Chapter 59: Matters of Home, Matters of State
Zhang Fei alerted Chen Maoqian because he was worried about drawing the court’s intervention, causing unnecessary trouble. It really wasn’t about fearing skyrocketing property prices affecting the stability of the country. In the situation of the Northern Song Dynasty, even if property prices were really driven up, it wouldn’t bother the common people.
Because the common people simply couldn’t afford it.
Those who boasted about having six sources of income, please cherish what you have and can afford.
As expected, no deals were made today.
Zero income.
Even spent some money on refreshments.
The reason was simple. This place was for borrowing money, not buying houses.
But it didn’t matter; the visible traffic and the special status of these clients were enough to convince Fan Yong and others to join.
In the evening.
The bustling Ma Family Pawnshop finally quieted down for the day. “Brother Ma!”
Ma Tianhao had just seen off the last batch of esteemed guests when he heard someone calling. He couldn’t help but look up, only to see a middle-aged man of medium build, with a face resembling a shoe horn, walking briskly towards him.
He couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
The middle-aged man approached Ma Tianhao, repeatedly bowing and saying, “Brother Ma, congratulations, congratulations.”
Ma Tianhao quickly returned the gesture, saying, “Thank you! Thank you!”
The middle-aged man continued, “I must apologize, Brother Ma. You must have been so busy, perhaps you forgot to send an invitation to me. I’ve been extremely busy these days and didn’t notice until one of my shop assistants mentioned it. That’s why I’m late, and I hope you can forgive me.”
“No need for apologies; it was my oversight.”
Ma Tianhao turned to the side, “Please come inside, Mogul.”
“Thank you.”
This middle-aged man was none other than one of the eight notaries, Fan Li.
Upon entering the hall and having the servants prepare some refreshments, Ma Tianhao dismissed the attendants and said to Fan Li, “Brother Fan, it so happens that I have something to discuss with you.”
Fan Li hesitated for a moment, sensing trouble!
The Fan family had always been helping the Ma family with contracts and dispute resolutions, and their relationship had always been good. However, this time, even though the Ma family was making such a big move, they didn’t send him an invitation. Fan Li waited for a day, and after seeing that no invitation was forthcoming, finally couldn’t hold back, and he rushed over in person.
Originally, the Ma family was a major client, and now with all this business, one can imagine the substantial profits involved. Losing such a major client was not an option!
“I wonder what advise Brother Ma has for me?”
“It is not my place to give advice.”
Ma Tianhao coughed, “The situation is like this: our future cooperation may decrease somewhat.”
Fan Li immediately said, “Is it because of Zhang San? Given his current situation, you should be well aware that the government won’t side with him.”
“No, it’s not related to him.”
Ma Tianhao shook his head repeatedly, thinking, as if I can afford to hire him.
He only dared to ask Zhang Fei to draft key contracts; for trivial matters, he wouldn’t dare to employ Zhang Fei, as it would be a waste of money.
Fan Li asked again, “Then why?”
Ma Tianhao said, “Mainly because I’ve recently collaborated with the White Crystal Inn. I might hand over some matters to the Li notary business side. You know, the White Crystal Inn has always hired the Li family.”
Fan Li felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar, but he still maintained the demeanor befitting a notary, squeezed out a smile, expressed understanding, and then took his leave.
Watching the disoriented Fan Li, Ma Tianhao also felt uneasy. He sighed to himself, “Don’t blame me. After all, Zhang Yide died at the hands of someone surnamed Fan.”
Zhang Fei left almost at dusk. Although he didn’t entertain those officials, he was concerned that the Ma family might have trouble explaining and that misunderstandings might arise, so he kept an eye on things.
When he returned to the Xu mansion, Xu Zun had already finished his official duties and was chatting casually with Xu Zhiqian.
“It seems like business is booming over there!”
“Has Benefactor heard about it too?” Zhang Fei asked.
Xu Zun chuckled, “Do I need to hear about it? Today, half of the Imperial City was missing.”
Zhang Fei laughed, “Benefactor is joking, but indeed, many officials went there to inquire.”
Xu Zun said, “I never thought so many people would want to buy houses.”
Zhang Fei asked, “Does Benefactor have any thoughts?”
“You want me to buy a house?” Xu Zun was stunned, as if he had never thought about such a thing.
Zhang Fei nodded, “A gentleman may love wealth, but acquires it with integrity. With your salary, buying this house won’t be a significant burden. Besides, property prices in Bianjing are sure to rise. If you don’t buy now, when your son wants to buy a house, he might truly not be able to afford it.”
