Jiang He immediately shook her head.
“That’s not possible. Even when my parents were at their hardest, they refused to let me sell it. It’s part of my dowry.”
The pawnshop clerk sighed.
“That’s true, but you’re just a young woman. How are you supposed to hold on to things like this?”
“I’ve seen people in your situation countless times.”
“To be honest, pawnshops love customers like you.”
He continued frankly,
“Let me put it this way.”
“When families fall on hard times and pawn their belongings to get by, eight out of ten never redeem them.”
“Pawnshops make their money from people exactly like you.”
Jiang He fell silent.
His words were unpleasant…
But they were true.
Still, her situation was different.
She believed she could earn enough to redeem it.
“I only told you this because I think you’ve had a hard life,” the clerk said.
“If we were inside the shop, I’d never dare say any of this.”
“Our manager would skin me alive.”
His intentions were good, so Jiang He thanked him sincerely.
“Thank you.”
“But I really can’t sell the dressing table.”
“As for the money…”
“I’ll find another way.”
Seeing how stubborn she was, the clerk knew there was no point trying to persuade her further.
Still, he couldn’t help offering one last suggestion.
“If the repayment date comes and you really can’t afford it…”
“Then sell or pawn something else to pay this one off first.”
“Whatever you do, don’t let the deadline pass.”
“Otherwise, the dressing table will become a permanent pawn.”
The corner of Jiang He’s mouth twitched.
Isn’t this just the ancient version of borrowing money to pay off another loan?
Still…
It wasn’t a bad idea.
“Alright.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Then I’ll head back first.”
“I’ll bring some people over shortly.”
After the clerk left, Jiang He hurried to clear out the dressing table.
Inside were only a few red ribbons, a couple of handkerchiefs, a comb, and some inexpensive hair ornaments.
Anything valuable had long since been sold.
She removed everything and waited.
The men arrived quickly.
Two sturdy young laborers pulled a large handcart.
The same clerk returned as well.
After drawing up the pawn contract, both sides pressed their fingerprints onto it.
He handed Jiang He eight taels and eight mace of silver before having the dressing table loaded onto the cart.
Watching them disappear down the road, Jiang He sighed inwardly.
If the Jiang family hadn’t fallen into ruin…
Her dowry would’ve consisted of far more than these three items.
Everything a woman needed from marriage until the end of her life would’ve been prepared.
Auntie Zhang from next door had watched the entire scene while munching on sunflower seeds.
Only after the men had left did she wander over.
“Oh my!”
“Oh my, oh my!”
“You actually sold such a beautiful dressing table?”
Jiang He sighed.
“I didn’t have much choice.”
“I have to restart the family business.”
“I can’t just sit around living off what’s left.”
“Isn’t your brother working on Master Zhang’s construction site?”
“Doesn’t he earn several hundred copper coins a month?”
“Isn’t that enough for the two of you?”
Jiang He shook her head.
“I can’t depend on him forever.”
“He’ll get married someday.”
“If I keep living off him after that…”
“Wouldn’t my future sister-in-law resent me?”
Auntie Zhang nodded.
“That’s true.”
This girl really was ambitious.
She was determined to revive the family business.
“It’s just such a pity.”
“I watched those craftsmen build that dressing table in your house all those years ago.”
Jiang He smiled bitterly.
There really hadn’t been another choice.
“By the way…”
“How much did you pawn it for?”
“Ten taels.”
Auntie Zhang’s eyes widened.
“Ten taels?”
“A dressing table that fine?”
“You only pawned it for ten taels?”
“Mhm.”
“Oh my goodness!”
“That bronze mirror alone is worth that much!”
“You silly girl!”
“How could you let it go for only ten taels?”
“If your father knew, he’d die of anger all over again!”
Jiang He was speechless.
What kind of thing is that to say?
“The more I borrowed, the higher the interest.”
“I’m not giving it up forever.”
“Once I make enough money, I’ll redeem it.”
Even though it wasn’t her property, Auntie Zhang looked genuinely heartbroken.
