Chapter 289 Saving Money on the Side
Unable to persuade her daughter, and with her husband always trying to persuade her out of concern for their daughter, Shen Guizhi felt both anxious and frustrated.
Would she force her daughter to get married? She had no other choice.
As long as she and her husband are alive, they can naturally protect the child. But if they pass away one day, can the child still expect her nephews to support her?
Don't be fooled by the fact that she used all her dowry to fill the family's financial hole and is now working with them to improve the family's economic situation. When she gets old and frail, who can guarantee that her brother, sister-in-law, and nephews won't go against their conscience and throw her away after using her money?
People change. Just because they are grateful to her now doesn't mean they will repay her in the future.
Thinking about all this, Shen Guizhi couldn't help but feel worried.
In the end, it was her husband, Yang Darong, who made the decision: "From now on, let our daughter save all the money she earns herself. Don't use it to supplement the family income or the security company anymore."
The new master arranged for his wife and daughter to be guards. Since they were female guards, they could help the master with odd jobs when they didn't need to fight. Therefore, the master paid them ten taels of silver a month.
As for him, his position was a junior steward of the girls' school, mainly responsible for the food, lodging, transportation, and security of the girls' school's teachers, students, and guards.
This job doesn't require him to have high combat skills. What he needs to do next is to make full use of his experience. On the one hand, he is responsible for training and dispatching the guards, and on the other hand, he is also responsible for handling various miscellaneous matters.
For example, leading people to carry out preliminary work before the team goes to the countryside, purchasing the materials needed by the team, and negotiating with relevant personnel in various villages and towns.
Because he had to handle many complicated matters and travel around with the mobile teaching team, Xie Wanniang paid him a high salary of sixteen taels a month.
With his monthly allowance far exceeding his expectations, he naturally gained the confidence and assurance to tell his daughter to save more money on her own.
Before meeting Xie Wanniang, their most optimistic estimate of their family's earning capacity was only twenty taels per month.
Now he and his wife have a high monthly income of 26 taels, so it's not a problem for their daughter to save some money on her own.
He instructed his wife, "You and your daughter must not tell anyone else how much our monthly allowance is. Even if it's your son or grandson, you must keep your mouth shut in front of them."
If his wife's family hadn't been depleted, he would have mentioned all his brothers-in-law and others.
Thinking of something, he turned to his wife with a stern face and said, “Don’t think that just because our daughter is alone, she might be left without support in her old age. Both of our children make a living as bodyguards. If something were to happen to them one day, we two old folks would be lucky if we didn’t have to raise our grandchildren ourselves, let alone rely on our children and grandchildren to support us in our old age.”
Shen Guizhi couldn't stand hearing this guy say such things. Hearing this, she glared fiercely at her husband, who had such a jinxed mouth. "Why are you spouting nonsense? If you don't want me to say it, I won't. But if you dare to talk nonsense and curse my son again..."
"No, no, I wouldn't dare, okay?" Yang Darong raised his hands in surrender. "I'm not trying to curse our son, I just hope you can prepare for the worst in advance."
Don't think that just because he came back late he didn't know. His two daughters-in-law were not only useless, but when things were at their worst, they even considered taking their children and some of their family assets back to their parents' home to avoid trouble.
Although his wife was formidable and quickly subdued them, completely extinguishing their thoughts of taking the children and the husband's family property, and their families also opposed their impulsive decision, forcing them to stay and weather the storm with their husband's family, it was truly hard to say what they might do in the future since they had once entertained such thoughts.
As the saying goes, "He who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present." When risks are unavoidable, it is indeed necessary for them to take precautions.
Shen Guizhi was able to maintain the situation under those circumstances, so she was not someone who would just run away from reality. Hearing her husband say this, she immediately said, "Then let's agree on a standard statement. No matter who asks, my daughter and I will receive six taels of silver a month, and you will receive eight taels. What do you think?"
This was the maximum amount they had estimated for their family after researching the market. Now, even if they lied about their income, their family members probably wouldn't suspect anything.
“Okay, we’ll do it your way.” Yang Darong nodded. “Remember to coordinate your story with your daughter as well.”
Shen Guizhi nodded to indicate that she understood, "Then how much silver should we send back each month?"
Yang Darong thought for a moment, "Eighteen taels, I suppose. Our family of three needs money to cover our daily expenses."
Although the host family was generous and helped them with their clothing and accommodation, they still had to cook for themselves when they weren't on duty.
In addition, there are essential daily necessities such as toilet paper and lamp oil, which they need to purchase from time to time.
And occasionally they want to eat some fresh seasonal fruit, or buy some meat to treat themselves.
Most importantly, they also have to maintain social relationships with other people.
All of these are reasonable expenses. If you calculate it carefully, a budget of two taels of silver per month is just right.
After subtracting 20 taels from 36 taels, there are 16 taels left. The daughter saves 10 taels, and the couple saves the remaining 6 taels, so everyone has some savings.
As for the escort agency, in order to appease the family of the deceased escort and compensate the employers who lost their property, his wife sold all the valuables in the house, including their daughter's dowry, to raise money.
Later, he, his brother, and his sons returned safely. The mastermind and several accomplices were arrested and questioned by the authorities. His family was cleared of their stigma, but because the other party did not return much money, the financial loss could never be fully recovered.
This is why he, his wife, and daughter took the initiative to find work. On the one hand, they wanted to be self-reliant; on the other hand, they also wanted to supplement their own security escort agency, which was running out of money and was in a less than optimistic economic situation.
On the contrary, their two daughters-in-law have kept their savings quite substantial.
Even during the most difficult time for the family, they did not offer any money to help the family through the crisis. Instead, they tried to abscond with the family property, leaving an even bigger mess for their daughter-in-law and daughter to bear the wrath of the employer and the family of the deceased镖师 (bodyguard/escort).
Even less than his sister-in-law. Although his brother only owned 30% of the security company, she still resolutely took out all her private savings.
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