Chapter 321: Chapter 321 Cheap
Qihao Hall.
The Old Madam sat on the Arhat Couch, her face ashen.
Mrs. Wang, afraid she might harm her health by getting too angry, advised, "Old Madam, have a cup of tea to calm your nerves. The Third Master won’t act so recklessly."
Despite her advice, Mrs. Wang didn’t feel confident.
The Third Master was insistent that the concubine must enter through the main gate of the Duke Mansion.
Spending thirteen thousand taels to buy a concubine was not out of the question.
Thirteen thousand taels to buy a concubine...
Mrs. Wang didn’t know what to say; this was something only a prodigal son would do.
The Third Master walked in and said, "Mother, what do you want from me?"
His tone carried a hint of impatience.
The Old Madam was furious.
"Let me ask you, how much did you spend to buy that concubine?" The Old Madam suppressed her anger.
The Third Master didn’t speak.
"I’m asking you a question!" The Old Madam said angrily.
"Thirteen thousand taels," the Third Master said.
Bam!
The Old Madam’s hand slapped on the small table, causing the tea cups on it to tremble.
"Thirteen thousand taels?!"
"You spent thirteen thousand taels to buy a concubine?!" The Old Madam nearly fainted from anger.
The Third Master had anticipated the Old Madam’s reaction when he spent the money.
But in all these years, no girl had ever moved him so much.
To him, the money was worth it.
Besides, he had an even more convincing reason, "A single pill costs several thousand taels, should a living person not be worth this amount?"
The Old Madam fumed, "Have you considered the Duke?!"
"Your elder brother fought on the battlefield, risking his life to save the Duke."
"While you live comfortably in the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, unbothered by his life or death, you still take a concubine?!"
The Old Madam was fuming.
If the Duke were here, he would rather spend thirteen thousand taels to buy him medicine than let him use the same amount to take a concubine.
The household was not for him to manage as he pleased, how could he act so recklessly?!
"How could I give birth to such a useless person!" The Old Madam cursed angrily.
"As soon as your illness is cured, send her away immediately!"
"Mother!" The Third Master disagreed.
"If you still call me mother, then send her away!" The Old Madam said coldly.
The Third Master suppressed the anger rising to his throat.
Turned around and left.
Neither agreeing nor refusing.
When he returned and saw Xue Mei Niang’s enchanting and charming appearance, the Third Master’s heart fluttered.
Despite the daylight, under the guise of healing, he took the beauty to the bed.
The brocade quilt and jade pillow turned the red waves, entwined necks envied the mandarin ducks.
The commotion was so loud that the maids in the courtyard blushed deeply.
Did the Third Master take aphrodisiac?
No!
The veiled woman was an aphrodisiac.
Not to mention men, even they wanted to lift her veil to see her beauty.
The Oiran of Baihua Building was not ordinary.
...
Agarwood Pavilion, back courtyard.
Xingxing was digging a pit, Su Jin sat swinging on the swing.
Looking up at the clear sky with white clouds, her mood couldn’t be better.
Xingxing had dug a pit, "Miss, is this big enough?"
Su Jin glanced a few times, "It’s enough."
She had never seen a maid so eager.
She merely mentioned making beggar’s chicken, and this maid took it to heart, hoping for two days straight for the rain to stop.
Even though the sky cleared, the ground was still wet, yet she couldn’t wait any longer.
She suspected if the sky hadn’t cleared, would she have dug a pit inside the bamboo house?
"I’ll go make beggar’s chicken," Xingxing said excitedly.
Xingxing was about to leave.
When a little maid ran over and said, "Eldest Young Madam, Second Miss is looking for you."
Xie Jinxiu looking for her?
She couldn’t think of anything that could involve her.
Su Jin put her feet on the ground, waited for the swing to stop, then got up and walked out.
Outside the courtyard, Xie Jinxiu and a maid were waiting for her.
Xie Jinxiu was admiring the flowers, the maid said, "Miss, the Eldest Young Madam is here."
Xie Jinxiu turned back, and Su Jin walked over and asked, "What does Second Miss want from me?"
"My father’s illness is cured," Xie Jinxiu said.
"Congratulations," Su Jin replied.
"...."
"I’ve come to return your medicine," Xie Jinxiu said.
"...."
Cured?
Return the medicine?
Su Jin was a bit puzzled.
Staying in the backyard all day, the news seemed particularly closed off.
The little maid at the gate came forward and told Su Jin about how the Third Master had spent thirteen thousand taels to buy a concubine and brought her in through the main gate of the Duke Mansion.