“If you don’t have enough money when the deadline comes…”
“Come borrow some from me.”
“You absolutely have to redeem something that valuable.”
Jiang He felt deeply touched.
Just as she was about to thank her—
Auntie Zhang added,
“If you really can’t manage…”
“Redeem it and sell it to me.”
“I’ll give you thirty taels.”
Jiang He: “…”
…Thanks.
“We’re not at that point yet.”
“We’ll talk about it if the time comes.”
Several days later, Xie Zhao finally noticed that the dressing table was gone.
Normally, he never entered Jiang He’s room.
It was only because he accidentally spotted the account book she’d left on the table in the main hall before putting it away.
From it, he discovered she’d already paid deposits to several local weaving households.
But…
Where had she gotten the money?
She must have sold something from the house again.
Everything that could be sold had already been sold.
The only things left were those that absolutely couldn’t be touched.
After taking one look around the house, Xie Zhao immediately knew what she’d done.
Jiang He was taking a bath when someone knocked on her door.
“Is something wrong?”
Suppressing his anger as best he could, Xie Zhao deliberately softened his voice.
“Jiang He.”
“Tell me honestly.”
“Did you sell your dressing table?”
Her movements instantly paused.
He’d found out after all.
Oddly enough…
She actually felt relieved.
What was meant to come would always come.
“I didn’t sell it.”
“I only pawned it.”
“Pawned it?”
Xie Zhao’s anger flared.
“How is that any different from selling it?”
“Of course it’s different.”
“If I sell it, it’s gone forever.”
“Father said I couldn’t sell it.”
“But if I pawn it…”
“I can redeem it once I have enough silver.”
Xie Zhao was speechless.
She actually thinks that’s a valid excuse?
And she sounded completely justified.
Over the past few years, whenever the Jiang family had sold or pawned anything, he had been the one handling the transactions.
He understood the business far too well.
With interest rates that high…
Did she really think redeeming it would be easy?
Countless people claimed they were “only pawning” something.
Very few ever got their belongings back.
Taking a deep breath, Xie Zhao forced down his anger.
“Come out.”
His low voice carried an authority that allowed no refusal.
For some reason, Jiang He instinctively hurried up.
After washing as quickly as she could, she hastily pulled on her clothes and rushed outside.
Xie Zhao stood waiting at the doorway.
One glance was enough to tell he was genuinely furious.
For some inexplicable reason, the commanding aura he naturally possessed made Jiang He’s own voice weaken.
“I really didn’t sell it.”
“Wait a moment.”
“I’ll get the pawn ticket.”
The moment she finished speaking, she hurried away.
Watching her leave, Xie Zhao was momentarily dazed.
She’d come out without even drying her hair?
A short while later, Jiang He returned holding the pawn receipt.
“Look.”
Only then did Xie Zhao notice that the water dripping from her hair had soaked through her clothes.
Her summer garments were already thin.
Now that they were wet, they clung tightly to her body, almost as though she weren’t wearing anything at all.
The outline of her chest was faintly visible beneath the damp fabric.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Looking away awkwardly, he forced himself to avert his gaze.
Jiang He completely failed to notice her current appearance.
She assumed he was still angry.
Her heart began beating even faster.
In a quiet voice, she explained,
“I know Father said I wasn’t allowed to touch these pieces of my dowry.”
“But right now, there’s a real opportunity to make money.”
“If I don’t seize it…”
“I’d be letting the God of Wealth down.”
Xie Zhao fell silent.
She really could come up with excuses.
Now she’d even dragged the God of Wealth into it.
He let out a cold laugh.
“It was you who said you weren’t going into business anymore.”
“And now you are?”
“So when Jiang He speaks…”
“Are your words nothing but hot air?”
“You say one thing…”
“And do another.”
That was exactly where Jiang He felt guilty.
She had been the one to make that promise.
And she had also been the one to break it.
She’d hoped pawning the dressing table would distract him from that issue.
Instead…
Xie Zhao had gone straight for the real point.