Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five: Making Money

Chapter 135: Earning Money

Lin Qiuran smiled, "One hundred thousand taels—that's a huge sum, isn't it?"

Xiao Xun exclaimed in surprise, "How can there be so much!"

Xiao Xun had never truly inquired about the family's finances. His official salary wasn't particularly high, but he handed it all to Lin Qiuran as soon as it was paid. Any imperial rewards were also brought straight home. He never interfered with household matters, knowing only that the family owned two residences and several shops, but he had no idea of their value.

Having never seen so much money, he couldn't help but ask, "Does this amount include the family's land and properties, or is it just cash?"

Lin Qiuran was amused by Xiao Xun's reaction. She replied, "It includes the three new shops we bought this year and our expenditures. The shops from last year aren't counted, so this is the total for this year."

The family's annual expenses amounted to several thousand taels—clothing, jewelry, meals, charcoal for heating, monthly allowances for the household staff, and social engagements. All these miscellaneous expenses added up.

But compared to their earnings, these expenses paled in comparison.

Lin Qiuran continued, "The harvest from our estates alone brought in sixty thousand taels from grain sales. The spice business earned more than in previous years, around forty to fifty thousand taels. And with the new branch opened, the Golden Tripod Restaurant's two shops are expected to bring in another ten thousand taels next year."

Including the Golden Tripod Restaurant in Yu'an, they now had three shops in total. Along with other small businesses, each contributing a little, the total easily exceeded a hundred thousand taels—and that was a conservative estimate.

The income from the estate's grain sales was held by Lin Qiuran, as well as the profits Steward Xu had delivered that day.

Altogether, it amounted to eighty thousand taels. Lin Qiuran hadn't yet decided whether to reinvest the money in business, buy more properties or shops, or do something else. For now, she simply wanted to share her joy with Xiao Xun.

Xiao Xun noticed Lin Qiuran’s sparkling eyes, filled with happiness, and her radiant joy made him happy as well. "That’s wonderful," he said. "First, let’s buy you some jewelry and a few bolts of fabric. I’ve noticed the cups, bowls, and plates in the house have been used for a long time—it’s time to replace them."

Xiao Xun had taken note of these things, but his own monthly allowance of twenty taels only allowed him to save over ten taels. He had been saving up to buy something for Lin Qiuran by the end of the year.

Lin Qiuran nodded. "That sounds good. I’ve been wearing the same jewelry for a long time. I bought a pair of jade bracelets for Mother recently—I’d like to get a pair for myself too."

As they socialized more, the noble ladies placed great importance on changing outfits and jewelry for each occasion.

The porcelain needed replacing. Beautiful porcelain always lifted Lin Qiuran’s spirits. Using different pieces for tea and snacks each day brought variety and joy to her routine. Though expensive and fragile, she felt the money was well spent.

Trying new dishes on beautiful porcelain also improved her mood.

Lin Qiuran added, "Oh, and we can also buy you a new horse. Let’s make time to visit the horse market and pick a good one."

Xiao Xun had little interest in other things but was passionate about horses, swords, and food. However, food expenses were minimal since they mostly ate at home, and those costs were covered by the household budget.

Beyond that, he had no other indulgences.

Although Lin Qiuran had made many acquaintances among the noble ladies since arriving in the capital and often went out for flower viewings or tea, Xiao Xun seldom went out during his days off. He didn’t socialize or drink with others.

The estate was a gift from the emperor, so the income from it could be considered Xiao Xun’s contribution. Though the price per pound of grain was low, the family owned vast tracts of land—a thousand qing amounted to a hundred thousand mu. Thus, it was only right to buy something for Xiao Xun.

Lin Qiuran smiled at him. She was not a stingy person and would buy the horse no matter how expensive it was.

Xiao Xun made a slight bow and said, "Then I thank you, Madam."

Lin Qiuran pointed to her shoulders. "Hmm."

Xiao Xun, perceptive and eager, moved closer to massage her shoulders. However, after a while, his hands began to wander lower and grew increasingly restless.

Lin Qiuran glanced at him. "What’s going on? Why are you dilly-dallying while massaging my shoulders?"

Xiao Xun replied, "Since Madam is buying me a horse, I must repay you with diligent service."

Xiao Xun greatly enjoyed such activities.

