Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 814 The Life of an Orphan 3

Yun Chu counted the coins; the denominations varied, adding up to about ten thousand taels. This was what she had specifically set aside, intending to use it when she arrived in the capital. As for the rest, it was safely stored in her spatial storage.

She opened another box, which contained some trinkets—several Duan inkstones, several boxes of Huzhou brushes, several pieces of Huizhou ink, and a few ancient books.

This is a gift I'm preparing to give away.

These things were the wealth accumulated by the Lu family through generations of business.

Although the family had fallen on hard times by the time of Mr. Lu's generation, he still managed to run quite a few shops and lived a decent life.

Before his father passed away, he settled all his belongings and handed them over to Yun Chu.

Because they were afraid that Yun Chu, an orphan, wouldn't be able to keep so much money, they sent her to the capital to seek refuge with the Jiang family.

Lu's father instructed Yun Chu that she could use some money to "grease the wheels" so that she could live a better life.

Yun Chu was still remarking at the time that she was like Lin Daiyu.

After Lu's father passed away, Yun Chu dismissed all the servants of the Lu family. Even Hui Mama, who took care of him, and the maids were released from their posts.

The main reason was the fear of a change in temperament that would be discovered. Therefore, Yun Chu did not bring anyone with her when she first entered the capital.

She only hired bodyguards to escort her to the capital, and to avoid drawing attention, Yun Chu also stored 80% of her belongings in her spatial storage.

So when they arrived in the capital, Yun Chu was dressed in ordinary clothes and didn't have many belongings, making her look like a relative who was trying to freeload off others.

The next morning, Yun Chu got up.

Qingxing came in to help her wash up. Seeing that her complexion was normal, she smiled and said, "Did you sleep well, Miss? It was cold at night, would you like to add another blanket?"

"No need, it's fine," Yun Chu said calmly.

After washing up and having breakfast, she went to the main house.

Jiang was managing affairs in the room when she saw Yun Chu arrive. She quickly asked her to sit down and instructed the maid to serve tea.

Yun Chu took the teacup but didn't drink from it, simply placing it beside her. Then, she took out a plain-colored purse from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Shi with both hands.

"Aunt, this is for you."

Jiang was taken aback, took the package, opened it, and her expression immediately changed.

It was a stack of silver notes, with the top one clearly marked "Five Hundred Taels".

"This...this is unacceptable!" Madam Jiang hurriedly stuffed the purse back into Yun Chu's hand. "You child, put it away quickly. You've come all this way to seek refuge with your aunt, do you think your aunt would accept your money?"

Yun Chu did not refuse, but gently placed the purse back on the table.

“Aunt,” she raised her eyes, her voice calm, “before my father passed away, he sold all the family property and left the money to me. This money is what my father left me, and it is also what I will live on in the future.”

As Jiang listened, her eyes reddened again.

“But I live with my aunt, and she takes care of all my food, clothing and daily necessities. My uncle’s salary is not high, and it is not easy for him to support his family. Now I have to feed him as well. I feel bad about it.”

She paused, then pushed the purse forward: "Please keep these five hundred taels, Aunt. Consider it my way of showing my respect to you. If you need anything in the future, don't worry about saving it for me."

Jiang opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word.

She looked at the thirteen-year-old child in front of her, whose features resembled her deceased younger sister so much, yet whose words and actions were so proper, so...sensible that it broke her heart.

My younger sister was this age and looked this way when she married far away. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed. My sister is gone, and her child has come to live with me all alone.

What did he give her? A small side room, a few worn-out furnishings, a bowl of rice, and a pair of chopsticks.

But the child took out five hundred taels of silver, saying it was a filial offering.

Jiang felt a pang of sadness and wanted to decline, but then she remembered what her husband had said last night when he sighed—"You know how bad things are at home this month."

"Xiao'er is at the Imperial Academy; tuition, paper, ink, clothes—everything costs money. Rong'er is growing up too; it's time to prepare her dowry. Now that there are more people, although it's like having more chopsticks, it still..."

She didn't let her husband continue.

But she knew her husband was telling the truth.

A ninth-rank official's salary was only a few taels of silver a month. If it weren't for the monthly allowance from the public treasury, this family would have long since been unable to make ends meet.

Now that Yun Chu has arrived, her food, clothing, and daily necessities all have to come from the public funds. The money in the public funds is allocated based on the number of people; if there's an extra person, we have to cut costs from other sources.

What could she possibly save? Her own? Her daughter's? Or that of her illegitimate daughter?

Jiang closed her eyes, and the bitterness in her heart finally turned into a sigh.

"You silly child..." She reached out and took the purse in her hand, her voice a little hoarse, "Auntie will keep it and save it for you. When you get married in the future, Auntie will add to your dowry."

Yun Chu shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Auntie, please keep it for your own use. I have another matter I'd like to ask Auntie for help with."

Jiang hurriedly asked, "What is it?"

Yun Chu took out another sheet from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"This is a small gift I prepared for the elders and peers in the household. However, I am new here and do not know anyone in each household, so it is not appropriate for me to visit them without permission. I would like to ask my aunt to deliver it for me as a token of my appreciation."

Jiang took the order, unfolded it, and was stunned.

It's written very clearly on the list—

The old master and old lady: one Duan inkstone, two boxes of Huzhou brushes, two ingots of Huizhou ink, and one ancient book. Also included are two bolts of silk and a pair of jade bracelets.

For the master and mistress: one Duan inkstone and two boxes of Huzhou brushes.

Second Master and Second Madam (Song Ming): Same as above.

Third Master and Third Madam: Same as above.

The eldest son, the second son... each received a box of Huzhou brushes and a stick of Huizhou ink.

The eldest daughter, the second daughter... each received a bolt of silk and two velvet flowers.

Several illegitimate children from the first, second, and third wives were also given writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones as gifts, though the amount was slightly less.

Even the concubines in each household prepared small trinkets such as silk flowers and handkerchiefs.

Jiang became increasingly alarmed as she looked at Yun Chu.

This child didn't just bring a "small gift"; he clearly won over everyone in the household.

Moreover, the weight of the gifts, whether for legitimate or illegitimate children, was clearly distinguished, showing no favoritism and leaving no room for criticism.

"How much silver do these things cost?" Jiang's voice trembled slightly.

Yun Chu shook her head: "Aunt, you don't need to worry about these things. I just ask that you help me deliver these things to each household, as a small token of my appreciation as a junior. In the future, while living in the mansion, I will inevitably need to trouble the elders of each household to take care of me."

Jiang looked at her, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

This child is only thirteen years old.

When my younger sister married far away, she was the same age and the same age... She thought of everything for others and never wanted to cause them any trouble.

But the man my sister married was a kind and honest man. The couple loved each other dearly, and although they weren't wealthy, they lived a harmonious life.

Now that my sister is gone, so is that kind man. He's left this child, all alone, carrying so much stuff, traveling thousands of miles to come to me for help.

How did she get here? How did she manage to hide these things from those bad guys?

Jiang dared not even think about it.

All she knew was that this child was more sensible and more heartbreaking than she had imagined.

"Okay." Jiang finally nodded, her voice a little hoarse. "Aunt will deliver it for you."

She paused, then added, "Yun Chu, if anything happens in the future, just tell your aunt. Although your aunt may not be very capable, she will always protect you."

Yun Chu lowered her eyes and nodded gently.

"Thank you, Aunt."