Chapter 476 Gift Shop
Four thousand taels of silver was already a rich sum for a small household.
Even if the Xia family marries their legitimate daughter, the dowry is only four thousand taels of silver. After Zeng Ning did that shameless thing, Mrs. Zeng was able to spend four thousand taels of silver to buy a dowry for her. This is because of her mother's family. In terms of face, give Zeng Ning some face.
Mrs. Zeng was also very happy that Zeng Ning could be betrothed to the Tian family. She only hoped that Zeng Ning could be satisfied and stop dreaming about what she couldn't get. She hoped that she would do well and not have any evil thoughts. In the future, she also hopes that she If she can cherish her marriage with the second young master of the Tian family, she will be worthy of her mother's family's trust.
Because Zeng Ning's marriage was imminent, the previous preparations for Chu Yuexi and Zeng Jing's marriage were suspended, and preparations for Zeng Ning's marriage were focused on first.
Mrs. Zeng was old and couldn't bear the fatigue, so all the housework was placed on Xia Zihan. And this year, she had a dozen Zhuangzi in her hands, and several Zhuangzi from the Chu family were also here. When it was time to pay the bill, Xia Zihan was so busy that he didn't even have time to eat.
When Chu Jingqi came to see her, he saw dark circles under her eyes and a look of exhaustion on her face, so she said distressedly, "What do you do with so many stewards? If you have something to do, just ask the lady steward below to do it. Why do you need to do it yourself?"
"There have been so many things going on at home recently. Even if you are strong, your body and bones may not be able to bear it."
After saying that, he stood behind her, put his hands on her shoulders, and kneaded her gently. He felt her whole body tense, and Chu Jingqi's heart ached, "Do you need me to transfer two stewards from the Chu family?" Help you?”
"No, I just need to finish my busy days." Xia Zihan closed her eyes and enjoyed the massage from his fingers.
In the past few days, she has been busy purchasing Zeng Ning's dowry, buying furniture, utensils, calligraphy and paintings and other items.
He also ordered Yusha Pavilion to buy five sets of clothes for each season for her, as well as three sets of jewelry, and a box of scattered jewelry. The money to buy these things came from the 4,000 taels of dowry money.
It's not that she is stingy, but that after Zeng Ning plotted against Chu Jingqi, she treated Zeng Ning as an enemy. She would not pay a penny for an enemy's dowry.
Being able to work so hard to prepare for her was already the utmost kindness of hers, and she didn't want to see her grandmother tired, otherwise, she wouldn't be too lazy to take care of Zeng Ning's marriage.
For the clothes and jewelry she bought for Zeng Ning, she specially asked Qi Lan to buy a batch of medium-grade clothing materials and jade. The designs and patterns were all embroidered in a very colorful way, but the cost was not much. Otherwise, it would be of the same grade as Yusha Pavilion. To prepare, just those dozen clothes would cost four to five thousand taels of silver.
Furthermore, Xia Zihan personally purchased other furniture and utensils. All the items purchased were mid-range items, things that a small family would only buy if they married their daughter.
This time, Xia Zihan really didn't want to give face to Zeng Ning, and the dowry he bought for her didn't include any of the best things.
The furniture she bought was ordinary elm wood, but she hired five of the most famous carpenters in the capital to make it. It was seen that outsiders not only did not say anything bad about her, but instead said that she was benevolent and righteous and spent a lot of money. Several famous carpenters in the capital were invited at once, just to get rid of Zeng Ning's furniture as soon as possible.
She also bought calligraphy and paintings that were recently painted by famous artists. They are not worth much money now, but in a hundred and eighty years, these calligraphy and paintings will be worth money.
Xia Zihan put a lot of effort into the Chu family's banquet. They all ordered high-quality banquets in Juxiang Pavilion. The wine was also prepared and aged for ten years. After everyone was full and full, everyone raised their eyebrows. Thumbs up.
In short, Xia Zihan just didn't want Zeng Ning to take advantage of her, so she didn't want to spend an extra penny on the dowry, and what she did made it impossible for anyone to say a bad gossip.
Even Mrs. Zeng was very grateful for her hard work and merit.
On the third day of Zeng Ning's wedding, the eldest man of the Xia family arrived in the capital. In the afternoon of that day, the Xia family sent someone to inform Xia Zihan to go to the Xia family.
Xia Zihan was looking at the account books, and without even raising his head, he said, "I have been busy meeting with various village heads these days and checking the account books. I have no time to go to Xia's house. Chu Fei, please go there on my behalf." ”
These village heads should have arrived at the beginning of the year, but at the beginning of the year she was busy preparing for Zeng Ning's wedding, and she really couldn't spare the time, so she made them arrive half a month late.
Now that Zeng Ning is getting married, the village heads are flocking to her. She is even busier than when she was preparing Zeng Ning's dowry.
In the past two days, because she was busy, she didn't go to eat with Zeng. When she heard that, Zeng asked Zeng Jing to accompany her.
Chu Yi walked in and reported, "Master, Manager Lu is here."
