Forced to marry, I picked up a young powerful official

Chapter 243: Stop forcing me

"What else can we do?" Shen Nankui tried hard to pretend nothing happened.

Hehua looked at her teasingly and pointed at her neck.

Shen Nankui looked down and saw the marks on her body. Her face turned red and she quickly pulled up her collar to cover them.

"Is this what you call being drunk?" Hehua couldn't hide the smile on his face.

Shen Nankui was so embarrassed that she stretched out her hand to scratch her body. "You are getting more and more aggressive when you open your mouth. You are a serious girl on weekdays. Who did you learn to be bad from?"

Hehua was tickled by her and laughed so hard that tears almost came out. She quickly begged for mercy: "Madam, girl, I was wrong, please forgive me!"

After laughing and joking for a while, Shen Nankui washed up, had breakfast, played with Ah Nao for a while, and then got down to business.

"Have you collected all the money that the ladies pledged yesterday?"

He Hua handed over the list, "Except for one family, the others have all been taken back."

"Oh, who is it?" Shen Nankui asked.

"It was Madam Huang. She pledged one thousand taels of silver yesterday, but when we sent someone to collect it, she told us that she had called the wrong number yesterday. In the end, she only gave five hundred taels and sent our people back."

"The Huang family..." Shen Nankui murmured, "The master of the Huang family works in the state government. I heard from Yichuan that Master Huang was the confidant of the previous state governor."

He Hua spat, "Who is she? How can she deny what she said? She is from one of the five major families. How can she be short of a mere 1,000 taels of silver? She went back on her word and missed half of the silver. It's too despicable. Madam, why don't we send someone to get it back? After all, she signed the name on the list herself. How can she regret it?"

Shen Nankui shook her head. "No, I heard from Aunt Zhang that Madam Huang is kind and gentle, and she doesn't seem like someone who would contradict her words and deeds. I'm afraid she has some difficulties, which is why she is like this. Fundraising is voluntary, and the purpose is to let these ladies accept the Women's Academy first. It's up to them to donate as much as they want. We shouldn't force them."

He Hua nodded, "Okay then."

Shen Nankui said: "Remember, don't spread it out, so as to avoid criticism."

"Don't worry, ma'am. I understand."

Shen Nankui handed her the list and said, "I'm too lazy to count. Just take a look at how much money we have raised in total."

After He Hua finished the calculation, he said, "It's a total of 11,800 taels of silver."

Shen Nankui smiled with satisfaction, "This money is more than enough to start a college."

……

With the funds in hand, Shen Nankui began to plan for the establishment of the academy. He spent half a month buying a suitable piece of land in the east of the city, hired bricklayers, and prepared to start construction.

The Zhang family contributed a lot in this matter.

After all, Shen Nankui had only been in Yongzhou for less than a year, and she was not clear about the market prices of the clay, tiles, stones and wood involved in the construction. Most of the purchases were made by the Zhang family, so during the period of preparation for the start of construction, Zhang Qiongsi had always been by her side to give her advice.

The construction of the academy has already begun, so Shen Nankui has less to worry about.

It is now the end of February, although it is not yet March, but the climate in the south of the Yangtze River is warmer than that in the north. The willows by the river are sprouting, and the flowers are blooming. Spring is everywhere.

After being busy for so long, Shen Nankui also wanted to thank Zhang Qiongsi properly and suggested inviting her to have tea and listen to opera, or to a banquet and wine in a restaurant. However, Zhang Qiongsi said it was boring. She had heard of Tao Ru's name from Shen Nankui a long time ago, and knew that almost all the rouge in Yanxia Pavilion was made by her. She had admired her for a long time. In addition, she had never been to Yunxi Ancient Town before, so she wanted to go there for a stroll.

Shen Nankui agreed with a smile, "Yunxi Ancient Town is built by the water. The scenery should be pretty good at this time of year."

Come to think of it, she hasn't seen Tao Ru for a long time.

After the workshop was expanded, a new group of people were recruited. There were many things that needed Tao Ru to take care of, so she couldn't leave. Shen Nankui was also very busy, and if there was anything, he would ask He Hua or Zhong Shan to convey it.

Actually, the two met once in the twelfth lunar month and never saw each other again after the New Year.

Zhang Qiong thought, "This is our first meeting, so I should prepare some gifts for Miss Tao. Sister Nankui, shall we go pick some together?"

"Okay." Shen Nankui agreed happily.

The sun in early spring was warm but not ostentatious, and it felt particularly comfortable on the body. The two of them strolled along the street like this. Zhang Qiongsi bought a lot of things at once, including sachets, handkerchiefs, candies and snacks... Her arms were filled with red beans.

Shen Nankui laughed, "Enough, enough, Hongdou can hardly see the road."

She hurriedly asked Hehua to help get some.

Seeing Hehua coming to help, Hongdou smiled at her ingratiatingly. The two had quarreled before, but since the masters had reconciled, they also put aside their grudges.

As he walked, Zhang Qiongsi suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in front of him.

"Hey, it seems to be Aunt Huang?"

Is it Mrs. Huang?

Shen Nankui looked up and the latter seemed to have seen them as well. After hesitating for a moment, he walked towards them.

"Mrs. Gu, Miss Zhang, are you guys out for a stroll too?"

"Yes, it's a coincidence that we met each other."

Shen Nankui exchanged a few words with her, and when both parties were about to part, Mrs. Huang hesitated for a moment and suddenly grabbed Shen Nankui.

"Mrs. Gu, can I have a word with you?"

Shen Nankui smiled and nodded, "Of course."

The two of them walked to the side, but Mrs. Huang didn't say anything for a long time, her face full of shame and embarrassment.

Shen Nankui saw this and understood, so he asked, "Mrs. Huang, are you talking about the donation?"

"This……"

Mrs. Huang nodded, but stopped talking.

Shen Nankui smiled gently, "You don't need to explain. I know your character. I think there must be some unavoidable reason for you to do this. It has been so long since the incident happened. Now the construction of the academy has started. There is no need for you and me to mention it again, let alone tell others."

Mrs. Huang knew clearly that for so long, it was Shen Nankui who had kept the secret for her and did not spread the news of her regret for the donation. Otherwise, how could she still have face among so many ladies from aristocratic families?

"Ugh!"

She sighed heavily, "Mrs. Gu has devoted herself to me. Since I have accepted her love, there is no need to hide it. It is my turn to apologize..."

Shen Nankui smiled and shook his head, "Don't say that. I just did my best. The bricks and stones used in the academy now also come from your contribution. Isn't that enough?"

Mrs. Huang showed a trace of gratitude on her face. "Mrs. Gu, your character is truly respectable. I am not afraid of you laughing at me. I promised to donate before, and I never thought of regretting it. It's my master, he..."