Chapter 1489 Calculation
Zhulan didn't know about the morning court. She was very busy. As soon as she left the palace, she sent people out of the capital to check on the three farms and prepare the materials donated by her family.
When he returned home, the Zhouhou Mansion had already received many donation orders. The Ning family was the empress dowager's maternal family, so they naturally followed the empress dowager closely. The Ran family was the Concubine Ran's maternal family, so they also gave generously.
However, the Ran family’s financial resources were still insufficient, and they were not prominent in the donation list.
This time the donation was made on a family basis. The Ning family was low-key and had a deep foundation. Zhulan was very moved when she saw the donation list. They donated 20,000 taels of silver alone.
The list of donations needed to be compiled, so Zhulan handed it over to her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, both of whom she had brought up. They were all capable and could help her a lot.
Liu Jia returned to her parents' home, accompanying Ma.
Liu Jia handed over the donation list from her mother's family, "Grandma, this is the supplies donated by the Liu family."
Zhulan picked it up and glanced at it. It was a difficult situation for the Liu family. After Liu Jia got married, she almost emptied the family assets of the Liu family. Last year, the Wen family took the lead in donating a lot. The Liu family also donated some when she organized an art appreciation event. They donated again this time. It was not easy for the Liu family.
Zhulan picked up a pen and crossed out some items on the list. Under Ma's surprised gaze, she said, "These are enough."
It was obvious that this list was beyond the Liu family's ability to bear.
Ma's ears blushed. Well, when it comes to matching up, the Liu family is still a little bit behind among Marquis Zhou's relatives. In order to make her daughter look good on both sides, she had put a lot of thought into this list. If it weren't for her second daughter-in-law, the list would have been even uglier.
Liu Jia breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't agree with her mother saving face for her, but her mother wouldn't listen.
Zhao took a quick look and lowered her head to continue recording, but she was thinking about her son-in-law in her heart. Hey, he has to donate even if he is not in the capital, so as not to give him any excuse.
Zhulan was busy until the evening, her forehead and neck were stiff. Looking at the thick list, the workload was not small.
Zhou Shuren came back and took the booklet with the records. After flipping through it, he was not surprised. "Today alone, 120,000 taels of silver were donated?"
Zhulan rubbed her neck, "Is it a lot?"
"It's a lot."
Zhu Lan sneered, "What is most lacking now is supplies, and food is the most scarce of all. Some people are really good at making trouble, only donating money, but not food and other supplies at all."
Zhou Shuren raised his eyebrows, "Sure enough, you are not quiet."
"Fortunately, we have been operating for so many years and have laid a solid foundation of allies. With your status, it is not bad to receive donated supplies."
Zhou Shuren put down the booklet, "They definitely won't think that you are in great need of starting money."
The coldness on Zhulan's face disappeared, and she smiled, "Yes, they calculated wrongly. With the start-up money, I can buy a farm, buy land, and build a greenhouse. In fact, what I lack most is money."
Zhou Shuren curled his lips and said, "Tomorrow I will give Elder Wen more incentives, and I will get even more money."
Zhulan, "Well, I believe in your acting skills."
Zhou Shuren massaged his wife's neck, "Don't be too tired."
"There are too many people waiting to see me make a fool of myself so that they can take advantage of you. This is the first private orphanage, so I must run it well."
Zhou Shuren's eyes were gentle, "Okay."
The next day, Zhou Shuren had a gloomy face at the morning court. Old Master Wen narrowed his eyes and there was no unnecessary expression on his face, but from his relaxed attitude, it could be seen that the old master was in a good mood.
There were still many people in the Wen family who had not donated. When they saw Marquis Zhou looking unhappy today, they thought the plan had worked.
The prince looked at his grandfather with sympathy. He had suffered so many losses, so why didn't he learn his lesson?
After the morning court session ended, Old Master Wen nodded to Zhou Shuren, then left with his people, his steps brisk.
Zhou Shuren stood there without moving. Wang Ju came over and asked, "What happened?"
Zhou Shuren said calmly: "Some people only remember to eat but not to be beaten."
Wang Ju, "Hmm?"
Zhou Shuren's voice was too low for anyone to hear, so he motioned for Wang Ju to follow him. After the two of them left the palace, Zhou Shuren told her about the donation.
Wang Ju, "We are waiting to see the Zhou family make a fool of themselves!"
The news of Yang working as a servant will spread to all states sooner or later. If the private orphanage is run well, it will be a success. If it is not run well, it will be a big blow to the Zhou family. Everything is a double-edged sword, especially when women work as servants. Now there are constant troubles at the beginning. If it really fails, he is really worried about the Zhou family.
Zhou Shuren saw Wang Ju's serious face and asked, "Are you scared?"
Wang Ju pressed his brows and said, "I'll send someone back to prepare some more supplies."
Zhou Shuren's smile deepened. "No need. In fact, private orphanages are in great need of money to start up. The Wen family's plan actually helped my wife. However, we do need the Wang family's help. My wife has already sent people to buy manors in various states. Please help with the Wang family's connections in the states."
Wang Ju came back to her senses, "Are you afraid that the Wen family will come back to their senses and secretly stop us?"
"Well, let them be complacent for now, and take advantage of the time difference to buy out all the farms first."
He and his wife wrote a lot of letters last night. Alas, the Zhou family is still too slow to rise. If the Zhou family had children serving as officials in various states, it would be easier for them to do their work.
Wang Ju did not have much confidence in Yang. The ideas she had developed since childhood would not change easily. The Wang family trusted Zhou Shuren and believed that Zhou Shuren was controlling everything behind the scenes. Even if Zhou Shuren praised Yang in various ways, Wang Ju had heard it so much that she thought Zhou Shuren loved Yang too much.
Now hearing Zhou Shuren say that it was all Yang's idea, he was stunned, "You didn't lie to me?"
Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes, "My wife is really no worse than me."
My wife has gained the trust of the entire royal family with her own abilities. Even if the royal family trusts him, it will not be because he trusts my wife. My wife has proved herself with her own strength.
Wang Ju was a little dazed, especially after hearing some of the subsequent plans, her heart became extremely complicated.
Zhou Shuren snorted. This was just the beginning. The book compiled by his wife had not been published to the world yet.
At the Zhou family, Li frowned, "Mom, there are more donations today, take a look at the banknotes."
Zhu Lan raised her eyebrows and said to Su Xuan, "Send someone with silver to buy glass, and then find a craftsman to build the greenhouse."
Su Xuan, "I'll arrange it now."
Afterwards, Zhulan said to the female official, "I still need you to stay in the town and go to the manor to collect supplies."
The female official received the Queen Mother's order and followed the words of Madam Zhou. She represented the Queen Mother and was in charge of the storage of supplies. No one dared to touch the supplies. "Yes."
Li helped her mother sit down, "My daughter-in-law thought it was easy to open an orphanage!"
It's only been two days and she's already been so busy that she feels dizzy.
Zhulan, "Everything is difficult at the beginning, but it will get better in the future."
He paused, then said to Zhao: "Record all the accounts clearly and record the source of every sum of money in detail."
Zhao was the most meticulous and was best at keeping accounts.
In the restaurant, Chang Li did not sleep all night. The boy he rescued had a fever. His son also had a fever last night and drank medicine. He did not dare to rest and stayed by his side. He raised his hand and touched his son's red face, feeling extremely distressed.
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