“So much?” Qin Yining asked in surprise. “I remember that although we spent quite a bit of silver at the time, this gain is truly beyond expectation.”
“Indeed. When we purchased the farmland, the prices were less than thirty percent of normal rates. No one could have imagined that when Great Zhou took over the Great Yan dynasty, it would be so peaceful—no burning, killing, or looting, and none of the city massacres everyone had feared. We were acquainted with Prince Zhongshun and could later analyze the general situation, but the common people didn’t know.”
Speaking of this, Manager Zhong couldn’t help but smile: “Not only did our land make a fortune, but those shops we mortgaged and sold to His Lordship—His Lordship must have made quite a profit as well now.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining nodded thoughtfully.
She now felt somewhat guilty, feeling as though she had profited from national disaster and been too unfair to the common people.
Seeing Qin Yining’s expression, Manager Zhong guessed her thoughts to some degree and couldn’t help but sigh: “Master, you are simply too kind-hearted. Under those circumstances back then, everyone was starving, and the tragic scene of national ruin and family destruction was right before our eyes. Your original intention in buying land—wasn’t it also to enable the common people to have some silver to escape with?”
“That may be so, but after all, they sold their land cheaply. I always feel I took advantage of them.”
“Not so. Master didn’t force them to sell their houses and land—they willingly sold at low prices in order to flee. Under those circumstances, if Master hadn’t bought their land, they might not have earned a single coin, abandoning their houses and fields to escape. After Great Zhou took over, ownerless land would have been confiscated to the state. When they returned to their homeland, where would they have land to farm? With the land in our hands, we can still employ them and give them work.”
Qin Yining blinked, having to admit that everything Manager Zhong said was correct.
Manager Zhong continued: “Now, most of the common people who didn’t starve to death have returned to the capital. Those without houses or land have no livelihood. I took the initiative to employ many people to farm our land, which also gave them a way to survive.”
Qin Yining sighed, then smiled with understanding: “What’s done is done. Thinking too much about it now is useless. How about we only collect seventy percent of this year’s rent, leaving thirty percent for them? This way everyone can rest and recuperate.”
Manager Zhong said in shock: “Master, thirty percent from each household adds up to quite a considerable sum!”
“I know.” Qin Yining sighed. “The silver under heaven can never be completely earned. No matter how much silver I have, keeping it in hand is just a number, isn’t it? This thirty percent rent from each household won’t shake my foundation, but for everyone else, it can lighten their burden considerably. Since we were all Great Yan people before, consider it my contribution to the common people.”
Manager Zhong looked at Qin Yining and after a long while said: “Master’s righteousness—this old man admires it greatly.” Saying this, he stood up and bowed to Qin Yining.
“Not at all. Whatever I do, it also requires your efforts.” Qin Yining stood and returned the bow, then said: “Actually, there’s another place in the capital where I need to use silver.”
“Please speak, Master.” Manager Zhong sat up straight attentively.
Qin Yining smiled and said: “You must have heard something about what happened to us on our journey here. My family’s Old Dowager and her group lost all the silver they brought. Although my third uncle does business, the distance is great, and the profits from his business aren’t very large.”
“Therefore, I want to privately buy a residence and register it under someone who appears unrelated to me on the surface. After my father returns to the capital, we can go through the motions of a resale, so the family won’t be without a place to live. His Lordship has already helped me find several properties, but too many things have happened recently, and I haven’t had time to choose.”
“Master, rest assured—I’ll handle this matter for you.” Manager Zhong was silent for a moment before saying: “There are rumors outside that you and His Lordship…”
“Don’t worry. His Lordship and I are the same as before. Some things are unavoidable, but you can trust His Lordship in the future.”
Only then could Manager Zhong’s anxious heart settle, and he breathed a long sigh: “That’s good, that’s good!”
He had personally watched Qin Yining and Pang Xiao gradually come together. This pair of young people was truly loving and well-matched. If they could only be separated due to some realistic reasons, it would be too heartbreaking.
The two talked for a while longer when a servant woman came to report that the meal was ready.
Qin Yining then dined with the Zhong family, Lu Dehan, and Liu Jiu’er. After the meal, they chatted briefly. She instructed Manager Zhong that he could go to the prince’s residence on his own to find Xie Yue or Xu Weizhi, and through them send word to find Pang Xiao, before returning to the guest lodge.
The next day, Manager Zhong went to the prince’s residence.
Pang Xiao introduced Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi to Manager Zhong.
“This Manager Zhong Yucheng is Yining’s man.”
Both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi politely bowed to Manager Zhong, their attitudes extremely respectful.
Manager Zhong learned from Qin Yining that these two were Pang Xiao’s most trusted advisors. Seeing their attitude toward him, he knew that Qin Yining’s status in these two men’s hearts was probably not low.
Manager Zhong also politely returned their bows.
Over the following days, Manager Zhong went out with Xie Yue to look at houses. From among three residences, they selected a two-courtyard house in the eastern part of the city, purchased it, and registered it under Lu Dehan’s name.
Using the excuse of buying silk thread, Qin Yining went to see the house once. Finding the location good and thinking it could be lived in with just basic repairs, she had craftsmen begin tidying the interior first, planning to fix the exterior after the New Year when spring arrived.
As time passed, there was still no news of Qin Huaiyuan, Sun Shi, and Cao Yuqing.
Qin Yining grew increasingly anxious.
She had disrupted the imperial selection, and she didn’t know whether those who had kidnapped her father would harm him.
Meanwhile, all five groups of surrendered officials from Great Yan had safely arrived in the capital.
The guest lodge and surrounding buildings were temporarily filled with Yan dynasty surrendered officials and their families—truly packed to capacity.
But Li Qitian only instructed the Ministry of Rites to treat these people well. Those who wanted to purchase residences could do so. Those who hadn’t purchased residences and didn’t mind the cramped quarters could squeeze into the guest lodge. Of course, those who had sufficient silver and wanted to find inns on their own were also free to do so.
With all these additional people in the capital, even the business of taverns and inns improved.
However, Li Qitian did not immediately bestow official positions. Everyone could only wait with wide eyes.
After the Little New Year passed, Qin Yining was so worried about Qin Huaiyuan that she developed fever blisters at the corners of her mouth and canker sores throughout her mouth—even drinking a sip of water was painful.
In the dead of night, taking advantage of no one being around, Pang Xiao climbed through the window to see Qin Yining. Seeing her propping her cheek and staring blankly at the silk lantern, her face—which had finally gained a little flesh—once again thin with a pointed chin, he couldn’t help but feel heartache: “How did you become like this? Haven’t you eaten these past few days?”
Qin Yining was startled by the sudden voice. She looked up and glared at him, then removed the lamp shade and blew out the light to prevent people outside from seeing shadows in the room, before saying in a low voice:
“I can’t eat these days. I’m always worried about my father and mother. Yesterday I had a nightmare that they were killed by kidnappers. I woke up terrified and couldn’t fall asleep again afterward.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao sighed and said: “Don’t worry. Your father will definitely be fine, and I can guess that he’s certainly not in any kidnappers’ hands. The reason he hasn’t returned should be that he’s doing this on purpose.”