Chapter 361
Madam Qian arrived at the inn where Zhan Feiyu was staying as dusk was falling. The rain was heavy, and the Qian family entourage looked particularly disheveled.
Madam Qian was even more so, her expression showing exhaustion. Gone was the dignified composure of the matriarch she usually was. Her face was pale and devoid of color, it was unclear if it was from the cold or from the string of bad news she had received.
"Please, sit, Madam," Zhan Feiyu said, rising to greet Madam Qian and offering her a cup of hot tea.
Madam Qian was already a grandmother, but she had maintained herself very well, appearing to be only in her early forties. It was only because of Qian Shipeng's affairs that Madam Qian had suffered such hardship this time.
"Thank you, Miss." Seeing Zhan Feiyu's demeanor, Madam Qian's anxious heart eased by half. She picked up the teacup, and as the warm tea went down, she finally began to recover.
Zhan Feiyu refilled the empty teacup. "I imagine Madam has also received the news. Prefect Zhang died unexpectedly this morning. Only Vice Prefect Pang was in the study at the time, and Qian Shipeng is currently staying at Vice Prefect Pang's residence."
The news of Prefect Zhang's death could not be kept secret. Even though it had rained all day, the news had spread through the streets and alleys as if it had grown wings. Various families in Suzho Prefecture who received the news were either discussing it at home or immediately sending out letters.
It had not been long since the military authority of Longyou Circuit had returned to the Yang family of the General's Mansion. Various factions dared not lay claim to the military authority, fearing they would offend His Majesty. Thus, their attention naturally turned to the various prefectures and counties of Longyou Circuit. Suzho was now to be reshuffled, and all factions would surely not miss this golden opportunity.
Madam Qian had only drunk half of the second cup of tea when she put it down, her eyes filled with weariness, but she could only force herself to stay alert. "Miss Zhan, if Dong Yan had not sent me a message, I would never have imagined that this illegitimate son was hiding so deeply."
Madam Qian sighed. She had been managing the Qian family's business all these years. Outsiders thought her strong, but they didn't know that Master Qian was a complete good-for-nothing who couldn't be helped.
As for her sons, Madam Qian had been too strict in her upbringing of them in the early years for the sake of the Qian family's business, but the results were often counterproductive. Although her sons were not as lustful as Master Qian, nor did they only know how to indulge in food and drink, they lacked initiative, decisiveness, and courage.
The business world was like a battlefield, changing in an instant! Merchants were all cunning and deceitful. A slight mistake could lead to ruin. Madam Qian had tried to teach them, but they still couldn't stand on their own. Madam Qian had no choice but to keep the business in her own hands, thinking only of cultivating her grandson to take over the Qian family's assets in the future.
"Madam need not worry. One matter is separate from another. Qian Shipeng's affairs have nothing to do with Madam." Zhan Feiyu reassured Madam Qian, then continued, "Forgive my presumption, but the decline of the Qiu family's third branch was inevitable. I wonder how much it has affected the Qian family's business?"
It was impossible to say that there was no impact at all, but judging by Madam Qian's business acumen over the years, the Qian family's business had not developed entirely relying on the Qiu family's third branch. It could only be said that they had taken advantage of the Qiu family's name to act conveniently.
Her heart skipped a beat. Did Miss Zhan have her eye on the Qian family's assets? It was no wonder Madam Qian had such a guess. Although the Qian family was not a royal merchant, the Qian family's businesses were considered renowned in the Great Qing Dynasty. The Linglong Cloth Shop and the Qian family's horse farm were famous in the surrounding prefectures and counties, and it was no exaggeration to say they made a fortune every day.
Over the years, Madam Qian had benefited from the protection of the Qiu family's third branch through marriage. Her merchant caravans had encountered much less trouble when traveling. The cloth shop in Jiangnan also received protection from the local government. Neither competitors nor people from all walks of life dared to covet the cloth shop. This was all due to the deterrence of the Qiu family's third branch.
However, Madam Qian also sent two thousand taels of silver notes to Madam Qiu, Madam Dou, in the form of seasonal gifts every year, not to mention the jewelry, fabrics, and medicinal materials, many of which were worth thousands of taels to Madam Dou.
Calming her mind, Madam Qian glanced at Zhan Feiyu discreetly. Not to mention the fabric of her clothes, which was extremely precious Yun Jin, but just the hairpin Zhan Feiyu was wearing today was a set of six pieces of silver filigree inlaid with agate and white jade. The jade was clear and lustrous, and the agate was bright red.
Such high-quality white jade or agate, if it were Madam Qian's decision, would certainly not be made into a set of hairpins. To put it mildly, it was a waste of talent, and to put it bluntly, it was a desecration of nature's bounty.