The son he mentioned referred to Xu Zhiqian’s older brother.
Xu Zun sighed and shook his head repeatedly, “Alas, I can’t afford to buy!”
Zhang Fei was puzzled, “With your salary, you should be able to afford it!”
Xu Zun smiled wryly, “I spend quite a bit too!”
“Ah?”
Zhang Fei looked at Xu Zun in astonishment. With your plain meals and plain clothes, how much could you possibly spend? You’ve been saving for so long; even buying a house outright shouldn’t be a problem!
Xu Zun sighed in silence.
Xu Zhiqian said, “My father often spends his own money to help people in need. I’ve also spent quite a bit. There’s not much extra money at home.”
As she spoke, her cheeks blushed, her voice like a whisper.
Both father and daughter didn’t have expensive hobbies; their food and clothing were relatively ordinary. The money went to helping people like Li Si. After all, Xu Zun had also used his own money to support Zhang Fei.
Now, mentioning Xu Zun’s son, both father and daughter felt ashamed.
They really didn’t leave much money for Elder Brother.
Zhang Fei also realized this and, having experienced it himself, understood that this father and daughter were indeed charitable. Seeing Xu Zhiqian’s embarrassed silence, he thought, “It’s alright! Lady Xu will be able to save up money soon.”
Xu Zhiqian was surprised, “I have not split up the money from the previous contract. Now I’ve also negotiated a few transactions that will earn a few hundred strings. Barring unexpected circumstances, you will be able to get a few hundred strings.”
Having closed so many deals, he did not want to lose this valued assistant.
“So much?” Xu Zun exclaimed.
Zhang Fei grinned, “Not bad, but it’s not a lot.”
Xu Zhiqian didn’t mind; she was already used to it. She thought, “Yes, I need to work hard to make up for the money for my brother.”
On the other side, Madam Wang returned home feeling anxious. She knew her cousin’s personality too well. So, that evening, she personally went to the kitchen and prepared three exquisite dishes.
However, for Wang Anshi, no delicacy could compare to the fragrance of books.
In books, there are treasures; in books, there are beauties.
He paid no attention, as usual, and continued to read while eating.
Madam Wang felt a bit disappointed but was used to it. She whispered, “Cousin, today I visited the Ma Family Pawnshop.”
“Hmm.”
“I inquired about the mortgage interest, and it’s reasonable. We don’t need to pay much each month.”
“Hmm. Good.”
“Do you remember the small house I liked before?”
“I remember! I remember!”
“I think, in the future, when we retire and go back to our hometown, the children might still need to stay in the capital. If we have a house, they won’t be without a place to stay, and we can enjoy our retirement peacefully.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“I was thinking, why don’t we buy that house? I’ve calculated; the money we have saved is enough for the down payment.”
“Hmm, hmm, hmm.”
Clang!
Suddenly, Madam Wang banged her chopsticks on the bowl, making a loud noise.
Wang Anshi lifted his head abruptly, with a mouthful of food. He looked at his wife in surprise, swallowed the food carefully, and asked cautiously, “Cousin, what’s the matter?”
He and his wife were cousins, and they had been calling each other cousin for decades.
Madam Wang adjusted her dress, expressionless, and said, “Nothing, I just suddenly remembered I forgot to add salt.”
Wang Anshi glanced at the nearly empty plates on the table and didn’t know what they had eaten. He smiled and said, “It seemed quite delicious to me! Not bad at all!”
Madam Wang found joy in her husband’s dazed expression but held back her laughter. She gave her husband a stern look and scolded, “You’re not savoring the taste of the food; you’re just enjoying the sight of what you’re reading!”
Wang Anshi awkwardly smiled. Seeing that his wife’s expression was not good, he quickly put down his book with his left hand and chopsticks with his right hand, saying, “You just mentioned something about a house.”
As he spoke, he suddenly froze, “Could it be that you also want to borrow money to buy a house?”
Madam Wang nodded slightly, feeling guilty, “If we don’t borrow money, we can’t afford it!”
Wang Anshi waved his hand, “Why buy a house? We’re not very wealthy, and besides, our current residence is quite good.”
However, Madam Wang said, “You only think about yourself and don’t consider our family. It’s good for you, but what about our children? We can’t keep letting them rent houses. I think Zhang San made a good point. Property prices in Bianjing have been rising. Buying a house won’t be a loss, and if needed, we can sell it later. We couldn’t afford it before, but now we can. Why not buy it? It’s for the sake of our children that we’ve been frugal anyway.”
