Chapter 153

Du Shanü rarely lacks confidence.

But since the food at the Xian Xie has grown increasingly bland, talk of money has become increasingly frequent....

Whenever she thinks of this, she can't help but feel somewhat anxious.

Chinu saw her furrowed brows, not knowing what she was thinking again, and let out another hum:

"You set the wedding date with Yu Baobao too hastily; all the red silk from the two cities untouched by disaster was requisitioned for preparations, and the wedding feast and miscellaneous expenses are another cost......

All told, it's another sizable expense.

She originally built her wealth on grain, but after the floods destroyed the cities, the people of surrounding cities could barely protect themselves, so naturally few were willing to spend money.

Nowadays, aside from the silver stored in the treasury, most of the money comes from 'commercial loans'.

The so-called commercial loan is actually the government borrowing merchant funds; the government nominally purchases grain and supplies at fair prices, but in fact takes the goods first and pays later, which is tantamount to borrowing on credit from merchants and wealthy households.

Earlier, when purchasing grain, they already owed a large sum; now the wedding has added another debt.

This money could of course be left unpaid, and merchants can't do anything to the government.

Even putting it bluntly, since this happens often, merchants have given it a separate name: donation-loan / donation-transfer.

But for Du Shanü, repaying debts is always a matter of course.

The people cannot stand without trust.

She owes money everywhere, and what she borrows on credit is her own reputation.

If she lacks reputation, then even if she someday gains the world, no one will revere her.

Therefore, this money must certainly be repaid.

But how to repay it is another matter that needs careful consideration......

Chinu tallied up all the expenses, then said:

"Ouyang Yan wrote a few days ago begging for funds, saying your newly established 'weapon factory' has run out of iron, and Cang Cheng's treasury is empty, still owing merchants three thousand taels of silver."

"But where would we get money to give him? Dun Cheng took in more refugees earlier; after careful calculation, we probably owe even more than he does......

Chen Weifang had been listening all along; hearing this, he suddenly interjected:

"Six thousand taels."

"During the flood, many livestock suffered disaster; earlier, following the Wise Lord's order, we uniformly confiscated and slaughtered them for burial, but the people cannot be left without livestock to use.

"I recently ordered a batch of piglets from Ruinan, to be returned to the people later. The messengers and scouts at the relay stations still lack horses for their rounds; now we can't buy good horses, so we can only purchase a batch of inferior ones, which also entails considerable expense......

Du Shanü felt the pain in her flesh, her eyes even staring blankly more than before.

Chinu looked at her appearance, and his voice involuntarily lowered a bit:

"After all calculations, the wedding money is the easiest to save; it shouldn't be squandered in the first place......

"But for him, you've always been willing to spend.

Saying this, sourness and jealousy coexist.

It makes one want to not hear it, yet it's hard to avoid.

Du Shanü had still been calculating with a twisted expression; hearing this, her facial expression gradually eased.

After a long while, she turned her head and kissed Chinu:

"Money, after all, is earned, not saved......

"Rest assured, I will not fall short of you in the future.

Chinu didn't know if he had taken it in, but he just clung to her again and demanded a kiss.

Their love has always been accompanied by an inexpressible desire.

Chen Weifang, while covering his eyes and reviewing documents, really couldn't restrain the urge to curse someone:

"I beg you two—you two aren't acting like people; at least treat me like a person?

Nobody paid him any attention at all.

They shared another kiss and then parted; Du Shanü rose:

"I'll go to the Zhoufu.

"First to scout business opportunities, second...... to wait for that Imperial Envoy who came to investigate the burned city.

Chen Weifang naturally had no objection; Du Shanü took two steps, then realized Chinu hadn't followed, and involuntarily stepped back.

Chinu didn't know what he was thinking again; his wrist lightly rested on the other cuff, his robe hanging down, in the long chair, his figure becoming increasingly gaunt and cold.

Du Shanü couldn't help but:

"Come on, when will I ever be able to leave you?

"Although she said 'I'm going to the Zhoufu,' where does she go without bringing Chinu?

