Chapter 535
535 Cheating in the imperial examination (2)
“Miss Lina, you’ve come all the way from the southern border. Why are you looking for my big brother?”
“I’m not here to find your big brother, I’m here to find. few friends to gain some experience …” A voice with a heavy accent sounded, speaking half-baked great Minister’s language.
However, her voice was like a silver bell, clear and pleasant to the ear.
“So you don’t know my big brother?”
“I don’t.”
He figured out the details in. few words. This girl didn’t look very smart, and it had nothing to do with big brother … Xu lingyue greeted Lina warmly.
His aunt was sitting on a chair not far away, frowning slightly as she looked at Lina with a slightly hostile gaze.
This foreign woman really knew how to eat. In an hour, she had eaten three days ‘worth of food at home. If it was exchanged for silver, it was all, all … A few taels, right?
This was even after his aunt had specially asked the cook to prepare some rice, flour, steamed buns, and vegetables. If there was a lot of fish and meat, how much money would it cost?
Who could afford to raise such a girl?
“Miss Lina? What are you doing in my residence?”
Xu Qi ‘an stepped through the door and looked at the barbaric girl from the southern border in surprise. Compared to her pale face from yesterday’s injury, her complexion was ruddy and her eyes were bright. It seemed that her injuries had already healed.
“Daoist priest Golden Lotus asked me to come find you. He said that I’ll be staying here while I’m in the capital. Many thanks for Lord Xu’s life-saving grace.”
Lina quickly put down her chopsticks, swallowed her food, and looked at Xu Qi ‘an.
She had thought that since she had come to the capital, the people who would receive her would either be Taoist priest Golden Lotus, number 3, number 4, or number 6. Who would have thought that she would end up staying in an unfamiliar man’s house?
Daoist priest Golden Lotus had already told her about yesterday’s incident, and Lina knew that this young man with an extremely good appearance was her Savior.
Since he was a friend that the Daoist priest trusted, Lina also trusted him without reservation.
She called me Lord Xu and not number three … Xu Qi ‘an stared at Lina for a moment, but he couldn’t find any clues from her clear and innocent blue eyes.
Why did Daoist priest Golden Lotus arrange for her to be by my side? What was the meaning of this?
The old silver coin didn’t discuss this with me before doing this. According to my experience with the old silver coins, there’s no plan if you discuss it in advance.
If they didn’t discuss it beforehand, there must be a deeper meaning.
“What else did the Taoist priest say to you?” Xu Qi ‘an asked.
Leena took a bite of the bun and vaguely said, “”Daoist priest Golden Lotus said that you’re a close friend he made in the capital, and he told me to stay at my residence with peace of mind.”
After swallowing the steamed bun, she said with some anger and grievance, “”The Taoist priest said that I eat too much and can’t afford to raise me.”
Ah … Xu Qi ‘an’s face was blank. So the reason why jinlian sent her to me was because she couldn’t afford to feed her?
This was really an impeccable reason. By the same logic, number six, who lived in the nursing home, and number four, who relied on his old friends for food and accommodation, couldn’t afford to support the barbaric girl from the southern border.
Damn it, it feels so bad to be treated as a rich man. It’s either you or I who’s free. Karma … “I see,” Xu Qi ‘an sighed.
“Cough, cough!”
The aunt coughed hard to show her presence as the mistress of the household.
But Xu Qi ‘an ignored her and continued, “”Alright, I’ll get someone to arrange a room for you immediately.”
“Xu ningyan!”
The darling angrily howled and got up from the chair. She put her hands on her waist and glared at him.”I’m your aunt. You … Have you never thought about discussing it with me?”
As she said that, her eyes kept glancing at the table that was borrowed by others, telling her unlucky nephew that this girl was a bottomless pit.
This … Xu Qi ‘an hesitated. His aunt’s considerations were very reasonable. The prices in the capital were expensive, and this girl ate so much. She really consumed too much money.
Moreover, my luck has changed recently. I’m no longer picking up silver, but instead, I’m accumulating reputation. Then, Wei Yuan deducted my salary.
“Big brother, have you forgotten about the chicken essence?”
At this time, Xu lingyue spoke up. She was settling the score for Xu Qi ‘an.”Last year, the capital’s salt transport Yamen issued 2000 Jin of salt and made a profit of 5000 taels. Big brother took 10% of the profit, so he got 500 taels. You haven’t even asked the Directorate of Celestials for this silver.
“I’ve asked the officials at the salt transport Yamen, and the Imperial court plans to open at least ten workshops this year to produce chicken essence. By the end of the year, it will be an unimaginably huge fortune.
“So, our family is no longer short of money.”
The “salt note” that Xu lingyue mentioned was only referring to the chicken spirit. Now, chicken essence was like salt, becoming an important strategic resource for the Imperial court. It was still impossible to produce it on a large scale last year, but after the expansion of production this year, the profits were immeasurable.
I would have forgotten about it if you didn’t mention it … It must be that old man, the head Warden, who blocked the chicken essence, so that I can’t remember that he wanted to scam me of my money.
Xu Qi ‘an was pleasantly surprised to find that he was actually the Father MA of this era.
Lina didn’t understand what he was saying at all, but she felt that it was very impressive. She had traveled thousands of miles from the southern border to the capital, so she knew what a copper coin could buy, and what a silver coin could buy.
At the same time, he also knew how difficult it was to earn silver.
Subconsciously, she looked at this ” Lord Xu ” with pure admiration in her eyes. It was like a little girl seeing her neighbor’s brother doing a street dance in his own yard with instant noodles, jeans, and a decorative chain hanging from his waist.
“How come I didn’t know about this?” His aunt asked suspiciously.
“Auntie, don’t you know? I asked lingyue to tell you.” Xu Qi ‘an looked at her sister.
“Mother, you must have forgotten,” Xu lingyue said with a blank face.