Wang Anshi was surprised, “How are we frugal?”
Madam Wang pointed to the almost empty plates on the table, “Does an Academician of the Hanlin Academy eat simple meals like this?”
In fact, tonight’s dishes were quite exquisite, but she knew Wang Anshi probably hadn’t noticed.
Wang Anshi helplessly said, “This is not being frugal; it’s just not wasting. How much can the two of us eat? Eating luxurious dishes every day can also become monotonous.”
Madam Wang said, “I don’t care for luxurious dishes, but I really want to buy a house. We can live in it now, and in the future, we can leave it for our children.”
Seeing his wife so determined, Wang Anshi muttered to himself, “This is unreasonable. That brat Zhang San actually dared to scam my wife.”
Madam Wang didn’t like hearing that, “Zhang San is clever and knows how to manage a household. Unlike you, always reading books and not taking care of any household matters.”
Wang Anshi, sensing his wife getting angry, felt a bit intimidated and coughed, “Well, let me go ask Zhang San again, see if it’s really worth buying. Cousin, what do you think?”
To make the stubborn minister speak so humbly, it could only be Madam Wang’s doing.
Madam Wang glanced at her husband, thinking she might have been a bit too much just now. She nodded and said, “It’s good to clarify, but you’re not allowed to intimidate Zhang San. He was just expressing goodwill; he didn’t force us to buy.”
Wang Anshi was puzzled, “Cousin, you’ve only met Zhang San once. Why are you defending him so much?”
Madam Wang said, “Don’t you defend him too?”
“I’m just, just, fine, I’ll go ask tomorrow.”
Despite saying this, the anger was still brewing inside him. Early the next morning, Wang Anshi sent someone to bring Zhang Fei to the City Tax Bureau, which hadn’t been officially established yet.
“You brat, you dare to deceive my wife into borrowing money to buy a house?”
Wang Anshi paced back and forth, pointing at Zhang Fei’s nose.
He really detested these materialistic things, especially borrowing money to buy a house. It was something he couldn’t accept.
Zhang Fei felt extremely wronged and hurriedly said, “Academician Wang, I didn’t deceive her. Madam Wang approached me on her own.”
Wang Anshi replied, “Then you should have stopped her!”
“Madam Wang is exceptionally wise and adept at managing a household. She knows what she’s doing. How could I stop her?” explained Zhang Fei.
Wang Anshi retorted, “With your eloquence, you should be able to stop her. I think you must have some ulterior motives.”
Ulterior motives? How did it come to this? Zhang Fei didn’t appreciate the accusation. “Let’s stick to the matter at hand. If we talk about eloquence, you surpass me. Yet are you able to convince Madam Wang?”
This statement made Wang Anshi’s face turn green, and his temper flared up again. Waving his hand, he said, “I don’t care. This issue started because of you. You must make my wife give up this idea.”
Zhang Fei replied, “It’s too late.”
Wang Anshi asked, “What do you mean by too late?”
Zhang Fei said, “Academician Wang, if you have time now, accompany me to a place. Once we arrive, you will understand.”
An hour later, Wang Anshi and Zhang Fei sat in a dilapidated carriage and quietly arrived at the realtor Chen’s shop.
“I guarantee that Madam Wang is either here or on her way here,” Zhang Fei said as he leaned back and pulled open the curtain.
Wang Anshi turned his head and saw the realtor’s shop crowded with people, all familiar faces.
Zhang Fei continued, “If Madam Wang sees this situation, do you think she’ll listen to me?”
Wang Anshi slapped his thigh, “Oh my! I’ve lived for decades without owing a single coin, and now I’m asked to owe…”
He was in a panic.
So, this was the reason for the failure of his reform. Zhang Fei suddenly understood and said, ” Academician Wang, may I say something?”
Wang Anshi angrily retorted, “Speak if you have something to say.”
Zhang Fei nervously said, “I just want to say that if the country’s finances are in deficit every year. If you lack experience in managing debt, how can you manage the national finances effectively?”
Wang Anshi, his eyes bulging, burst out, “So, you understand that owing debts is not a good thing. Yet, you told my wife that borrowing money to buy a house won’t be a loss.”
Damn it, why did I open my mouth? This old man is a renowned debater in history! Trembling with fear, Zhang Fei said, “I just wanted to prove that my eloquence is truly inferior to yours.”