The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 1999 - 1974: Passing Down the Lineage

"But you still can’t lend... lend," Old Zhou said seriously, "It’s not like it’s a big deal like curing an illness or getting married. If buying stuff means borrowing money, then people who spend without limits like that can’t be trusted financially, just like your fourth brother. Who knows when he’ll make a mistake?"

He continued, "For someone like your fourth brother, he shouldn’t have too much cash on hand. With him, whatever money he has, he spends. When it’s gone, he’s at peace. You shouldn’t learn from the Bai family’s Second Young Master, understand?"

Manbao nodded.

"Mentally remind Bai Shan not to end up like him," Old Zhou said worriedly, "I actually wanted to speak to Old Master Bai about this. But since he thinks the Second Young Master is being clever, I held back."

Manbao nodded repeatedly, agreeing to whatever her father said first.

Then Old Zhou brought up the main reason for his visit, "Where exactly have you hidden your money? Want me to take it back home for safekeeping? Then when you marry, it can be part of your dowry."

Manbao shook her head immediately, "Dad, I’m here in the capital. I need to have money with me to use when necessary."

Old Zhou said, "If you run out of money, you can ask your fourth brother, or your eldest brother and sister-in-law. They have money."

Old Zhou thought for a bit and whispered to her, "Let me tell you, your fourth and fifth sisters-in-law have money. Save your money..."

Manbao: ...

Seeing that he couldn’t persuade his daughter, Old Zhou sighed, "Alright then, you can keep it yourself. But do spend it wisely. Don’t spend money on family expenses, understood?"

With a touch of cunning, he added, "You’re living in the palace now, no worries about food and drink, and the court provides your clothing. Old Madam Liu occasionally makes clothes for you. So your brothers and sisters-in-law should spend on family meals and meat."

He reached out to touch her head and said, "You’re still young, and I notice you’re not as easy-going as you used to be. If you decide you don’t want to work in the palace anymore, you’ll need to buy some land or shops when you leave. You have such good medical skills, you should open an apothecary, right? That all costs money, and where does that money come from?"

Earned, Manbao mused.

Old Zhou, however, said firmly, "Saved up! I’ve already told your eldest brother and sister-in-law, once we leave, they’ll manage the household expenses. Have your siblings contribute monthly, and your rations are your own, any surplus is yours."

Manbao said, "Dad, isn’t this inappropriate..."

"What’s wrong with it? It’s clear accounting among brothers," Old Zhou said, anxious, "Once we got to the capital, I realized just how wealthy Bai Shan’s family is. If your dowry is too small, you’ll be looked down upon when you go to represent us in Longzhou."

Old Zhou always knew the Bai Family was wealthy since Old Master Bai’s assets were well-known, being the largest landowner in the local ten miles. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

People associating with them ought to be affluent too.

Seeing Bai Shan was always ordering servants and dressed finely, it was common knowledge they had several land plots back home, he heard.

Yet arriving in the capital, with both families under the same rooftop, and Zhou SiLang doing business with Bai Family in Longzhou, they were made fully aware of Bai Family’s wealth.

In Longzhou, Bai Shan’s family didn’t just have several plots, but land stretching across three southern states, along with shops and villas...

And land in the capital is so expensive. Previously, Old Zhou had planned to buy land as private property for Manbao with a sack full of copper coins, but he would abandon the idea immediately after learning the price per acre.

But the Bai Family owned a manor on the border between the capital and Yongzhou, and it wasn’t small.

Unlike Manbao’s job field, which could be reclaimed at any time, that estate was Bai Shan’s and would be his forever.

Additionally, the Bai Family owned two residences and two shops in the capital.

Turning to look at Manbao, Old Zhou happened to see the string of pearls on her head, which Old Madam Liu had found and given her two days prior. Because Zhou SiLang had done business with pearls, Old Madam Liu recalled she had several sets of pearl jewelry.

The women felt they were too old to wear such things so they passed one set to Manbao.

Old Zhou looked pleased but also a bit anxious, "Everything about Bai Shan’s family is great, except they’re too rich."

Manbao said, "Isn’t being rich good?"

"It is, but our family’s wealth is too little."

Manbao finally understood, "You’re saying that my family isn’t a good match for the Bai family?"

"What match?"

Manbao laughed, "Dad, Grandma Liu, Auntie Zheng, and Bai Shan aren’t concerned about family status. It’s enough that Bai Shan and I are a match, plus I don’t see our family status as beneath theirs either."

Old Zhou said, "Only because your parents helped their family do I have peace of mind. Otherwise, I’d be worried you’d suffer injustices there. But you must be cautious of their clan. Your fourth brother said that in the past their widowed family suffered much in Longzhou."

"Otherwise, why would they have moved to Qili Village to seek Old Master Bai?" Old Zhou shook his head and sighed, "Their clan had everything they needed, why did they have to drive them away?"

Manbao said nothing.

Old Zhou merely sighed, and seeing that Manbao refused to let him secure the money back home, he regretfully returned to report to his wife.

Ms. Qian wasn’t in favor of him meddling with Manbao’s finances, and seeing him return empty-handed, she knew he failed.

She laughed, "Well, it seems Manbao often has her own ideas?"

Old Zhou grunted, saying nothing.

Ms. Qian remarked, "At seven or eight, she was already managing income from the estate herself. She’s grown up now and naturally has her own views, so why stress over this?"

"I’m just afraid she won’t save and will spend too freely."

Ms. Qian calmly replied, "Don’t worry. Her ability to save money is as good as her medical skills, inherited from our Zhou family."

Old Zhou thought of Manbao’s tight grip on her coin purse and realized it to be true, so he cheered up.

He walked around the room and asked, "How’s the packing going?"

"Almost done, we’ve packed what can be taken. What can’t be taken, we’ll leave here for use if we return to the capital."

Old Zhou then reached under the bed, but found it empty. Startled, he dropped down to look, "Wife, where is Manbao’s money?"

Ms. Qian glanced back and said, somewhat helplessly, "I had Four exchange it for silver. How were you planning to transport such a large sack of copper coins back home?"

She paused and said, "Or we return it to Manbao to keep."

"No way," Old Zhou said righteously, "She spends freely, so I must save a bit for her."

Ms. Qian stayed silent, letting him have his way.

Old Zhou no longer wanted to stay in the room. "I’ll go see if Four has exchanged the money back."