The Chinese New Year is just a few days away, and the topics brought about by the Dingbei earthquake have not subsided, but have become more popular.
In the streets, restaurants and teahouses, everyone was discussing the tragic situation in Dingbei, which made people's hearts tremble.
"This is too tragic."
"Yes, I heard that many families were buried, and only one child survived..."
"It's already the Chinese New Year, but to encounter something like this, alas!"
Someone walked into the tea shop with excited eyes: "Have you heard that a tea merchant donated five thousand taels of silver to the court and asked the court to use the money for disaster relief in Dingbei?"
"How can someone be so benevolent?"
"Isn't this strange? Previously, Miss Kou from Qingsong Bookstore even gave out porridge and meat, and she also spent a lot of money. There are so many wealthy households in our capital, so there must be many kind-hearted people."
The man who just walked in clapped his hands after hearing this: "That's right. After the tea merchant donated money, several benevolent businessmen donated money. The court was grateful for their benevolence and righteousness, and decided to celebrate the second day of the twelfth lunar month. Eighteen is hosting a banquet in the Lotus Garden."
Not long after, another news came out: There was a banquet in the Lotus Garden, and His Highness King Xiu would personally come to entertain it.
This is very tempting for some wealthy businessmen.
Dingbei disaster relief is a time when everyone in the capital is paying attention. Not only can you gain a good reputation by donating money, but you can also attend the banquet hosted by the prince, which can be recorded in the family tree. .
Donate, must donate!
The trend of donations soon spread among the wealthy households in the capital, and later some officials also donated their salaries one after another. Of course, most officials don't donate much. After all, their salaries are small. Only those with strong family backgrounds or wealthy people can donate more.
Some wives and wives of noble families also took action and generously donated money for makeup and powder.
The officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs who are responsible for receiving donations were busy without touching the ground, but their spirits were high and their abacus kept ticking away.
A Jinlin guard walked in and was recognized by the official who kept the accounts: "Yan Deputy Qianhu."
There are so many officials in the capital, and not all of them who are officials in the same dynasty know each other, but the Jinlin Guards are special. While all the officials keep a respectful distance from them, they will also try to remember the famous ones among the Jinlin Guards.
It won’t work if you don’t work hard. What should you do if you accidentally offend someone if you don’t recognize it?
Yan Chao handed over the one hundred taels of silver notes and motioned to the officials to write them down.
The official said nice words, but secretly wondered: I didn't expect that a small family in Jinlin Guards would also have the consciousness to donate money.
Yan Chao and other officials recorded the accounts without leaving, and took out another wad of banknotes from their arms: "This is a little thought from our Lord He."
The official took it and counted it, surprise flashed in his eyes.
There were actually two thousand taels.
But soon he no longer found it strange. It was not easy for Jinlinwei to make money, not to mention that Master He was still a marquis.
"Master He is so kind." The official praised casually, put away the banknote, and handed over a notice for the banquet in the Lotus Garden.
Yan Chao is not a man of many words, so he will turn around after putting away his post.
"Excuse me, please donate money for disaster relief in Dingbei. Is this here?" came a female voice.
Yan Chao heard the sound familiar and turned around to look.
"Miss Kou."
Xin You was a little surprised to see Yan Chao: "Deputy Yan Qianhu is here too."
Yan Chao changed his mind and spoke for He Qingxiao: "Master He asked me to send donations for him."
Nowadays, many brothers in Beizhen Fusi aim to help Mr. He marry a Kou girl, and he is no exception.
Well, it’s not that they are worried about whether they are big or small, the main thing is that Miss Kou is too rich.
Surprise flashed in Xin You's eyes: "Mr. He donated money?"
Now that she knows Master He's financial situation, she still has money to donate?
Confusion arose in Yan Chao's heart: Did their adults donate money, so Miss Kou was so surprised?