Su Jin furrowed her brow deeply.
Who exactly was this Aunt Xue to be able to illuminate such a large psychological shadow of the Third Master and still have him bring her into the Duke Mansion through the main gate?
It turns out that Aunt Xue was able to enter the Duke Zhen Country Mansion and still had some connection with her.
This Aunt Xue was originally the Oiran, Xue Mei Niang, from Baihua Building, when Prince NanAn and his people confiscated Baihua Building, Qianjiao Pavilion spent nine thousand taels to buy her.
Xue Mei Niang stayed at Qianjiao Pavilion for a few days, and business at the pavilion was unprecedentedly good.
But for some unknown reason, Xue Mei Niang, who only entertained with her talent and not her body, suddenly wanted to lead a decent life.
When Prince NanAn and his people sold off the girls from Baihua Building, there was an additional condition: when any of them wanted to lead a decent life, as long as they offered more than the price they were bought for, they couldn’t be hindered.
Only those who accepted this condition could purchase, and Qianjiao Pavilion agreed.
Now that Xue Mei Niang wanted to change her ways, Qianjiao Pavilion naturally couldn’t stop her, otherwise, it would be troublesome if Prince NanAn and his people were brought in.
Once the word was out, many wanted to buy her, with the starting price at ten thousand taels.
Of course, it wasn’t just about the highest price.
They also had to meet Xue Mei Niang’s conditions before she’d leave with them.
However, those with higher bids were given the chance to see Xue Mei Niang first.
Among those competing for Xue Mei Niang, the highest offer reached twenty-five thousand taels.
The madam of Qianjiao Pavilion had a wide grin.
However, Xue Mei Niang posed questions that kept everyone outside her door from entering.
Finally, the Third Master won her over.
Xie Jinxiu took a brocade box from the maid’s hands and handed it to Su Jin.
Su Jin accepted the brocade box and said to Xingxing, "Give five thousand taels to Second Miss."
"It’s six thousand taels," Xie Jinxiu reminded her.
Su Jin smiled, "Out of respect for my husband, I’m allowing Second Miss to return the medicine. I’m deducting a thousand taels as compensation. If Second Miss is not satisfied, you can take the pills back."
Xie Jinxiu clenched her fists, "It was agreed with elder brother that if the pills were effective, the money would be sent."
"The first pill didn’t work, so money shouldn’t be charged."
"The money was given by our elder Aunt, please remember to return two thousand taels to her."
How clever.
Knowing she couldn’t take advantage of her, she mentioned Princess Nanzhang.
"Is Second Miss trying to settle accounts with me?" Su Jin asked.
"It was Eldest Young Madam who was ungracious first!" Xie Jinxiu replied.
"I showed grace, but you didn’t appreciate it. So let’s proceed according to market rules, to avoid claims that I took advantage of you," Su Jin said.
Su Jin asked the old maid, "What are the market rules for returns?"
One doesn’t typically give refunds, the maid muttered inwardly, then said, "Items unopened and resalable can be returned, but thirty percent must be deducted as compensation."
"Hmm."
"Deduct thirty percent," Su Jin said.
"Thirty percent of eight thousand taels is two thousand four hundred taels."
"Six thousand taels minus two thousand four..."
"It’s three thousand six hundred taels," Xingxing said cheerfully.
"Very accurate calculation," Su Jin praised.
"Go bring the silver note."
Xingxing dashed into the inner room and came back with a three thousand six hundred taels silver note for Xie Jinxiu.
Xie Jinxiu’s expression couldn’t be worse.
Already complaining that five thousand taels were too little, not to mention three thousand six hundred.
"Give me those two thousand taels to take to my elder Aunt," Xie Jinxiu stretched out her hand.
Su Jin looked at her, "For such a small matter, it’s needless for you to trouble yourself."
"I think you just want to get away without paying!" Xie Jinxiu said.
Su Jin chuckled lightly.
"Rest assured, I won’t evade it. Whenever Mother returns just one of the pills that Uncle consumed to me, I’ll present the two thousand taels with both hands," Su Jin said.
"You!" Xie Jinxiu was furious enough to want to bite Su Jin.
She pointed a finger at Su Jin.
Su Jin coldly brushed her hand aside, "If medicine consumed doesn’t work and should get refunded, would there still be pharmacies in the Capital City?"
"Second Miss, aren’t you supposed to be a noble lady enlightened in such shameless words? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock if it gets around?"
"Have a safe journey, I won’t see you off."