On a rare day off, An Ying slept in darkness at home.
I got up and wanted to get something to eat. Unexpectedly, I saw An Tong coming back from outside in a dusty state. He threw out a bunch of food wrapped in lotus leaves and put it on the table. He said, "Hey, sister, you are the only one who is up. I I bought you wontons. Why is my little sister still asleep? I bought her favorite fried eel noodles from Chengdong Mapozi’s house."
An Ying picked out the food and put it on a plate, and said while eating: "You are very smart to go out to buy breakfast for us this early in the morning. Daddy will definitely praise you later."
An Tinggui came out and looked at the food on the table, "What, where is mine?"
"Hey, dad, you have to go to the tea shop. You can just eat in the shop." An Tong shook his money bag, "I still have to wait until the end of the month."
An Yingxiao picked up a wonton and said, "When my monthly payment comes, I will definitely share half of it with you."
An Tinggui tapped An Tong's hand that stretched out to grab the vegetables with his chopsticks, "Don't worry about him. It's just your three melons and two dates, so keep the flowers for yourself."
Looking at the eldest daughter who was a little thin, An Tinggui felt heartbroken.
"Speaking of Xiaoying, I heard that there are fewer female officers in the Ministry of Justice than in other places?"
Before An Ying could answer, An Tong said: "That's not true. The Ministry of Justice is all about hard work. Look at my sister running back and forth between the Academy and the Ministry of Justice. She has to stay up all night and everyone stinks. Which family is willing to give up a promising person? Send your daughter to the Ministry of Punishment?"
An Tinggui slapped the table and said, "Our shop has also opened. Although we don't make much money now, it won't be a problem to support the few of you. Don't go to work. Look, in just a few days, everyone has gone It’s out of shape.”
An Ying finished the wontons in several bites and then started to eat the fried eel noodles from his younger sister. Hearing what his father said, he put down his chopsticks and said, "Dad, I have my reasons for working in the government."
"What's the point? You want to be a high official? Do you want to honor your ancestors?" An Tinggui said angrily, "The female officials who have done well are all from high-ranking families. You are so smart, you can't understand this, right? "
"If you ask me, it would be better to open a shop down-to-earth at home. To be honest, when we were in Huzhou, we opened a bead shop before. Your maternal grandfather's home is in Fujian, and you can buy some good beads. I think... ....”
"Dad~~" An Ying interrupted An Tinggui's business thoughts, "Let me ask you, did our tea shop borrow one hundred taels from Mrs. Shen?"
"Yes. But we pay it back every month with interest." An Tinggui was a little confused.
An Ying didn't want to mention the seal for fear of scaring his honest father.
"Dad, the Liuting Garden where my little sister is studying is the property of the Qian family, Mrs. Shen's natal family. It was Mrs. Shen who sent my little sister to the academy. Not to mention the Jinling Mansion Academy where my little brother is studying, it has nothing to do with Mrs. Shen. , with our family’s strength, we simply can’t send it in.”
An Tinggui was a little confused, An Tong didn't understand either, and the younger sister An Lan, who had just gotten up, was sitting at the dinner table in confusion.
"Hey. Mrs. Shen is willing to help us. On the one hand, she is a good friend of my mother, and on the other hand, she is investing."
An Ying looked at the three confused faces and said patiently.
"Investment? What is investment?" An Tinggui didn't understand.
"She is willing to help you and hopes to get something in return from you in the future." An Ying continued: "After she knew that Mr. Su admired me, she desperately wanted me to join the Criminal Department. She hoped that I could become someone who could repay her in the future. You Do you think an official from the Ministry of Justice is of use to her, or a lady from a tea shop?"
An Tinggui was silent, he really didn't think so much.
"Similarly, she is helping and investing in letting her younger brothers and sisters go to school. This does not prevent us from being grateful to her." An Ying looked at her younger brothers and sisters and said, "Xiaotong, Mrs. Shen also supports Shen Pingxiu for the same reason."
"Our family's foundation is really weak, so we have to accept Mrs. Shen's kindness." An Ying said with a smile: "Dad, don't be too nervous. I just said it, but in fact Mrs. Shen herself may not be able to Thinking so much, it’s just that when we receive benefits from others, we have to show that we are worthy of these benefits, right?”
An Tinggui let out a long sigh and said, "You just follow your mother's lead. Take one step and think ten steps. That's all. I'll still take care of my tea shop and earn enough money for you."
An Ying looked at An Tong and An Lan and said with a smile: "Don't be frightened by my words. Do whatever you have to do. If it doesn't work, we can go back to Huzhou."
An Lan was still young. She was eating fried eel noodles and said slurredly: "Well, I don't want it. The girls' school here is better than Huzhou. They eat more than Huzhou and play more than Huzhou. Even the clothes here are better." They are all better looking than Huzhou.”
An Tong scratched her head, "Sister, I also think the academy here is better than Huzhou. The teachers in each subject are all awesome."
