Union

Chapter 137 Lack of Money
The next morning, Yunying was still fast asleep when she suddenly heard the faint sound of a door opening and closing in the courtyard.

She didn't pay attention and turned over to go back to sleep. But as she slept, a sudden thought struck her, and Yunying quickly sat up and got dressed.

Hearing the noise, Sui'er and Liu'er, who had already gotten up, quickly came in and asked Yunying, "Miss, you've only slept for an hour, are you getting up already?"

Yunying didn't bother to answer their questions, and only asked the two of them, "Has Second Master already set off?"

"Yes, he just left. Second Master told us that you rested late last night and that we shouldn't wake you up today."

When Yunying heard that the Second Master had left, she stopped moving.

A moment later, she lay back down on the bed, waved to Sui'er and Liu'er, and said, "You two can go out now. I'm going to sleep a little longer."

Yunying slept until lunchtime.

Today her appetite returned, and she ate a small bowl of rice for lunch. For the next few days, Yunying's appetite remained good. Not only her appetite, but her mood also improved; her eyes and brows were always bright and cheerful, making people feel happy just looking at her.

Before we knew it, it was already December.

This year, Yungui County truly had a mild winter. It only got a little cold for a few days when Second Master came back, and then the temperature rose again, to the point where we could wear just a light layer of clothing.

Yunying was quite used to this kind of weather, but she still couldn't get used to the cockroaches and mosquitoes running around everywhere in the county government office.

Yunying was genuinely afraid of cockroaches, which were so big. And then there were the mosquitoes. Even though it was December, she still had to carry mosquito repellent sachets with her, and she would still get bitten by mosquitoes if she wasn't careful. Yunying was quite annoyed.

Because of her carelessness the day before, Yunying had two bite marks on her hand. The bumps were red, swollen, and extremely itchy. She dared not scratch them too hard, fearing they would leave scars.

Yunying frantically applied the ointment, and fortunately, it was effective. After a while, the excruciating itching finally subsided.

Yunying said with lingering fear, "It's already the twelfth lunar month, and the mosquitoes are still so rampant. I really can't stay in Yungui County any longer."

"Actually, it's not so bad," Sui'er said. "It's probably because it's warm inside that there are so many mosquitoes. For example, where I live, in the mountains, the temperature is even lower now. There are mosquitoes, but not as many. By the way, didn't Second Master say before that you could go for a stroll on Wutou Mountain when you have nothing to do? Wutou Mountain is in the mountains, and there will be even fewer mosquitoes there. Would you like to go there?"

Upon hearing this, Yunying's heart stirred.

Counting the time, it's been more than half a month since Second Master left, and she does miss him quite a bit.

But should we go to Wutou Mountain to find Second Master?

Yunying shook her head. "Never mind, Second Master is busy with important matters. I'd better not go and cause trouble."

Sui'er wanted to say that she was afraid of causing trouble for the Second Master, so she would just go for a quick look and leave. If she didn't have enough time, she could stay at her house for the night...

But then Sui'er suddenly remembered how much people back home worshipped and fanatically believed in girls, so she quickly dismissed the unreliable idea.

Don't scare the girl again.

Although Yunying decided not to go to Wutou Mountain, considering that Second Master had been in the mountain for so long, Yunying also began to prepare some clothes, shoes, socks, and some of Second Master's favorite foods, and sent someone to deliver them there that afternoon.

Unexpectedly, no sooner had this item been sent away than the Second Master returned to his residence the following noon.

Yunying had just finished lunch and was lying listlessly on the chaise longue looking at the account books when she heard that the Second Master had returned, but she didn't believe it. But then she heard familiar footsteps getting closer and closer to the room, and Yunying immediately stood up and went outside.

Yunying quickly lifted the curtain, and the Second Master's face suddenly appeared outside. He slightly raised his long, slender hand, making a gesture as if to lift the curtain, but the curtain ultimately fell into Yunying's hands.

Yunying immediately laughed, "Didn't you say you would wait until this batch of gold ore was mined and transported out before coming back? Has the first batch of gold ore already been shipped out?"

As Yunying walked out, the Second Master stepped aside to make room for her, smiling as he looked at her in her casual clothes, her face rosy and joyful.

It's clear that she's been taking good care of herself while he's been away.

The second master felt both satisfied and empty.

The second uncle said, "The first batch of gold ore has been transported out, and I came here with the ore truck."

