Standing once again in Chen Dongjia’s jewelry shop, Jin Qianqian wasted no time pointing things out left and right. Soon, she had selected more than ten sets of jewelry. Most of it was suitable for daily wear, but there were also three or four more valuable sets, so she wouldn’t be caught unprepared for important occasions. Of course, there were also some smaller trinkets to be given as gifts.

"Is that all? Would you like to pick a few more?" Seeing Jin Qianqian shake her head, Ancient Wen Heng called over the clerk who was standing to the side. "Tally up the price for these."

"One moment, please," the clerk said excitedly as he went to get the Shopkeeper. After a few flicks of the abacus beads, the Shopkeeper announced, "The total comes to two thousand three hundred sixty-three and a half taels. You can just give us two thousand three hundred and sixty taels."

Ancient Wen Heng felt at his waist, then turned to look at Jin Qianqian in embarrassment. He had handed over all the silver notes to her earlier, so now he had no way to pay the bill.

Jin Qianqian slipped a purse into his hand and said with a smile, "You left this purse with me. If I hadn’t seen it, all my effort this afternoon would have been for nothing."

Just as Ancient Wen Heng was counting the silver notes to pay, he saw Zhou Ping walk in with Mrs. Zhou Liu.

"Wenheng, what a coincidence. You’re out shopping too?" Zhou Ping’s eyes swept back and forth over the brocade boxes on the counter before he asked with a stiff smile.

Ancient Wen Heng handed the silver notes to the Shopkeeper. "Quite a coincidence, indeed. But we’re finished here. Please, Senior Brother, feel free to look around."

Mrs. Zhou Liu shot Jin Qianqian a jealous glare. When she saw Liu Xiaohua and Hong Tianbao walk over to carry the couple’s purchases and follow behind them, her eyes nearly turned red with envy.

Jin Qianqian had already heard from the other families who had traveled with them. For some unknown reason, this Mrs. Zhou Liu was always making veiled digs at her.

Because she and her husband had rented a large, separate courtyard, her interactions with the other families were superficial at best. They would exchange greetings when they met, but never engaged in any deep conversation.

Jin Qianqian gave her a slight nod, acknowledging her presence, and then stood quietly beside Ancient Wen Heng.

Ancient Wen Heng took the change from the Shopkeeper, casually stuffed it into his purse, and said, "Let’s go look at some clothes."

Jin Qianqian replied, "We should. The New Year is almost here, so it’s time to get new clothes for everyone."

Watching the couple chat as they walked out, Mrs. Zhou Liu’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. ’What a spendthrift! Who buys so much at once?’

Zhou Ping shot her a look. "Didn’t you want to buy a silver bracelet? Hurry up and go find one."

’This woman has been nagging me for a silver bracelet for a whole month,’ he thought. ’I painstakingly copied all those books, and now that we’re here, she’s suddenly in no rush.’

Mrs. Zhou Liu asked, "How many Silver Taels do you think they just spent? Look at all those boxes. It couldn’t have been cheap."

"Why do you care so much about their business? They have a wealthy background. In any case, I only brought enough Silver Taels for one silver bracelet. We can’t afford anything else."

Mrs. Zhou Liu was left speechless.

***

After running all over town, Gu Lejia actually managed to find a witness.

Seeing Chen Dagui at his home once again, Ancient Wen Heng politely welcomed him inside.

"I didn’t expect we’d have to trouble you, Chen Dongjia. Thank you for making the trip." Ancient Wen Heng glanced at Gu Lejia, who was trailing behind. "Lejia must have troubled you again. I assume he’s told you everything?"

Chen Changgui nodded. "I spent the entire afternoon arguing with him, but he’s incredibly stubborn. I couldn’t get through to him."

Chen Changgui gave Ancient Wen Heng a sympathetic look. ’With such a troublesome nephew, it’s no wonder Scholar Gu has to resort to this.’

’If it were me in this situation, I’d probably just wash my hands of the whole affair.’

"Tianbao, go and ask Senior Brother Deng to come over," Ancient Wen Heng instructed Hong Tianbao, seeing that Chen Dongjia was the only witness. He needed him to make another trip.

Gu Lejia’s face was flushed with shame. He felt his Seventh Uncle was being unreasonable, broadcasting his personal affairs for all to see.

He had to muster all his courage just to invite Chen Dongjia over, and now another outsider was being brought in to watch the spectacle.

After presenting a document of proof and having Gu Lejia sign an IOU, Ancient Wen Heng finally placed twenty taels of Silver on the table.

"Seventh Uncle, can Xiuxiang and I stay here for a while?" Gu Lejia asked cautiously as he carefully tucked the Silver Taels into his robes.

Ancient Wen Heng sighed inwardly and gave a silent nod. He had already pushed the boy this far; if he pressed any further, he would seem like an uncle who was unforgiving even when in the right.

Gu Lejia breathed a sigh of relief and broke into a grin. "Thank you, Seventh Uncle."

’As long as I have a place to stay,’ he thought, ’with my own hard work, I’ll be able to pay back Seventh Uncle’s debt soon. Then, life will be good for me and Xiuxiang.’

Watching Gu Lejia run out cheerfully, Chen Dagui shook his head. ’That boy will have his regrets in the future.’

Deng Yuanhang also looked at Ancient Wen Heng with sympathy. They were already so far from home, yet he still ran into such vexing problems. Although Deng Yuanhang didn’t understand the full story, from what he had just heard, he could tell that Ancient Wen Heng did not approve of Gu Lejia’s marriage.

Jin Qianqian came over to smooth things over. "The kitchen has prepared food and wine. Come have something to eat and warm yourselves up."

Ancient Wen Heng stood up and invited them, "Perfect timing. I happened to acquire a bottle of fine wine, and today I have company to help me taste it."

Before Chen Dagui could even speak, Deng Yuanhang exclaimed happily, "It’s a rare day you’re this generous! In that case, we can’t leave until we’ve finished all your good wine. We’re not going home until we’re drunk tonight!"

Ancient Wen Heng was speechless.

***

After everyone had left, Ancient Wen Heng immediately put on a placating smile. "My dear wife, I’m sorry. I agreed to let them move in without discussing it with you first." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Jin Qianqian said, "They’ve already moved in."

Ancient Wen Heng was speechless.

"While you all were drinking, your *dear* nephew couldn’t wait to take the girl to the room he stayed in before. They’re still in there now and haven’t come out," Jin Qianqian complained. "Even if the Silver Taels have been handed over, they haven’t had a formal wedding ceremony yet. His thinking is even more ’progressive’ than ours."

Ancient Wen Heng was stunned. "How could that boy do such a thing? Even if those Silver Taels were used to ’buy’ her, she’s meant to be his wife, not a servant! How could he be so..."

Jin Qianqian asked, "So what are you going to do now? Why don’t you go call them out?"

Ancient Wen Heng turned and saw the father and son Hong Da, only to find them both discreetly taking a step back.

Ancient Wen Heng refused to believe that Gu Lejia didn’t understand a principle that even a child would grasp.

"Gu Lejia, get out here right now!" Ancient Wen Heng couldn’t tolerate it any longer and roared toward his room.

Inside the room, Gu Lejia, who was in the middle of comforting the fair maiden, shot to his feet.

Xiuxiang, who was still shedding tears, stared with wide, surprised eyes, growing restless. "What’s happening? Does your Seventh Uncle not like me? Are they going to kick me out?"

Gu Lejia quickly calmed her down, not forgetting to offer reassurance. "Don’t worry. My Seventh Uncle probably just needs me for something. I’ll go out and see. Don’t you worry."