Chapter 118

Li Huyu wanted to say, what’s wrong with being from a merchant family? Enjoying good food, good drink, good living, and treating their daughters well, having a smooth, peaceful, and joyful life together, isn’t that also good?

But then she thought again, Shuiqing has the ability to earn money, and Fan Jin, despite not having passed the imperial examinations yet, if he ever does, will immediately change their fortunes.

By then, Yan Qiu and Xing Hui would naturally match well with officials’ families.

As long as the man chosen is good, a smooth, peaceful, and joyful life together is also possible. Why should they choose those from merchant families?

Thinking of this, Li Huyu’s excited expression dimmed.

The small flame of hope had just sparked, but it was extinguished.

There was no sound in the carriage for a long time, and Bai Manshan could only comfort her, “Stop thinking about it. Being friends now is good enough;

When Qian’er grows up a bit more,… perhaps he can recognize Shuiqing as his foster mother, and they can maintain a lasting relationship.”

In the end, he was unwilling to give up.

Thinking, if the children develop affection for each other?

In that case, it’s not impossible.

But before that happens, it shouldn’t be mentioned at all, not even a hint, or if it doesn’t work out, even the friendship could be ruined!

Li Huyu focused on recognizing Shuiqing as a foster mother.

She thought that once Qian’er recognized Shuiqing as a foster mother, there would be no turning back.

She silently thought, Qian’er isn’t that bad, right?

Then she thought of that young man named Ling Ran.

He was outstanding in appearance, tall and slim in stature, composed and mature in speech and behavior, diligent and capable… Compared to her own son, it seemed there was no comparison.

Ah, it’s really true that people die because of comparison.

·

The group watched as Bai Manshan and Li Huyu’s carriage left until they could no longer see it.

Shuiqing was about to turn back to comfort Bai Ziqian a few words, telling him to treat this place as his own home and not be constrained.

Turning around, she saw Bai Ziqian bounding off to fetch a machete and a basket, his cheerful figure showing no signs of sadness no matter how she looked at it.

Still, she spoke, “You are a guest now; there’s no need to work too hard.”

Bai Ziqian widened his eyes, his fair face filled with sadness. “How am I a guest now? I used to be family. Since Big Brother Ling came, am I just a guest now?”

Shuiqing: …Did you not hear the second half of what I said?

“Alright, consider this your own home; go ahead and work.”

Bai Ziqian finally regained his vigor and cheerfully agreed, running outside.

But he had a strong sense of crisis. He needed to find an opportunity to firmly tie himself to Uncle Fan’s family and become their true family member!

Shuiqing didn’t know what the young man was thinking. She had something important to do now.

Fetching paper and pen, she called out inside the house, “Yan Qiu, Xing Hui, come here, I have something to discuss with you.”

Soon, Yan Qiu and Xing Hui came out from the wine workshop, looking at Shuiqing with curiosity. “Mother, what’s the matter?”

“Nowadays, the amount of rice wine made each day is a bit less. In your free time, I’ll teach you how to manage the account books.” Shuiqing said cheerfully.

Understanding account books was one of the essential skills for women in a large household.

Only by understanding the account books could one manage the family’s finances and assets without being deceived.

Whether it’s a big or small family, whoever holds economic power will be comfortable.

And whether one is capable or not directly determines the quality of life for the entire household!

“You must know how to earn silver, save silver, and understand where your silver is spent.”

Yan Qiu and Xing Hui had learned to read under their father’s guidance in the past few months.

They learned arithmetic from their mother.

Although not as proficient as their parents, they were willing to learn.

Their eyes sparkled as they said, “Mother, go on!”

“I will remember everything!”

Shuiqing disliked those who complained and made excuses, preferring those who were earnest and eager to improve themselves.

Seeing her two young daughters diligently improving themselves and absorbing all the knowledge they could, she felt deeply gratified.

She took out the account book she had prepared earlier and began to teach, “This is the account book I made. Here at the top, it indicates income, expenses, costs, profits…”

This was a modern accounting method, scientific and reasonable.

She also briefly taught them how to distinguish false accounts.

Finally, she made it clear that they had learned this from the merchant Bai Manshan and urged them not to let his efforts go to waste.

“Uncle Bai is really good!”

“He didn’t hold back anything.”

Until one day later, when one of them married into the Bai family and formally took over the household accounts, looking at the clearly different and logically sound account books, she fell into deep thought…

As the end of the year approached, the weather became colder.

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Jinniu delivered the first batch of charcoal for this winter.

The jet-black charcoal, about a meter long, neatly stacked in bamboo baskets.

Looking at the layers of charcoal stacked in the warehouse, the family felt not just the presence of charcoal, but a sense of security!

“Jinniu, how much money?” Shuiqing asked happily.

Zhang Jinniu scratched his head awkwardly and hesitantly replied, “Two wen per jin, is that okay?”

Shuiqing thought she misheard.

Chopping wood, drying it, transporting it, burning it—how many jin of firewood were needed to produce one jin of charcoal, and it was only two wen per jin?

How could that be possible?

“We agreed that even if it’s not according to the price in the prefectural city, it should be according to the price in Niutou Town. You can deliver more, but the price cannot be reduced anymore!”

“No, Niutou Town charges five wen per jin, but we have to deliver it there. The time spent on the round trip may cause delays, and we may not be able to sell it.

Not to mention the amount needed for individual sales. Therefore, two wen per jin is very good for us, and we haven’t reduced the price.”

Zhang Jinniu said honestly.

Then with tears in his eyes, he said, “In fact, it’s not cheap. Two jin of charcoal can buy one jin of buckwheat flour. Charcoal can be saved, but food cannot be avoided.

With this money, others would rather buy buckwheat flour to eat, but it’s all thanks to you, sister-in-law, that we set this much charcoal.”

Shuiqing: … No, their family really needs charcoal!

Taking care of them is part of it, but not the main reason.

“Sister-in-law Shuiqing, this is five hundred jin of charcoal, which is one or two silver taels. We can still produce so much charcoal in five days. Are you sure you still want it?” Zhang Jinniu asked anxiously.

Actually, he wanted to say more, such as, “One or two silver taels for five hundred jin of charcoal—are you not heartbroken?

So much silver.”

Shuiqing nodded decisively.

One or two silver taels could buy five hundred jin of charcoal. If she were to produce it herself, not to mention anything else, just chopping the wood would exhaust several people back and forth.

Bai Ziqian beside her heard that five hundred jin of charcoal was only one or two silver taels, and his gaze involuntarily turned to the firewood he had chopped.

Was his effort worth only one or two silver taels?

No, not even that!

Immediately, he waved his hand boldly and declared with a commanding presence, “We’ll take it! However much you have, I’ll pay for it!

All of you, I’ll take care of this year’s and next year’s charcoal!”