"So, will you go back afterwards? How many days will you stay at the county government office?"

Second Master: "We won't go back for the time being. Suiyun is keeping an eye on things there, so nothing serious will happen."

"As for the gold mine, do you need to transport it to the prefectural city yourself?"

"No need, Prefect Zhang has already sent someone to pick us up."

Yunying and the Second Master were talking when they arrived at the flower hall.

Second Master had returned by carriage and hadn't had lunch yet. Yunying instructed the maids to prepare a meal while she talked to Second Master about the gold mine.

From Second Master, Yunying learned that he had intercepted a portion of the first batch of gold ore and planned to find someone to refine it himself.

The reason for not sending all the gold mines to the prefectural city was also due to the fact that Prefect Zhang was really short of money—although it had been agreed beforehand that three-tenths of the gold mines would belong to Yun Gui County. But Prefect Zhang was currently being pressured by debt collectors, and if all the gold mines were sent there at once, there was a high chance that this batch of gold would be like throwing meat buns to a dog, never to be returned.

Second Master understood Prefect Zhang's helplessness. After all, as parents, when they have the means, they will always show some favoritism to the child who has had the worst life.

If he were in Prefect Zhang's position, he would have taken over the entire gold mine and then made up for the shortfall in Yungui County later when he had the resources.

But just as Prefect Zhang urgently needed money, so did he.
After listening to the Second Master's arrangement, Yun Ying nodded, "What you said makes sense." If she were the Second Master, she would also have to take some. Her business wasn't small, and she needed money very much.

"Even if we manage to intercept it, can we find a master gold smelter in Yungui County?"

Second Master nodded. "Yes, and we've already found it. Now, all we need to do is prepare for defense. We can't keep the gold mine a secret for long; I'm afraid some people will set their sights on it." Or even worse, they might directly target the batch of gold he's about to refine.

Therefore, although Second Master has returned to Yun Gui County, he cannot rest yet. He must personally oversee the refining of this batch of gold ore and, as quickly as possible, convert the gold into silver and distribute it.

Life at the mine was tough, to the point of being unsustainable. The state government couldn't provide the funds, and now they could only hope to temporarily resell this batch of gold.

Yunying understood what the Second Master meant; he would likely remain busy for some time. As for when he would finally have some free time, it would probably be when Yungui County became prosperous.

Sure enough, the Second Master only had lunch at the mansion before heading off to work again in the afternoon. Not long after he left, a letter arrived from the capital by fast horse.

The letter was for the Second Master, so Yunying naturally wouldn't open it. Fortunately, Yunying knew where the Second Master had gone, so she immediately took a carriage and personally handed the letter to him.

Yunying had assumed that a letter delivered by an envoy with such urgency must be of great importance. She was filled with anxiety, fearing that something unexpected might have happened that would jeopardize the current favorable situation.

Therefore, when the Second Master was reading the letter, Yunying was on tenterhooks, and the handkerchief in her hand was crumpled into a ball.

After finally finishing reading the letter, the Second Master looked at Yun Ying, who was staring at him without blinking, and couldn't help but laugh and say, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious."

Before Yunying could ask further, the Second Master explained, "In a few days, it will be my father's fiftieth birthday. My mother wrote to ask if I would like to go back to celebrate his birthday."

Yun Ying frowned. "So, are you going back?"

"I won't reply." The Second Master folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. "I am an official on assignment outside the capital. I am not allowed to return to the capital without an imperial edict."

"Since Madam has brought it up, there must be a way to get you back to the capital..."

Second Master: "What are we going back for? Just to celebrate Father's birthday? Father has all his children, so losing one of them won't make a difference."

"But..." It's the Duke of Rong's fiftieth birthday; it'll probably be a grand celebration. As the second son of the legitimate wife, is it really alright for him not to go back?
The second master stuffed the letter into Yunying's hand. "There are no 'buts.' Father is in good health, a sign of longevity. I can't celebrate his fiftieth birthday, but I think I can celebrate his sixtieth, seventieth, or eightieth. Father isn't one to be sentimental. I'm on official business outside the capital, and Father won't say anything. I'll write back later to explain this, and I think Father and Mother will understand. Alright, let's not talk about this nonsense. Take the letter back and put it in your study. You should also hurry back to the manor. It's getting dark, and you're not well; be careful not to catch a cold."

As soon as the Second Master finished speaking, he reached out and grabbed Yun Ying's slender waist, then gently lifted her onto the carriage shaft.

