The Wang family made their fortune in Jiangnan and was one of the largest clans in the area. When their two legitimate daughters got married, they hired hundreds of bodyguards just to escort their dowries, which shows how large their number was and how precious their value was.
Wang Xiuyu casually pointed to the cart of dowry given to Rong Tang, and when she opened the box, she saw that every item was priceless and precious. When Young Master Rong returned to Yong'an Lane, the first thing he did was to move all the treasures down and check them one by one.
Bottles, jars and silk fabrics were stored in the storeroom, and ancient books and paintings were put on drying racks in the yard and laid out under the scorching sun of early June to dry out the woodworms that had not seen the sun for many years.
It has to be said that Rong Tang is indeed a little money-grubber. He is full of energy from beginning to end and even takes the initiative to lend a hand. Shuangfu is very worried that his young master might get hurt or break his waist.
But Rong Tang didn't feel uncomfortable at all. On the contrary, he always had a smile on his face.
When Su Huaijing came back, he was holding a fan, pinching his waist and fanning himself, happily inspecting his property. All the pride and aloofness that usually lingered around him disappeared in an instant, and he just looked like a small rich man.
The villain paused, and the surprise and displeasure he had just felt at the alley entrance when he heard the rumors suddenly subsided.
Rong Tang was pacing and when he saw Su Huaijing, his eyes lit up and he waved his fan in the air, beckoning him over: "Huaijing, Huaijing, come and see!"
The ancient books, calligraphy and paintings spread out in the courtyard were all rare treasures that were well preserved and the handwriting was clear. If an exhibition was held to invite scholars from all over the world to appreciate them, I'm afraid that many people would come to Tang Jing's house to appreciate them.
Su Huaijing walked over, took the fan from Rong Tang's hand, and slowly fanned him.
The weather was pleasant in the evening, with the setting sun hanging in the sky and crimson clouds covering half the sky.
Su Huaijing lowered his eyes and looked at the color added to Rong Tang's profile by the setting sun. His eyes darkened for a moment, and he did not cause trouble for him immediately.
He asked: "Are these given to Tangtang by mother?"
"I coaxed it!" Rong Tang was very proud, not at all embarrassed that he still had to ask his mother for things at such a grown-up level.
Su Huaijing paused for a moment, then couldn't help laughing: "Mom really dotes on you."
Rong Tang snorted twice and became even more proud: "That's it!"
Su Huaijing smiled and shook his head. Without saying anything more, he asked, "What are you going to do with all these books?"
Rong Tang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he turned around and looked at Su Huaijing excitedly: "How about donating it to Linyuan Academy?"
Su Huaijing was slightly stunned, and keenly sensed that there was something fishy going on: "Donation?"
Rong Tang immediately laughed and added slyly: "It's nominally a donation."
Su Huaijing understood the hidden meaning in his words, shook his head with amusement, led the person into the house, and listened to him talk.
Rong Tang said, "Linyuan Academy is a living signboard in Dayu, but after all, due to geographical restrictions, not every student has the opportunity to take the exam. The dean of the academy has a close relationship with the Ke family and has many personal connections. I want to donate these books to them in the name of my mother, and also fund the construction of a few houses and academies for them."
Su Huaijing asked: "What does Tangtang want?"
Rong Tang said frankly: "My mother is very talented and kind-hearted. It is really unfair for her to live in seclusion in the inner house. If we divorce in the future, she can either be supported by us in Beijing or return to her hometown in Jiangnan. But—"
He paused, frowning slightly, "But this is the era after all. When a woman returns to her parents' home from her husband's home, no matter what the reason is, there will always be gossip."
Although Wang Xiu Yu is a very strong person and may not take a few words to heart, she will inevitably feel bothered as time goes by, and will inevitably become depressed and tormented over time.
"Tangtang wants to find something for your mother to do?" Su Huaijing asked him.
Rong Tang nodded, "Jiangnan is a wealthy place, and the nobles also value their children. I thought of donating these books and ancient scrolls to Linyuan Academy, in exchange for their permission for my mother to open a branch in Jiangnan, specifically recruiting female students, starting with wealthy families, and then giving poor families free admission or even subsidies, so as to subtly allow as many women as possible to be enlightened."
It only takes two or three years to open up one's mind and learn intelligence. Although it is still impossible for women to serve as officials in the court at that time, two or three years of enlightenment can prevent them from living in a complete confusion and being bullied in the future.
This idea was difficult to implement. Not to mention the limitations of the overall environment, even if so many girls were recruited to go to school outside the home, there would inevitably be a lot of gossip among the people.
But Rong Tang always felt that even idealism cannot build a utopia by just dreaming. There must be action first, no matter how small the change is, only with change, over time, dripping water can always wear away the stone.
Besides…
He turned his head and looked at Su Huaijing.
He always remembered what Su Huaijing said to him in front of the Imperial Examination Hall: one day, the people who would look at the list in front of the gate would not only be wearing blue shirts, but also silk skirts.
