Chapter 79: Main Story Ends

Chapter 79: Main Story Conclusion

The weather gradually warmed, and the days grew longer. Once March arrived, Wen Xi's workload slowly picked up.

Every year, the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and New Year were the busiest times for embroiderers like him. Before April even arrived, Wen Xi began stocking up on supplies.

The wives and husbands from families he knew came one after another to order the embroidered goods they needed for the Dragon Boat Festival.

Because the orders were numerous and varied, Wen Xi, to make things easier, introduced a bundled set for the wives and husbands who rewarded their servants. The set included pouches, sachets, round fans, handkerchiefs, and five-color braided cords, totaling three hundred and fifty wen—a better value than buying them individually.

Not only was the price favorable, but giving servants a full set also made the household look generous and kind to outsiders.

Madam Lu and the others talked it over and all agreed it was easy, so they all chose the full set when placing their orders.

Wen Xi had a fixed embroidery shop in the city, and since he was Yan Fengan's husband, a particularly large number of people came to him this year to order embroidered goods.

The full sets alone came to over eighty orders from several households.

Such a large batch of goods was a lot of pressure for Wen Xi. Luckily, he'd lined up embroiderers ahead of time, and with their help, he didn't have to worry.

Wen Xi first bought the fabric, then had Aqiu invite the embroiderers to the shop, where they cut the material and divided it up.

The sachets, pouches, and round fans were assigned to the city embroiderers, while the handkerchiefs and five-color cords went to the villagers.

The handkerchiefs and five-color cords didn't pay much, but they were easy to make and gave them a little extra income.

In addition to the full sets, Wen Xi also took on miscellaneous embroidered items, such as tiger-pattern baby bibs and the five-poison sachets the wives ordered for their clan's young nephews.

Wen Xi also accepted over a dozen fine brocade five-poison sachets, all of which the customers specifically requested he embroider himself, so he couldn't just sit back and let others do all the work.

After delivering everything and paying the embroiderers, Wen Xi went over the accounts from top to bottom. After deducting materials and labor, he'd earned over fifty taels this Dragon Boat Festival. After counting the silver, even Wen Xi could hardly believe it.

If he could earn this much at Mid-Autumn and New Year, wouldn't his yearly income match Yan Fengan's, the teacher?

Wen Xi was over the moon. When Yan Fengan came home, he immediately went up, grabbed his hand, and said in a mysterious tone, "Guess how much silver we have in total now?"

That question really stumped Yan Fengan. He earned silver and just handed it to Wen Xi to hold onto, rarely opening the money box to count it the way Wen Xi did every few days. He had no clue how much they had together.

"How much?"

Wen Xi grabbed his arm and shook it. "Guess?"

Yan Fengan thought for a moment, then said hesitantly, "Over two hundred taels?"

"Wrong." Wen Xi held up three fingers, waved them in front of his face, and lowered his voice: "We have three hundred and forty taels."

Not counting the loose copper coins, just the silver alone was that much.

Even Yan Fengan couldn't help saying, "That much? Are you sure you didn't miscalculate?"

That question made Wen Xi doubt himself too. He let go of Yan Fengan's hand, hurried into the study, and looked at the simple ledger he'd made. After recalculating the numbers, he said to Yan Fengan, who'd followed him in, "I didn't miscalculate. It really is that much. Come look for yourself."

Yan Fengan stepped over, looked at the ledger in Wen Xi's hand, and smiled: "The Dragon Boat Festival isn't even here yet, and you've already made this much silver. No wonder the money box can't fit it all. Xiao Xi, you're really something."

Wen Xi gave a shy smile: "It's mostly because I sold a dozen or so brocade sachets, so I made a bit more than before."

Yan Fengan reached over and ruffled his hair: "With your skills, you'll make even more in the future."

Yan Fengan had seen how busy Wen Xi was lately and was genuinely happy he'd earned so much.

The money box he'd made for Wen Xi had been stuffed with silver and copper coins over the past two or three years. He asked Wen Xi, "Should we put some money in a money shop?"