"Okay, if you like, we'll stay." An Ying packed up, "I'll have the day off. I'll go help in the shop."
Mrs. Shen was sitting in the elegant seats on the second floor of Anjia Tea Shop, watching the drama being performed on the stage downstairs. She smiled and said to Mrs. Dai Fuyin next to her: "Sister, I just said this girl has a quick mind. I was so surprised that I moved the drama in the tile to the tea shop. This is good. There are many people there and it is crowded. The little kid likes to watch but can't see it. The shop is comfortable, and it takes an hour or two to watch the drama. Don't eat too much Bring some tea and food."
An Ying smiled and brought a plate of three-color cake to the two ladies. Mrs. Shen nodded and said: "This three-color cake has a good meaning. It is soft and delicious. Sister, try it."
An Ying introduced with a smile: "The fillings inside are also different. The white one is filled with jujube paste, the black one is filled with hawthorn, and the red one is filled with red beans. This cake is just careful when you eat it. After a while, it becomes hard and not so delicious. ”
Qian Qingning, the wife of Fuyin, picked up the jujube stuffing and ate it. She couldn't help but nodded and said: "Your pastry is better than most in the capital."
An Ying said with a smile: "That's really appreciated by everyone. Mrs. Fu Yin, Mrs. Shen, you eat slowly. I'll go down and have a look. I'll have some new dishes from the shop later. I'll definitely have lunch before leaving."
After An Ying left, Qian Qingning took a sip of tea soup and said, "I heard from my old Dai that this girl did a good job in the Criminal Department. She was promoted to Secretary in a few days, so she has a certain rank at least. Sister always looks at people. It’s so accurate.”
Mrs. Shen smiled and said nothing.
Qian Qingning always liked fighting with his little sister. Although she married her husband as an official, and now he is the governor of the capital, this little girl who married a merchant is always very grand. She hates the little girl's smile that knows everything but doesn't tell.
"Is the An family's family so rich? This shop is so big, with the hall in the front, the private rooms on the second floor, and the small courtyard in the back. Could it be that you paid for it? It seems that the younger sister is very interested in this An eldest daughter. It’s very caring.”
Mrs. Shen patted Qian Qingning's hand and said with a smile: "The friendship between her mother and me, this small favor is just a matter of convenience. Merchants also have their own connections."
Hearing this, Qian Qingning felt a lot more relieved. Look, no matter how arrogant he is, he is still a merchant selling things. His tone of voice became much softer, "Why is my little sister free to hang out with me today? I see you on weekdays." I can’t even read the account books.”
Mrs. Shen didn't know her second sister's little thoughts. She put down the snacks in her hand and asked, "Recently, the government has been checking our bank's account books."
"Oh, you are talking about this." Qian Qingning said casually: "Isn't it the last tea tribute case? There are still 500,000 taels unaccounted for."
"Didn't you say that it has been transferred to Xixia? Why are you still in Daqi? But the news is accurate?" Mrs. Shen was a little surprised.
"I heard from Lao Dai that this matter is being investigated by Mr. Chen Dong from the Criminal Department. Mr. Chen, you also know that even the devil can't pry out a single word." Qian Qingning looked at Mrs. Shen with some confusion, "You are so angry. do what?"
"What kind of business is there if the bank business is going to be investigated over and over again?" Mrs. Shen sighed, "When will this case be concluded?"
"The amount of money involved in the tribute tea is huge, and there are many officials. But having said that, if this case hadn't brought down several third- and fourth-grade officials, how would we, Lao Dai, have the chance to be transferred to the capital government office as the governor." Qian Qingning I am very satisfied with my recent reputation as Mrs. Fu Yin. After so many years, I have finally made it through.
"But Lao Dai still has some skills in this area." Looking at the sad look on the young girl's delicate face, Qian Qingning said with some pride: "This investigation of the money trends of all major domestic banks was Lao Dai's suggestion. You also know that Lao Dai is good at numeracy. He used to be a Bibu doctor under Mr. Chen, specializing in auditing the accounts inside and outside the court, and he has always been good at money matters."
"Lao Dai helped read He Qing's account books and felt that the 500,000 taels of silver only flowed from Xixia to Daqi. But there is no trace of how it flowed from Daqi to other countries. This is not consistent with common sense. This is 500,000 taels. Two, not fifty thousand taels."
Mrs. Shen nodded and said: "Then brother-in-law wants to find out the flow of 500,000 taels from the old accounts of the current bank? But for a bank like ours, the inflow and outflow of cash can reach tens of thousands taels a day. How can he check it?"
"Lao Dai's numeracy skills are second to Da Qi's, and no one dares to call him first. Anyway, he has tricks. Just go about your business and ask your big benefactor to relax. This time, the investigation is still a tribute tea case. , has nothing to do with anything else.”
An Ying stood at the door, holding a new ice drink.