Even if one or two years, or ten or a hundred years, it is difficult to change the overall historical environment, but for thousands or tens of thousands of years, who can say that it is completely useless
And if he still cannot change the ending in this life, the world line will still collapse...
He tried his best and has a clear conscience.
There was a glow in Rong Tang's eyes, reflecting the crimson clouds of the midsummer evening. Clusters of clouds lit up in his eyes like fireflies in summer, which was touching to look at.
Su Huaijing's heart was trembling violently, almost jumping out of his chest. He wanted to hold it out to show Rong Tang how much he admired and loved the person in front of him.
Rong Tang looked at him, then turned his head and frowned slightly hesitantly: "But mother may not be willing to adopt my suggestion. It is not easy to get the qualification for the branch of the school. Ke Hongxue may not help us-"
"Yes." Su Huaijing held Rong Tang's hand and said softly but firmly, "I'll talk to Ke Hanying. He will agree. My brother also had this wish back then. He will definitely find ways to make this happen."
Even without saying these, the Ke family has been a family of great scholars for generations, and he himself has the blood of having many students all over the world. If it weren't for accompanying Mu Jingxu, he would probably prefer to find a small village, open a private school, teach during the day, and walk in the fields with his fellow students at night.
Without the image of a playboy, Ke Hongxue lives a freer and more relaxed life than most people in this world.
"If mother doesn't want to," Su Huaijing smiled and forgave Tang's heart, "Tangtang, don't forget that your cousin is now a teacher at Linyuan Academy. Even if mother doesn't want to work hard, we can go find sister Yingying. She is always willing. We can just take care of mother in her old age with peace of mind in the future."
He always spoke gently and forcefully in front of Rong Tang, as if no matter how big the difficulty was, he could easily solve it. It was just a breeze that brushed his face, leaving a little trace, and it was not worth worrying about.
After he answered Rong Tang's doubts, he called out again, "Tang Tang."
"Um?"
Su Huaijing said: "Tangtang is a kind-hearted person, and he only thinks about good things for the country and the people. No matter how difficult or complicated it is, just think of it and tell me. There is no need to worry or hesitate, and there is no need to be afraid or nervous."
"I'll do everything I can to help you achieve it," he said softly.
Everyone told him that Rong Tang originally lived in a very good world and could survive without struggling.
Su Huaijing didn't know what kind of world that was, and he was unwilling to let him go back, so he should try to make this place as close to Rong Tang's hometown as possible, so that his companionship along the way would not be in vain, and he would try his best to save him and relieve his suffering.
Su Huaijing smiled, his voice gentle and warm: "Just leave it to me."
Rong Tang's heart trembled, and he did not respond for a long time. The fiery clouds in the evening spread out like a rich and gorgeous curtain behind them, and the fragrance of paper and ink spread in the courtyard. Every step he took was meaningless, and was written in the book called "History".
After a long while, Rong Tang nodded and replied softly: "Thank you, Huai Jing."
That night, Su Huaijing did not bother Rong Tang about the gossip in the alley.
She thought that her husband was the kindest person in the world, and that it was really inhuman for her to satisfy his selfish desires based on obvious rumors out of momentary jealousy.
But the next day, the Chief Censor, who never left early, skipped work, dressed in a majestic court robe, and knocked on the doors of his neighbors with a smile on his face. He distributed red eggs to each house and said in a gentle voice, "We made a lot of noise yesterday and alarmed all the aunts. It's really because my mother-in-law feels sorry for me and my husband and is worried that we don't have enough food and clothing outside, so she sent a cart of treasures to cover our daily expenses. I'm sorry for causing trouble to all the aunts, so please forgive me."
The neighbors looked at the red eggs stuffed into their hands. Usually, these were only distributed to the wives of the families after they gave birth. Their faces turned redder than the eggs in an instant. They thanked the neighbors repeatedly and said some words of blessing before they accepted the eggs awkwardly.
Later, when Su Huaijing got off work and went home, he heard gossip at the alley entrance, and the gossip had changed to: "Wow, the young man in that alley is really a handsome man, with that face, that court dress... Wow, so handsome! If I were ten years younger, I would also like to find a young man like him to accompany me at home, it would be pleasing to the eye!"
"Come on, do you know who they are? An official appointed by the imperial court and a prince from a royal palace. Who do you think you are to interfere? In my opinion, they are made for each other and destined to be together for three lifetimes!"
"… "
Lord Su sat in the carriage, dozing with his eyes closed, the corners of his mouth unable to stop rising. Shuangshou, who was driving the carriage, was the only one who had to endure all the rumors, his ears turning red.
God knows what Sister Bi Xin looked at him like when he came out of the kitchen secretly cooking that basket of red eggs...
Why are you so childish...
The eighteen-year-old Shuangshou sighed heavily and felt that he was probably many times more mature than Su Huaijing.
(End of this chapter)