Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Why Did This Family Hide So Much Money?

The sealing of the two jars was so tight that everyone scraped for a long time but still hadn’t cleaned it off.

Qi Zheng, getting a bit irritated, cursed directly: “Use fire to scorch it!”

The pre-warmed candle would melt, which was the method Qi Zheng had just thought of.

Qi Dafu and a few others hurried to get some candles, melting the top layer of the wax seal bit by bit along the edge of the jar.

On the other side, Qi Quanli let out another shocked yell.

Everyone quickly looked over, and as a result, everyone was stunned by what they saw.

The layer of Silver Ingots just now was shocking enough, but now at the bottom of the box, there was actually a layer of gold ingots.

Although not placed as tightly as the Silver Ingots, each golden piece was dazzling enough to make everyone’s eyes blur.

“Father, this, this…”

Qi Dafu opened his mouth, but for a moment didn’t know what to say.

It was too overwhelming!

Even in this life, he was afraid that the money he earned in his next life added up wouldn’t be as much as this.

Qi Zheng’s heart was also thumping wildly.

“Fourth brother, move that box over there first!”

Qi Zheng’s voice was trembling, forcing himself to look away from the glittering silver and gold scene.

Qi Quanjin came to his senses, hurriedly pulled Qi Quanli by his side, and the two brothers moved the box a little further away, placing the original two layers of Silver Ingots back on top and covering it, afraid of being dazzled again by the silver inside.

Now everyone remained silent, keeping their previous actions.

Not to mention the wax seal, even their breathing became abnormal.

Yi Meng, seeing everyone’s unusual state and wary of problems, hurried to remind, “Father, quickly see what’s in the jars. Once confirmed, we can make the next arrangements.”

This reminder not only alerted Qi Zheng but also the others.

To say they weren’t tempted or ecstatic would be lying.

Fortunately, the Qi Brothers were well-educated from a young age, so they didn’t appear blinded by money or go insane.

However, while everyone was still busy with their tasks, their eyes frequently glanced towards the nearby box.

During this time, someone got burned by the wax oil, winced but said nothing.

Finally, the jar was opened.

Without even needing the candle light near, they could see it was full of Copper Coins.

“Oh my! What did this family do before to have so much money?”

Qi Sangui’s legs went weak, and he fell to the ground.

Qi Sangui, usually the quietest, was now equally shocked, and the others even more so.

Even Yi Meng couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Seeing the silver ingot and gold ingots, she was shocked, surprised, and ecstatic, yet still shaken by the sight of the jar full of Copper Coins.

Such a large jar of Copper Coins, if taken out, would be quite a bit.

“Everyone, calm down, calm down.”

Qi Zheng said, covering his face with his hand and rubbing hard several times, then said: “This money, we can’t keep it all to spend.”

“Huh? Father, what do you mean?”

Qi Quanli was the first to express confusion.

Hadn’t it just been said that it belonged to our family?

Qi Zheng glared at him and then looked at the others present.

After a long while, he sighed, saying, “Do you all remember why that family was exiled! How many of those officials didn’t oppress us commoners?”

“The previous owners of this courtyard, though distant relatives, were implicated, suggesting their relationship wasn’t far. And look at these things, they probably didn’t oppress the poor here any less.”

“Although our Qi Family isn’t some great family with no high officials, we have conscience.”

“This money, who knows how much is earned by others’ blood and sweat. If we keep it all, how are we different from those bad officials who bully the poor?”

Qi Zheng’s voice wasn’t loud, nor was his speech fast, but every word he spoke was like a heavy hammer, thumping on everyone’s heart.

After being poor commoners for so many years, not knowing how much the government had extorted from them, now hearing their father’s words, everyone fell into contemplation.

After a while, Qi Quanli weakly asked, “Father, are you planning to turn all this money over to the government?”

“Why hand it over to the government?”

Qi Zheng retorted, “This is discovered by our Qi Family, so it’s our Qi Family’s money! I’m saying we can’t spend all of it guilt-free!”

“If you feel guilty, then how do you spend it? Worryingly?”

Qi Quanli couldn’t control his mouth and blurted out.

This angered Qi Zheng, about to scold, when Yi Meng said: “How about we divide this money into two parts. One part belongs to our family. As for the rest, we keep it first, and when conditions and opportunities arise in the future, we do something to help others. Father, is this what you mean?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

Qi Zheng nodded.

See, it takes a learned daughter-in-law like the fourth one to understand instantly.

Thinking of this, Qi Zheng glanced at Qi Quanli: “After we build a new village, let’s build a school, just charge a nominal fee, and give children proper lessons, teaching them more about human values and principles.”

He paused, then continued: “From ages six to twenty, let them all enter school!”

The youngest son is seventeen this year, even if he enters school, he can study for a year or two, which is better than skipping around like a monkey as he is now.

The others agreed, except Qi Quanli, who widened his eyes: “Father, twenty is so old already. Why study? I think below sixteen is enough!”

If it’s set at twenty, he’ll have to study.

He doesn’t want to!

“What? Does your father’s word not count?”

Qi Zheng glared.

Qi Quanli immediately shrank his neck but still didn’t want to give up: “Father, twenty-year-olds can already marry…”

“Getting married doesn’t delay studying! Look at those scholars going to the capital for exams, how many of them are young?”

Qi Zheng scolded angrily.

Qi Sangui quietly chimed in: “I remember the teacher said at the beginning: learning is endless, live and learn.”

“Third brother, shut up!”

Qi Quanli knew trouble was brewing as soon as he heard it.

Even with his third brother saying so, the others surely had no objections.

But among the youngsters in the family, he’s the only one under twenty!

Qi Zheng cast an approving glance at Qi Sangui: “Third brother is right, live and learn! That’s it; it’s decided. Sixth son, after you go study, come back and share with us, so we can learn too.”

In that moment, for Qi Quanli, the gold and silver lost their allure.

Seriously, why did this family hoard so much money!

Couldn’t they just save enough for their house?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep