When Shen Changze woke up, he saw only two children but no Cheng Jinchu. After asking, I learned that she had gone to consult her mother, so I didn't take it to heart.
When he returned to Beijing for the first time, he still had many things to attend to. The most important thing at the moment was to visit his uncles and elders in his clan.
By the time he returned home after his work, it was already dark and the two children had already gone to bed, but Cheng Jinchu was still settling accounts with a candle.
"Let's do the math tomorrow, don't hurt your eyes." Shen Changze took the account book from her hand.
Cheng Jinchu asked him with a gloomy look: "Do you know the situation in the Hou Mansion?"
Shen Changze thought for a moment and understood: "But the warehouse is empty?"
Not only is it empty, this huge prince's mansion is clearly an empty frame!
Whoever gets into this frame must hold up the frame himself. And once you hold it up, you can't let go, otherwise the shelf will collapse and everything will be damaged, and you won't be able to run away.
This is not a distinguished honor, it is clearly a hot potato.
After hearing what Cheng Jinchu said, Shen Changze looked stunned: "I didn't know that the Hou Mansion was already in such a tight situation."
When he left Beijing six years ago, the Hou Mansion still had half of its savings. Could it be that in the past few years...
Before leaving the house the next day, Shen Changze went to find Shen's mother and asked about the treasury.
"It has nothing to do with Shu'er." Shen's mother sighed: "Half of the family property was used as a dowry for Qingrong, and the other half was used as a betrothal gift for Changhuai."
Shen Qingrong is the sister-in-law of Shen Changze's mother, and Shen Changhuai is his concubine.
There are few heirs in the Hou family, and only two brothers, Shen Changze and Shen Changhuai, came out of this generation.
Although Shen Changhuai was born as a commoner, he worked hard and studied hard to obtain merit. The year before last, he was ordered to be sent to Hengzhou to serve as a parent official.
Although the official position is not high, it is more reliable to receive royal food and salary, and the room for promotion is huge, and the future is immeasurable. From now on, both the Hou Mansion and Shen Changze will need his help, so Shen's mother is very tolerant of him.
"I understand. Please ask mother for more help in taking over the Jinchu family." Shen Changze stood up and wanted to leave.
Shen's mother stopped him and said feebly: "It's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, so she should return the power of running the family to Shu'er."
"Bow your head to Shu'er, coax her with a few words, and stay overnight in her courtyard..."
"Mother, save some face for your son." Shen Changze left with an embarrassed look.
Mother Shen looked at his back, smiled bitterly and murmured: "You can't eat your face..."
Jiang Shu was happy to be quiet, but the noise of children coming from the Lanyun Courtyard across the wall made her upset all day long, and she wanted to get out of the house to get some fresh air.
After asking Chu Yu to inform Shen's mother, Jiang Shu put on a curtain hat and went out.
Shangjing City is as lively and prosperous as ever, and it will not change just because anyone is unhappy.
"Madam, the front is Jiuxiangzhai. Do you want to eat lotus seed cake?" Tan Yu asked.
Jiang Shu, who was lost in the car, heard this and said hurriedly: "Stop the car."
After the carriage stopped, Jiang Shu actually got out of the car to buy it himself.
Tan Yu said: "Madam, I just need to go buy it."
Mrs. Hou Men cannot be seen in public, and she must not gossip if others see her.
"Good Tanyu, I'm wearing a curtain hat." She was really depressed and wanted to breathe.
Tanyu had no choice but to accompany her into the snack shop.
Jiuxiangzhai is a famous pastry shop in Shangjing. It is famous for selling only nine kinds of pastries with excellent taste.
"Two pounds of lotus seed cake, three pounds of sweet-scented osmanthus cake, and one pound of plum blossom cake."
"Sorry ma'am, the lotus seed cakes are sold out." The shopkeeper apologized with a smile on his face.
Tan Yu frowned: "Is there any left? My wife has not had a good appetite these days, so she just recited this."
"That young man bought the last pound. It's really gone." The shopkeeper pointed behind them.
