The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 258: A Funeral Where No One Grieves (Part )

May 27th, cloudy.

Today is the third day since Jia Jing and Jia Zhen died.

Only relatives and friends were invited, no roadside memorial services were held, and the body was kept for seven days. Everything was kept simple and concluded hastily.

This was the funeral policy that Jia She decided upon despite all objections.

He had regarded Zhang Yun逸's money as his own. Knowing the situation in the Ning Mansion, he estimated that the funeral would probably have to be subsidized by Zhang Yun逸, so he reduced the expenses on the grounds that the death was dishonorable.

Zhang Yunyi naturally had no objection to someone being willing to take the blame, but after much persuasion he had no choice but to agree.

Jia Rong, a filial son and virtuous grandson, knelt in the mourning hall, dressed in mourning.

He had long lost the fear he had the night before, and the joy on his face was hard to conceal. He only pretended to sob twice when the guests came to pay their respects.

As for Youshi, who was standing beside him, although her face showed fatigue, her complexion appeared unusually rosy. Every word that came out of her mouth was sad and her voice seemed a little hoarse, but there was no trace of sadness in her tone.

However, the guests who came to pay their respects had other intentions, and her inarticulate sobs, amid the noisy funeral music and chanting, did not sound unusual.

Unlike the last time Jia Jing celebrated his birthday, this time the place was packed with guests, and the mourning hall was filled with gifts of all sizes, wreaths, and paper crafts.

Not only did all the invited relatives and friends come in person, but some people who had not yet reported the death but were related to the family also came upon hearing the news.

The dead are greater?
Do not!
Jia Rong, kneeling in the mourning hall, knew very well that the reason these people came was simply to take the opportunity to establish a relationship with Uncle Yi.

Not only was he aware of this, but Jia Lian, who was helping to serve guests in the front yard, also felt it deeply.

"Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Works..."

"Shuntian Prefecture Governor..."

"Brother Lian!"

"Brother Yucun! Please!"

"Why don't I see Brother Yi?"

"Oh! He is discussing funeral arrangements with my wife in the back! I will go to Brother Yi after they are done!"

……

In the rockery of Huifang Garden.

After finishing the job, Zhang Yun逸 and Wang Xifeng entangled each other like pancakes until they almost suffocated each other.

Zhang Yunyi then said with a double meaning, "Is Second Sister-in-law Lian satisfied this time?"

"Pah!" Wang Xifeng spat, panting, "You are a man of your word!"

"Hehehe! Not only does he keep his word, he also acts with swiftness and force, like a thunderbolt!"

"Again……"

"I always take care of my sister-in-law, and this time she should satisfy me!"

As the laughter and scolding sounded, the voice gradually turned into a gentle whine.

No one knew how long it was, until Wang Xifeng could no longer muster any strength, and the cave finally became quiet.

Wang Xifeng panted and said, "No... Didn't they say that we have to wait until the end of June for the results of the sacrificial field? How come it's earlier than expected?"

"Although the fields have not been harvested yet, with the Spring Ploughing Ceremony, everyone has to keep an eye on the harvest. Now, it is obvious that there is a good harvest, and there are several imperial farms to prove it. Those who are well-informed should hurry up and get started, right?"

Zhang Cheng can estimate the harvest, and there is no shortage of such people in the homes of the officials in the court.

Seeing the value of bird droppings, people naturally worry that they may get it in a hurry.

Zhang Yun逸 made preparations in advance and had sufficient supply. In less than a month, he earned tens of thousands of taels of silver.

No wonder Wang Xifeng was so excited that she could hardly control herself.

She had originally just wanted to get more out of it, and in order to take revenge on Jia Lian, now that she had gained tangible benefits, she became even more content and surprisingly submissive, allowing Zhang Yunyi to manipulate her as he pleased.

With the boxing skills taught by Zhen Shiyin and his conditioning prescriptions, Zhang Yunyi became more and more vigorous.

After all, Wang Xifeng's foundation was not strong enough. Even though she took two approaches at the same time and passively endured it, Zhang Yunyi still felt a little unsatisfied, but she was already exhausted.

"My eldest sister-in-law still has to stay at the funeral hall. I've already told Lian Er that I want you to come and help me these few days. My sister-in-law doesn't have to go back these days!"

"Pah!" Wang Xifeng spat, "I'm not an object, there's no point in asking for it!"

"Why? You don't want to live in..."

"Where are you staying?" "In the Linshui Pavilion over here. It's all ready. I wanted to take my sister-in-law over there to try out the new place."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Isn't it because my sister-in-law is too impatient?"

