GBP Chapter 418 The Old Fox and the Little Fox 2
Chapter 418 The Old Fox and the Little Fox 2
Chapter 418 The Old Fox and the Little Fox 2
After downing a cup of tea, Jiang Xiaoqi still hadn't moved an inch.
Lord Chen had already finished two plates of pastries and planned to put the remaining two plates away to take home for his grandson when he finished his shift.
However, since the person who delivered the gifts was right in front of him, Lord Chen felt a little embarrassed and put the snacks and food box away.
Every time Lord Jiang came, he would bring an exquisite food box, but he would never take it with him when he left, as if it were some worthless thing that could only be used once.
Jiang Xiaoqi never asked where the food box from last time went, and would bring a new food box and snacks.
Lord Chen made a small fortune by reselling food boxes, and this unexpected income helped him pay the rent that his family was almost unable to pay.
My grandson gets to eat delicious snacks from time to time, and my wife has more smile lines on her face.
Therefore, Lord Chen was extremely welcoming of Lord Jiang, this generous spender.
However, each time Lord Jiang found the information, he would leave, only stopping by to register it with me.
Why aren't you looking for information properly today? And why have you been sitting here for so long?
This is unusual!
Lord Chen didn't ask any questions. He just held a yellowed book and looked at it, flipping through a couple of pages every now and then. Only he knew whether he was actually reading it or not.
Jiang Xiaoqi's gaze swept around the room before finally landing on the person in front of him: "Lord Chen, I have come today to ask you for a favor."
Lord Chen: They're here, they're finally here!
Lord Chen put down the book in his hand, sat up straight, and looked like he was listening attentively.
The boy's clear and gentle voice spoke in a gentle and persuasive manner, and even though what he said wasn't exactly honorable, it didn't evoke any ill feelings in the listener—that's how magical it was.
Lord Chen listened attentively, sometimes frowning, sometimes widening his eyes. He had to admit that Young Master Jiang was a cunning little fox.
They had him completely under their thumb, and he seemed to have no reason to refuse.
Wait, is it possible that Jiang Xiaohu has been building up this for so long just to say this? If so, her thoughts and scheming are far too unfathomable...
Before today, he had no idea that he was old and useless.
Absolutely impossible! It must be that Jiang Xiaohu is hiding her true intentions too well.
Jiang Xiaoqi's outburst had already subtly altered Lord Chen's title in his mind.
From "Lord Jiang" to "Jiang the Fox," how could Jiang Xiaoqi not think that Lord Chen was an old fox?
This man was the most clear-headed among all the old scholars who were lying low. While others were trying to delay the progress of compiling history books, Lord Chen only needed to read newspapers (classical texts) and drink tea every day.
They occasionally collect discarded "scrap" items and sell them to supplement their household income.
Moreover, under Jiang Xiaoqi's deliberate omission, Lord Chen also managed to sell twenty or thirty exquisitely crafted food boxes.
It wasn't that Jiang Xiaoqi had a sudden change of heart; rather, seeing an old man, roughly the same age as his grandfather, carefully hiding patched trousers under his faded official robe, he wouldn't be so kind.
To say the other party is faking poverty and putting on an act? That table completely covers the lower half of his body; it's no coincidence that it would be difficult to notice the tattered trousers under Lord Chen's official robe.
A closer look reveals that Lord Chen deliberately concealed the patched trousers, as he always tried to keep his robes from fluttering when walking.
Take each step steadily and surely, without lifting a single corner of your clothes.
Such people are both easily and easily bought with money.
If he were easily bribed, he wouldn't have been in office for decades and still be wearing tattered pants. If he is not easily bribed, then what about those dozens of pounds of pastries?
Jiang Xiaoqi had long seen through the appearances to the essence: Lord Chen was an upright and honest man, but not pedantic or hypocritical.
This person is someone you can befriend and work with; they won't stubbornly treat money like dirt.
After Jiang Xiaoqi finished speaking, she magically pulled out a simple purse from her bosom, which looked quite heavy.
"Lord Chen, this is the advance payment for the consultation fee and information fee."
Chen Hanlin didn't reach out to take it. Jiang Xiaoqi put the purse directly into the food box that had just been used to hold the snacks, covered it with a layer, and then put the remaining two plates of snacks on the next layer and covered it with a lid.
The movements were fluid and graceful, as if they had been performed many times.
"Lord Chen, don't waste these snacks. Take them back for the children to try."
Ignoring the two empty plates on the table, where they should have been, now lay a hundred taels of silver.
How many plates of pastries could you buy with a hundred taels of silver? Ugh! With a hundred taels already, what's the point of buying pastries?
Buy some meat? And two jugs of wine? No, no, no, my wife won't let me drink; she'll nag me endlessly.
I should buy some pens and ink for my grandson; they're useful, and I'm unlikely to get scolded.
Before the money even left the Hanlin Academy, Lord Chen had already figured out more than a dozen ways to spend it.
"Oh dear, Mr. Jiang... cough cough cough! You're so kind, Mr. Jiang. My little grandson just loves these sweet things. Nothing you buy outside is as good as what your cook makes."
Jiang Xiaoqi smiled but remained silent. Neither of them mentioned a word about "money," "silver," or "news." It was as if they were two people who loved sweets exchanging information about their taste preferences and the chef's skills.
One or two people came to the archives to look at or borrow materials, and Lord Chen calmly helped them register, his expression extremely calm, just as usual.
Jiang Xiaoqi mentally gave the other person a thumbs up, then casually grabbed a book and left the archive.
No sooner had Jiang Xiaoqi left than Lord Chen swiftly hid the food box under his desk, not forgetting the two lonely plates.
I placed the two plates directly under the remaining two plates of pastries; the height was just right and wouldn't affect the lids.
I weighed it in one hand; it's alright. They shouldn't be able to tell that it's not just a snack.
Strange, how could Jiang Xiaohuli's flat chest hold such a large bag of silver?
Do you wear that even when you're walking? Don't you feel uncomfortable carrying that weight around?
If he can't figure it out, he won't think about it anymore. Lord Chen, who is used to lying down, never makes things difficult for himself.
Whether others fall or not is none of my business; the important thing is to take the food box home first.
Most of the officials in the Hanlin Academy went home by sedan chair, while those who were wealthy also used horse-drawn carriages.
Even someone as poor as Lord Chen would never ride in a sedan chair or a horse-drawn carriage.
At that time, there were no buses or subways, so how did Lord Chen get back to his home, which was more than ten miles away?
Of course, it's riding a donkey!
They are cheaper and easier to raise than horses. When you're not busy at home, they can pull millstones and haul goods. They even eat less than horses.
It's simply an excellent animal with low energy consumption and high output.
The afternoon suddenly seemed to slow down, and Lord Chen felt as if each day was an eternity. He would frequently glance down at the food box, showing none of the composure he displayed when Jiang Xiaoqi was around.
Finally, my shift ended, and I rushed out immediately.
The weight in his hands didn't slow down the old man's legs at all; his colleagues could only see Chen Hanlin's taillights (like a donkey's tail).