TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 68: Assets

Chapter 68: Assets

Seeing Chen Rong lower her eyes wordlessly, Chen Wei leaned forward in spite of herself and wrung her hands together as she nervously said, "Father says that my last meeting with General Ran had been a bit regrettable, and he wants me to make a better showing this time. Ah Rong, you had said that General Ran likes those who are sharp and frank. What else does he like in someone?"

Chen Wei seemed to have forgotten that she had slapped Chen Rong last time for the very same matter.

Chen Rong looked up and shook her head, softly replying: "I don't know."

"But you must." She sounded a little anxious. She reached out for Chen Rong's hand, shaking it as she smilingly said, "Dearest cousin, tell me. You must let me know."

Chen Rong continued to shake her head.

Chen Wei was riled now. She got up and angrily demanded, "Is it because I've offended you last time that you're purposely not telling me?"

Yes, I'm not telling you on purpose! Do I owe you anything? Chen Rong secretly scoffed.

Chen Wei got even more incensed when she saw her cousin indifferently hanging her head in silence. She stomped on the ground and yelled: "Ah Rong of the Chen house, why are you like this? Hmph, no wonder none of the girls like you."

Chen Rong shot to her feet at the same time Chen Wei blurted these words. She lifted her long skirt and turned back into her room. Before long, her bedchamber door had slammed shut.

Chen Wei was infuriated. She screamed at the door: "Ah Rong of the Chen house, you have no sense of social hierarchy! No wonder nobody likes you. Hmph, you're not betrothed yet, you know. I'll tell father to throw you to any random old man."

When she said her peace, she turned and stalked out.

By the time she got the the gate, she was a little surprised that Chen Rong hadn't chased after her. Was she not afraid?

Chen Wei had always felt that Chen Rong should curry favor with her. Not only because she had a higher status, but also because Chen Rong was under her father's guard. It stood to reason that she ought to be careful in how she treated her.

After a length of bewilderment, Chen Wei paused to suddenly remember that: yes, Chen Rong has caught Wang Qilang's attention. No wonder. Hmph, does she think it's all good and well? I'll tell father not to give Ah Rong to Wang Qilang so that she can't be together with her beloved. go to moc.824retsmah

At this thought, Chen Wei began walking again and headed directly for the main compound.

Nurse Ping and the others had been watching since they began to fight, but all they could do was look on. They couldn't expect too much from their lady when they knew what her personality was like. She was, after all, much gentler now compared to the times they were still in Ping.

After staying quiet for some time, Old Shang went to Chen Rong's door to report to her: "Miss, land has been bought."

"Has it really?" go to moc.824retsmah

Chen Rong was thrilled. She threw her door open and happily asked the retainer: "How much did you buy?"

"The entire city is in a state of panic," he replied with his hands clasped together. "Everybody wants to leave his land to run away from here. Land's now very cheap. Usually, we could only buy a hundred acres or so with the amount of silk we have on hand. But we can now buy up to six or seven hundred acres, and they're all good, fertile land. In addition to the farmland, the laborers have also been left behind. They said they are willing to work day and night so long as the landlord gives them a bowl of gruel to drink. I've agreed seeing that these people are reliable enough; the rules will be as before. We are buying under General Ran's name, after all. If we are too harsh, we'll give him a bad name."