Wen Xi said, "Let's do it. Having this much silver at home makes me nervous."

If a thief broke in and stole the money box, he'd have nowhere to cry about it.

Yan Fengan decided: "Let's keep the forty taels for spending and put the other three hundred in the bank."

Wen Xi agreed, found a clean piece of coarse cloth, and wrapped up all the silver ingots and smaller pieces. Earlier, Master Zhao had told Yan Fengan that if he deposited money at his shop, he'd guarantee the highest interest rate. So after wrapping the money, the two headed straight to the Zhao family's money shop.

Two clerks were using abacuses behind the counter. When they saw the two, they looked up and asked, "Are you two here to exchange silver or deposit money?"

Yan Fengan walked to the counter, set the cloth bundle down, untied it to reveal the silver, and said, "Depositing money."

"Sure, please wait a moment." The clerk turned and called toward the back, "Manager, customers are here."

A moment later, a middle-aged man pushed aside the cloth curtain by the counter and came out. He clasped his hands in greeting and said, "May I ask your names, and how much would you like to deposit?"

Yan Fengan handed him his name card and said, "My surname is Yan. Your master sent me here to deposit money. I'd like to deposit three hundred taels. Please write the passbook in the name on this card."

The surname Yan, and sent by the master—the manager wasn't stupid. He immediately figured out who Yan Fengan was.

"So it's Master Yan and his husband. I didn't recognize you—please forgive me."

The manager invited them to sit in a private back room, had a servant bring them tea, then used a small scale to check the silver's weight. Once he confirmed the amount, he said, "The longer you keep your silver deposited here, the higher the interest. How long would you two like to deposit it?"

Figuring they'd still need silver for a lot of things down the road, Wen Xi and Yan Fengan only deposited it for a one-year term.

The manager said, "Since you two are friends of our master and the amount is large, I'll give you our shop's highest rate—four percent a year. Does that work for you?"

Wen Xi had never deposited money before and had no idea what that meant, so he lightly tugged Yan Fengan's sleeve.

Yan Fengan explained, "At four percent a year, a hundred taels earns four taels in interest. Three hundred taels would earn twelve taels a year. So when we come to withdraw, we can take out three hundred and twelve taels total."

The manager nodded, "Exactly right."

Deposit three hundred taels and withdraw three hundred and twelve—that was like free money. Wen Xi was excited but couldn't help being suspicious.

Yan Fengan gave his hand a gentle squeeze and said to the manager, "Agreed."

The manager didn't say more. He stood, took a ledger from the shelf behind him, wrote down the amount, had Yan Fengan sign, and stamped it with a bright red seal.

After writing the deposit certificate, he took out a folded paper, wrote the name, date, amount, and term, stamped it, and handed it to Yan Fengan with both hands.

Yan Fengan checked it over, and only when he found no mistakes did he hand the passbook to Wen Xi.

Wen Xi smiled and folded the passbook. When they got home, he put it in the cloth bag with their house deed.

These few pieces of paper were all he and Yan Fengan owned—they had to be kept safe.

On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, Yan Fengan's school only held half a day of classes before letting the students out for the holiday. He and Wen Xi were heading back to the village for the festival, and Afu and Aqiu could go home and rest for a few days too.

Workers and servants in rich households got bonuses and gifts during festivals. Yan Fengan was at least a juren, so he should show some appreciation.

Wen Xi had already thought about this. Afu watched the school gate every day, a fairly light job, so Wen Xi gave him a hundred wen as a bonus.

Lately, when Wen Xi's shop was busy, Aqiu had handled all the deliveries to the city's husbands by himself. Wen Xi had seen how hard he worked and gave him a whole five hundred wen as a bonus.

On top of that, Wen Xi gave each of them a set of embroidered goods. Since both men had two kids at home, he gave them double of everything in the sets.

He'd had more than enough of his parents' favoritism growing up and didn't want other kids to end up feeling bad over stuff like that.

The master's kindness really got to Aqiu, a quiet, honest guy, and he kept saying thank you over and over. After turning to leave a few steps, he looked back and said, "Tomorrow I'll be making zongzi at home. If the master and the young master don't mind, I'll bring a few by for y'all to try when I come back to work."

