Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 377 The County Magistrate’s Return Gift

He gave Lu Lang one thousand taels and told him to wait until the Wanshou Festival was over, and then invite Miss Shen over to give her the money and express his gratitude on his behalf.

The other five hundred taels were given to Master Qian, who was asked to go and inspect the road in front of the market after the Wanshou Festival.

Calculate how much money it will cost to complete the renovation, and start work as soon as possible if the weather is good.

The handwritten scriptures were simply wrapped up as they were and handed over to the old butler Lu Changping along with the remaining banknotes.

Let him go back and give it to his father, and have it put in an exquisite box in Beijing, and then have his father send someone to deliver it during the New Year.

After Lu Zheng arranged everything, he felt relieved.

He smiled and said, "If Steward Lu has no urgent business, just spend a few days in Anping County."

"It won't be too late to go home after the Wanshou Festival. I'll invite you to Miss Shen's restaurant to eat amber meat then."

"The amber meat is fat but not greasy, lean but not dry, and tastes rich and delicious. It's a pity that I can't take it away and keep it for a long time, otherwise I would definitely let my father and others taste it."

"I have never seen a restaurant in Beijing that cooks pork so well."

Before Butler Lu could reply, Lu Zheng continued, "Okay, if there's nothing else, I'll leave first."

"I recently got a new white-stamen cinnabar plum tree. I need to loosen the soil today. I'll go get busy first."

As soon as he finished speaking, he walked out of the study briskly to busy himself with his flower-growing business.

The remaining few people were not surprised at all, as if they were used to it. They each took a task, shook their heads helplessly, and started to get busy.

When Lu Lang recounted what happened that day, although he knew that Shen Yu had also witnessed Lu Zheng's laxity, he did not go into detail for the sake of his father's face.

He just said that this sutra happened to be what his father really needed, and he was very happy that Shen Yu could give it to him, so he wanted to give some silver in return as a thank you gift.

She also said that in addition to the one thousand taels of silver her father gave her, he also took another five hundred taels of silver and planned to renovate the street in front of the market after the Wanshou Festival.

Seeing Shen Yu's serious expression, Lu Lang quickly explained, "Miss Shen, don't think the amount is too large and refuse to accept it."

"This is the money that father was going to spend on New Year's Day gifts. Grandfather prepared five thousand taels for him. With your book, father has saved three thousand five hundred taels."

"Miss Shen, just accept it with confidence."

After listening to Lu Lang's explanation and knowing the origin of the 1,200 taels of silver, Shen Yu let out a long sigh and relaxed.

When Shen Yu sent out the scriptures, he never thought that he would receive a return gift from the county magistrate.

Thinking of the four hundred taels of silver she owed Madam He, she hesitated for a moment and said, "This scripture was originally given to me by Master Ci'en. I never thought of selling it."

"Since the county magistrate insists on thanking me, I can't refuse."

"But one thousand taels of silver is still too much."

"Buddhism emphasizes compassion and saving all living beings."

"How about this? I'll take the five hundred taels, and the other five hundred taels can be put together with the five hundred taels for road construction."

"Repair the roads near the market so that people can walk more easily to the market. Our restaurant will also benefit. This will be a benefit of the five hundred taels."

Lu Lang smiled and said, "Miss Shen, there is no need to be so cautious. One thousand taels of silver is not a lot."

"After you pay off your debts, you won't have much left."

"Road construction is the government's job."

"In addition to these five hundred taels, the county government has another fund specifically for repairing roads and bridges. The cost of repairing the road is enough."

"This one thousand taels is due to your excellent cooking skills. Just keep it with peace of mind."

Seeing that Lu Lang was speaking so sincerely, Shen Yu said, "Then I will accept it. Thank you, County Magistrate and Master Lu."

Lu Lang nodded and smiled, "Congratulations, Miss Shen, you are finally debt-free."

Shen Yu looked up in surprise: "How do you know that what I want to do most is to pay back the money?"

She said with some shame: "If it weren't for the fact that I still owed money, I shouldn't have accepted the money from the county magistrate."

"When Master Ci'en finds out, I don't know how he will look at me."

"He gave me a handwritten scripture with all his heart, but I gave it to the county magistrate instead. Now I have received money from the county magistrate..."

Shen Yu spoke more and more quietly, and couldn't help feeling a little guilty.

Lu Lang smiled gently and comforted her, "Miss Shen, there's no need to think so complicated."

"Master Ci'en is well versed in Buddhism and is free and easy in his dealings. If he knew that what the girl needed was money, not a sutra, he might have given you money directly from the beginning."

"Although the scriptures have been given to my father, you have received more useful silver."

"It's just Master Ci'en's gift in a different form."

"Besides, my father's acquisition of the scriptures also solved the problem of how to prepare the New Year's gifts. This is good for everyone, so you don't need to feel guilty."

After being comforted by Lu Lang, Shen Yu suddenly became enlightened. The psychological burden was gone and he felt relaxed.

She smiled and said, "Mr. Lu is right. If that's the case, then I feel relieved."

"Mr. Lu hasn't told me yet, how do you know that what I want to do most is to pay back the money?"

Lu Lang smiled slightly and said seriously: "Miss Shen only owed me a dozen taels of silver a few days ago. As soon as she had the money, she chased me to pay it back."

"They are afraid that I will come to collect the debt and charge interest."

"Then if I owe Madam He several hundred taels of silver, wouldn't I have to worry day and night, fearing that the interest will double."

Shen Yu became anxious when he heard this, and quickly explained: "Mr. Lu may have misunderstood. Sister He is not that kind of person."

"She never mentioned charging me interest."

"I even had to write her the IOU."

"Mr. Lu is not that kind of person. You have never asked me for interest..."

As she was talking, she realized that Lu Lang was looking at her with a joking expression.

He immediately realized that Lu Lang was just joking with him, but he took it seriously.

Shen Yu blushed slightly, turned around and stood up and said, "I won't talk to Master Lu anymore. I'm going to go see how Yutao and the others are writing their gift signs."

After saying this, he turned around and left the east room without caring about the brushes, calligraphy copies and banknotes.

Lu Lang watched Shen Yu's graceful figure flash by and disappear behind the door curtain, leaving the thick cotton curtain still swaying slightly.

With a smile on his lips, he was distracted for a moment, took out a small cloth bag used to hold books, put the box containing brushes, the copybook and the envelope containing banknotes into it one by one.

After tying the straps on the cloth bag, he carried the small cloth bag out of the east room.

Yutao and the other two wrote very seriously. In order to write well, they even wrote slower than usual when practicing calligraphy.