Chapter 1875: Chapter 1850: Managing Money
Zhou SiLang’s gaze swept over Manbao and surprisingly saw her nod.
Zhou SiLang imdiately felt indignant and said, “Let’s not talk about Manbao, as no one in the family can compare with her, but among us brothers, am I the smartest?”
Unexpectedly, Bai Shan shook his head directly and said with a smile, “Fourth Brother Zhou, none of your brothers is foolish; everyone just has their own strengths. If you ask , besides Manbao, it’s only Auntie who’s the wisest in your family. She can see beyond even the confines of a room.”
Manbao nodded vigorously in agreent.
Seeing Zhou SiLang’s dissatisfaction, Bai Shan continued, “Fourth Brother Zhou, ever since leaving our village, you’ve been driven by your own desires and the people around you. When your luck is good, things go smoothly. When it’s not, you may overturn. This is because you only see what’s right in front of you and miss the dangers and opportunities beyond.”
“Let ask you four questions. In the future, do you intend for your branch of the family to split off and beco rchants?”
Never having thought about splitting the family, Zhou SiLang’s eyes widened.
Zhou SiLang continued with the second question, “If one day soone offers ten thousand taels of gold for you to transport salt and iron past the borders, will you do it or not?”
Zhou SiLang wanted to say no imdiately; is he the kind to betray his country for wealth?
Manbao reached into her sleeve, pulled out a shining gold ingot, and placed it in Zhou SiLang’s palm, saying, “About two thousand pieces like this.”
Holding the gold, Zhou SiLang swallowed and couldn’t speak.
Bai Shan smiled slightly, glanced at Manbao, and asked the third question, “If one day the court forcibly requisitions your property and relocates you elsewhere, will you comply?”
Zhou SiLang asked directly, “Why would the court want to relocate ?”
“Because of your wealth and power,” Bai Shan replied. “Even noble families can be relocated; what about you, a non-noble?”
Zhou SiLang frowned, feeling discomfort for the first ti.
Bai Shan asked, “The last question: if your descendants wish to take the imperial examinations and beco officials, what will you do?”
Zhou SiLang was dumbfounded. He didn’t understand much, and the words about seizing his property and relocating him from his hotown he didn’t comprehend, but he knew that rchant sons couldn’t take the imperial examinations.
Bai Shan pointed at the book in his arms, saying, “Though you shouldn’t trust everything in books, they are the thoughts of predecessors and wise n, sowhat worth referring to. Fourth Brother Zhou, you might as well read so. If you don’t plan ahead, you will have imdiate worries. Look further into the future to know what legacy you want, so you can determine your present path.”
Manbao nodded repeatedly. Seeing him still holding onto her gold, she forcefully retrieved it and tucked it back into her sleeve.
Zhou SiLang’s gaze followed the gold involuntarily, and he frowned, asking, “Why would you stuff gold into your sleeve? What if it falls?”
Manbao confidently said, “It won’t fall.”
“Still, you shouldn’t carry it on you. What if you get robbed?” Zhou SiLang said, “You don’t have big expenses; it’s usually enough to carry so copper coins when going out.”
Manbao nodded agreeably, “I know, Fourth Brother. When have I ever lost money? When I hide money, sotis even I forget where I hid it, let alone anyone else finding it.”
Zhou SiLang: …
Her gaze fell on the book in his arms, “Stop changing the subject. Go back and read the book. If you don’t recognize a word, ask Lichong or the others. There are many people at ho; Lixue and Ligu are ho every day after school. You can ask them too.”
This was a storybook from the Baike Library, about a man in a country called Daming and how he rose from nothing to beco the richest man in the nation—a legendary story.
He did many things in his life, both good and bad. In the end, however, he didn’t die because of his bad deeds, but from the emperor’s suspicion and officials’ fears.
Manbao said aningfully to Zhou SiLang, “Read it carefully and reflect on his final thoughts.”
Zhou SiLang looked at them turning away with a blank face and still heard Lijun asking, “Auntie, are you trying to make Fourth Uncle compare himself to Shen Wansan?”
Manbao shook her head, “How can Fourth Brother compare to him? If he doesn’t understand reason, he will have a worse fate than Shen Wansan. And then, as his sister or niece, we will all suffer as well; no one will have a good ti.”
Zhou Lijun: “… Auntie, you’re scaring . Although I haven’t studied much, I know that cris don’t extend to married daughters. We’re all married off; what relation do we have?”
“Nonsense, those are just words to trick you. An emperor’s anger can doom three generations, and you tell if we’re included.”
Zhou Lijun: … That’s terrifying!
Bai Shan laughed and said, “Don’t frighten people; except for treason and rebellion, other cris won’t implicate three generations.”
Zhou Lijun quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Manbao asked quietly, “But if your parents and brothers were implicated, would you not feel pain?”
Zhou Lijun: “… Auntie, just say what you want.”
Manbao said, “Keep an eye on the money. Large expenses must be approved by the family. Don’t let Fourth Brother spend however he likes.”
Manbao thought of sothing and asked, “By the way, is Fourth Brother’s private stash with you?”
Zhou Lijun was startled and looked around. Not seeing Fourth Aunt, she whispered, “Auntie, how do you know?”
Manbao felt smug. Was there anything in this household she didn’t know?
She doesn’t even need Keke’s help; she could figure it out with her toes, “I overheard Fourth Sister-in-law and Eldest Sister-in-law talking. She searched through Fourth Brother’s things and found barely any silver. Even Fifth Brother has a stash, so of course, Fourth Brother would too. If Fourth Sister-in-law couldn’t find it, the money definitely isn’t with Fourth Brother. He didn’t give it to to hide, so it must be with you.”
Since Manbao entered the palace, Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang haven’t put their private stashes with Manbao much. Even Zhou Lichong and Zhou Ligu withdrew half of their money to hide themselves.
This was for fear of needing money urgently while Manbao was in the palace, and they couldn’t reach her.
And as for Zhou SiLang, he had long since taken his money out; she initially thought he gave it to Fourth Sister-in-law for safekeeping.
Zhou Lijun sighed in relief and whispered, “Fourth Uncle doesn’t have much private money. Auntie, you mustn’t tell Fourth Aunt, or they’ll definitely argue.”
Manbao nodded, “I’m not that stupid.”
Even when her father hides private money, she doesn’t tell her mother.
Of course, she doesn’t tell her father when her mother hides money either, hehehe…
Manbao said, “Keep an eye on his private money too; don’t let him spend it frivolously.”
Zhou Lijun: “… Isn’t that not right? The money isn’t mine; I’m just the custodian.”
“Just ask him if he’s read the book. If he’s finished, ask him for his thoughts.”
Zhou Lijun agreed with a laugh.
At the entrance to the garden, Zhou Lijun went to the garden while Manbao and Bai Shan turned towards the front study.
Bai Shan, smiling, said to her, “Zhou SiLang and Princess Changyu, doesn’t it seem like mutual affection just waiting to be realized?”
Manbao understood his hint and said solemnly, “They will not have a good outco.”
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