Zhang Yunyi pinched Wang Xifeng's chin, wiped the corner of her lips, and said with a smile: "I wanted to ask my sister-in-law to check it out later, but my sister-in-law couldn't wait a moment and came here first. I just arrived at the cave entrance and you pulled me in. How could I have the chance to speak?"

Zhang Yun逸 was indeed not lying. Although there was some wildness in the cave, it was not clear, so it lost some fun.

However, Wang Xifeng was a man of action, and before he could even open his mouth and tell her the arrangements, she had already been caught in a critical position. How could he even wait to make room for her?
More than two months have passed since the last message was sent, so it is understandable that Wang Xifeng is so anxious.

"You asked me to live in the back garden so openly, aren't you afraid that Lian Er will get suspicious?"

Zhang Yunyi smiled. In order to cooperate, and even to shut up Jia Mu and others, Jia Lian also stayed in Ning Mansion, but the couple had a back garden and a front yard respectively.

Zhang Yun逸 was not stingy with his money towards this man who knew the times. Seeing that he was coveting the concubines in Jia Zhen's room, he reciprocated the favor and let him and Jia Rong divide Jia Zhen's inheritance.

There was no need for him to hide such a thing, but at the end he pretended to be polite and said, "Don't mention that I gave him benefits. Even if I didn't, would he still dare to make trouble?"

"No matter how you look at it, he is right in this matter!" Even though Wang Xifeng did not support Jia Lian, she could not help asking. However, she was afraid of making Zhang Yunyi unhappy, so she asked with a smile, "Can you still forcibly seize a commoner girl?"

"Sister-in-law, you don't know yet? Your uncle Wang Ziteng has been promoted to the inspector of nine provinces!"

"Ah? How soon will it be?" Wang Xifeng exclaimed.

"It was decided just a few days ago, and the imperial edict is still on the way."

Zhang Yunyi said calmly, "I said at the beginning that if this business is successful, your Wang family will also benefit. Isn't it here now?"

At this point, he changed the subject and said, "However, there are gains and losses. Although this business is big, it is not something we can take over. The emperor talked to me a while ago. From now on, this business will be taken over by the inner court, and we will take 20%."

"What?" Wang Xifeng couldn't help but cry out, "Even the emperor can't rob openly?"

"All land under heaven belongs to the king. Although this guano has no owner, the island to the south belongs to the imperial court. Even if they don't stop us, can't others go and dig it up?"

Wang Xifeng also understood it immediately and asked excitedly, "You mean, from now on, only we can do this business?"

Having lived two lives, Zhang Yun逸 naturally knows the profits of monopoly.

Even if he and the Wang family can stabilize this business, they will inevitably face price wars in the future.

However, this was not the main factor he considered.

For the Wang family, as long as the business is opened up, they can completely do it on their own without him.

Even Wang Xifeng, the married woman, can be left out.

After all, unlike the caustic soda business, where he controlled the shipping channels, he had no control over the sales of guano.

As for the processing steps, such a large quantity requires a lot of space and personnel, so it is impossible to keep it secret forever.

Therefore, instead of letting others take advantage of you, it is better to stop while you are ahead, find a sufficient backer, and reap as much benefits as possible.

Unlike what he told Wang Xifeng, it was not Emperor Zhengqing who looked for him, but he took the initiative to present the petition to the emperor.

On the one hand, money is attractive, and being rich enough to rival a country will inevitably arouse envy.

On the other hand, both the research and development of steam engines and the construction of ironclad ships in the future would require huge amounts of money.

Although glass can bring in considerable revenue, demand will eventually reach saturation.

He knew very well what the so-called merits and virtues meant. If he wanted to keep the emperor's favor, he could not let the emperor pay, but make money for the emperor.

The profits brought by this business are enough to make up for the expenses in this area, and it can also win the emperor's trust, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

To put it bluntly, he is in partnership with the Wang family, even if they would not kick him out.

But the benefits are still divided equally between the two families, but by proposing this to the emperor, not only can he secure long-term benefits, but he will also get the lion's share of the credit for the contribution.

Although Wang Ziteng's appointment was on the way, his appointment had not yet come down.

But that also means that he is the main beneficiary and needs to be the finale, while Wang Ziteng is just a vanguard.

In fact, the contribution was so great that the emperor had to worry about the reward.

Therefore, after Jia Zhen died, he was not worried at all whether he could still live in the Ningguo Mansion built by imperial decree.

I'm afraid the emperor should thank them for dying on time.

……

(End of this chapter)