"What's the difference between that and going out without wearing underpants?

"Moreover, Chinu is far more important than underpants!

Du Shanü's expression turned serious; Chinu was called back to his senses, looking at her piercing gaze, hearing those words 'cannot leave,' and recalling last night's vows whispered in his ear.

Even now, newlywed and blissful, she actually brings him along......

After all, after all, he still relaxed.

Chinu's fingertip traced the outline of the hard object in his sleeve, then replied:

"...... Good.

The two walked side by side, sticky and clingy.

Chen Weifang helplessly shook his head and smiled; just as he was about to pick up his pen to continue official work, his gaze swept over the chair Chinu had just sat in, and his smile faded——

On the rosewood armchair lay a familiar small wooden box.

Dun Cheng's location is excellent; it's not too far from anywhere.

In less than half a day, the two were again on horseback and arrived at the Zhoufu.

Upon entering the city, Du Shanü's eyes were opened again —

Zhoufu had an imposing air; the city gate stood wide open, enough to let three carriages pass side by side.

The city guards were sturdier and more capable than those of ordinary towns, stopping anyone they saw for a thorough interrogation and identity check.

After much effort, the two finally led their horse over the threshold-like city gate; the stone pavement beneath their feet suddenly opened up, worn bright by countless shoes and wheels.

Du Shanü, like a poor boy entering the city, looked east and west, and eventually found herself drifting up to the buildings lining the street.

Zhoufu's streets were nothing like Dun Cheng's.

Dun Cheng's main street could be seen to its end at a glance, with only simple cloth banners on either side.

Here, however, layered multicolored banners protruded from the second floor, bearing signs for teahouses, taverns, silk shops, and medicine stores, fluttering in the wind with a brisk snap.

At the tavern entrance stood a waiter wearing a red flower, shouting to lure customers inside.

The pastry shop placed its steamers directly under the eaves, and white puffs of steam rose in clouds, carrying the sweet scent of date paste mixed with osmanthus.

The street was crowded, yet it lacked the hurried, livelihood‑driven bustle of a small town's folk.

There were silk‑clad young gentlemen strolling with folding fans, followed by servants carrying birdcages.

There were women walking together, silver hairpins dangling from their buns, swaying with each step; they held embroidered handkerchiefs to their mouths as they laughed.

Faced with this scene, Du Shanü felt moved to utter that saying once more —

Big cities really are different!

Saying she felt moved, she felt moved.

She repeated it several times, but Chinu today seemed perpetually lost in thought and did not respond.

Du Shanü thought he was tired and gave it no further thought.

In the lingering glow of the setting sun, the two led their horse slowly through the gaps between people and carriages; the horse's hooves tapped the stone, producing a soft clatter that blended into the din, indistinct.

After a while ahead, the street gradually grew quieter, with inns and meeting halls lining both sides.

Du Shanü picked a plain‑faced inn and stopped; immediately a shop attendant came out, smiling broadly, took the reins, and said the horse would be led to the rear stall to be fed top‑grade fodder.

Du Shanü was no stranger to the world; moreover, this time she had obviously come to stay several days and had brought plenty of silver, so she brushed the dust from her clothes, stepped into the hall, and spoke bluntly:

"One upper‑class room."

Behind the counter stood a clerk in a gray‑cloth long robe, idly moving the abacus beads; hearing this, he smiled, glanced at the pair, and greeted them with clasped hands.

"Gentlemen, do you have a marriage certificate?"

Chinu had been staring down, lost in thought, but at those words he snapped his head up.

Seeing Du Shanü not respond, the clerk smiled again and said:

"Here's the rule: men and women may share a room only after presenting a marriage certificate. Without one, we dare not let you stay. You either take two rooms, or find another place."

?? Chinu: "I feel like everything is slapping me in the face!"

? Explanation time——

? Official purchase system: the government's grain procurement.

? Actually, in ancient times not getting married was truly extremely inconvenient...... Babies, happy May Day holiday! Recently double monthly votes, please cast your ballots, thank you thank you thank you (? w?)?!!!!