Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 423: Chapter 423 Do you like it?_1

A large fruit orchard brought about close to four thousand taels in the account, and the Yang family also had a substantial income of nearly fifteen hundred taels.

The Zhou family’s largest income of the year was accounted for, and Zhulan was checking the year’s expenses. Last year, they had taken ten thousand taels from Jingzhou, leaving two thousand taels for household use.

The expenses for the year on food, clothing, housing, and transportation weren’t too high, costing over three hundred taels, mainly because fabric for clothing was expensive.

The bulk of the year’s spending was on gifts. Since Mr. Chen’s family gave precious gifts of silver, the Zhou family’s reciprocal gifts had to be decent as well, and after back and forth, over seven hundred taels were spent on gifts this year.

There were also expenses for jewelry. With the change of seasons, they would add one or two pieces of jewelry, and Zhulan had also ordered jade bracelets for several daughters-in-law, which was a major expense.

Plus, whenever they came across good fur and wood, they would save it for their daughters’ dowries.

The two thousand taels of silver had almost run out, and now the accounts only showed the silver coin from the autumn harvest and from selling apples.

Zhou eldest stood by his mother’s side, saw the final tallied figure, and took a sharp breath, ”Mother, does our family spend over two thousand taels a year?”

A few years ago, he thought ten taels a year was a lot. How few the years have been.

Zhulan, with her head lowered, said, ”It’s not a lot.”

Zhulan truly didn’t think it was much. Although they spent a lot, they had also saved, especially with fur, which now saved meant profited, as with the increasing population and economic development, the price of fur, wood, and the like would rise, even double.

With the opening of maritime trade, in just under two years, the price of fur had risen by ten percent compared to last year.

Zhou eldest covered his chest. This still wasn’t a lot? Mother had set up industries and land for the eldest household, and their income was only a little over a hundred taels this year. Thinking of income, the eldest household had less silver coin, truly no match for the second wife’s, he had calculated an account for the second brother, just the income from the melon and apple orchards was over a thousand taels a year.

Third household, the third sister’s silver was plenty, and the third brother’s wasn’t little either. Back in Pingzhou City, the third brother had received many gifts, said to have been sold on the way to Lizhou Province.

All the land of the third household had passed through his hands, just the income from their fields was over a hundred and fifty taels, not to mention some shops not yet accounted for.

Zhou eldest thought of Lady Li’s words, indeed their eldest household should strive harder.

Zhulan finished the accounts and asked her daughter to keep them. She then turned to Zhou eldest, ”I have prepared the yearly gifts. You tidy up, take them, and prepare to start the journey back to our hometown.”

Zhou eldest knew about buying the estate, and thinking about the silver on the accounts, ”Mother, although the land is vast and sparsely populated in Dongbei and the price of estate farmland is cheaper than in the south, the large estate you want to buy, the four thousand taels on the accounts won’t be enough.”

Zhulan, rubbing her shoulders, stood up and took out a deed that was prepared long ago, ”This is the two residences I bought back in the capital. One is at the border of Northwest City, the plot is large enough to build a three-courtyard house. I don’t plan to sell this residence; when we have ample silver later, we’ll rebuild. The other residence is in West City, the place is too small, I don’t plan to keep it.”

Zhulan handed the deed to Zhou eldest. ”In the past two years, Pinggang has prospered, and the prices of houses in the capital have risen too. Although not as much as Pinggang, our West City residence could see an increase of one or two hundred taels. I bought it for two thousand and eight hundred taels. It should sell for three thousand taels. On the way to the capital, stop by to see Scholar Deng and sell it. With the three thousand five hundred taels I’m giving you, it should be just about enough for the two estates.”

Zhulan said so much, thinking while she was at it, she might as well give all her instructions, ”If there are any silver taels left over, buy another twenty acres of land near Zhou family village and donate it to the clan school for its expenses.”

Zhou eldest remembered everything one by one, ”Mother, and our family’s old house?”

He remembered mother had talked about rebuilding it.

Zhulan hadn’t forgotten, their family’s old house had now been vacated, the eldest daughter had already bought land and built a house in Zhou family village, ”Let it sit for now, we’ll talk about it next year, and don’t forget to honor our ancestors.”

Zhou eldest always honored his ancestors each time he returned, ”Mother, I might forget anything, but I will never forget to honor the ancestors.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Mhm.”

Three days later, Zhou eldest set off with the prepared yearly gifts. Shortly after Zhou eldest left, Zhou second and Madame Zhao returned.

Zhou second was going to Jiangnan, but accompanying him was Steward Ding.

No matter whether Madame Zhao was pregnant or not, she was alone in Chuanzhou Province, and Zhulan was not at ease, so she came back to live for two months.

Zhou second and his wife returned with many things, two chests in front of Zhulan. Zhou second said, ”Mother, I met a fur merchant, and knowing you like fur, I bought some to bring back. Do you like them?”

Zhulan certainly liked them, ”It must have cost a fair amount of silver, huh?”

These furs were all of high quality, and several pelts didn’t come cheap.

Zhou second, smiling, ”Mother, your son has made quite a sum this year. You don’t need to worry about the silver. These are all things your son is filially presenting to you.”

Zhulan looked at Zhou second. After so many years, it seemed like the first time she was receiving something from Zhou second. Zhulan narrowed her eyes, thinking this was because she was pregnant and Zhou second was afraid she and Zhou Shuren would favor the younger son and felt a sense of crisis.

Inside the other chest were some fabrics and edibles.

Madame Zhao, holding a bundle, ”Mother, we heard you are expecting, so I made some clothes for the unborn child.”

Zhulan kept a straight face. She had almost forgotten Madame Zhao was pregnant too, and their due dates were not much different.

Zhou second looked at his teacup. He was troubled too. His son or daughter would be about the same age as his brother or sister.

Zhulan took the bundle and casually opened it, but upon seeing the tiny clothes inside, Zhulan fell silent.

Madame Zhao became anxious, ”Mother, don’t you like them?”

She had made the clothes according to her mother-in-law’s preferences. The mother-in-law liked daughters, so she specifically bought fabric for a baby girl to please her.

Zhulan smiled, ”I like them very much.”