Chapter 24: The Ancestral Grave Emitted Green Smoke

Fang Jinglong rubbed his belly and smiled happily. “It’s good that it was a guess. I feel very relieved, very relieved.”

But as he said this, Fang Jinglong became sad again. “The only downside was the loss of our family’s lands. Ah, those were ancestral properties! I’ve let our ancestors down! For generations, the Fang Family only bought land from others – we never sold any! It’s because the descendants were unfilial! Of course, son, don’t be angry – it’s me who was unfilial. You… you… were actually…”

Fang Jinglong thought hard before finally remembering a word: “quite good.”

This was Fang Jinglong’s old habit. Nowadays, whenever he returned home and saw the bare hall, the emptiness inside the mansion, and occasionally went to the Accounts Office only to realize he no longer needed to check the accounts – after all, all the manors had been sold, so why bother checking how much rent was collected?

Subconsciously, a thin mist rose in his muddy eyes. He worried about how he would explain things to his ancestors when he met them someday.

Fang Jifan couldn’t bear to see this and was about to say something to comfort him.

But then the gateman came again, rushing in to report: “Young Lord, that merchant Wang Jinyuan from the Eastern Market says he’s here to pay respects, and he’s brought dozens of carts with him.”

Hearing the merchant Wang Jinyuan’s name, Fang Jinglong gritted his teeth in anger. “What does he think he is? How dare he come?”

Fang Jifan, however, immediately jumped up, extremely excited. “Quickly invite him in!”

In a short while, the big-bellied Wang Jinyuan came in, panting heavily. When he saw Fang Jifan, he quickly squeezed out a smile. “Young Master Fang, I’ve prepared all the silver. But… I don’t have that much ready cash. However… I’ve converted everything. All the items I previously took from the Fang Family are being returned at their original prices. Additionally, there’s three hundred thousand taels of silver, seven thousand taels of gold, and land… all near the Capital. Besides returning the Fang Family’s manors, I’ve included two more manors in the calculation. They’re all prime farmland, totaling nine thousand mu. Also, I gathered over 3.9 million taels worth of Great Ming Treasure Notes. Currently, Treasure Notes exchange for silver at ten to one, which converts to three hundred ninety thousand taels. In the Capital, there are six shops in the Eastern Market – that’s a prosperous area, covering twenty mu of land, which isn’t small. I… I had these appraised at one hundred ninety thousand taels. Adding all these together, the estimated value is at least over 1.3 million taels. Young Master Fang, here’s the list for your review. If you’re not satisfied, you can appraise them yourself. I wouldn’t dare cheat you, Young Master – I wouldn’t have the courage even with ten extra gallbladders! Also, the furniture, antiques, paintings, property deeds, and other items your honorable mansion previously sold to me, I’ve also brought them back…”

Fang Jifan narrowed his eyes. His mind was quick, and as he listened, he rapidly calculated mentally. The shops in the Eastern Market were large, covering twenty mu – truly valuable. And the Great Ming Treasure Notes… ten to one exchange rate seemed acceptable. As for the other lands, he would need to send someone to inspect them personally. He could just send Manager Yang from the mansion.

Although Wang Jinyuan was greedy, when doing business with the Nanhe Bo Mansion, he probably wouldn’t dare to play tricks.

Still, Fang Jifan felt somewhat melancholy. What a pity that such a large sum couldn’t be transacted in cash. What use was getting all this land and antiques? When this prodigal son found a new project, he might have to sell everything again. Then he’d have to listen to all the wailing throughout the mansion again – how annoying!

“What?” Fang Jinglong exclaimed beside him. He stood up abruptly, grabbed the list, and his eyes went wide.

One million three hundred thousand taels of silver.

Fang Jinglong felt his heart racing. Subconsciously, he looked at Fang Jifan and widened his eyes. “Son, you didn’t do anything that would get you executed, did you?”

“N… no.” Fang Jifan was startled by Fang Jinglong’s reaction and quickly replied, “This is money from selling ebony. I… I don’t know why they went crazy wanting to buy my ebony, even paying 1.3 million taels for it…”

One million three hundred thousand taels…

What did this mean?

The accumulated wealth of the Nanhe Bo Mansion over several generations, which the prodigal Fang Jifan had completely emptied, only sold for about one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty thousand taels. But in the blink of an eye, it increased tenfold.

Fang Jinglong felt his heart beating violently, even feeling some pain in his chest. He quickly covered his heart with his hand. Just moments ago he was saying “Wang Jinyuan, how dare you come,” but now he turned to Wang Jinyuan with a beaming smile, took a deep breath and said, “Manager Wang, please, please have a seat. Let’s talk sitting down.”

The Fang Family had struck it rich.

The news spread quickly.

No, it was more than just getting rich – somehow, that prodigal son had even taken first place in the Military Review and was awarded the Golden Belt.

The Capital was shaken.

It was said that their silver was carried in chest after chest into the mansion. Even the Great Ming Treasure Notes filled an entire chest. The property deeds were so thick you couldn’t hold them all in one hand. The vases, jars, and paintings that were transported in filled ten carts. Common antiques were simply thrown outside the gate – they complained these would take up too much space inside.

Others said that the Fang Family’s prodigal son, wearing his Golden Belt, was strutting around the house naked, so proud he might as well have grown a tail pointing straight to the sky.

Now everyone on the streets was talking about feng shui.

As a result, feng shui masters carrying cloth banners and Luopan on their backs suddenly became highly sought after, their value skyrocketing.

How to explain such a supernatural phenomenon? Many people pondered deeply. Upon reflection, even a scoundrel like the Fang Family member could receive the Golden Belt – never mind that, but he could also get rich? The only scientific explanation was… the Fang Family’s ancestral grave was well-positioned and had emitted green smoke.

This shows how crucial the location of an ancestral grave is. Fate comes first, luck second, feng shui third – the ancients truly didn’t deceive us.

The various charlatans and feng shui masters, with tears in their eyes, practically wished they could bow at Fang Jifan’s feet and call him Grandmaster, paint his image, frame it, and worship it day and night at home.

Spring had arrived, and it was the season for mating… uh… it should be: spring had arrived, and it was time for feng shui masters to get rich.

Fang Jifan now wore gold and silver, dressed in the finest silk robe. It was said this silk was made from silkworm cocoons personally picked by young maidens from Songjiang, then woven by the best weavers.

Every stitch and thread was exquisitely crafted. Such clothing cost at least twenty-something taels on the market – equivalent to a year’s expenses for seven or eight well-off families. But was Fang Jifan someone who cared about money?

The mansion had suddenly returned to its former state. The long benches and willow wood tables were gone, replaced by ebony Official’s Hat Armchairs and sandalwood tables. Painted with black lacquer, then hollowed out and carved with patterns – two words described it: impressive!

Fang Jifan now sat in this Official’s Hat Armchair, holding a Tea Cup. The tea was Sparrow Tongue tea from Jiulongke, extremely precious and said to be worth its weight in Gold. After taking a sip, his whole body felt comfortable and relaxed!

At this moment, however, Fang Jifan put down his Tea Cup and sighed melancholically.

It was already the third day. He didn’t know if his three disciples would come. Would they perhaps take the money and run?

Fang Jifan was actually quite concerned about those three guys, so today he didn’t go out, patiently waiting here instead.

When it was almost noon, the gateman finally came to report: “Duke, three Xiucai are here to visit. They presented name cards, but this humble one cannot read them.”

“Bring them here.” Fang Jifan took the name cards and saw written on them: “Your students Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Jiang Chen pay respects to our Esteemed Mentor.”

They actually came!

Fang Jifan laughed heartily. “Call them in!”