Chapter 122 This is a congratulatory gift personally chosen by our Marquis Zhongyong. "On this day..."
After the incident involving breastfeeding, Lin Daiyu remained very reserved for several days. Even when Mu Chuan teased her, saying that she was trying to manipulate him into obeying, she endured it without reacting.
But to Mu Chuan, that restrained expression was a unique kind of deliciousness.
After Huang Guihua led Lin Daiyu on a tour of Linjia Village, Mu Chuan found a good day and took Lin Daiyu up the mountain.
Mu Chuan wore a black and gold civil and military robe, dressed very neatly, with a large sword hanging on one side of his waist and a bow and arrows on the other.
Lin Daiyu was very pleased with it and said with a smile, "It's fortunate that Third Brother has a thick waist—no, I mean a robust build—that there's still room for him to hang his water bag."
"Isn't it all for you?" Mu Chuan pretended to glare at her. "And the snacks you like to eat."
Lin Daiyu was dressed very neatly today. She had changed into long lambskin boots, pulled her skirt up, and wore a narrow-sleeved top—it was definitely an outfit for going out.
The two walked up the mountain along the stone-paved path. Mu Chuan said proudly, "I only paved this path after I came back. Before, it was a muddy path made by people walking on it. You would be covered in dust after going up and down it."
Lin Daiyu praised him, saying, "Third Brother is a very good person."
Mu Chuan laughed and said, "Well, this road hasn't been paved into the deep mountains yet. Nobody goes there anyway, so it would just fall into disrepair even if it were paved."
There were quite a few people in this section. This season is also the season when various mountain products ripen, and there are quite a few people coming to pick mountain products and hunt.
The voices gradually disappeared after walking a while longer.
“I really like Lin Family Village.” Lin Daiyu stepped forward and took Mu Chuan’s hand. “Everyone smiles when they see me, and they speak so sweetly.”
Mu Chuan chuckled twice: "That's because they knew we were coming back. Those who weren't popular were either locked up or sent to stay outside."
Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him, and Mu Chuan said seriously, "I also like Lin Family Village, but I like you even more."
Lin Daiyu felt a surge of warmth in her heart and blushed slightly: "Why are you bringing this up again out of the blue?"
I will tell you about it every day.
Lin Daiyu let go of his hand and took two steps forward.
Mu Chuan said thoughtfully, "Speaking of which, when I was a child, I took my younger brother up the mountain to collect firewood, and I think I got a beating from my mother."
Lin Daiyu chuckled: "Last time you said you were going to play with Chuntao, but you tricked her into eating raw noodles. Who knew what you were doing taking your younger brother up the mountain to collect firewood?"
She turned to look at Mu Chuan, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "If you don't remember, I'll go ask Mother?"
"Sigh." Mu Chuan looked distressed. "Don't ask anymore. This is trying to sow discord within my family."
Lin Daiyu smiled and walked back to his side. Mu Chuan saw that no one was around, so he asked Lin Daiyu, "Shall I carry you up? Don't let your legs get sore again."
Thinking back to when she said her legs were sore, I wondered what had happened... "Are you tired?"
I'll say it again.
"You're not even as heavy as my armor."
After finding a rock of suitable height, Mu Chuan helped her up first, and then Lin Daiyu gently leaned on Mu Chuan's back.
Mu Chuan carried her step by step into the mountains: "This mountain has saved my Linjia Village more than once or twice."
Mu Chuan's voice was deep, and Lin Daiyu, lying on his back, could feel a slight vibration. She couldn't help but press closer to him: "Hmm?"
“There are all kinds of mountain products here. You know, those delicious fried mushrooms are from here. There are also herbs, firewood and so on. My mother said that in the second year after she married my father, it rained only three times in the whole year. Later, the old village chief led people into the mountains to hunt a tiger, so they didn’t have to leave their home and flee the famine.”
Lin Daiyu then said, "Then don't hide it from me. What if something really happens... you won't even have time to draw your sword."
Mu Chuan chuckled twice: "I'll throw you out first. Anyway, all I need to do is run faster than you."
"Third brother is naughty." Lin Daiyu punched him twice, and Mu Chuan laughed again: "Hold on tighter, or you'll fall."
After taking two more steps forward, Mu Chuan said, "There are no tigers in this area ahead. Many retired soldiers from Pingnan Town have also settled in Linjia Village. They have cleared the area several times. It's hard to even find a rabbit here."
