Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 222 This money is hot, I am afraid of shortening my life

The old patriarch covered his face with his sleeves and hurried away.

Aunt Meng waited for him to leave, and finally put down her stern face that had been on for half an hour, a little puzzled: "It's not a lot of money, and it's not urgent. Why is the princess so heartless?"

"Aunt, do you think I'm too aggressive?" Lin Daiyu smiled, "That's because what they did was too ugly.

"More than 200 students in four years. How many people are there in a school nowadays? Jia's private school in the capital, including the young and old, and those who attend the attached school, has only 30 to 50 students.

"I'm afraid that there haven't been so many people in the Lin family school in the past four years. They even dared to fabricate it and let Jingbo take the money. Jingbo is old and dizzy looking at the accounts, so he handed it over to his nephew to take care of it for the past two years.

“That’s why this happened.”

Daiyu sighed softly, and after a long while, she whispered, "This is the only familiar person left around my father, and I don't want to make him too sad.

"That's why we have to deal with this matter quickly and vigorously. With Chu Qian and Ni Er, his nephew's family will surely be able to make things right in no time!"

"What if it just can't be straightened?" Xueyan suddenly asked.

Daiyu looked up at her and paused for a long time before saying, "Then we can only rely on his nephew to take care of him in his old age."

The next day, the old clan leader brought a middle-aged man who was beaten to death to see Daiyu, and said shamefacedly, "It was my fault that I didn't notice and let this bastard take advantage of it.

"In fact, there weren't that many people. Only sixty-nine people received funding. He embezzled thousands of silver coins, and I made him spit it all out!"

He took out another silver note and gave it to Daiyu.

Daiyu took a look at it and didn't take it. The old patriarch had to put it on the table next to her. Daiyu didn't pick it up, but looked at the old patriarch with a smile:

"It would be best if the truth came out. Sixty-nine people, that's about right. Since I said I wanted to see them, there's no point not mentioning it.

"How about this, let's book a restaurant and I'll treat them to a meal.

"Old Patriarch, please leave the list and account book here. I will take a look at them."

Still need lists and account books?

The old patriarch changed color!

Daiyu didn't even look at him, but pointed at the banknotes on the table and told Jia Yun, who was also present, "Take them and prepare a banquet."

He stood up, his face indifferent, "I'm tired of repeating this over and over again. Yun Ge'er, let's do it. Whatever money you get back will be yours!"

Go ahead and go.

Jia Yun agreed, stepped forward to take the banknote, flicked it with his fingers, turned to look at the old patriarch, but said nothing. He then turned his eyes to Jing Bo's nephew Du Hu:

"Brother Du, I'm not familiar with Gusu, and I don't need these thousands of silver. Let's do it together. I'll take four and you six. No, I'll take three and you seven!"

Du Hu, who had a kind face, looked hesitant.

Jia Yun chuckled, "How about this: All the money we get back belongs to me, but you and your family will come back to the capital with us. I'll be responsible for finding you a job, food and lodging, okay?"

Du Hu's eyes lit up, and he quickly agreed: "Yes! Thank you, Second Master Yun, for your support!"

It didn’t take much effort. On the third day, Jia Yun presented the result to Lin Daiyu: “In the past four years, our clan has sponsored a total of 67 students, nine of whom are poor, and the rest are legitimate children of each branch.

“All the rest of the money was divided equally among the clan leader, the third wife, and Lin Hun.

"A total of 7,600 taels were spent on the account, and 40,200 taels were recovered. There are more than 1,900 taels left, but those families in the clan who are not poor are unwilling to pay it back."

Lin Daiyu said, "Any suggestions?"

"I've spread the word that someone with this level of ability may not be qualified to take the exam. But it may take two days to see the results."

Daiyu hummed and nodded, letting him go out.

Jia Yun was stunned: "Princess, there are several thousand silver coins here, did you really give them to your nephew?"

"Go away. I feel upset just looking at this thing." Lin Daiyu got up and left unhappily.

Jia Yun felt a little hot, and his hand holding the banknote began to tremble.

Aunt Meng laughed at him: "So? Are you glad that Du Hu didn't choose the silver?"

"No!" Jia Yun tried to remain calm. "This is too much. If I really pick it up, I'm afraid I'll shorten my life."

Xiao Hong also laughed and gave him some advice in a low voice: "Give it back to Jing Bo and put it into the public account, isn't that enough?"

Jia Yun was awakened by the word "public account", as if a bucket of water was poured over him from head to toe. He nodded hurriedly, took the hot silver note, and ran away.

In the evening, Xiaohong reported to Daiyu with a smile: "Jing Bo accepted four thousand taels, and gave the other two hundred to Yun Erye and Du Hu, and asked them to go out for dinner and drinks.

"As for the more than one thousand silver coins given earlier, Du Hu said that those who are truly poor should not eat too well, as this will easily lead to a savage mind and breed hatred.

"So Second Master Yun only kept two hundred, and promised to treat them to a good meal in two days, and also give each of them a set of four treasures of the study and two sets of new books."

Daiyu nodded and said, "Well done." She then asked where Lin Hun was now.

Xiao Hong smiled awkwardly: "The whole family has been driven out. No matter what anyone says, it's useless. Jing Bo said that this is his relative, not a servant of the Lin Mansion, so the princess's words are useless. Just listen to him."

Lin Daiyu was silent for a long time, then sighed and ordered Xiaohong: "Let Yunge'er go and persuade the Du family. I will give them two thousand silver coins every year to settle down and let them take good care of my uncle Jing in his old age.

"After Master Jing passes away, my old house will be handed over to their family to manage for generations. All the rules will be followed as they are now."

Jia Yun took the message and went to persuade Du Hu, but he was timid and dared not stay in Suzhou without Lin Daiyu no matter what.

Jia Yun thought for a long time, then his eyes suddenly lit up. He patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "I have something to ask Brother Du!"

"Master Yun, it's not a matter of begging or not. I will just follow your orders and do what you say." Du Hu looked nervous and fearful.

Jia Yun smiled and said, "I am in need of a boy to run errands for me. I couldn't find a suitable one when I was in the capital.

“A few days ago, the second brother accompanied the internal official Chu and the female official Meng to go shopping. He said that he brought your boy to lead the way, and when he came back, he had no words to praise his cleverness.

"Why don't you let him follow me? When we meet again, I'll ask the guards at home to teach him martial arts, and then he can learn these trivial things from me.

"When Uncle Jing gets old, I'll let him come back. How about you help your son and take care of the family business for the princess?"

Du Hu was so excited that tears came to his eyes. He held Jia Yun's hand and said "OK!" repeatedly!

Jia Yun smiled again, "I know my sister-in-law is pregnant. If it's a son, and he's a good student, then I'll send him to the Lin clan school.

"As expected, he can pass the exam. With the princess here, why should he be afraid of not having a bright future?!"

Du Hu burst into tears and knelt down: "If this is possible, Master Yun will be my family's second parents!"

Jia Yun was shocked: "No, no, no!"

It's all settled.

Lin Daiyu finally breathed a sigh of relief and told Ni Er, "Be careful and find out where the Panxiang Temple on Xuanmu Mountain is. I want to go and burn some incense."

Zijuan looked at the dark circles under her eyes and advised distressedly, "Why not wait a few days? You haven't slept much these days.

"After the investigation is completed in a few days, you can gather your strength and go out again."

Daiyu hesitated for a moment and nodded: "No hurry, let's find out first."