This wasn't on the main street, so no one passing by saw what the Second Master was doing. But she had legs; she could get into the carriage by herself. Yunying was slightly annoyed and turned to give him a reproachful look.

Second Master laughed heartily, “Go on, I have important business to attend to. I’m distracted by you here and won’t be able to get anything done properly. Go back quickly, and once there’s progress here, I’ll come back to the manor to keep you company for a couple of days.”

Yunying muttered softly, "Do you need to accompany me for that?"

Second Master scoffed, "What did you say?"

“I said, Second Master’s business is important, Second Master, please go back and get busy. I’m going back to the manor now, I dare not delay Second Master’s time any longer.”

Yunying returned to the manor and continued working on the accounts.

That year, the government's expenditures exceeded its surplus... to be more precise, the government basically had no surplus.

Whenever a sum of money appeared in the accounts, which the Second Master somehow managed to transfer, it would be quickly withdrawn by him within three to five days.

Yunying knew that Second Master was using his own private savings to fill the hole in Yungui County.

It can be said that the thriving state of Yungui County today is entirely due to the Second Master's use of his own private savings.

Unfortunately, Yun Gui County is a money-devouring beast, and even though Second Master has a few businesses, the profits are not enough to fill this hole.

In short, if Second Master doesn't bring back the money, we won't be able to celebrate the New Year.

The more Yunying reviewed the accounts, the more anxious she became.

Short of money!
At this point, she regretted not having unlocked the secret to making big money.

If she could run a business that made a fortune, she could help the Second Master out, right? Unfortunately, she hasn't even bought the blueprints for her loom yet, and she doesn't even have a master craftsman for her gold-embroidered porcelain.

The road ahead is bumpy, but we still need to work harder.

Just as Yunying was pondering whether there were other good ways to make a living, a commotion broke out outside the county government office.

Yunying thought someone had come to file a complaint again—these trivial matters were not uncommon in the county government. Especially after the late rice harvest, when the people had more free time, the number of people coming to the county government to file complaints increased even more.

Some say the neighbor's chickens were theirs, stolen during the hurricane; others say the hurricane flooded their fields, and the neighbor forcibly occupied a plot of their land; still others say their door was salvaged and used as a coffin, buried with the dead...

There's no limit to how outrageous this can get.

Living in the county government office, Yunying witnessed countless such commotions every day. After seeing and seeing so much, she became numb to it all.

I wonder which citizen will come to file a complaint today, and what they will complain about.
While making a nightgown for the Second Master, Yunying thought she should ask Sui'er and the others to inquire about it.

Unexpectedly, before he could even say those words, a maidservant ran in from outside.

"Miss, miss, please go out and see. An adult has come and says he wants to see the Second Master. He keeps trying to force his way in, and the guards can't stop him."

Yunying put down her sewing basket. "Didn't you tell him that Second Master isn't in the manor?"

“We told him, but that official refused to believe us. He said that Second Master must have done something wrong and was afraid to see him, and that Second Master was hiding.”

Upon hearing this, Yunying laughed in exasperation. Hiding away? Who on earth is this? How can they be so confident?

In this territory of Yungui County, why does Second Master need to hide from someone? Who is he hiding from?
Yunying stood up and said, "I'll go out with you and take a look."

With that, Yunying led her maid out the door.

As a result, just as they stepped onto the porch, the front door was suddenly kicked open.

Yunying now lives in the Second Master's courtyard, which is in the front yard. Because female relatives live in the courtyard, the Second Master is worried that someone might offend Yunying, so the courtyard gate is usually closed.

Because Yunying had been living alone in the courtyard most of the time, the Second Master reassigned the guards who had been guarding the courtyard and had Yunying find two burly old women to guard outside.

Now, the old women are standing firmly in front of the broken-open gate, blocking a man who is trying to barge in.

The man was slender and tall, but because he was facing away from Yunying, she couldn't see his face clearly. She could only hear him speaking in a refined, official tone, cursing the Second Master mercilessly.

"It's a shame that Chen Yanzhou, a highly respected and praised official in Yungui County, is actually a shameless scoundrel who only knows how to scheme against people in secret. Chen Yanzhou isn't in the mansion? Ha, don't try to fool me. Where else would he be? Chen Yanzhou, if you're not a coward, come out and confront me. What's the point of having two old women blocking the door? You dare to do it but not admit it. You're a disgrace to the title of a gentleman!"