Jiang Yunzhu knew that he was deliberately trying to embarrass her, so she changed her mind and said, "I'll donate thirty taels."
Shopkeeper Song laughed and pointed at Jiang Yunzhu, "Boss Jiang, your Qishanju's business is more prosperous than my Baofulou's. Last time during the cooking competition, the county magistrate personally made the decision for you. Why now?" The meaning was self-evident. County Magistrate Meng needed help now, but Jiang Yunzhu didn't contribute
Sure enough, a solemn look flashed across County Magistrate Meng's face.
Jiang Yunzhu said, "Since it is a donation, it depends on one's intention. Although my thirty taels are not much, it is half of my savings. I wonder how much is the two hundred taels given by Manager Song?"
Everyone was stunned when they heard this. They almost forgot that Jiang Yunzhu really had no money. They had also heard about her story. She started from a small breakfast stall and gradually rented a shop in Qishanju.
As for the tea not being cold, that was because she won the competition.
From this point of view, it was not easy for her to come up with thirty taels. Just as she said, in terms of heart, she was a hundred times better than Manager Song.
County Magistrate Meng turned around and praised Jiang Yunzhu. Who among the people present, whether rich or poor, could do what she did? He suddenly felt a little emotional. This girl Jiang Yunzhu was really extraordinary.
"How is it possible that you only have 60 taels of savings?" Shopkeeper Song was stumped and asked angrily.
"My Qishanju has only been open for more than a month, and everyone can estimate how much money I have made. Although I don't need to decorate it, I still need to invest a lot of money in the early stage to operate it.
Shopkeeper Song, how much savings do you think I should have?" Jiang Yunzhu asked calmly.
"This... Aren't there many customers who deposit money in your store?" Shopkeeper Song said unwillingly.
"That's the guest's money, it's just kept with me. If I spend it as if it were my own, can the guest feel at ease?" Jiang Yunzhu said, glancing at the people around her. There were quite a few people here who had deposited money in Qishanju.
When those people heard this, they of course thought Jiang Yunzhu was right, and they all looked at Manager Song with suspicion. After Qishanju came up with the membership system, Manager Song thought this was a good idea, and he also introduced this system in Baofulou.
The effect is not as good as Qishanju, but there are still many old customers who deposit money.
Now these old customers are very suspicious whether the money donated by Manager Song includes the money they have saved.
"Baofuluo is a golden signboard. I will never do anything that harms the interests of our customers. These two hundred taels are my personal donation." Shopkeeper Song hurriedly explained and assured, fearing that people would ask him to return the money.
At this time, Jiang Yunzhu said coldly, "Shopkeeper Song is indeed very wealthy."
“You…” Shopkeeper Song was so angry that his face turned red. He wanted to take the opportunity to ruin Jiang Yunzhu’s reputation, but who would have thought that she was so sharp-tongued. She said that her donation of thirty taels seemed more sincere than his donation of two hundred taels.
"Well, it's up to each person." County Magistrate Meng interrupted Shopkeeper Song.
As the donations continued, County Magistrate Meng looked at Jiang Yunzhu and then at Shopkeeper Song. Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind. He wrote a couplet for each of them, both as a reward and to encourage everyone to donate more money in the future.
Someone prepared paper and pen, and County Magistrate Meng picked up his brush and wrote two lines of poetry for Jiang Yunzhu: "Not sad about poverty and humbleness, not eager for wealth and honor." And he wrote the four words "love to do good and give charity" for Shopkeeper Song.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that County Magistrate Meng clearly preferred Jiang Yunzhu.
Many people laughed in their hearts. What a shame, Manager Song, he lost so much money but ended up making wedding dresses for others.
Shopkeeper Song was also extremely angry, but he did not dare to show it. He could only thank Magistrate Meng with great fear and trepidation.
Jiang Yunzhu also thanked County Magistrate Meng and received the calligraphy, which was a pleasant surprise!
There was a small episode. Everyone donated money more generously than before, and County Magistrate Meng achieved his goal. He twirled his beard and wondered how much rice he could buy with the silver and how many victims he could save.
After donating the money, everyone dispersed. Jiang Yunzhu took the calligraphy and walked back, deciding to find a shop to frame it and hang it in the store. After all, it was the magistrate's calligraphy, and others couldn't get it even if they wanted it.
It seemed that Qishanju was just two blocks away, but there was a crowd of people gathered in front of us, blocking the way.
