Font Size:
By the time Shen Yu’an and their group of people finished their leisurely tour and returned to the Bai Residence, it was already mid-afternoon.
Although they didn’t suffer any losses in the incident that just happened at the Jewelry store, Bai Mingxi still couldn’t swallow this anger in his heart.
After bidding farewell to the Shen family and their entourage, he left with a burning rage.
Meng Jianhua and his gang of friends, since they dared to cause trouble, they should be prepared to face his retaliation.
As for the Shen family and their group, they returned to their assigned guest house to pack their belongings.
Most of their belongings were still on the ox carts and carriages, so they only needed to tidy up what they had taken down in the past two days.
As for the things they bought outside today, the ones they didn’t finish eating weren’t thrown away. Instead, they were put aside to be taken together.
Because Shen Yun and Xiao Zhang Shi didn’t go out this time, Liulang eagerly went to find them as soon as he returned to the courtyard, holding two skewers of candied hawthorns.
Xiao Zhang Shi developed a particular liking for sour and sweet things after becoming pregnant. She took the candied hawthorns and started eating them.
Beside her, Liulang enthusiastically recounted the events that took place after they went out today.
When it came to what happened at the jewelry store, Shen Yun felt a bit regretful that he couldn’t personally witness the excitement.
After dinner, the Shen family informed Master Bai Ji and Madam Bai that they would be leaving the next day.
The couple tried to persuade them to stay for a longer period, but ultimately failed in their attempt.
However, that night, Bai Ji and Bai Wu went to grandpa Shen’s room to present their gratitude.
It was a gesture of thanks from the Shen family to Bai Wu and Bai Miaqing, the father and daughter who had returned with them.
The Shen family had informed them in advance that they would be leaving the next day and requested the Bai family to arrange someone to guide them.
They were to be settled in Longxian Village, but they were unaware of the specific location.
Bai Ji smiled and said, “Rest assured, Mr. Shen. I will make sure everything is well arranged and that you all reach Longxian Village safely.”
He continued, “In the future, if there is a problem, I, Bai Ji will be there to help. Mr. Shen, feel free to ask. My brother and I will never refuse.”
After exchanging more pleasantries, Bai Ji and Bai Wu finally got up and left.
Grandpa Shen opened the box that Bai Ji had brought and took a look inside. It was filled with silver, and there were a few silver notes placed on the bottom.
He took them out and examined them. Each note had a denomination of five hundred taels.
It was the first time Grandpa Shen had seen silver notes. He held them in his hands, marveling at them for a while, before carefully placing the notes and silver back into the wooden box.
After Bai Ji left, grandpa Shen and grandma Shen looked at the box and discussed, “We’ve traveled all the way from Xing’an Town (their original place of residence) to here. We shouldn’t take all this silver with us.”
Grandpa Shen cast a sidelong glance at grandma Shen and said, “Am I that kind of person?”
Coincidentally, since everyone was still awake, the two of them discussed for a while and then asked Shen Rong and the others to gather in this room.
The box was placed on the table.
When everyone arrived in the room, some of them asked with confusion, “Father, why did you call us here at this late hour?”
Grandpa Shen directly opened the box on the table and let them see for themselves.
The bright silver coins sparkled, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
Shen Yun looked at the silver in astonishment and said, “Wow, Father, where did all this silver come from?”
Grandpa Shen said, “It was just sent by Bai Wu’s elder brother as a token of gratitude for safely bringing Bai Wu and Miaqing to this place.”
“My wife and I thought that we shouldn’t take all this silver for ourselves, so we called you all here to divide it, to avoid any future grievances.”
Present in the room were not only the Shen family but also Mr. Shen’s elder brother, Zhang’s family of four, Hua Ling’s siblings, Ji Xun, and Song Xiao Ni.
Fei Yanchen had not yet returned, so he was absent.
They looked at each other, realizing that they couldn’t accept the silver for themselves.
They knew well how they had safely arrived here and how they had lived a more comfortable life on the journey than they had back home. Their hearts were clear.
So they couldn’t accept this silver!
Shen Xingwang said, “I didn’t contribute anything on this journey, so I can’t accept the silver.”
Song Xiao Ni, Hua Nan and Hua Ling naturally declined as well.
The remaining Zhang family of four looked at each other and finally said, “The government has already provided us with settlement fees of five taels of silver each.”
“This money will sustain us for quite some time, and once we settle down and find work, we will surely accumulate more silver. So, you can rest assured and keep the silver for yourselves.”
Grandpa Shen’s eyebrows furrowed as he said, “What are you all saying?”
After a lengthy dispute, they finally reached a final decision.
The silver sent by Bai Ji totaled 1,100 taels, including two silver notes of 500 taels each, and the remaining 100 taels were in the form of ten taels silver ingots.
The Hua’s siblings, and Song Xiaoni did not receive any silver.
Shen Xingwang would be living with the Shen family in the future, but he was given five taels of silver as a token.
As for Ji Xun, he wasn’t given any silver and even had to pay for their protection along the way.
The Zhang family received 100 taels of silver, but they refused to take any more.
The first, second, and third wives of the Shen family each received ten taels of silver, considered as the private assets of the respective households.
The remaining two silver notes were kept by grandpa Shen and grandma Shen.
After dividing the silver, everyone left grandpa Shen’s room.
As for Fei Yanchen not returning yet, no one dared to ask about it.
When the night grew quiet, everyone fell asleep.
Just as Shen Yu’an was about to fall asleep, she heard a faint sound coming from the courtyard. She immediately opened her eyes alertly.
As she heard footsteps approaching her direction, Shen Yu’an became defensive.
However, the footsteps stopped in front of her door and after a moment, they turned and left.
Shen Yu’an quietly walked up to the door and opened it.
Outside the door stood Fei Yanchen, dressed in coarse linen clothes.
Upon hearing the movement behind him, he turned his head.
Shen Yu’an looked at Fei Yanchen, whose hair was damp with mist, wondering how long he had been outside.
She softly asked, “Why did you come back so late?”
It was just a polite question, but Fei Yanchen responded seriously, “I went out to meet with some subordinates to discuss some matters.”
Shen Yu’an nodded lightly and asked, “We’re leaving tomorrow. Are you coming back with us or staying here?”