Chapter 490: Intentional

Chapter 490: Chapter 490: Intentional

"Didn’t you and the master buy so many storefronts? Are you really just going to open a shop here, Madam?" Nanny Pang’s words made the doctors, who were sorting medicinal herbs, pause their work.

Everyone knew the Bai Family was wealthy, but the financial backing they provided seemed too massive. They had long heard that the couple held many estates and storefronts, but hearing it firsthand was far more shocking than mere rumors.

Bai Suihe sighed. "Nanny, my husband and I only have so much energy. How could we possibly manage all of them? My husband invited a few families over today. He’ll be selling off the majority of the estates and storefronts we have on hand."

Doctor Lan stopped what he was doing. He had also come to this pharmacy to hunt for treasures today. He had discovered that the herbs processed by Bai Suihe and her people were all of premium quality and fairly priced. Naturally, he knew where to shop.

"Why are you selling the land now? Didn’t they say the prices will keep going up?"

"Doctor Lan, your news is a bit outdated. The prices have already skyrocketed. It just goes to show Mrs. Gu’s keen foresight. I’m afraid they’ll make a fortune this time."

The doctor who spoke meant no harm; he was purely teasing. The several doctors present all had a little wealth and owned profitable shops, so of course, they wouldn’t take such risks.

Yes, in their eyes, Gu Kaiyuan and his wife were taking a massive risk.

When no one else was optimistic about the market, the couple had bought up estates and land in large quantities, drawing no shortage of ridicule. Even they had muttered privately that such a vast amount of property would likely end up stuck in the couple’s hands.

Who knew that in such a short time, all the properties under Gu Kaiyuan’s name would become highly sought after? Many people were now coming to their door, begging to buy.

However, these doctors had no plans to purchase property right now. Several prominent families had already entered the market, and speaking up now would mean fighting them for territory. They were just ordinary citizens and had no desire to provoke such people.

Bai Suihe and Nanny Pang hadn’t brought this up to stir up envy. Nanny Pang quickly took control of the narrative. "Oh, we wouldn’t dare say that! We’ve made a small profit, perhaps.

"But as you all know, our master and madam started with very thin pockets. The properties they bought earlier were all funded by borrowing the Bai Family’s Silver. Once we sell these estates and shops, we’ll finally be able to pay off our old debts."

The doctors, along with the onlookers, couldn’t help but look surprised. "Wasn’t the Bai Family’s Silver a gift?"

Bai Suihe smiled bitterly and lowered her head. Nanny Pang quickly stepped in to explain. "You all must be joking. Our madam is a married daughter. The Bai Family already provided her dowry; how could they possibly subsidize her a second time?"

"Ah, that’s not what the rumors said," a female onlooker blurted out.

Nanny Pang was delighted to have someone play along so well. She hurriedly smiled and said, "Rumors can’t be trusted.

"At the time, the madam’s dowry was entirely confiscated during the household raid. Let me ask you all: would you prepare a second dowry for your own daughters?

"Or, after she married out, would you continue to subsidize her endlessly?"

At this, not only the women but even the men shook their heads. They might offer a little help, but anything more was out of the question.

Thinking it over, the crowd began to understand. The Bai Family had helped Gu Kaiyuan and his wife out before, but it all had to be repaid. If they had been a bit jealous at first, their minds were now much more balanced. Even if Gu Kaiyuan sold the properties at sky-high prices, the initial capital had never been his to begin with.

"Then, regarding your early land purchases, did Mr. Bai reveal something to you in advance?" someone probed.

Bai Suihe looked bewildered. "How could he reveal anything?

"My father didn’t know the situation in Lingnan either. We bought so many estates and storefronts simply because my husband and I lacked a sense of security.

"Our family was left with nothing, so of course, we had to buy things that could turn a profit. That way, we could pay off our debts sooner."

Hearing this, everyone figured it out. So that was how it was.

If they were in her shoes, they would also want to use money to make money. There was nothing wrong with that logic. They had previously thought the Bai Family possessed some inside information, but it seemed they had simply been overthinking things.

"I had no choice. The pressure is huge, which is why I came out to open a shop myself. I even have to process these medicinal herbs personally. Our foundation is thin, and we can’t afford to take losses," Bai Suihe complained at the perfect moment, showcasing her hardships.

The crowd thought about it, and it was true. From the moment the couple arrived here, they had been bustling about non-stop. No one had seen them wear luxurious clothes; they dressed just like an ordinary Shopkeeper and his wife.

"Sigh, it’s not easy for anyone." Aside from a few locals, most of the people who had come here had been exiled. Recalling all their past difficulties, everyone could empathize.

This was exactly what Bai Suihe wanted. After today, the fact that Gu Kaiyuan had sold estates and storefronts at high prices could definitely not be kept a secret. It was unnecessary for someone to stand out too much, so it was best to minimize the impact. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

Besides claiming they were repaying the Bai Family’s capital, Bai Suihe also planned to establish an orphanage in Zhang County, specifically to take in orphans. However, today was not the right time to reveal this. She had already tasked people with the preparations. They had bought land from the county office, received approval, and hired a large group of workers to build it. It would be completed in a few days.

The topic of conversation quickly shifted as everyone began recounting their own past hardships. While sorting out the medicinal herbs, they started to reflect on their bitter pasts and appreciate their current peace.

Bai Suihe and Nanny Pang breathed a long sigh of relief. This was just the beginning; next, they would have to find someone to spread the word. With so many people here, it didn’t matter who spread the news, and no one would look into it anyway.

Gu Kaiyuan’s progress was swift. Before lunch, he had already sold all the properties he intended to offload. To facilitate this, he had even specially invited a county office clerk to the estate to help everyone process their deeds.

This one-stop service opened the eyes of the various prominent families. This was why some people became the wealthiest in a region—it all relied on brains. Although they had spent a bit more Silver, the process was incredibly smooth. They didn’t have to exhaust themselves running around, so they instantly felt they hadn’t lost out, but rather got their money’s worth.

Gu Yeshi had initially put on airs, thinking that the prestige of the Duke Mansion would surely make these people yield a little. But when the first person called out a price, the others went crazy and started scrambling for the properties. Before he could make a decision or join the fray, two good estates and several storefronts had already been snatched up.

He didn’t dare to put on airs anymore, lest he miss out entirely, and quickly joined the scramble.

Whether it was due to good luck or the sheer abundance of resources in Gu Kaiyuan’s hands, he actually managed to buy a few decent locations. With these estates and shops secured, he could report back to his superiors nicely. His mood improved significantly, and he began chatting with the people around him.

This networking was no small matter. Everyone present hailed from prominent, reputable families in the capital. Fortunately, he hadn’t kept up his pretentious attitude to the end, or he truly wouldn’t have gotten a piece of the pie.

Today’s grand feast had allowed him to fulfill his duties and reap some rewards. As a concubine-born son, he had previously lacked any social connections. If he managed this well, these people would become his own personal network moving forward.