boyutpedia Chapter 358 Every House Must Be Pawned
Chapter 358 Every House Must Be Pawned
The other people in the Marquis' Mansion were all dumbfounded, thinking they had heard it wrong. Xiao Kang even jumped up, snatched the list without paying any attention to etiquette, and started to read it herself.
The first part of the list was all kinds of jewelry and accessories, scattered across the shop, with a wide variety and a large number. There were also a few items at the back that were rewards from the palace.
The more she looked, the more dizzy she felt. She murmured in disbelief, "Why are there so many?"
Nanny Xu took the list back and handed it to old Mrs. Kang.
The first thing Old Kang saw was the box of jewelry that she had asked Madam Xu to pawn. She immediately felt dizzy and seemed to faint.
"Madam, you have to hold on!" Madam Xu hurriedly supported old Madam Kang and asked the little maid to bring up the calming tea.
Old Kang pointed at the items on the list, his fingers trembling, "These... these..."
Of course, Madam Xu knew what Mrs. Kang meant, but these things were also part of the dowry, and there were quite a few things in the dressing box. When it was pawned, it was pawned for 50,000 taels. Naturally, the amount of money used to supply the palace now could not be calculated based on 50,000 taels, but she didn't calculate more, only 60,000 taels.
"Madam, please have a drink of tea to calm your mind." Aunt Xu served her a cup of calming tea.
Seeing that Old Mrs. Kang looked like she was about to faint, Su Qingwan smiled even more.
When pawning her grandmother's jewelry, Mrs. Kang probably never thought that one day someone from the palace would come to ask for the dowry, so she pawned it with all her heart.
Now those jewelries have been sent back to the palace, and now old Kang has to find a way to make up the money for these jewelries. I imagine old Kang must be heartbroken now!
Liu didn't look at the list, but she had guessed something from the expressions of the two Kangs. What's more important was that the total amount mentioned by Madam Xu was actually 200,000 taels. She couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Madam Xu, did you remember the wrong amount? How can there be so many things to replenish?"
Madam Xu had no words to complain about; she had to find ways to lower the estimate in order to arrive at the figure of 200,000 taels.
If we ask someone from the palace to come and do the calculation, the number would probably be twice as much.
"Madam, how dare I sort this out randomly? These things can be found. For example, the fine Duan inkstone that the young master broke twelve years ago is worth three thousand taels."
Nanny Xu's words instantly reminded Liu of the past. She still remembered that things were very embarrassing at that time, and the old lady even asked her to pay money as compensation.
"What is it that I remember the eldest wife paid for!" Liu didn't say the second half of the sentence, but the meaning was very clear, their eldest wife would not pay for the three thousand taels.
Su Qingwan laughed in her heart when she heard this. Liu didn't get punished, but she still wanted to put the eldest wife on a pedestal!
"Aunt, this time it's the royal palace that's asking for the dowry. I don't think my uncle and aunt will listen to your detailed explanation of the matters." Su Qingwan said.
"Now there are two hundred thousand here, and I think there are also gold and silver items from the dowry, Madam Xu, how much of that is there?"
When Aunt Xu heard Su Qingwan ask this, she felt her throat tighten. If those things were added, there would be even more.
"Miss Fourth, the dowry is 150,000 taels of gold and silver, which adds up to a total of 350,000 taels." Nanny Xu frowned.
"So much?" Su Qingwan asked in surprise, but she knew very well in her heart that if she really calculated it, it would be around 350,000 taels.
Nanny Xu nodded and glanced cautiously at Old Madam Kang and the old marquis, only to find that they both looked dazed, as if they were completely dumbfounded.
Xiaokang's legs and feet simply went limp and he fell down.
Liu's expression became even uglier. If she had known this day would come, she should have asked the eldest master to divide the Marquis' Mansion so that she would not be implicated.
If Su Qingwan knew about this idea, she would definitely laugh at Liu.
The first branch of the family did not split up because they wanted to obtain the position of the crown prince. After Su Zhiyi became the marquis, everything in the marquis's mansion would naturally belong to their first branch of the family.
But they didn't think about it. Even if they inherited the Marquis' Mansion, they should still return what they owed.
"Grandfather, Grandma Kang, the amount of silver and money is too much. It seems that we can only pawn the things in each room of the Marquis' Mansion." Su Qingwan suggested.
Upon hearing this, Liu suddenly said, "No! We don't have much in the first house, so we can't pawn it."
The old marquis looked at Liu coldly. He knew of course that the amount of money was huge. Taking out such a large sum of money would definitely dig up the foundation of the marquis's mansion.
But unexpectedly, before he expressed his opinion, Liu jumped out to oppose it. This was enough to show that Liu, the daughter-in-law, did not take his life seriously at all. It was really hateful!
"I am not dead yet! I have the final say on matters concerning the Marquis' Mansion. Liu, you'd better shut up."
When Liu was stared at by the old marquis just now, she knew that she had said the wrong thing. Now when she heard what the old marquis said, she immediately realized that the old marquis hated her.
But she was not wrong to say that. Their eldest wife had only used up a small amount of Li's dowry. Why should they be asked to pawn their things?
"Please calm down, Grandfather. Mother didn't say that the things in the first house cannot be pawned, but the amount of money to be given to the palace is too much. I'm afraid that even if we pawn the things, it won't be enough. It would be better to ask Fourth Sister to ask the old prince for help. After all, Fourth Sister has a special status and can always help."
Su Yunrou stood up and spoke softly, finally turning her gaze to Su Qingwan.
The other people in the mansion naturally looked over, and Xiao Kang immediately said, "Qing Wan, you have to think of a way! We have to pay 350,000 taels, which is not enough even if we sell the mansion!"
"This..." Su Qingwan hesitated to speak, and after sighing, she said, "Of course I can go to my uncle and aunt to ask for mercy, but our mansion must also show sincerity. At least raise 300,000 silver first, so that I can ask them for it!"
She threw the matter up again with little effort and paid most of the silver as compensation, which was only 300,000 taels. This amount of money would make the Marquis' Mansion bleed.
According to Su Qingwan's estimation, Liu's private treasury had little silver left, and old Kang didn't have much either. The second wife was even poorer. Old Kang, the first wife, and the second wife had pawned all the ornaments, decorations, and jewelry in the old marquis's mansion, including Su Yunrou's dowry. In addition to the farm and the deeds to several newly purchased shops, they should be able to collect a total of 300,000 taels.
Upon hearing this, the old marquis felt that what Su Qingwan said made sense. If the Marquis' Mansion did not show any sincerity, the old prince would probably come to find him. Would he still be able to survive then?
"Then each family should gather together some money and take out all the cash. If it's not enough, you can pawn your belongings," said the old marquis.
The people in the first and second wives all looked very upset, especially Xiaokang, who burst into tears on the spot. How could the second wife have any cash left? All their previous money had been defrauded away, and now they were extremely poor.
Liu knew that the money in the eldest house could not be kept, but there was nothing she could do. She could only cooperate with the old marquis's decision and take out the money.
After pawning the silver and belongings of the first and second wives, they barely managed to scrape together 100,000 taels, but this money was still not enough.
The old marquis looked at the people in the third house, wanting them to pay as well.