Chapter 475 - 476: Dividing the Silver
Chapter 475: Chapter 476: Dividing the Silver
Seeing the young lady’s cheeks puff out in anger, Jin Qianqian just smiled, shook her head, and led her entourage into the restaurant next door.
Apparently having learned her lesson, the young lady didn’t come to bother them during this meal.
But for the rest of the afternoon, the young lady and her people followed them like a shadow, constantly finding one reason or another to cause them trouble.
After this happened again and again, what little patience Jin Qianqian had left was completely exhausted. Just then, she spotted several pleasure boats by the lake shore and immediately had someone summon a boatman.
Lichun had just started negotiating the rental price with the boat captain when, as expected, Tian Mi arrived with her entourage.
Annoyed, Lichun raised the price several times, but each time, the other party arrogantly outbid her, snatching the boat away.
"Since you’ve already chartered the boat, I’d like to see if you’ll actually pay up. You’re not just toying with the boat captain, are you?"
Tian Mi shot Jin Qianqian a glare. "Xiao Huan, give them the silver."
Jin Qianqian nodded in mock admiration and approached another boatman.
This repeated for five or six more boats until all the pleasure crafts docked at the shore had been snatched away. Her opponent crossed her arms smugly, looking at Jin Qianqian with an expression that screamed, ’What are you going to do about it?’
Jin Qianqian clapped her hands. "Le City has certainly been an eye-opener today. But I haven’t come away empty-handed. Li Qiu, let’s head back to the inn."
Watching the group walk away, Tian Mi suddenly felt that the fun was over.
"She’s nothing special after all."
A smile played on Lidong’s lips as she led the guards over to the boat captains and said, right in front of Tian Mi, "Gentlemen, about that fifty-fifty split we agreed on... shall we settle our accounts now?"
The boat captains all smiled obsequiously. "Of course, of course. Right this way, miss."
Tian Mi was left speechless.
&
"Madam, was that young lady from the Tian Family?" Li Xia asked, not even out of breath despite holding Gu Ben Can in her arms.
Jin Qianqian replied, "Yes, she must be from their family. The Tian Family is certainly ostentatious with their wealth. In just half a day, over a thousand taels of silver gone, just like that."
Although she herself commanded a considerable fortune, she could never approve of such a senseless way of spending money.
"Lidong should be done settling the accounts by now, right? It’s a real shame we can’t see that young lady’s expression," Li Qiu said, her voice filled with regret as she carefully shielded Gu Benluo.
"Don’t be," Jin Qianqian said with a smile. "We actually made a small profit today. Everyone gets a share of this silver. When Lidong gets back, you can all split it amongst yourselves."
"Thank you, Madam!" everyone said, overjoyed. Since their Madam had spoken, this small windfall was guaranteed.
Li Xia covered her mouth with her hand. "In that case, we should hope that young lady comes back tomorrow. We could earn another windfall."
Lichun poked her on the forehead. "In your dreams. That young lady is probably regretting it so much she could kick herself. As long as she’s not a complete idiot, she won’t be back tomorrow."
At that moment, Tian Mi’s face was indeed a kaleidoscope of colors as she stared at Lidong collecting a share of the silver taels she had just paid out from each of the boat captains.
Before leaving, Lidong even had the audacity to smugly wave the silver notes in her face, the meaning of the gesture all too clear.
"Miss," the maid at her side said, looking at her with concern, "we should head back. We’ve been out for so long. The master will start to worry."
Tian Mi pressed her lips together, glaring fiercely at Lidong’s retreating figure. "They’ve gone too far."
The servants at her side remained silent.
"Are you all dead or something? Couldn’t you see I was being played by them? And not a single one of you thought to warn me."
The servants remained silent. They truly hadn’t known the other party had such a trick up their sleeve. They couldn’t understand when they had made a deal with the boatmen, especially since they had been following them the entire time.
* * *
Just as Jin Qianqian’s party returned to the inn, they found a man who looked like a housekeeper already waiting for them at the entrance.
The inn’s Shopkeeper quickly made the introductions. "This is Housekeeper Wu, from the Magistrate’s inner residence. He says he has something to discuss with you, Madam."
After bowing, Housekeeper Wu respectfully presented an invitation. "My lady heard that Mrs. Gu and her party had arrived and sent me to deliver this invitation. She hopes you will grace her with your presence."
At a nod from Jin Qianqian, Housekeeper Fu, who was standing to the side, quickly accepted the invitation with both hands.
"Please thank Lady Nan for her thoughtfulness. I only intended to stay for a few days and didn’t expect to trouble her. Please let her know that I will be sure to attend at the appointed time."
Jin Qianqian was not one to be ungracious, so she readily agreed.
After seeing the housekeeper off, Jin Qianqian finally led her party upstairs.
The Shopkeeper behind them secretly wiped the nervous sweat from his brow. ’It turns out she’s an official’s wife. I’d better not slack off in the future and should try to keep an eye on things myself.’
’Otherwise, if one of my careless subordinates offends a distinguished guest, my time as Shopkeeper will be at an end.’
The moment Tian Mi returned to her family’s residence, she saw Tian Zhuang sitting in the main hall, glaring at her.
"Father," Tian Mi called out, her voice laced with guilt.
Tian Zhuang’s face was taut. "So, you’re back from squandering our money. Can’t you give me a moment’s peace and just stay in the rear courtyard to practice your needlework?"
"Father, I couldn’t stand to see that woman anger you. I just wanted to cause some trouble for her."
Tian Zhuang slammed his hand on the table. "Is that what you call causing trouble for her? You’re causing trouble for your father! Do you think it’s easy for me to earn silver? This little outing of yours has wiped out an entire month of my profits!"
"I don’t know who you got that brain from. If you’ve got nothing better to do, stop wandering around outside. Go to the rear courtyard and keep your mother company."
’My own daughter did something incredibly stupid, and my subordinates reported it to me ages ago.’ He had been holding in his anger, and it was only for the sake of face that he hadn’t rushed out to drag her back himself.
The thought of all the silver that had vanished for no reason made him clutch his chest, a sharp pain lancing through it, even though he was not an old man.
"Father, are you all right?" Tian Mi asked cautiously.
"All right? I’m far from all right! A few more stunts like this and you’ll be the death of me!"
"You’re my daughter! Can’t you grow a brain? Causing trouble is one thing, but why do you have to throw silver away?"
"We’re merchants! We’re supposed to be shrewd and calculating. But look at you! Besides spending money, have you ever earned a single copper coin for your father? No! You just go out once, and a thousand taels of my silver vanishes into thin air."
The more Tian Zhuang spoke, the angrier he became, until he was practically roaring by the end.
Tian Mi lowered her head and pouted. ’It’s only because you, my own father, couldn’t get your dignity back that I wanted to help,’ she thought resentfully. ’Not only do I not get any thanks, but I get a lecture instead. I’m the one who should feel wronged here!’
But no one knows a daughter better than her father. Even without seeing her expression, Tian Zhuang could guess that she hadn’t taken a single word he said to heart.
He waved his hand weakly. "Take your young miss away. And tell Mrs. Liu to keep a close eye on her for the time being. Don’t let her go out and cause any more trouble."