Jiang Yunzhu looked into the crowd and saw five or six people. In the middle was a woman with makeup on. Behind her stood a young boy and a young girl. Both of them looked about thirteen or fourteen years old. They looked exactly the same, with pretty eyebrows, handsome eyes, high noses and red lips. They looked like a pair of twins, a boy and a girl.
The boy was thin and had a flamboyant look. The girl looked indescribably heroic. The two of them stood there together, and although they were wearing tattered clothes and their faces were pale, they were still attractive enough.
On the woman's side was a young man holding a folding fan, and behind him followed three or four servant-like people.
On this side was a woman dressed up beautifully, followed by several servants. Those servants were strong and had fierce looks on their faces.
"Mrs. Qi, I have already brought the silver and money, and these two people must follow me." The young man holding the fan shouted.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Liang, I've already paid the money. These two people are mine now." said the woman opposite.
"I bought them before you." Young Master Liang said angrily.
"But you didn't pay, I paid first." The woman opposite said, smiling and waving the handkerchief in her hand at Mr. Liang, and suddenly a pungent smell of powder spread out, "Mr. Liang, didn't you buy them for that kind of thing? How about this, you give them to me, and I'll let you come to Hongxinglou to play for free for half a month, how about that?"
Young Master Liang seemed a little tempted, but he still hummed, "I'm going to take them today!"
They were still arguing there, and some people were talking nearby. Jiang Yunzhu also understood what was going on.
It turned out that the middle-aged woman Qi was a human trafficker, and she bought the brother and sister from the disaster victims. She was going to sell them to Mr. Liang, but the madam of the Xinghualou in the middle-aged woman took a fancy to the brother and sister and offered a higher price, so the middle-aged woman Qi sold them to her.
Young Master Liang knew about this and of course was unwilling, so he started a fuss.
"This Master Liang has countless wives and concubines at home, and I heard he also has many servants. While others are reading in the study, he does that kind of thing with the servants in the study. Tsk tsk!" Some people sighed that this Master Liang is a man of both sexes, no wonder he can't bear to part with this pair of siblings.
The fact that the madam of Xinghualou wanted to buy this brother and sister was even more obvious. The brother and sister looked exactly the same and were good-looking. If they were to receive customers together, many people would definitely want to try it out. They would be two cash cows!
Jiang Yunzhu frowned when she heard this. She knew that there were many disaster victims and people selling their children recently, but this was the first time she had seen this.
She looked at the brother and sister.
The sister held her brother's hand tightly and stood in front of him.
My brother lowered his head slightly, making it difficult to see his expression.
The elder sister was anxious, but she did not give up. She looked around, trying to find a glimmer of hope. She knew that no matter who caught her and her brother, they would be doomed to be toys. She could endure it, but she did not want her brother to be bullied like this.
The people around were either watching the fun or looking at the siblings with disgusting eyes. The elder sister felt desperate until she met a pair of clear eyes that showed disapproval. Immediately, the elder sister looked at the man for help, like a drowning person grabbing a straw.
Jiang Yunzhu noticed the pleading look in the sister's eyes, and her brows furrowed even tighter. She asked someone next to her, "How much are the siblings worth?"
"It was originally ten taels, but later the madam of Xinghualou directly increased it to fifteen taels." The man replied.
Fifteen taels, it's really not cheap. Jiang Yunzhu was almost sold for six taels. She looks better than the siblings. I can only say that in such a disaster year, sometimes two living people are not as valuable as a piece of rice.
At this time, Master Liang had a quarrel with the madam of Xinghua Tower. The madam made another concession and let Master Liang stay in Xinghua Tower for free for a month, and then Master Liang gave the girl to her.
Mr. Liang was a person who liked new things and disliked old ones. He thought that a month was enough. He didn't have to spend money and didn't have to deal with people. What a good thing. Moreover, he thought that a wife was not as good as a concubine, and a concubine was not as good as a secret lover. Maybe it would be more interesting to be in a brothel.
They easily decided the fate of the brother and sister, and the onlookers sighed.
"Everyone, come to Xinghualou when you have time. Once I have trained this pair of brother and sister, I guarantee you will be satisfied." The brothel's madam got what she wanted and said with a smile.
As for the brother and sister, the elder sister held her brother's hand even tighter, but she had no intention of giving up. She looked at Jiang Yunzhu earnestly and begged her to save them. She would definitely repay her in the future.
A cruel look flashed in my brother's dark eyes, but he lowered his head so no one could see it.
At this time, Jiang Yunzhu had made a decision. She separated the crowd and said to Mrs. Qi, "I will offer sixteen taels. How about selling these two people to me?"
