always been straightforward and could see clearly that neither she nor her mother had any talent for business, so it was better not to get involved.
Consort Cheng felt wronged. She had only been thinking about her daughter’s dowry. The Ye residence was no longer as prosperous as before, and with a larger dowry, her daughter might be able to marry into a better family. But since her daughter had spoken up, she didn’t dare to say anything more. Still, she calculated in her heart that she must find a way to make money grow, or life would be too tight.
Ye Wanning smiled faintly. She wasn’t earning money for herself. After everyone dispersed, she followed Lin Shi to the main residence and took out the eight hundred taels of silver notes she had earned.
Lin Shi was puzzled. “Sister, what is this for?”
“A few days ago, when I went out, I heard that it had been raining continuously in the south for half a month. It seems the price of rice will rise again this year.” According to Ye Wanning’s memory, in another ten days, grain prices would begin to soar, eventually increasing more than threefold. “Sister-in-law, don’t refuse me yet. Let me finish. Over the years, you’ve managed the household and know the Ye family’s situation. It’s better to prepare for a rainy day. Take these eight hundred taels and buy grain. If the grain prices rise later, our family can earn some money. Even if they don’t, we can keep it for ourselves and consume it slowly.”
Lin Shi insisted she couldn’t accept it. “This is money from selling your dowry. I can’t take it.”
“What dowry or not? Over the years, haven’t you been subsidizing the family with your own dowry?” Ye Wanning pressed her sister-in-law’s hand. “I’ll be married soon and won’t be able to take care of the family anymore. But the family has looked after me for so many years, and I should do something in return. Sister-in-law, don’t refuse me anymore. I’ve set aside some extra money for myself.”
Lin Shi was still hesitant, but Ye Wanning didn’t give her a chance to refuse. She left with Yunzhi first.
The claim that she had set aside money was false. Ye Wanning had already borrowed money from a bank and sent Fusheng to buy grain separately. The Ye family was in dire need of money. Among the noble families in Jingcheng, maintaining face was everything, and money was needed to manage everything from top to bottom.
If she wanted a better life and for her brothers to live more comfortably, she had to earn more money.
Her family had worked hard to raise her all these years, and it was her turn to find ways to contribute.
While she was arranging for Fusheng to borrow money, Xie Bohuai happened to witness it.
Qingshan recognized Fusheng and spoke before he could think. “My lord, why is the eldest young lady of the Ye family so short on money?” She had just sold a property and reportedly made a considerable sum from selling land. Why was she borrowing money from a bank now?
Xie Bohuai frowned slightly. He knew a bit about the Ye family’s situation. Since Ye Peirong’s passing, their circumstances had become increasingly strained. But Ye Wanning was about to get married. Why was she liquidating so much money?
Could it be for Zhou Yu again?
As Xie Bohuai pondered, he overheard someone in the bank talking about Zhou Yu.
“Have you all not heard? That famous Zhuangyuan Lang is actually a freeloader. Before he’s even married, he’s already living off the Ye family and using their resources. The Ye family isn’t doing well themselves, yet they give Zhou Yu a monthly allowance.”
“Is that true?”
“Of course it’s true, why would I lie to you? Everyone’s talking about it, saying the Zhou family has fallen on hard times. When Zhou Yu came to Jingcheng, he didn’t even have decent clothes and begged his way to the capital. The Ye Family acted honorably by not breaking off the engagement, and even supported Zhou Yu’s studies by hiring renowned tutors for him.”
“But Zhou Yu doesn’t seem poor to me. I have a relative who studied at the same academy as him, who said Zhou Yu sometimes treats others to meals and discards clothes as soon as they show slight wear…”
“That’s exactly why I say the Ye Family is so good – they’ve spent considerable money on Zhou Yu!”
……
“Sir, aren’t you leaving?” Qingshan asked softly, seeing his master frozen in place.
Xie Bohuai left the bank and mounted his horse directly without waiting for Qingshan to follow.
The next day, while Ye Wanning and her younger sister were trying on new clothes, an old maid from the outer courtyard rushed into the yard in panic. “Something terrible has happened! Yunzhi, quickly go inform the young mistress – Master Zhou was beaten last night and they say he can’t even get out of bed now.”