The daily life of a concubine's daughter

Chapter 155: Accumulating Merit in a Curved Way

Xie Jibai fell silent before she finished her previous sentence, and seeing her eyes flickering and not daring to look him in the face, he knew that she had guessed what he was going to do at that time.

"I know that the girl is not a liar, but a good girl with a kind heart." His face turned red to his neck, and his feet felt like there were thorns under his feet. He immediately forced a polite smile.

Just as he was about to avoid her, Shi Yao changed the subject.

"I'm glad there's no misunderstanding. I was just about to ask Mr. Xie and Mr. Xie to buy some rice for me."

Xie Jibai breathed a sigh of relief and asked in confusion, "What kind of rice do you want to buy? The Duke's Mansion has its own rice buyers, so why would they let the young lady ask for rice herself?"

He thought of Shi Yao's reputation for providing free porridge for several months and believed that Shi Yao wanted to buy the rice for the porridge.

If it was just a small matter like these, he could just help her and even give her a discount.

Shi Yao said with a serious face: "Master Xie, haven't you heard about the two big news in the capital recently? One is the auspicious sign in Guanzhou, and the other is the flood in Fengzhou."

Xie Jibai thought to himself, there is a third piece of news, the Shi family divorced his wife.

Therefore, the Xie and Ge families remained silent for a few days, giving the Shi family a break, and then they hurried over to cancel the engagement.

Xie Jibai chuckled and said, "Of course I've heard of it. Miss, do you want to buy rice and send it to Fengzhou?"

Shi Yao clapped her hands: "Young Master, you are very smart, you hit the nail on the head! My aunt is a Buddhist, she taught me since I was young that if you are poor, you should take care of yourself, and if you are rich, you should help the world. She also said, don't do evil, no matter how small it is, and don't refrain from doing good, no matter how small it is.

As a weak woman, I dare not say that I will help the world if I become successful, but I should also do good deeds no matter how small.

The flood in Fengzhou was severe, and someone in the capital was blocking the news. The people were suffering. Fortunately, the emperor was wise and did not let the villain cover up the truth.

I am willing to do my best to help the people of Fengzhou overcome their difficulties. Every person I can help counts, every person I can save counts. It is a good deed.”

Xie Jibai couldn't help but say, "There are also wives of officials in the capital who are collecting donations. Why would the second young lady think of looking for the Xie family?"

Shi Yao's eyes sparkled, and she was in high spirits: "Because I trust the Xie family, trust Mr. Xie, and trust Mr. Xie! More than a decade ago, the Xie family did not covet any credit, but silently helped the Northwest Army replenish its food and grass, which enabled us to win the battle that year!

When my grandparents told me this story from ancient times, I had the utmost respect and admiration for Mr. Xie!

I thought about it carefully. If it were me, I would definitely let everyone know about this matter, and then seek credit for it. I would definitely get some military merit for myself.

Mr. Xie was a man of great righteousness, who only cared about the people living on the border and the overall situation of the war, and never thought of seeking credit. Although the court returned the grain afterwards, Mr. Xie's contribution to turning the tide of the war cannot be erased."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jibai was so upset that he couldn't calm down for a long time.

Having said that, several years ago, he also heard the old man say with regret that he didn't think too much at the time, and even didn't dare to think too much, and gave up the military achievements to the Shi family in vain.

Otherwise, the Xie family would have long since left the business world and become officials.

Even if they could not hold any power, at least their descendants could take part in the imperial examinations.

By the time he reacted and dared to think so, ten years had passed. The emperor had already decided on rewards and punishments for the merits and demerits of the battle that year, and it was inappropriate to mention it again.

But he didn't expect that Shi Yao, a little girl in her teens, would think of things that the old man dared not think of!

And Shi Yao's last words, the court returned the grain - bah! Returning 50% is also called returning!

The remaining 50% was really out of the hands of the old Duke. He was used to being greedy. He wanted to pay it back, but he couldn't use his own money to fill the hole in the court, right? That would empty the Duke's Mansion.

Although the burning of the grain and grass was caused by his own poor guarding, the soldiers guarding the grain and grass were from the imperial court, not the Shi family's private soldiers!

Finally, the old Duke, who was so old that not a single grain of rice could slip through his fingers, resorted to the marriage of his grandson as a hedge.

The Xie family had little influence and had no choice but to accept it.

Fortunately, with the support of the Duke's Mansion in recent years, the Xie family's business has been going smoothly without encountering any major difficulties. They have also made back half of the grain and fodder they lost that year.

Shi Yao smiled and said, "I think the Xie family is more reliable than those wives of officials. I don't know how many cunning people are working under them. I don't know how many copper coins of my hard-earned silver can be exchanged for food and sent to the victims.

Mr. Xie, I wonder if Mr. Xie and Mr. Xie would be willing to help me with this little favor?

I will give you the silver first, and you will collect food from the towns near Fengzhou and send it to the victims. Any manpower and material costs incurred in the process will be deducted from my silver.

If there is any surplus, I will buy more food and send it to you. If there is not enough, you can come to the Duke's Mansion to pay your respects and ask my maid for more. If there is no more, I can still scrape together one or two thousand taels of silver."

Xie Jibai took a breath and asked, "Thank you for your trust, young lady. I can help you, but how much money do you want to donate?"

Shi Yao was prepared. She took out a few banknotes from her purse and handed them to him.

The things Xie Jibai had been exposed to the most since he was a child were silver, gold, and silver notes. He didn't need to count them. Just by looking at the size and thickness, he could tell how much silver there was. Just by looking at the pattern, he could tell which bank the silver note came from.

His hands shook. Eight thousand taels!

Is this enough to buy Shi Yao’s dowry?

A concubine's daughter of the Duke's Mansion could easily donate so much money. Did she rob a bank? Or did she destroy the lair of the grassland king?

No wonder she didn't dare to donate it to those officials' wives. If this were to be made public, I'm afraid the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Jingzhao Prefecture would immediately come to search the Duke's Mansion.

Xie Jibai did not take the eight thousand taels of silver seriously, but he knew that the official's daughter should not take out so much silver, so he advised:

"Miss, you don't have to donate so much. The victims are pitiful, and the court will comfort them. Miss, you should also think about your future."

Shi Yao thought to herself, this guy is pretty good, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, my grandmother will consider my dowry. For me, saving others is actually saving myself. Young master knows the recent reputation of our family, eh, let's not talk about it.

As the saying goes, people are afraid of being famous just like pigs are afraid of being fat. Sir, you don't have to mention that I am from the Duke's Mansion, just say Miss Shi Er, I just want to have peace of mind.

Sir, please accept it quickly. It is not right to tug at such a fuss. Our two families will be relatives in the future, so we will have more interactions. We will see each other every day, right? I will trouble you a lot in the future."

Xie Jibai hesitated and said, "Actually, my father and I are here today to cancel the engagement."

Shi Yao thought they were here to tell Xie Qingdai that she was going to Beijing, and asked in surprise, "Really?"

good good!

Seventh brother is going to be single!

Xie Qingdai should not jump into the fire pit!

The Xie family chose a very clever time to cancel the engagement.

The old lady was embarrassed and didn't feel comfortable refusing to return the money.

Xie Jibai was stunned.

Shi Yao hurriedly put on a concerned and anxious expression to make amends: "What! Are you here to cancel the engagement? I thought you were here to discuss the betrothal gifts and dowry. Has Second Sister Xie entered the capital yet?"

Xie Jibai: "..."

The face changes so quickly.

He looked at Shi Yao suspiciously, and then answered: "My sister has never come to the capital. She has shaved her head and become a nun."