"What good news?" Lian Manman hurriedly asked.
"...The purchase of the estate was made with reward silver." Wu Lang replied.
"Reward silver?!" Lian Manman blinked.
It was indeed good news. As expected, matters beneficial to farming and mulberry cultivation would earn rewards, even if Wu Lang hadn’t gone to the Capital with Shen Liu this ti. Since the Emperor had personally summoned Wu Lang, he certainly wouldn’t be stingy with such a generous gift of silver.
Looking at the silver note Wu Lang brought back, he only spent over two thousand taels of silver in the Capital this ti. If it wasn’t spent on buying estates, then it all went into securing connections.
"...The Emperor granted two thousand taels of reward silver, and I used it all to buy estates. The money I took from ho was used for various expenses, and I bought a small house for Mr. Loo behind the Hanlin Academy." Wu Lang told Lian Manman.
Mr. Loo had never served in an official capacity in the Capital, and although he was personally summoned by the Emperor, so necessary expenses were unavoidable. Additionally, Mr. Loo did not have a residence in the Capital, so Wu Lang took it upon himself to buy a house for Mr. Loo to live in temporarily.
"I actually wanted to buy sothing better, but Mr. Loo stopped ," Wu Lang laughed, "He said his family couldn’t co to the Capital for the ti being, and with fewer people around, having fewer affairs to manage, a bigger house would be inconvenient.... Mr. Loo likely won’t stay long as a Grand Scholar at the Hanlin Academy; once he enters the cabinet, housing will be awarded from above."
Spending money on Mr. Loo was considered entirely appropriate by the whole family.
Now the family was indeed not lacking in silver coin matters. Although Wu Lang said it was good news, the idea of reward silver, even when granted personally by the Emperor, didn’t quite match Lian Manman’s expectations for "great" news.
Moreover, Wu Lang was never soone to exaggerate.
"Brother, is the great news you ntioned just the Emperor giving us two thousand taels of silver?" Lian Manman asked Wu Lang.
"Of course not." Wu Lang laughed.
"Brother, stop keeping us in suspense, just tell us, what exactly is it?" Lian Manman continued to press.
"Besides the reward silver, His Majesty has given us another honor." Wu Lang smiled leisurely as he spoke.
"What honor?" Lian Manman had to ask again. She noticed that after a trip to the Capital, Wu Lang had beco more composed, and there was a subtle cunning beneath his steadiness. Even when it was such "great" news, he was able to maintain his calm and keep everyone in suspense.
"...Aside from the reward silver, His Majesty also bestowed an official position." Wu Lang finally said.
"Really?!" The family all widened their eyes; an official position was indeed more precious than reward silver, and it was considered significant news for them. After all, it would take years for Wu Lang to advance and beco an official through examinations.
"Wu Lang, what official position did His Majesty grant you?" Lady Zhang hurriedly asked, "Where is this position located, do you have to take office imdiately...?"
"My son beca an official!" Lian Shouxin, who had just cald down, beca excited again.
"Wu Lang, did you really beco an official?" Lian Zhizhi also asked.
"Brother, what kind of official?" Xiao Qi also asked.
Only Lian Manman was not anxious at this mont, she looked at Wu Lang with a knowing smile.
"...It’s the position of the Middle Secretary, a Seventh Rank official." Wu Lang picked the most crucial question to answer from the nurous inquiries.
"That would be a rank lower than our county’s Magistrate, right?" Lian Shouxin asked.
"Correct." Wu Lang nodded.
The Magistrate of Jinyang County, the local parental official, was also a regular Seventh Rank. So Magistrates in smaller counties were even less than Seventh Rank, being also from the Seventh Rank. A Seventh Rank official, especially one personally conferred by the Emperor, was a rare honor and prestige.
"Back then, the head of the family held an office of only the Eighth Rank, didn’t he?" Lady Zhang murmured softly.
"Mother, we shouldn’t compare ours with that one." Lian Manman laughed.
"Indeed, incomparable. That was a position purchased with money, while ours is a legitimate appointnt bestowed by the Emperor." Lian Shouxin quickly agreed.
"Right, right, no comparison." Lady Zhang nodded, "Wu Lang, your official robe, quickly put it on and let your mother take a look.... Where is this position located, is it far?"
Lady Zhang, happy for Wu Lang’s official status, was also worried he might have to work far away.
"Brother, do you have any more news? Hurry, you’ve got everyone all teased." Lian Manman looked at Wu Lang with a smile.
"Is your brother teasing us? Is this official appointnt fake?" Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, overjoyed beyond asure, turned to look at Lian Manman upon hearing her say this.
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