Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 340: Chapter 215: A Family Fortune of Ten Thousand Strings of Cash Chapter 340: Chapter 215: A Family Fortune of Ten Thousand Strings of Cash Uncle Song only managed to tidy up the front courtyard and enter the inner courtyard at this time. From a distance, he saw his wife strolling by the lake and couldn’t help but hurry a few steps to approach her.

Busy all day, both receiving guests who came to offer congratulations and hosting a grand banquet, he had no time to talk with his wife.

“This servant pays his respects to madam,” Uncle Song greeted from afar with a hand gesture.

Gu Changsheng shifted his gaze from the distant Xiangfei bamboo to Uncle Song, “Uncle Song, is your body feeling sprightly? You look very energetic.”

“Hehe, thanks to Madam’s blessing, this old servant is feeling quite well,” Uncle Song said with a laugh, stroking his beard. He had never felt so elated in his life.

Seeing Uncle Song like this, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh with endless melancholy, “Uncle Song, my entire fortune is in your hands. Can you tell me how much silver we still have left?”

Every blade of grass and brick in this courtyard was of considerable value, not to mention the furniture and decorations, all of superior quality. Gu Changsheng was very satisfied with such a comfortable and splendid Hua Mansion but was also deeply worried about his purse.

“Madam, just wait a moment, let this old servant calculate it,” Upon hearing this, Uncle Song didn’t hesitate and pulled out a small golden abacus from his bosom, clacking away.

Gu Changsheng sat on a rock by the artificial hill, resting his chin in his hand, watching Uncle Song skillfully handle the abacus.

“Uncle Song, does it need to take this long? Hasn’t our family fortune been squandered by you yet?” Gu Changsheng said, gazing at the large artificial lake where small lanterns hung every five steps, making the entire mansion look incredibly magnificent–all of which cost silver…

“Madam, you jest!” Uncle Song didn’t lift his head, his fingers flying over the abacus, continuing his calculations.

“I’m in no mood to joke. Hearing about how you’ve been spending fortunes so generously, my heart has been in my throat, always worried that we might return to find there’s nothing left even for eating!” Gu Changsheng said, idly watching the night scenery, with only the sound of Uncle Song’s abacus in his ears.

A while later, Uncle Song finally looked up, his old face full of smiles, “Madam, even if we take into account the eight hundred people in the mountains, our family won’t face the prospect of starving for ten to eight years.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng was shocked, “Really?”

Is he lying? How much silver could possibly be left?

“This servant has earned more than forty thousand taels from Prince Liang, splitting it with Yuan Bao left over twenty thousand taels; the Medicine Conference auctioned your few medicinal materials for 2.3 million taels; the Bozhou Medicine Merchants Association’s annual tribute, after deducting the cost of medicinal materials, left 1.6 million taels; these past two months, Lau Quansheng’s medicine stock sold for sixty thousand taels because the medicinal material funds were mostly fronted by you, so the income naturally belongs to us,” Uncle Song continued, adjusting the abacus again.

Gu Changsheng couldn’t close his mouth with astonishment, so many figures, all counted in tens of thousands…

“The mansion’s new construction took 150,000 taels; the furniture and decorations cost 250,000 taels altogether; these two months’ expenses in the mountains totaled forty thousand taels. Summing it all up, our household still has 3.72 million taels of remaining silver. This servant has safely deposited it in two major money manors to ensure security.” Having reported everything, Uncle Song looked up, “Madam, you need not worry about not having food.”

“My goodness!” Gu Changsheng felt his worldview shifting in an instant. He still remembered the time when he was pleased with himself just for robbing a few silver taels from someone.

“Uncle Song, has silver devalued?” Gu Changsheng found it hard to believe such a reality for a moment.

3.72 million taels! That’s so much silver!

Stars in his eyes…

“Madam is overthinking it. Unless there’s a natural disaster or chaos in the country, the value of silver generally does not depreciate,” Uncle Song smoothly slid the small golden abacus back into his bosom with an air of ease, his eyes twinkling continuously.

With so much silver, his young lady would no longer need to suffer!

“Oh my god, happiness has come too suddenly!” Gu Changsheng turned around and lay on the artificial rock, unbelievingly exclaiming, “Uncle Song, are our finances really so robust?”

How did she never know, when had she accumulated wealth so successfully?

“Madam usually doesn’t care to inquire about these mundane matters. The money from the medicinal materials auction was turned over to this old servant by Brother Yhan, and only then did I realize it amounted to such a large sum,” Uncle Song paused, “However, madam still owes some external debt!”

“What?” Gu Changsheng widened his eyes. She was in debt? To whom?

Uncle Song, stroking his beard and smiling, said, “Madam owes the Bozhou Medicine Merchants Association one hundred jin of top-grade medicinal materials, and there’s also the young man they sent over that you have yet to instruct.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand, “Let them come to the mansion. First, arrange for them to help Xiao Leizi in the kitchen. When they have perfected their knife skills, then they can come to me to learn how to prepare medicinal materials!”

Uncle Song nodded with a smile.

Gu Changsheng thought about it, then took out several gold and silver notes from his bosom and handed them over, “These are from robbing Prince Bao, Uncle Song can keep them. In a few days, we will need to purchase some things in the mountains, and the expenditure could be significant. Pay attention then, Uncle Song.”

