Chapter 39 Settled

Chapter 39 Settled

It was already evening, the time when teahouses and taverns would be bustling with activity. Normally, places like bookstores would quiet down, but there was an unusual crowd gathered in front of Qingsong Bookstore.

The manager was puzzled and startled when suddenly the sound of firecrackers went off, making him jump. Looking down, he saw many red firecracker wrappers on the ground, indicating that the firecrackers had been set off more than once.

Even more confused, he grabbed someone nearby and asked, "It's neither a festival nor a holiday. Why is Qingsong Bookstore setting off firecrackers?"

The person, clearly talkative, eagerly shared what they knew: "Qingsong Bookstore has changed hands!"

The manager’s face changed, "Changed hands?"

"Yes, I heard that the young lady from Shaoqing Mansion took a fancy to this bookstore and spent twenty thousand taels to buy it. The old owner is happy about the profit, and the new owner wanted to mark the occasion, so they set off firecrackers. You missed it, they even scattered copper coins earlier."

The person grew more excited as they spoke, and others joined in: "Twenty thousand taels for such a bookstore? The young lady must be naive, and her family agreed to it?"

"That’s her own money, and the matriarch of Shaoqing Mansion adores her granddaughter. How could she refuse?"

Another person nodded, "True, it’s her own money, so she can spend it however she wants."

Someone else, seeing the lively discussion, chimed in, "Tsk tsk, I heard before that Shaoqing Mansion coveted the young lady’s wealth. Now look, if they really did, would they let her spend it like this? Rumors are indeed unreliable."

"Hey, where are you going?" Seeing the manager rush away, the person called out, then continued chatting with others.

The manager returned faster than he had come, heading straight to Ruyitang to see the matriarch.

"Is it done?" the matriarch asked, noticing his expression and feeling a sinking heart.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he recounted what he had seen and heard at Qingsong Bookstore.

"This servant dared not act on his own and came back to seek your instructions."

"Bastard!" The matriarch grabbed a teacup and smashed it to the ground, her face darker than the bottom of a pot.

Just then, Duan Shaoqing entered, startled by the mess on the floor. "Mother, what has angered you so much?"

Hearing this, the matriarch had much to say, dismissing the manager and saying, "Your good daughter, to avenge her disgraced mother, went to the garden and attacked Qingqing, tearing her sleeve in public!"

Duan Shaoqing was shocked, "Hua'er actually did something like this?"

"Qingqing isn’t one to take a loss lying down. She demanded to establish her own household and stormed out onto the street with her luggage!"

Duan Shaoqing was even more shocked, "Stormed out onto the street with luggage? This, this is outrageous!"

The matriarch grew angrier as she spoke, "To appease Qingqing, I promised to buy Qingsong Bookstore for her, only to find out she spent twenty thousand taels!"

"Twenty thousand taels?" Duan Shaoqing’s voice rose in shock.

The matriarch continued, "I didn’t agree, and sent the manager to cancel the purchase, but Qingsong Bookstore had already set off firecrackers. Now everyone knows that the young lady from Shaoqing Mansion bought Qingsong Bookstore for a hefty sum!"

Duan Shaoqing was stunned, eyes wide.

He had merely gone to work as usual, yet so much had happened in just one day?

After a moment, Duan Shaoqing regained his composure, pained, "Mother, this puts Shaoqing Mansion in a difficult position."

The matriarch sneered, "I know that."

If they had quietly canceled the purchase, they might have lost only two thousand taels as a deposit. But now, they had no choice but to buy Qingsong Bookstore.

"This situation could either be the current owner of Qingsong Bookstore spreading rumors to prevent us from backing out, or—" Duan Shaoqing’s eyes turned cold, "Qingqing arranged it herself, fearing you would refuse due to the high price!"

The matriarch felt stifled, "What use is talking about it now? If Hua'er hadn’t caused trouble for Qingqing, none of this would have happened!"

Duan Shaoqing was also annoyed by his daughter’s recklessness, but the pain of losing twenty thousand taels overshadowed his anger, "Mother, should we really buy the bookstore for Qingqing and let her move out?"

The matriarch glanced at her son, "What else can we do? Let the world mock Shaoqing Mansion for holding onto the young lady’s wealth?"

Duan Shaoqing was speechless.

"Spending twenty thousand taels to show the world that Shaoqing Mansion respects the young lady’s right to manage her wealth isn’t a bad deal," the matriarch sighed after a long silence.

These words were meant to convince her son and comfort herself.

Duan Shaoqing knew the loss was inevitable, and said coldly, "I’m just surprised that a young girl like Qingqing has such means."

"It may not be Qingqing. The owner of Qingsong Bookstore wouldn’t give up such a windfall easily," the matriarch said, though her perception of her granddaughter had changed.

After their conversation, the matriarch sent Yu Zhu to summon Xin You.

Xin You had changed into a half-new apricot-colored robe.

This color was fresh but lacked charm. Hearing the summons from Ruyitang, Xin You felt completely reassured and smiled, instructing Xiaolian, "Go get the ear pendants from the set of red gemstone jewelry the matriarch gave me and put them on for me."

Soon, Xin You arrived at Ruyitang wearing the new ear pendants.

"Grandmother, Uncle." Xin You bowed gracefully.

Her elegant gesture exuded a casual air, and the pair of gently swinging teardrop-shaped red gemstone ear pendants stood out against her simple attire.

She was a beauty, and the gems were exquisite, complementing each other perfectly, making her stand out even more.

The matriarch’s gaze lingered on the ear pendants for a long time, unable to speak.

Twenty thousand taels spent, and a valuable set of red gemstone jewelry was gone!

Though the jewelry was intended for her granddaughter’s dowry, giving it now meant preparing an even better set later.

The matriarch’s silence puzzled Duan Shaoqing.

Mother, what's going on?

Hearing Duan Shaoqing's cough, the old lady came back to her senses and managed a smile. "Qingqing, your grandmother and your uncle discussed it, and since you like the bookstore so much, we'll buy it for you."

Xin You smiled. "Thank you, Grandmother."

Duan Shaoqing, with a stern face, spoke up. "There is just one thing: our family has no experience managing a bookstore, so we might not be able to help you much."

"Qingqing will work hard. If it doesn't go well, I can always sell it again."

The old lady and Duan Shaoqing were speechless.

The next day, Xin You, ignoring the old lady's hidden distress, took the silver money to Qingsong Bookstore, only to find someone else there as well.

"Lord He."

"Miss Kou, may I have a word?"

"Of course."

The two stood under a tree behind the bookstore. Xin You tilted her head slightly and asked, "Lord He, what do you want to say?"

"I heard today that Miss Kou has bought Qingsong Bookstore."

Though Xin You was puzzled by his specific interest in this matter, she kept her expression neutral. "Yes, I'm here today to pay the remaining amount."

He Qingxiao fell silent for a moment before saying, "Miss Kou paid too much."