Everyone was stunned by her words. How could someone be kidnapped again
When Master Liang saw Jiang Yunzhu, his body immediately softened. He had seen the owner of Qishanju before, but every time he could only glimpse her shadow from afar and could not see the person clearly, which made him anxious every day. Unexpectedly, he met her here today.
After seeing Jiang Yunzhu's appearance, he felt that she was more beautiful than he thought.
The madam of Xinghualou also showed surprise. In her opinion, Jiang Yunzhu was definitely a top beauty. Especially her special temperament, which made people forget the world when they saw her.
Mrs. Qi stared at Jiang Yunzhu with her triangular eyes. She wanted to pay sixteen taels to buy someone
Of course she is willing to sell, but...
"How is it?" Jiang Yunzhu asked Mrs. Qi directly.
Mrs. Qi nodded. After what happened just now, she was no longer afraid of boiling water. They could fight as much as they wanted, but it was right for her to get more money.
"Okay, then I'll buy it. Come on, follow me to get the money." Jiang Yunzhu said.
Mrs. Qi looked at the brothel's madam.
The brothel madam reacted and shouted, "I've already bought them."
Jiang Yunzhu looked at her, "Didn't you also raise the price later to buy the person? Then my price is higher than yours, so this person naturally belongs to me."
The madam of Xinghualou was stumped by the question.
Master Liang quickly said, "This person should belong to me." If this person was bought by Jiang Yunzhu, he would get nothing, so he was anxious.
"Didn't you give up just now and don't want anyone anymore?" Jiang Yunzhu asked him.
"If I sell it to a brothel owner, I will give it up and sell it to you..."
"But you've already given up. A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. That's why I should sell this man to you first. But if you don't keep your word, how can you expect others to keep their word?"
There is a paradox in what Jiang Yunzhu said. If everyone keeps their promise, then Mr. Liang has indeed given up his right to purchase. If no one keeps their promise, then it is not Mr. Liang's turn to purchase first, so no matter what Mr. Liang says, he is not right.
Master Liang was choked and looked at the brothel's madam.
The brothel madam was so angry that she fell backwards. The duck she had caught was about to fly away
"I'll offer seventeen taels." She said. If Jiang Yunzhu didn't want to compare prices, then she would compete with her.
Jiang Yunzhu's entire savings was only about forty taels, so she had no choice but to give up.
At this time, someone next to him suddenly said, "Boss Jiang, is that the words the county magistrate just wrote to you?" It was a woman, about thirty years old, the owner of a furniture store in the county. She just came over and after hearing the whole story, she felt very sympathetic towards the brother and sister, so she spoke up to help Jiang Yunzhu.
She was intentionally using County Magistrate Meng to pressure the madam of Xinghua Tower.
Sure enough, the brothel madam’s face changed drastically after hearing this. The words written by the county magistrate to Jiang Yunzhu
Jiang Yunzhu understood the woman's good intentions and nodded. After all, this calligraphy is worth thirty taels!
"Mrs. Qi, just tell me, who are you going to sell these two people to?" the woman said to Mrs. Qi again.
Mrs. Qi does this kind of business, and usually she would cheat and deceive whenever she could. She was most afraid of officials. When she heard that the county magistrate actually wrote to Jiang Yunzhu, she was immediately frightened and whispered, "Otherwise, just sell it to this girl."
The brothel madam was a little unconvinced, but in the end she didn't say anything, so Jiang Yunzhu bought the brother and sister for sixteen taels of silver.
He took his people back to Qishanju and gave the money to Mrs. Qi. Mrs. Qi did not stay for a moment. She took the indentures of the two people and turned away, leaving the brother and sister with Jiang Yunzhu.
Jiang Yunzhu looked at the indenture contract and found that the sister's name should be He Ying and the brother's name should be He Hong.
"Thank you for saving my life, young lady." He Ying immediately knelt down on the ground.
He Hong paused, then knelt down as well.
"Get up." Jiang Yunzhu said, feeling a little melancholy. In fact, she really didn't plan to buy anyone. But, she bought it anyway.
At this time, Chen and others came out and looked at He Ying and her partner in surprise. This pair of siblings looked really good.
Jiang Yunzhu introduced the two parties to each other.
As for how to arrange the two of them, Jiang Yunzhu suggested that they help in the store, but Chen suddenly found her and said that since He Ying was bought by her, it would be better for her to be her maid, so that she would not have to do many things herself.
Maid? Jiang Yunzhu was stunned for a moment, but still refused.
He Ying heard about this from somewhere and took the initiative to find Jiang Yunzhu, "I am willing to serve you, young lady!" She knelt down and kowtowed respectfully.