"Please come in." Xia Zihan raised his head slightly.
"Yes."
After a while, Chu Yi led Manager Lu in.
,
"Princess." Manager Lu saluted and handed several lists to Xia Zihan respectfully, "This is the list of New Year gifts for relatives this year. Please take a look."
He also told her, "We are all prepared according to the examples of previous years."
"My aunt has been living in the Chu family in the past few years, and there is no record of contact with the Chu family. The list of annual gifts for the Chu family is based on the previous example, and an additional 20% has been added. Princess, take a look. If it's not enough, I can add another 10%." Xia Zihan glanced at the lists, and when he saw the lists of the Liao family and the Chu family, he became more careful.
After reading it, he returned it to Manager Lu, "The relationship between the Chu family and the Chu family is not what it used to be. Add another 20% to it, and the same goes for the Liao family."
The previous relationship between the Chu family, the Liao family and the Chu family was now not only a good relationship, but also an in-law relationship. The annual gifts were of course 20% more generous than in previous years.
Manager Lu said yes and went out with the list to prepare.
After a cup of tea, Chu Lin came in happily, holding a letter in her hand, "Master, Nuan Xiang has a letter."
"Open it and read it to me." Xia Zihan did not reincarnate, but paused for a moment with the abacus in his hand. After finishing speaking, he continued to fiddle with the abacus without taking his eyes off the account book next to him.
Chu Lin seemed to have gotten used to Xia Zihan's habit of multitasking. Regardless of whether Xia Zihan was thinking about the abacus or not, whether it would disturb her or not, she tore open the letter and read it.
Nuanxiang wrote a letter saying that she bought 69 shops in Yifeng City, Jiangnan, occupying two streets, and spent a total of more than 50,000 taels of silver. She spent the half-year income of a dozen shops in Jiangnan. .
The shop is in Chu Yuexi's name and has been rented out according to Xia Zihan's wishes,
A year's rent of seven thousand five hundred and thirty-six taels of silver, and the land deeds of sixty-nine shops were sent along with this letter and a large cart of Jiangnan specialties.
After Chu Lin finished reading, she quickly put down the baggage on her back and opened it, revealing a stack of silver notes, some scattered silver, and a thick stack of red house deeds.
Chu Lin picked up a book and opened it. When she saw the name on it, it was Chu Yuexi. She opened her eyes wide and said in disbelief, "Master, why did you buy so many shops for the eldest young master? The eldest young master doesn't know how to do business." .”
An account book had just finished counting one page. Xia Zihan used a pen to write a number on it and made a mark.
After it was done, she raised her head, looked at Chu Lin, and said disapprovingly, "He has already joined the officialdom, so why do you want him to do business? Besides, he doesn't know how to do business. These shops are just for him to make money. To raise a wife and children in the future.”
"Does the young master know?"
"If he wants to know, why don't he come to me to stop me?" It's strange that Chu Yuexi, the arrogant one, can take advantage of her for nothing. "He doesn't need to know that when the time comes, the Chu family's property will be handed over to him. .”
"Then the master has done good things, isn't he anonymous?" Chu Lin was immediately dissatisfied. The grandson is also the only male heir of the Chu family.”
Then, she warned Chu Lin, "You must keep this matter secret."
"This slave knows." Chu Lin covered her head resentfully and shouted, "Master, my head hurts so much."
Xia Zihan rolled his eyes at her, "I'm not using any force, so don't pretend to be pitiful."
Seeing that she had been seen through, Chu Lin did not feel embarrassed. She put down her hand and smiled, "Hehe... I don't want the master to feel more sorry for the slave."
Xia Zihan was too lazy to chat with her.
She ordered the house deed and land deed, and then asked Chu Lin to get a large box, and put the house deed and land deed together with the rent.
Chu Lin held the box and followed Xia Zihan to see Mrs. Zeng.
Zeng's eyes widened when she saw a thick stack of dozens of deeds and house deeds.
"Yu Niang, you...what are you doing?" Her voice was trembling.
It wasn't that he was excited to see so many industries, but he was moved by Xia Zihan's actions of considering the future of the Chu family wholeheartedly.
She did not support her granddaughter in vain.
Mrs. Zeng closed the lid of the box and said, "Mother Yu, you know that our Chu family's property can make a lot of money every year. This time, Cui Erguo bought four more houses and four shops. The Chu family With these properties, Brother Xi will have enough to eat. Even if Princess Qinghui comes into the family in the future, the income will be enough for the whole family. "
"This box... take it back quickly. Grandma can't keep it." With that, he handed the box back to Xia Zihan.
Of course Xia Zihan would not accept it.
However, she took it. She was worried that the box would be too heavy and would tire Zeng, so she took it. When Zeng was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Xia Zihan casually put the box higher.
Then, she sat Zeng on the chair and squatted at Zeng's feet, beating her legs. "Grandma, since I bought it with my heart and planned to give it to my brother, I won't buy it again." Take it back, don’t tell your brother about this, just treat it as a public property of the Chu family and leave it to your brother.”
(End of chapter)