"Oh my, it's been so long since I've had rabbit."
Mu Chuan gasped: "Bunny is so cute, and so fluffy."
These words, coupled with her third brother's exceptionally tall stature, created a striking contrast. Lin Daiyu laughed as she said, "You can eat three in one meal." She then asked, "Then why are you carrying a bow and arrow and a knife?"
Mu Chuan sighed, "I'm wearing a civil and military robe, I can't exactly wear a whole set of Beijing-style clothing on my sleeves, can I? What would that look like? I'm a military general, a military general with battle achievements!"
His voice sounded extremely aggrieved, and Lin Daiyu couldn't stop laughing, almost sliding off his back.
She reached into Mu Chuan's waist pouch and took out some snacks to feed him: "Third Brother, are you tired? Have something to eat?"
Mu Chuan deliberately bit her hand, but only lightly: "Young lady, your skin is so tender, why not give me up?"
Lin Daiyu quickly pulled her hand away and changed the subject, saying, "Watch where you're going."
Looking at the lush trees on the mountain, Mu Chuan was very satisfied: "The charcoal we burn at home is also produced in this mountain."
"The Records of the Grand Historian says that one does not sell firewood within a hundred li, nor buy grain within a thousand li. Our home is more than a hundred li away from Linjia Village, isn't it?"
Mu Chuan replied, "That's right. Within a hundred miles, about 30% of the cost is transportation. Beyond a hundred miles, the transportation cost will double. But it's the thought that counts, so I'll have them send a thousand catties of charcoal every month."
Since the topic had come up, Mu Chuan explained to Lin Daiyu in more detail: "Our family doesn't burn firewood. It's not very durable and produces a lot of smoke. We only keep some thin sticks for starting a fire. Our family mainly uses coal and charcoal alternately. Officials of the fifth rank and above in the Great Wei Dynasty can receive various kinds of charcoal issued by the court. Our family can probably make about four thousand catties in a winter."
"This isn't enough to burn, is it?" Lin Daiyu frankly admitted that she didn't know.
Mu Chuan said, “Of course it’s not enough. Just for cooking, four thousand catties is probably only enough for half a month. In winter, we burn red-hot charcoal for heating, which is a gift from the palace. The earthen heating system uses coal, which is bought from the Xixin Department. When officials buy it, the price varies according to their rank and the quantity. When our family buys it, it’s about half the market price. In any case, you won’t be cold.”
Lin Daiyu was doing her calculations when her third brother suddenly said something like that. She put her hand on Mu Chuan's neck and laughed, "Third brother has a fiery temper. If we don't have enough firewood in winter, I'll burn you."
"You're killing the goose that lays the golden eggs! Wouldn't it be better to keep a husband who can make a lot of money?"
Lin Daiyu laughed, her voice clear and bright, and in the distance, an unknown mountain bird echoed her laughter.
"What do you mean there's not enough firewood?" Madam Wang stared wide-eyed at Lin Zhixiao in disbelief.
Lin Zhixiao felt that he was a sucker. He used to be the steward of the Jia family and could make a fortune anywhere. Money just fell from his eyes.
Now, as the steward of the Jia family, he's short of money everywhere, busy every day robbing Peter to pay Paul. Forget about making money; he's lucky if he doesn't lose it all.
“Our family isn’t as large as it used to be, but winter is coming soon, and we need at least 500 catties of charcoal every day. Before, when Master was an official in the court, they could use his official credentials to find ways to buy good charcoal at low prices, but now…”
Madam Wang felt her head throbbing again: "The master's title is still valid, so why isn't it working?"
Lin Zhixiao remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "The master said that he can only buy this much, and his own household doesn't have enough. He also said that using his name card to buy charcoal is the same as buying charcoal directly from the charcoal shop, so we shouldn't use his name card."
"How dare he! Does he really want to break off all ties? Does he not even respect the old lady anymore?" Madam Wang scolded. "Didn't he ask your Second Mistress Lian?"
"I asked," Lin Zhixiao said listlessly. "I didn't see Second Madam. Ping'er came out and said that Second Madam is ill and that we should talk to her if we need anything, and not disturb her."
"What did she say?" Madam Wang hurriedly asked.
Lin Zhixiao replied, "He said that no matter where it is, just spare some silver. He also told me to hurry up, otherwise the price of charcoal will rise again in two days, and the good charcoal for heating the masters' rooms will be gone."