"Yes. We adults are very sympathetic to the victims of the Dingbei disaster, but we are too busy these days, so we asked me to make a trip for them." Yan Chao's eyes fell on the box held in Xiaolian's hand, "Miss Kou is also here to donate. Property?"
Nowadays, the trend of donation is popular, and many women will donate
Out of jewelry. In Yan Chao's opinion, the box Xiaolian was holding should contain gold jewelry.
This box of gold jewelry must be worth several thousand taels of silver. She is worthy of Miss Kou.
"Yes. Xiaolian——"
Xiaolian stepped forward and placed the box she was holding in front of the official responsible for checking and registering.
Originally, Yan Chao should leave, but he was curious about how much Miss Kou would donate, so he didn't move.
The officials had collected a lot of property in the past few days, and they had already calmed down. They opened the box with a calm expression, and then straightened their eyes.
There was actually a box full of banknotes!
"One hundred, two hundred, three hundred..." After counting, the official took a breath and his voice trembled, "Fifty thousand taels!"
Other officials had already gathered around and looked at Xin You in shock after receiving the result.
"Miss Kou, are you really going to donate all this?" The official who counted the money couldn't believe it.
Xin You nodded: "Dingbei is hit by a disaster, let's do our best."
A meager strength——
The dumbfounded household official faced the dumbfounded Jinlin Guard Deputy Qianhu. At this moment, their minds were connected: How much money does Miss Kou have?
Everyone was so shocked that they lost their voice. Xin You said seriously: "Please remember it clearly, Kou Qingqing."
The official came back to his senses and said, "Don't worry, Miss Kou, I will remember it clearly. Ah, wait a minute, Miss Kou."
The official who kept the accounts told his subordinates and rushed to see Shangfeng.
The person specifically responsible for this donation is Zhang Jian, the Minister of Household Affairs.
Among the six ministers, the left is the most respected, and there are two ministers in the household: Pei Zuo, the left minister, and Zhang Jian, the right minister. Everyone said that Pei Shilang had a good name, so he was given the upper hand over Zhang Shilang.
During this Dingbei earthquake, Pei Zuo was assigned the task of providing disaster relief. In terms of future achievements, he would certainly be better than the one responsible for logistics.
The bookkeeper reported the news to Shangfeng that Miss Kou had donated 50,000 taels of silver, and Shangfeng hurriedly went to report to Mr. Zhang.
Zhang Shilang is carefully looking through the donation list in the past few days. Anyone who donates more than a thousand taels of silver will be recorded on a list as a list for the banquet in the Lotus Garden.
The emperor attaches great importance to raising funds this time, and the prince will accompany him. If someone is missing from the list, it will be troublesome. Zhang Shilang does not seek merit but seeks no faults, and he does not dare to be careless.
"Sir, there is something I want to report to you."
"What's the matter?" Zhang Shilang rubbed his eyebrows, a little worried, "There are fewer people coming to donate money today?"
Going back to report the accounts, there is no doubt that the more property raised, the happier the emperor will be.
The emperor was happy and naturally satisfied with their work.
"Miss Kou from Qingsong Bookstore just came over and donated fifty thousand taels of silver."
"How much?" Zhang Shilang thought he heard wrongly.
"Fifty thousand taels—my lord, what's wrong with you, my lord?"
Zhang Shilang pinched his own philtrum hard to prevent him from fainting from excitement: "Are you sure?"
"Miss Kou is still here——"
Zhang Shilang didn't care to finish listening and rushed out.
Zhang Shilang was in the prime of his life, so he ran very slowly. He quickly stopped when he was almost at the door, straightened his clothes and walked in.
"Miss Kou, this is our minister." The official reminded Xin You.
Xin You knelt down and said hello.
Zhang Shilang laughed loudly: "Miss Kou, there is no need to be polite. Zhang has long heard of Miss Kou's reputation, and today he finally met her in person."
Xin You glanced at the fingernail mark on Mr. Zhang's forehead and smiled politely.
