Chapter 1988: Inherited
"Then you can't lend... lend," Old Zhou said seriously, "It's not a big deal like getting medical treatment or getting married. You have to borrow money to buy things. You can't have financial dealings with people who spend money without knowing how to count. They're just like your fourth brother. Who knows when he might do something wrong?"
He said, "People like your fourth brother shouldn't have too much cash on hand. They can spend whatever they have and feel at ease when it's gone. You are not allowed to imitate the second young master of the Bai family, do you understand?"
Manbao nodded.
"You mentioned it to Bai Shan, but he won't learn it," Old Zhou said worriedly. "Actually, I wanted to tell Master Bai about it, but Master Bai thought the Second Young Master was very smart, so I didn't mention it anymore."
Manbao nodded repeatedly and agreed to whatever her father said.
Then Old Zhou told his daughter the main reason for coming this time. "Where did you hide your money? Do you want me to take it back to your hometown and hide it? I'll use it as a dowry when you get married."
Manbao immediately shook his head and said, "Dad, I'm in Beijing. I'll keep the money with me and can only be withdrawn when I need it."
Old Zhou said, "If you need money, ask your fourth brother for it. And your eldest brother and his wife, they all have money."
Old Zhou thought for a moment and whispered to her, "Dad, let me tell you, your fourth and fifth sisters-in-law are all rich. Save your money..."
Manbao: ...
Seeing that he couldn't convince his daughter, Old Zhou could only sigh and say, "Okay, you can keep it yourself, but you have to spend it sparingly. Don't pay for the flowers at home, okay?"
He said schemingly, "You live in the palace, you don't have to worry about food and drink, the court provides you with clothes and other things, and Madam Liu even makes clothes for you from time to time, so let your brothers and sisters-in-law pay for the vegetables and meat at home."
He reached out and touched her head and said, "You are still young. I see that your temper is not as good as before. If you don't want to work in the palace in the future, you will have to buy some land and shops. With your good medical skills, you must open a pharmacy, right? This will cost money. Where will the money come from?"
Earned it! Manbao thought secretly.
Old Zhou said firmly, "It's the savings! I've already told your eldest brother and his wife that once we're gone, they'll take care of the household expenses. They'll just pay their monthly allowance, and the rice they use will be your stipend. Any extra rice is yours."
Manbao: "Dad, this is not good..."
"What's wrong with that? This is a matter of brothers settling accounts openly," Old Zhou said worriedly. "I only realized after coming to the capital that Bai Shan's family is so wealthy. If your dowry is too small, you'll be looked down upon when you go to Longzhou."
Old Zhou knew that the Bai family was rich before. After all, Mr. Bai had a lot of wealth and was the largest landlord in their area.
Even if his relatives came to seek refuge with him, they shouldn't be that bad.
It seems that Bai Shan has been ordering servants around since he was a child. Old Madam Liu and the others are dressed so well. I heard that they have several pieces of land in their hometown.
But when they arrived in the capital, the two families lived under the same roof, and Zhou Silang started doing business with the Bai family in Longzhou, and they all knew about the Bai family's financial situation.
Bai Shan's family has more than just a few plots of land in Longzhou. I heard they own land in the three prefectures south of Longzhou. Besides the land, they also have shops and villas...
Land in the capital is so expensive. Old Zhou, who once took a sack of copper coins from Manbao and wanted to buy her a piece of land as his private property, immediately gave up the idea after inquiring about the price of an acre of land.
But the Bai family has a farm on the border of the capital and Yongzhou, and it is not small.
Unlike Manbao's official land which could be taken back at any time, that farm belonged to Baishan and would be his forever.
In addition, the Bai family has two houses and two shops in the capital.
Old Zhou turned his head to look at Manbao, and happened to see the string of beads on her head. That was the one that Old Lady Liu had found and given to her two days ago. Because Zhou Silang was doing the pearl business this time, Old Lady Liu suddenly remembered that she had collected several sets of pearl jewelry.
They are too old to wear them, so I found a set to give to Manbao.
Old Zhou looked happy, but he was a little worried in his heart, "The Bai Shan family has everything good, but they are too rich."
Manbao said, "Isn't it good to have money?"
"That's good, but we don't have much money."
Manbao finally understood, "Are you saying that Baijia Qi Dafeiou?"
"What lotus root?"
Manbao smiled and said, "Dad, Grandma Liu, Aunt Zheng, and Bai Shan are not people who care about family background. Bai Shan and I are a good match. Besides, I don't think our family background is not worthy of theirs."
Old Zhou said, "I'm only at ease because your parents have done a favor for their family. Otherwise, I'd be really worried that you'd be wronged. But you also have to be careful of the people in their clan. I heard from your fourth brother that they were bullied in Longzhou as an orphan and a widow."
"Otherwise, they wouldn't have moved to Qili Village to seek refuge with Master Bai," Old Zhou sighed, shaking his head. "If you ask me, the people in their clan don't lack food or drink either. Why would they want to drive out the entire clan?"
Manbao didn't say anything.
Old Zhou sighed, and seeing that Manbao was unwilling to let him hide the money back in his hometown, he could only go back to report to his wife with regret.
Qian had never really approved of him interfering with Manbao's money, and when she saw him coming back with his hands behind his back and shaking his head, she knew he had failed.
She smiled and said, "So, does Manbao have an idea of his own?"
Old Zhou hummed and said nothing.
Qian said, "She was already managing the farm's fortune when she was seven or eight years old. Now that she's grown up, she's naturally more independent. Why should you worry about her?"
"Aren't I just worried that she'll be extravagant and won't be able to save money?"
Qian said calmly, "Don't worry, her ability to save money is inherited from our Zhou family, and it's as good as her medical skills."
Old Zhou thought of Manbao holding his purse, and found that it was true, so he became happy again.
He walked around the room and asked, "How are we packing up?"
"That's about it. I've taken everything I can take with me. If I can't take anything with me, I'll leave it here. I'll need it if I come to the capital again."
Old Zhou went to feel under the bed, but found nothing. Startled, he immediately bent down and looked over, "Mother, where's Manbao's money?"
Qian looked back and said helplessly, "I asked the fourth son to exchange it for silver. How are you going to transport such a big sack of copper coins back?"
She paused and said, "Otherwise, I'd better give it back to Manbao and keep it for himself."
"No," Old Zhou said righteously, "She spends money lavishly, I have to save some for her."
Qian stopped talking and let him go.
Old Zhou didn't want to stay in the house anymore. "I'll go ask Lao Si if he got the money back."
See you at 9pm
(End of this chapter)
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