Madam Wang took a deep breath, feeling a tightness in her chest again: "How much silver can we burn in one winter?"
“The charcoal we usually use for cooking costs about 50 taels per 10,000 catties, while the good charcoal for heating for the old ladies and wives costs about 20 taels per 1,000 catties. We burn about 1,000 taels of charcoal every winter.”
"Didn't you say there were fewer people? Now there's not even this much silver left in the account?"
Lin Zhixiao lowered his head: "It has already been reduced. There is indeed no money left in the account... Originally there was some, but a few days ago you instructed us to prepare gold leaf to be applied to the mooncakes, and you also hired a tutor for the Third Miss, so there is not much left."
Madam Wang felt a throbbing headache, and she waved her hand, trying to drive away all these worries.
"No matter how much, let's buy some to get by first. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, we'll have some gifts to give back to our family, then we can sell them and buy more charcoal. Even if the price is high, let's just get through this month first."
Lin Zhixiao responded and was about to leave when Madam Wang stopped him again: "Strictly follow the old rules. Each person should have a certain amount of charcoal, and the maids should burn a certain amount of charcoal. Do not give more than necessary."
Lin Zhixiao then asked another question: "Where is Yuanyang?"
"She's in the old lady's room every day—not counting her!"
Madam Wang was irritable and restless. After seeing Lin Zhixiao off, she recited the sutra three times in front of the Bodhisattva but still couldn't calm down. She couldn't live like this anymore!
I can't live like this anymore!
When Grandmother Jia saw the gifts sent by the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion, she expressed the same sentiment as Lady Wang.
The gift was delivered by Liu [Shen's mother], who was most familiar with the Rongguo Mansion and took the initiative to accept the task.
Although Grandmother Jia could no longer maintain her image as a kind old lady in front of the Jia family, Shen Mama was an outsider after all, so she still had a smile on her face.
"You look kind, which means we are destined to meet."
How could she not look kind? Last time, she was still Liu Mama from the Lin family.
Yuanyang wished she could kneel down and kowtow twice to this Liu [Shen's mother], just begging her not to let it slip.
Madam Shen gave Yuanyang a reassuring look and said with a smile, "Our lady doesn't need to worry about what to send; everything was chosen by our master."
"This is a birthday gift for you, old ginseng." Madam Shen opened the box and showed it to Grandmother Jia. "It has the root head and the bowl, for you to use to nourish your body."
"And this too," Madam Shen said with a smile. "This is a Mid-Autumn Festival gift, which our master personally selected."
Mu Chuan is a petty person and holds grudges.
Last time, the Rongguo Mansion sent him a New Year's gift under the guise of Lin Daiyu; it was a standard, Beijing-style New Year's gift.
The almanac, Spring Festival couplets, and paper-cut window decorations, along with a jar of wine and two spores.
The Mid-Autumn Festival gift that Mu Chuan chose was also in this style.
Four red lanterns, one jar each of osmanthus wine and osmanthus honey, one box of mooncakes, and one basket of crabs.
Grandmother Jia's eyes widened in astonishment. What did this mean?
Sending her ginseng...is it an insult that she can't even afford ginseng anymore?
And this Mid-Autumn Festival gift? She gave a dowry of two million taels of silver, and she didn't return home for three days, fine, but this is all the return gift she received? Who does he think he is!
Shen's mother was still smiling and urging, "The crabs were just caught this morning and tied up. Eat them quickly, or they'll smell fishy if they die."
Yuanyang noticed that Grandmother Jia's expression was off, so she quickly changed the subject and pulled Shen Mama to see her out: "I heard that the Zhongyong Earl's family has moved to the north of the city. It's a long way, so I won't keep you any longer."
Mother Shen smiled and said, "It's alright. There's also the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence in the city. I can stay one night and go back without any problem."
It's fine for you, but it's a problem for me!
Yuanyang grabbed her arm and tried to pull her out. After hesitating for a moment, Shen's mother asked Yuanyang to pull her.
When Yuanyang returned after seeing the person off, she heard Grandmother Jia scolding, "I can't live like this anymore!"
However, even worse things were yet to come.
Late at night, when all was quiet, Madam Wang came over alone and hesitantly advised, "Old Madam, the manor is short of money everywhere these days. Ginseng is a heaty stuff, so why don't we sell it?"
"I can't live like this anymore!"
"Get out of here!"
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