High-class maid

Chapter 259 Not to Shame on My Daughter

Shen Xing'er looked up at the sky outside the window and saw that it was indeed completely dark. Reluctantly, she put down the scissors in her hand, as there were still three large bags of fabric that she hadn't cut.

Thinking that Shen Kun had traveled a long way and hadn't had a proper meal yet, she decided to go home first.

"Alright, alright, filling your stomach is the most important thing, and you can cut the scissors again tomorrow." Wang took the scissors from Shen Xing'er's hand and pushed her out of the shop.

The family of three returned home. Wang was washing ribs in the kitchen, Shen Kun, who had slept all afternoon and was now full of energy, was helping Wang burn firewood. Shen Xing'er, on the other hand, couldn't wait to go inside and draw with her new fabric.

“Husband, Wen Yang has become the top scholar in the imperial examination. Shouldn’t we send him a congratulatory gift?” Wang suddenly said.

Shen Kun paused in adding firewood, then continued...

"Really? This child is truly blessed to have achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations, and at such a young age. There are very few like him in the entire Qin Dynasty. When did this happen?"

“Two days ago, I thought that Xing’er and I are just women, and it would be inconvenient for us to show our faces. Besides, the Song family is always busy these days, and they might not even have time to see us. So I thought we would wait until you come back to deliver the congratulatory gift,” Wang said.

"It's only proper to send some congratulatory gifts. Even if they don't let us into the Song residence, we can't skip the formalities. Besides, Wen Yang has now become the top scholar in the imperial examination, and I want to see if his attitude towards us remains the same."

Shen Kun said without changing his expression, "If that kid dares to slight my daughter in the slightest, I will immediately make my daughter break off with him!"

Wang rolled her eyes at him, then said helplessly.

"You always think the worst of people. I think Wen Yang is a good kid. You're always waiting to find fault with others. You should first make sure you're proper with your own manners. Shall we go and give him a congratulatory gift tomorrow? What should we give him?"

Shen Kun was distracted by Wang Shi's change of topic, and after thinking for a moment, he said...

"The gift shouldn't be too meager. Passing the imperial examination is a great joy in life. Why not give a good set of writing implements? I'll also go and find a few rare books from the previous dynasty."

Shen Kun didn't know what to give, but he figured that since Song Wenyang was a humanities student, giving him something to read and write wouldn't be a mistake.

"Sure, sure. I think Wen Yang is a bit thin. I'll send him some more pickled vegetables." Wang Shi's habit of sending pickled vegetables to everyone she met started again.

"You should save your breath," Shen Kun said disdainfully.

"What kind of occasion is this? You're still thinking of sending pickled vegetables. He's our future son-in-law, after all. No, no, I'll go find a famous painting tomorrow and invite Lao Ren along. He knows a lot, and this much will be enough."

Wang wanted to argue that her pickled vegetables were really delicious, but then she thought that her husband's words made sense, so she decided to just pack some more pickled vegetables for Wen Yang when he came to visit.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Shen Kun went to the end of the alley and called out to Master Ren. Since moving to Shangqiao Street, Master Ren hadn't been to any shops for a long time, spending his days just walking his birds. Now that Shen Kun had suddenly called him out, he was overjoyed.

“Brother Shen, you’ve come to the right person. Back when I was in Youzhou, I loved studying music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In my residence in Youzhou, there are many famous calligraphers and painters. When the opportunity comes, I’ll show you around.”

Mr. Ren, carrying a birdcage, talked eloquently, looking radiant.

"Haha, then I've come to the right person. I didn't expect Brother Ren to be so knowledgeable, he even has a deep understanding of calligraphy and painting." Shen Kun and he walked down the street, chatting casually.

"Hey, I'm not interested at all. I just can't stand people saying I'm a money-grubbing businessman, so I bought a lot of paintings and calligraphy to save face."

Mr. Ren waved his hand, as if unwilling to bring up this painful matter.

Shen Kun patted him on the shoulder to show his understanding. After all, he had been demoted from a servant in the Minister's mansion to a merchant reeking of money. Although the world looked down on him, he was much freer. It was a case of advantages and disadvantages.

"By the way, who is it for? How much silver do you plan to spend? Although I have never bought paintings or calligraphy in the capital, I have heard my fellow countrymen who walk their birds mention which shops are good."

Master Ren's emotions came and went quickly. Just moments ago, he was reminiscing about sad things when he suddenly asked Shen Kun.

"You want to put it in the shop to make it look good, right? You want something expensive, right? Xing'er insists on going for the high-end route. I wonder if Brother Ren knows any good shops?"

Shen Kun told a white lie to Master Ren.

Master Ren had no doubts whatsoever. Instead, he stroked his chin and thought for a moment before continuing.

"Let's go to Moxianzhai. Although the prices there are high, everything there is genuine. I've been there when I have nothing to do, and they even have golden nanmu wood that is worth a fortune!"

"It seems the owner behind this has considerable power," Shen Kun said.

As the two talked, they arrived at the Ink Fragrance Studio. Upon entering, they smelled a faint fragrance of ink. Although Shen Kun did not understand the Four Treasures of the Study, he knew that good ink was always fragrant.

They spent half a day browsing in the shop and finally bought the most expensive set of writing implements, as well as an ancient book from a previous dynasty called something like the Zuo Zhuan of the Spring and Autumn Annals. Although Shen Kun didn't understand it, he knew that expensive things were always good. Then, under the instigation of Master Ren, he bought a famous painting.

Although Master Ren doesn't like buying books and paintings when he comes to the capital, he likes to see his friends buy them, doesn't he? If his friends spend money, it's the same as him spending money; if his friends have something, it's practically the same as him having it, isn't it?

Shen Kun reluctantly paid 120 taels, even giving an extra tael as a packaging fee. As he left the shop carrying the exquisitely packaged item, he muttered a painful complaint to Master Ren.

"Old Ren, do you really have to pay for the packaging yourself when you sell calligraphy and paintings?"

"That's right! Of all professions, only studying is noble. You're actually getting a good deal. Back in Youzhou..."

Master Ren launched into another long-winded account of what happened back then, but Shen Kun had no interest in listening. All he knew was that he had to protect the hundred-plus taels of congratulatory gift!

To avoid embarrassing my daughter, I'll just spend this money!

“Speaking of which, Brother Shen, is running a clothing shop really that profitable? You bought over a hundred taels of clothing at once, won’t your wife scratch your face?” Master Ren suddenly leaned closer and said.

"It's alright, my daughter asked me to buy it, my husband wouldn't dare say anything." Shen Kun pushed everything onto Shen Xing'er.

Then Shen Kun treated Master Ren to lunch, since he had been running around with him all morning and couldn't let him go back on an empty stomach.

However, this time Shen Kun did not go to the noodle shop that rented his shop. That old woman dared to talk badly about Xing'er, so he would not rent it to her next year!

The two had a bowl of noodles on the street, then parted ways in the city. Shen Kun carried the congratulatory gift back to Jinxiufang.

"Dad, what did you buy?"

Shen Xing'er, who had been busy cutting fabric all morning, only then realized that Shen Kun was not in the shop. She looked up at the gift in Shen Kun's hand and asked curiously.