If not for the fact that Lin Qiuran sometimes grew too tired and needed rest, he would have indulged daily. Occasionally, Lin Qiuran was sometimes bothered, but then she remembered that Xiao Xun was only twenty-four this year, and she was twenty-three—both still young.

With their child grown and attending school, and having moved into separate quarters from Sun Shi, Lin Qiuran felt content with how far she and Xiao Xun had come.

Half-resisting, half-yielding, Lin Qiuran let herself fall onto the bed.

After autumn arrived, the weather turned chilly. Xiao Xun’s body radiated warmth, and Lin Qiuran enjoyed staying close to him. Outside, rain began to fall. Since the start of autumn, rainfall had been frequent. It started as a fine drizzle, like needles or ox hair, kissing the skin with a tickling sensation.

Then, thunder rumbled, and the rain intensified. Wind and rain whipped the yellow leaves from the trees, some of which, unable to withstand the assault, fell to the ground and swirled in puddles. Pelted by raindrops as large as beans, they savored the chill and exhilaration of the autumn rain, battling it until their final moments.

Eventually, the rain slowed, though it was unclear how long it had lasted.

The next day, Lin Qiuran woke to find the rain had stopped, leaving the ground damp once more. The stone slabs, soaked by the rain, took on a bluish hue. Leaves continued to fall intermittently, and though the maids diligently swept them, it was impossible to keep the courtyard entirely clean during this season when leaves dropped incessantly.

After observing for a while, Lin Qiuran instructed Lin Xia to tell the maids to sweep only once in the morning. A few fallen leaves in the autumn courtyard added to the poetic atmosphere. If it were always impeccably clean, the view outside would feel cold and desolate, devoid of autumn’s charm.

Autumn was the season of harvest and winter of storage. With the estate’s autumn harvest completed, Lin Qiuran had fewer tasks. She reflected on how, at this time last year, they were still on their way to the capital, whereas now they were settled and established.

Tangyuan loved this season—in fact, Lin Qiuran noticed he seemed to love every season. The cool autumn weather allowed him to go horseback riding on the estate during his monthly breaks.

He enjoyed catching fish, roasting sweet potatoes, and had made several good friends on the estate.

Lin Qiuran never interfered with his choice of friends. Xiao Xun had also mentioned that such matters should be left to the child, and adults shouldn’t micromanage everything.

Occasionally, Tangyuan would also reflect melancholically on life. He once told Lin Qiuran, "Mother, my life is too comfortable and carefree. I can study and go to school, but Gou Dan and Da Zhuang have to gather wheat ears, herd cattle, and collect dung in the fields. They don’t have the chance to study."

"I think catching fish and roasting sweet potatoes are fun, but they think being able to study is better."

Tangyuan didn’t fully understand these disparities, but he felt an inexplicable sadness and discomfort.

Lin Qiuran sighed softly to herself. Hadn’t Xiao Xun been the same in his youth? She comforted Tangyuan gently, and he said, "Mother, can I use my allowance to help Gou Dan and Da Zhuang go to school? If they could study, how wonderful that would be."

Lin Qiuran was pleased by his kindness and softened her expression. "It’s your money, so you can decide what to do with it. Wanting to help them is a good thing. But you need to think it through—how long can you help? If they don’t study well, will you feel your efforts were wasted? There’s also the saying, ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ You might not fully grasp it now, but you’ll understand gradually."

Tangyuan pondered with a troubled expression before finally saying, "I’ve decided to help. Mother, can you assist me? I’m afraid if I give them the money, their families might not let them study, and it won’t turn out as I intended."

Lin Qiuran patted Tangyuan’s head. "Of course, I’ll help you talk to them."

Tangyuan smiled, thinking his mother was truly wonderful—the best in the world.

Lin Qiuran actually thought it wouldn’t hurt to let Tangyuan try. The family wasn’t short of money, and even if it was lost, it was a worthwhile lesson. If those children studied hard and later repaid Tangyuan’s kindness, that would be ideal.

If it didn’t work out, it would still serve as a learning experience for Tangyuan. For the family, it was a no-lose situation.

With their comfortable circumstances, Tangyuan could afford to make mistakes. Lin Qiuran couldn’t help thinking how fortunate they were—otherwise, it might have been Tangyuan looking enviously at others who could study.

