Astonishing Wealth

She has been attending various gatherings lately and has been very active.

Gao Lan soft-hearted and couldn't bear to see her courting death, so he went to persuade her to live a peaceful life.

Linglong retorted, "Do I not want a peaceful life? My A Yi has lost her father and her family. If I don't go out and meet people, and let them know she exists, what kind of future can she have?"

Gao Lan felt she was going increasingly insane.

She betrayed her faith, had a child out of wedlock, and instead of being a widow, she dressed extravagantly... Everyone saw all this, and who wouldn't laugh at her?

With a mother like that, who would want to marry her daughter?

But Linglong was stubborn and wouldn't listen to reason.

Xu Weibei was still angry when he spoke of it, "It would have been better if she had died. I would have sent A Yi to Qin Lie's residence so that the couple could raise her together."

Gu Wanning: "... I don't owe you anything. Isn't it enough that I've helped you raise Jiaoniang? Tell me quickly, what do you want to talk to me about?"

"They helped me raise Jiaoniang, and I haven't treated them badly," Xu Weibei said. "Gao Lan will send them three thousand taels of silver a year at the beginning of the year."

"Three thousand taels of silver?" Gu Wanning was shocked.

That's a lot.

In ordinary families, raising a daughter wouldn't even cost three taels of silver a year.

Even in wealthy families, a thousand taels of silver is enough to raise a girl in luxury.

Xu Weibei was very generous when he spent money.

Thank goodness he can't have children!

If they had ten or eight children, who could afford to raise them?

But then again, how much is his annual salary?

Isn't three thousand taels of silver a considerable burden for raising a child?

Chapter 249 Astounding Wealth

Xu Weibei seemed to see through Gu Wanning's thoughts and slowly said, "Well, three thousand taels of silver is not a drop in the ocean for me, but it's not a burden either."

"No," Gu Wanning said, "I really wanted to ask you when you bought the Fifty Thousand Taels, do you own a gold mine?"

"I may not have a gold mine, but I'm adept at making money," Xu Weibei said. "That general store you frequent, it's actually mine."

Gu Wanning's pupils dilated.

What?

The Baoji goods from both the north and south that had infuriated her with its exorbitant prices, yet she had no choice but to pay, turned out to be owned by Xu Weibei.

She had been jealous of the "Boss Bao" behind Baoji countless times, even imagining what he would look like—a bald, chubby man. But it turned out to be Xu Weibei?

Good heavens!

What should I do if I suddenly discover that my boyfriend is not only the son of an official, but also the son of a wealthy family?

A windfall suddenly fell from the sky!

Xu Weibei said anxiously, "Don't be angry, let me explain."

"You're more likely to give me a reason. But why should I be angry?" Gu Wanning reached out and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't discriminate against you just because you're rich! I'm unfazed by praise or criticism."

Xu Weibei: "... You, you're really not angry?"

"It's your money, which is better than someone else's. I can at least benefit from it, right?" Gu Wanning quickly adjusted her mindset.

Although she's not short of money and doesn't actually need to take advantage, is there anyone who would complain about having too much money?

But then she thought again and couldn't help but say, "How can you be so bold? You command a large army and amass mountains of gold and silver. Even if I were the emperor, I wouldn't trust you!"

" Of Baoji's profits, 30% will go to the national treasury, 40% to the Emperor, and 30% to me," Xu Weibei said.

No one can make a fortune quietly under the emperor's nose.

It's one thing to contribute to the country, but the lion's share ended up in the emperor's own pocket?

Your Majesty, you have quite an appetite.

"If you buy Fifty Thousand Taels, you still have to share the money with the Emperor?"

"That wasn't recorded," Xu Weibei, suppressing a laugh.

He watched Gu Wanning blink repeatedly, probably calculating her money, and couldn't help but laugh.

What others might see as mercenary, she sees only as endearing.

"That's good, otherwise we would have suffered a huge loss. I knew it wasn't worth Fifty Thousand Taels..."

"That really is worth Fifty Thousand Taels. Someone wanted to buy it, but I wanted to please you, so I'll keep it for you."

Gu Wanning: "!"

She wanted to ask, "Does that person still want him?"

Give it to him!

But then I thought again, I've already developed an attachment to it, I can't bear to part with it...

Never mind.

So Xu Weibei was so nervous because he wanted to confess to her that he was actually very rich?

She has a strong heart; she can handle this kind of fright multiple times.

Gu Wanning prepared a table full of dishes, which Xu Weibei devoured in a whirlwind, leaving nothing behind.

"Don't I cook for you every day and have Gao Lan bring it to you? Why are you acting like you haven't eaten?" she couldn't help but say.

"It's different," Xu Weibei said. "I feel like I'm going out to work, and when I come home, my wife has already prepared a hot meal for me."

This feels like home.

Gu Wanning said, "Don't add drama to your own story."

"I have no intention of marrying you," Gu Wanning snorted. "I don't believe any promises you make. If you want to be with me, come here. I don't want to go back to the Marquis's Residence."

That was a place where the Grand Princess could come and go as she pleased and assert her authority; she had no intention of being subservient to others.

Although the Grand Princess could overpower her in terms of status, her father was the Chief Grand Secretary, so the Grand Princess had to think twice before doing that. Moreover, if she took the initiative to manipulate her, then she would be in the wrong.

However, if she loses her mind and marries Xu Weibei, it would be tantamount to putting a shackle on herself based on her social status.

Once they were family, in the relationship between the (great) mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the Grand Princess held absolute power. No matter how much she tormented Gu Wanning, the most that would be said was, "Even an upright official can't settle family disputes," and that was it.

Since she doesn't have to have children or be responsible for them, Gu Wanning wouldn't be foolish enough to use something as useless as a title to confine herself and restrict her life.

"I'm not joking with you," Gu Wanning looked at Xu Weibei seriously, cutting him off before he could speak. "I know your parents died early, and your grandmother raised you with a lot of love and care. But she hasn't done me any favors, so she expects me to be subservient to her. I can't do that."