Wen Xi smiled and nodded. "Alright."

Once everyone had left, Yan Fengan grinned and teased him. "You've arranged everything so well—you're really getting the hang of being the man of the house."

Wen Xi felt a bit embarrassed by the compliment and said modestly, "I'm just making it up as I go."

Yan Fengan said, "You're doing great. Most folks wouldn't think things through as carefully as you do."

Wen Xi smiled, pressing his lips together.

After a while, the carriage Afu had helped arrange was already waiting at the end of the alley. The two locked up the house, loaded up the stuff they'd prepared for the family, and headed off to Daoxiang Village.

They hadn't been back to the village since after the New Year, and Wen Xi really missed the family.

At this time of year, the rice in the fields had grown tall and lush, a deep green that rippled in the wind like waves. Wen Xi lifted the carriage curtain and looked out for a while, feeling something he couldn't quite put into words at the familiar sight.

He had experienced all kinds of emotions countless times before, and now, aside from a bit of homesickness, what he felt most was a quiet sense of everything finally falling into place.

When the carriage reached the village entrance, Yan Fengan also leaned out with him, and they called out greetings to the familiar villagers they passed.

As the villagers called out "Master Yan" left and right, they finally arrived at the Yan family's doorstep. Just as Wen Xi stepped down from the carriage, Tao'er came running and launched herself at him.

Tiezhu, who was almost ten now, had settled down a bit. He gave a proper bow and said his hellos.

In just a few months, both kids seemed to have shot up. Before long, Chen Lanfang and the others came out from the courtyard to welcome them and helped carry their things inside.

Knowing they were coming back, the family had cooked up a big feast that night. During the meal, Yan Fuqiu was all smiles as he announced some good news: He Jin was two months pregnant.

"Congratulations, Second Brother and Brother Jin," Yan Fengan said, adding casually, "Xiao Xi and I are also planning to have a child."

He said it all casual, but Wen Xi's ears went hot and he ducked his head a little.

Now that he and Yan Fengan both had steady work and had saved up some money, it really was time to think about having a little one.

With so many grandkids already running around, Chen Lanfang and Yan Shichang hadn't been pushing Yan Fengan and Wen Xi too hard.

After all, such things couldn't be rushed by others—nagging would only annoy the young couple, so they had held back.

Hearing Yan Fengan bring it up on his own, Chen Lanfang said happily, "Xiao Xi has been married into our family for three years now—it's time you two had a child. If you have one soon, I can still help take care of it while I'm young. In a couple more years, when your father and I are older, we might not be able to hold them anymore."

Yan Fengan smiled. "You and Dad are still so hale and hearty—of course you'll be able to hold them. With all these kids around, just wait—there'll be plenty to keep you busy."

Yan Shichang chuckled too. "Our own grandchildren—why would we mind the trouble? Once I finish up with the busy season, I'll make a pushcart and a cradle for Xiao Jin and your little one."

Li Wan chimed in, "If Mom and Dad are preparing the pushcart and cradle, then Wang Chun and I will prepare the longevity locks."

"Everyone's preparing something—what should I give?" Yan Fuqiu scratched his head, then tugged at He Jin's hand. "Xiao Jin, help me think—what should we give Third Brother and Xiao Xi's child?"

He Jin got caught up in it and seriously started pondering.

Around the table, everyone was chattering away as if the child had already arrived. Listening to them all go back and forth over what to get for a baby that wasn't even here yet, Wen Xi felt his heart soften like it was soaking in warm water.

He glanced at the man beside him—his husband was so handsome, and he often said Wen Xi was good-looking too. Their child probably wouldn't be bad-looking either, right?

Wen Xi's eyes curved with a faint smile as he reached out and gently touched his own belly. Though the baby hadn't even come yet, seeing everyone like this, he couldn't help but start looking forward to it.

Author's note:

The main story ends here. After this, there will be side stories about daily life and pregnancy/baby—thanks for your company, my dears.