“My lady need not worry, in my life I have no other strengths, but I am quite proficient in accounting,” Uncle Song took the silver note and put it in his sleeve pocket, his smile growing even broader.

“So, Uncle Song, you haven’t miscalculated, our family really is this wealthy?” Gu Changsheng was still somewhat incredulous.

“I guarantee it with my life! If my lady doesn’t believe it, I’ll bring the account books tomorrow for you to review,” Uncle Song responded confidently.

Gu Changsheng shook his hand upon hearing this, “No need for a review, I just can’t quite believe that the pharmacists are so incredibly wealthy, treating silver as if it’s nothing at all!”

Those few medicinal ingredients were auctioned for a high price of two hundred and thirty thousand taels, enough to frighten someone to death! This could offset the tax revenue of a province for ten to twenty years!

Uncle Song also deeply agreed and nodded, “Most pharmacists are from families that have been established for a thousand or even hundreds of years, accumulating wealth through generations. Their financial power is truly breathtaking. Just consider the gifts we received today. I roughly calculated, and even the lowest estimate would be worth eight or nine hundred thousand taels. It was indeed a wise move when my lady gave them medicine as research material!”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but be astonished, “Choosing to partner with the Bozhou Medicine Merchants Association was also Elder Yhan’s far-sighted vision, not having the heart to monopolize everything, thus allowing me to make good connections.”

“Brother Yhan has experienced ups and downs in business all his life, truly meticulous. Whenever I have time, I must ask him for more advice,” said Uncle Song.

Gu Changsheng nodded, “Who would have thought, Uncle Song, you’ve started calling Elder Yhan brother, congratulations!”

Uncle Song’s face creased even more with his smile as he hurriedly made a gesture of ceremony, “Thanks to my lady’s blessing, I have never been able to act as freely as I have during this period in all my life! It truly wasn’t in vain. When my lady gets married, I will definitely prepare a grand wedding procession for dozens of miles to escort you in style. By then, even if I die, I would have the face to meet Old Grand Master!”

Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but roll her eyes upon hearing this, getting married? At best she was just remarrying, wasn’t she?

“We haven’t even started yet, Uncle Song, you are really thinking far ahead!” Humph, she and Zhou Mu, when could they cast aside their concerns and be together!

If Emperor Zhou Lin clings tightly to Zhou Mu, then he will eventually not be able to dodge that seat. If it really comes to that, even if she possesses vast wealth, what good would it be?

Once sitting on that seat, could Zhou Mu continue to act according to his own nature as he does now?

One should not pursue politics if not in the appropriate position, and once on that seat, there would be too many considerations…

Being the wife of an emperor is certainly not what Gu Changsheng wished for. She wasn’t mentally prepared and didn’t know how to handle it…

“My lady, that Miss Huo who caused disturbance today, is she His Highness Prince Mu’s fiancee?” Uncle Song hesitated but still asked, “Judging by her appearance, she does have some beauty. How do you plan to deal with her?”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but purse her lips.

Some beauty? Uncle Song is really reserved. Miss Huo is clearly a one-in-a-thousand beauty, surpassingly beautiful!

“It’s no matter how I deal with it; what is mine I will not fight or snatch, it will still be mine; what isn’t mine, even if I employ every tactic, will be in vain.” Thinking of Huo Shuixian, Gu Changsheng’s eyes inadvertently showed a trace of sympathy, “That big block of ice, Zhou Mu, is really a tough nut to crack. I wonder how the young lady will hit a wall with him, tsk tsk… It seems pitiful, such a flowery and jade-like beauty!”

Thinking back to when they first met, she, Gu Changsheng, had not suffered a few setbacks with Zhou Mu. Thinking of the sprightly Miss Huo, she probably wouldn’t fare much better!

Upon hearing this, Uncle Song felt helplessly resigned from the bottom of his heart.

“My lady, how can you be so indifferent? You even have the time to worry about others!”

“Where do I have the time to worry about others? I’m just praying that the young lady can distinguish what’s important and concentrate her attention on Zhou Mu, so she doesn’t come looking for me like today, causing me trouble.” Gu Changsheng hummed twice, “I am very busy indeed, where do I have the time to deal with the troubles Zhou Mu brings.”

Seeing that his own lady didn’t seem like she was lying, Uncle Song, thinking about how Prince Mu usually treated her well, also felt somewhat relieved.

The two then discussed the free clinic happening tomorrow. Gu Changsheng instructed Uncle Song to prepare the gifts of the Four Treasures of the Study because she planned to visit Mr. Ban Shan after the free clinic period was over.

Eight hundred people in the mountains were waiting for the teacher’s guidance, and at home was a precious son waiting for systematic teaching. This was also a priority that could not be overlooked.

Her son, after all, had to live in this era, she could teach him other things, but not the culture of this era. Thus, hiring a teacher was essential!

After a busy day, Gu Changsheng, who was somewhat tired, felt much lighter after hearing about her substantial wealth, resulting in a very good night’s sleep.

On the other hand, Huo Shuixian was indeed someone who could clearly distinguish priorities…