It was likely only a high-ranking official like Scholar Gu who would be willing to have artisans cut this superior white jade into pieces and then make it into hairpins. No owner of a jewelry shop would do such a losing business.
[Scapegoat and Frugal Scholar Gu: Even the landlord doesn't have surplus grain.]
[Wealthy and Arrogant Yin Wuyan: It's just a piece of jade. As long as Little Yu likes it, that's enough.]
Looking at Zhan Feiyu's attire, Madam Qian suddenly understood. She definitely wasn't interested in the Qian family's business. Although Zhan Feiyu came from a rural farming family, she was a disciple of Scholar Gu, so how could she be short of money?
Having figured it out, Madam Qian was relieved and immediately said, "These years, with the protection of the Qiu family, the Qian family's business has indeed encountered much less trouble. But to say it has been severely damaged is not true. It's just that some relationships need to be re-established, which simply means spending a little more money."
Thinking of Qian Shipeng, a stern look appeared on Madam Qian's tired face, and her voice became colder. "If my guess is correct, Qian Shipeng probably intends to marry Jing Yuan, which is why he wants to go to Qianzhong Circuit. If he could also get a share of the spoils amidst the chaos of the Qiu family's third branch, that would be even better."
Qian Shipeng was an illegitimate son, and Madam Qian managed the Qian family. Qian Shipeng had no hope of touching the Qian family's assets. Once Master Qian died, Madam Qian would have to divide the family property. As an illegitimate son, according to the laws of the Great Qing, he would at most receive one-tenth of the family property, and how much that one-tenth was would be decided by Madam Qian.
Even so, this one-tenth of the family property was not for Qian Shipeng alone. Master Qian had several illegitimate sons, so they would divide it equally. At most, the money saved by their concubines could belong to each person.
But if Qian Shipeng married Qiu Jingyuan, it would be different. Not to mention that a starving camel is still bigger than a horse, but judging by Qiu Jingyuan's status, even though the third branch had declined, Qiu Jingyuan still bore the surname Qiu. Prefect Qiu was also her paternal uncle. With this connection, it was not impossible for Qian Shipeng to contend for the Qian family's assets.
"Miss Zhan, the reason Qian Shipeng is staying at Vice Prefect Pang's residence is probably because he is using money to pave the way and wants to establish a relationship with Lord Pang to get favors in the future." Madam Qian had thoroughly considered this matter in her mind on the way here.
Qian Shipeng had made two preparations: one was to try his best to marry Qiu Jingyuan, thus becoming a son-in-law of the Qiu family.
Secondly: The Qiu family was far away in Qianzhong Circuit, and their influence was limited.
...
Looking at Zhan Feiyu's attire, Madam Qian suddenly understood. She definitely wasn't interested in the Qian family's business. Although Zhan Feiyu came from a rural farming family, she was a disciple of Scholar Gu, so how could she be short of money?
Having figured it out, Madam Qian was relieved and immediately said, "These years, with the protection of the Qiu family, the Qian family's business has indeed encountered much less trouble. But to say it has been severely damaged is not true. It's just that some relationships need to be re-established, which simply means spending a little more money."
Thinking of Qian Shipeng, a stern look appeared on Madam Qian's tired face, and her voice became colder. "If my guess is correct, Qian Shipeng probably intends to marry Jing Yuan, which is why he wants to go to Qianzhong Circuit. If he could also get a share of the spoils amidst the chaos of the Qiu family's third branch, that would be even better."
Qian Shipeng was an illegitimate son, and Madam Qian managed the Qian family. Qian Shipeng had no hope of touching the Qian family's assets. Once Master Qian died, Madam Qian would have to divide the family property. As an illegitimate son, according to the laws of the Great Qing, he would at most receive one-tenth of the family property, and how much that one-tenth was would be decided by Madam Qian.
Even so, this one-tenth of the family property was not for Qian Shipeng alone. Master Qian had several illegitimate sons, so they would divide it equally. At most, the money saved by their concubines could belong to each person.
But if Qian Shipeng married Qiu Jingyuan, it would be different. Not to mention that a starving camel is still bigger than a horse, but judging by Qiu Jingyuan's status, even though the third branch had declined, Qiu Jingyuan still bore the surname Qiu. Prefect Qiu was also her paternal uncle. With this connection, it was not impossible for Qian Shipeng to contend for the Qian family's assets.
"Miss Zhan, the reason Qian Shipeng is staying at Vice Prefect Pang's residence is probably because he is using money to pave the way and wants to establish a relationship with Lord Pang to get favors in the future." Madam Qian had thoroughly considered this matter in her mind on the way here.
...