Chapter 660 - Chapter 660: Big Money
Chapter 660: Big Money
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Old Madam Wang and Liu Shi went out yesterday and only returned after midnight. The two of them were a little tired, so they skipped breakfast.
The boys at home were waiting eagerly, wanting Old Madam Wang to tell them what they had gone to do yesterday. One had to know that their grandmother usually didn’t make a move, but once she did, she would definitely make a big move.
In the end, they heard Ah Yu announce this news. They were all people who had read the books of the sages. Especially after participating in the Imperial Examination, they already knew many of the laws of Great Chang like the back of their hands.
They also knew that the Astrology Divination Bureau was an unpopular place. If officials also had a chain of disdain, the Astrology Divination Bureau would definitely be at the bottom.
Unlike the West Wind Nation next to them, the Great Chang Dynasty did not advocate the Dao of mysticism and the supernatural. This was because the Ancestral Emperor subdued the country on horseback. He believed that humans ruled over the heavens and did not believe that the heavens held power over people.
As a result, in the eyes of outsiders, the mysterious Astrology Divination Bureau was naturally not welcomed.
As for the Imperial Astronomers, because they could read the old almanac, their status were slightly better.
Wang Erlang put down the chopsticks in his hand. He already had an obvious calm aura. He was not as excited as Wang Wulang. Instead, he asked gently, “Ah Yu, why do you suddenly want to go to that place?”
“That’s right. It’s not like our family can’t afford to raise you. Why do we need you to go out and work?” Wang Wulang stretched out his hand and gestured at Ah Yu’s head. “Look at how tall you are. If you find it boring in the house, ask Fifth Brother to bring you out to shop tomorrow.”
In the eyes of the Wang Family, All Yu was the smartest child in their family.
If Ah Yu wanted to go to the Astrology Divination Bureau, she wouldn’t need to spend a few years to formally enter the path of officials like them.
If Ah Yu went, she might be able to get in tomorrow if she wanted to. Wasn’t that too young?
“No, I just suddenly heard that that place is very interesting. There’s no restriction on men and women!” All Yu swallowed a mouthful of steamed bun and narrowed her eyes. She savored the aftertaste before saying, “Moreover, that place is close to the Imperial College and the Hanlin Academy. Whether Big Brothers study in the Imperial College in the future or work in the Hanlin Academy, you can be very close to me!”
Wang Sanlang revealed an understanding smile. “Ah Yu, you probably want to be closer to Qin Huai and not us Big Brothers, right?”
Ah Yu chuckled. “No, Big Brother Ah You and Big Brothers are equally important.”
“Then let me ask you, if Big Brothers fall into the water with Qin Huai, who will you save?” Wang Silang suddenly asked.
“I won’t save anyone.” Seeing the gazes of the entire family on her, All Yu said matter-of-factly, “You all know how to swim. You won’t let me save you.”
Even if she wanted to save them, no one would give her a chance.
The Wang Family:”…” They were convinced.
“Ah Yu, if you answer questions like this in the examination, I’m afraid you’ll fail. You have to face the question. You can’t tackle it from another direction.” Wang Erlang shook his head in amusement.
“Therefore, I’m not going to take the Imperial Examination. I’m only going to the Astrology Divination Bureau!”
At this moment, Old man Wang finally finished his bowl of rice and glanced vaguely in the direction where Old Madam Wang would come. He didn’t hear his wife’s familiar footsteps, let alone see her figure.
Seeing his sons and daughters-in-law looking at him for guidance, Old man Wang sighed in his heart.
Alright, he could only step out.
“Ah Yu, have you ever thought about what kind of place the Astrology Divination Bureau is? You can enter but not leave. Even if your Big Brothers and Qin Huai go to the Imperial College or the Hanlin Academy, they will still leave in at least three to ten years. But at that time, you won’t be able to leave.”
Old man Wang said, “You might as well tell us why you want to go to that place. Don’t say that it’s to be closer to them. Your Grandma is thinking about buying two more properties in the Imperial City. One is for our family to live in, and the other is for you to use as a dowry in the future. The two places are close, and we can return early to study and work. It’s not any further than staying next door with you.”
“Mother wants to buy another house? Even if each of us takes a house, there will still be a few empty houses!” When Wang Chuangui heard that his mother wanted to buy a few more houses, he felt his breath catch. Why did she buy so many houses?
He couldn’t count how many houses and shops their family owned now. Other than the one they were currently living in, which was said to have been scammed from the Jiang family, the rest were bought with real money.
“One house each? You’re not good-looking enough. Dream on.” Old man Wang snorted. “Make up for your debt to the family first.”
Wang Chuangui howled in grievance, “Father, I’ve long felt that something was wrong. All the men in our family are studying, but why am 1 the only one who’s living in debt?!”
This was really not the first time he suspected that he was not their biological son. Even if he was not their biological son, there shouldn’t be such a difference in treatment, right?
“Second Brother, you’re wrong. Whether it’s the children who study or practice martial arts in our family, they’re all accounted for.” Wang Chuanman took out a book from somewhere and flipped to one of the pages. He pointed and said, “Look, during the Spring Quarter Examinations this year, everyone in the family was rushing to take the exam. Not to mention the daily expenses along the way, the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones we bought for everyone, as well as the swords of Sanlang and the others, were all listed in the book.”
When Wang Chuangui heard this, he felt that it was even more ridiculous.
How could they keep accounts like this!
It was as if they were not family, but business partners.
“Second Uncle, we took the initiative to ask for it. Moreover, it’s not much money. It just gives us a sense of urgency.” Wang Wulang took the initiative to say, “We just thought that our mothers, aunts, and sisters-in-law are all at home. Other than Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt, no one has much income. However, we men are still spending a lot of money, so we want to share the burden.”
When Wang Chuangui received his wife’s aggrieved gaze, he was immediately speechless.”…” It turned out that he was too narrow-minded.
But what did Wulang say? It’s not much money?!
Then why did he feel that the 500 taels of silver he owed would never be possible to be repaid in his life!
Before Madam Ma could explain to Wang Chuangui, Old Madam Wang and Liu Shi also arrived. However, they were old and looked clearly tired.
“What are you all shouting about?” Old Madam Wang rubbed her forehead and looked at everyone. “If you have anything to say, why don’t you tell me?”
Wang Chuangui didn’t dare to say that he doubted the accounts. He was just mentioning it on a whim in the first place. He didn’t have much of an opinion on his mother’s actions.
The debt was recorded, but he had never been urged to pay it back. Just as Wulang had said, it was just a sense of urgency.
Ah Yu repeated her thoughts. Everyone waited for Old Madam Wang’s reaction.
When Old Madam Wang heard this, she looked at Liu Shi. “What do you think?”
Liu Shi thought of what had happened yesterday. The words of persuasion that originally came to her mind, changed and became, “Ah Yu, if you want to go, go. Mother supports you.”
Wang Chuanman stood up and grabbed Liu Shi. He said in a low voice, “Why did you agree to let her go?”
If the child was sent to work at such a young age, wouldn’t that be torturing the child!
Just as everyone was about to speak, they heard a commotion at the door. Not long after, a group of people was escorted to the entrance of the Wang Family’s courtyard.
Eunuch Xi’s voice sounded.. “The imperial decree has arrived!”