Lin Qiuran had Lin Xia arrange for a small school to be built near the estate, open to children from several nearby estates. Tuition was waived, but students still had to pay for paper and writing materials.

If they simply gave money, there was no guarantee it would be used for the children’s education. Families who genuinely wanted their children to study would find a way, even if it meant using sand and sticks to practice writing.

After September, the capital grew even colder. Snow arrived early that year, falling heavily by mid-October.

Tangyuan had to brave the wind and snow to go to school every day. Fortunately, they had a carriage; otherwise, the journey would have been unbearable. Though Tangyuan enjoyed playing in the snow, he disliked going to school on snowy days because it was simply too cold.

Playing and enduring the cold were two different things. Occasionally, he would try to bargain with Lin Qiuran, saying, "Mother, several kids aren’t coming to school today."

But Lin Qiuran never agreed.

Whether he wanted to or not, he had to go. Incentives like hot pot dinners in the evening kept him motivated day after day. With warm cotton shoes, gloves, and a charcoal brazier in the carriage, he never suffered from frostbite.

Toughing it out through hard study.

If one doesn’t study during winter, how can it be called toughing it out through hard study? Tangyuan had it pretty good by comparison, since he had a carriage taking him to and from school.

Otherwise, skip today, skip tomorrow, and soon he’d skip every day.

October, followed by the eleventh and twelfth lunar months—three months in total—the weather wasn’t great—cold and slippery roads. Even the carriage ride was chilly. Going to school every day was tough, especially for Tangyuan, who was only five years old.

However, after reading the classic essay "An Exhortation to Learning," he stopped complaining to Lin Qiuran about the difficulties of school.

With just over two months left until February, even though Lin Qiuran often said that this child proficiency exam was just a trial and it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t pass, Tangyuan still studied diligently, working harder as it got closer. He didn’t want all those hard days to be for nothing, and naturally, he didn’t want his efforts to be in vain either.

On the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month, kids Tangyuan’s age were given a break, while older students had to wait until the twenty-fifth to start their holiday, returning to school on the sixth day of the new year.

Tangyuan, however, was off until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Though the break was long, he didn’t let up at all. He did his homework at home and then urged Lin Qiuran to contact Mr. Huang, as he still wanted tutoring.

Lin Qiuran asked, “Aren’t you going to take a few days to just play?”

Tangyuan replied, “Study in the morning, play in the afternoon. There are so many days—I can’t just play all the time. Teacher has high hopes for me, and I shouldn’t let him down.”

Nor should he disappoint himself.

Lin Qiuran nodded and quickly arranged with Mr. Huang for daily morning lessons until the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, resuming from the sixth day of the new year and continuing for ten days until the Lantern Festival, after which the academy would reopen.

Seeing her child work so hard, Lin Qiuran felt very pleased. Paying a bit extra for a tutor was far better than having him fool around the whole break.

Still, watching him occasionally, Lin Qiuran couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.

After the fifteenth of the first lunar month, Tangyuan would only be four years old. At such a young age, Lin Qiuran didn’t want him to overexert himself, but he was genuinely willing to study.

Sun Shi, on the other hand, was heartbroken. Around this time last year, Tangyuan had been skating on the lake every day, but this year, he spent half his days in class and occasionally practiced the zither in the afternoons.

Naturally, he was still playful—it was only natural for a child his age. However, Tangyuan often said, “When it’s time to play, play wholeheartedly; when it’s time to study, study seriously.”

Since he still had half his time for play, he enjoyed himself thoroughly and hoped his grandmother wouldn’t look at him with pity.

Lin Qiuran gradually watched him transform from Tangyuan into Xiao Lian.

The family spent New Year’s Eve together. A letter from the steward back home mentioned that since Xiao Dashi had been brought back, people from the old residence had come again. Xiao Dashi paid them no mind, but since he had no money, it was uncertain how things would unfold if he ever came into wealth.

Tangyuan took a break from studying during the New Year—after all, it was a time to relax. But after the festivities, he quickly refocused. Lin Qiuran often worried, fearing that all his hard work might not yield the desired results.

In mid-February, the first round of the child proficiency exam, known as the county exam, took place. Most of the candidates were two or three years older than Tangyuan.