Jiang Shu turned around and lifted the corner of the curtain, and saw two young men in brocade clothes sitting in front of the small table in the store. The younger one, who looked like he was only six or seven years old, was putting lotus seed cakes into his mouth.
She knew these two people, they were Prince Zhuang of King Jing Yu Zheng and Ping Xi General's Mansion.
Both of them have a sparse and noble look, which is incompatible with this pastry shop.
When Jiang Shu looked at them, Yu Zheng also looked up.
She has sword-shaped eyebrows and bright eyes, and is of extraordinary purity. She wears an indigo waist brocade robe embroidered with gold dark patterns, showing her calmness and elegance. Even when she is sitting, her dignified and solemn aura is compelling.
"Excuse me." Feeling rude, Jiang Shu quickly put down his hat and apologized, letting Tan Yu buy some pastries and leave.
"Wait a minute, madam." Yu Zheng called to her, his voice as cold as morning dew on the mountain.
Jiang Shu didn't know why: "Master, what advice do you have?"
She didn't reveal Yu Zheng's identity to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.
Yu Zheng stood up with half a bag of lotus seed cakes, Ji Fuli stood three steps away, and said calmly: "My nephew is young, and he has to save up to eat this pound of lotus seed cakes. Madam, can you help him eat half a pound?"
"This..." Jiang Shu was embarrassed. There was no reason to refuse such words.
"Thank you for the gift, young master." Jiang Shu could only accept it bravely.
"Madam, go slowly." Yu Zheng curled his lips and watched Jiang Shu get on the carriage and leave.
She still didn't recognize him, but he could recognize her through the curtain.
Raising his hand and touching his face, Yu Zheng was a little puzzled. People say that women undergo eighteen years of transformation. Could it be that men also undergo eighteen years of transformation?
In the carriage, Jiang Shu opened the paper package, picked up a piece of lotus seed cake, brought it to his lips and took a bite.
"Crack-" A crisp sound exploded in her mouth, causing her to squint her eyes and curl her lips unconsciously.
After eating her favorite lotus seed cake, Jiang Shu felt much relieved.
Sure enough, it was right to go out for a walk.
"Madam, do you know that young master?" Tan Yu looked curious.
Jiang Shu shook his head: "I don't think I know him, I just saw him twice from a distance when I attended the banquet."
"That young master is he?" Tan Yu asked.
Jiang Shu poked her head with his index finger and joked: "I'll scare you to death if I tell you."
"No way, I have never seen a nobleman follow a lady like a servant." Tan Yu pouted and didn't care.
"King Jing."
"Ahem, cough, cough... Madam, what did you say? I heard you right, did you?" Tan Yu was so shocked that she choked on her own saliva.
Jiang Shu ate the lotus seed cake happily and watched her face change with a smile.
No wonder Tan Yu was so surprised, it was really because King Jing's status was too precious.
There are seven sons in total in the Holy Emperor today, and Prince Jing is the third son of the imperial concubine. He is the most favored prince, and even the prince must be courteous.
It is really unusual for such a noble person to appear in a street pastry shop.
Shen Changze was busy for several days and finally felt free.
Cheng Jinchu took stock of the accounts for many days and sorted out the internal affairs of the Hou Mansion.
In the evening of that day, Cheng Jinchu said to Shen Changze: "I carefully calculated that the silver in the treasury, plus the reward from the Holy One, and the banknotes my father left me, can only sustain the expenses of the Hou Mansion for half a year, so we can't just sit back and have nothing." , we must increase revenue and reduce expenditure.”
"What are your plans?" Shen Changze put down his tea cup and listened carefully.
Cheng Jinchu said with the momentum of a matron: "First cut down unnecessary expenses in the house, and then buy a shop and do business to make money."
"But there are many wealthy businessmen in Beijing, and all businesses are saturated. It's really difficult to make money." It's not that he hasn't thought about it, but he just thinks it's not feasible.
"I have a way." Cheng Jinchu smiled slyly.
