Chapter 1539: Chapter 1539: I Have Money

The Zhou Residence–Zhou the Elder noted down his mother’s instructions and said, “Mother, this year the estate raised quite a few poultry. Due to frugality, the number of pigs we raise on the estate has increased somewhat. I’m thinking of slaughtering some and storing them frozen; what do you think?”

“Good. It’s the first snow of the season today, officially marking the beginning of winter. Choose a couple of pigs to distribute among the people on the estate, so they can have some meat before winter sets in.”

Zhou the Elder replied, “Alright.”

Zhulan turned her head to look outside. The snow was falling heavily. “The first snow being a big snow; a few of the children went out, and I don’t know when they will return.”

Zhou the Elder also worried, “Son, send someone to pick them up.”

Zhulan said, “Let’s wait a bit and see if the snow lightens.”

Zhou the Elder continued, “Mother, the orphans at the estate made some handicrafts. I already sent them to the Xu family’s pastry shop. I didn’t ask for settlement money; instead, I asked for oil and salt from the Xu family’s shop.”

Zhulan was aware of this matter. They transported bamboo from the south and found a master craftsman to teach the children. The crafted baskets would be sent to the pastry shop to store pastries. “You’ve been thoughtful.”

Zhou the Elder, having received affirmation, was full of energy. He not only wanted to help his mother but also wanted to enrich and train himself.

At the Hanlin Academy, one must appreciate the scenery on a snowy day. Some stood on the corridor watching the snow, others near glass windows, and some even boldly opened windows despite the cold.

Mingyun woodenly took a cape and draped it over himself, then retreated to a corner not reached by the wind. He felt he was a mundane person, truly unable to appreciate the snow in this great wind. He preferred to enjoy it in his own greenhouse at home.

Lau Song approached, “Are you that afraid of the cold?”

“If you’re not cold, don’t wear your cape.”

Lau Song chuckled dryly, “They just appreciate it for a while. They’ll close it soon.”

Mingyun thought most colleagues were just idle. Unlike those in the Ministry of Revenue where his grandfather was, who wouldn’t have the leisure to admire the snow? With such heavy snowfall, officials at the Ministry would no doubt be worried sick!

Lau Song listened to the colleagues by the window chatting, and there was even someone wanting to compose poems. “The first snow is heavy snow, and it’s so cold. One wonders how the poor populace will survive the winter.”

Mingyun said, “You do have a heart for the people.”

“You don’t?”

Mingyun didn’t want to discuss this, intentionally changing the topic, “I should congratulate you in advance. By next year, you’ll no longer be in the Hanlin Academy.”

Lau Song squinted his eyes, “Your information is quite up-to-date.”

Only his family knew about his impending departure. Had the news already leaked?

Mingyun softly said, “Just a guess. Now that the Wang family is rising, after several calculations, your Liu family didn’t get any advantage, so they can’t suppress you any longer.”

Lau Song’s heart chilled; the Liu family believed their actions were discreet. Why did he have the feeling, listening to Zhou Mingyun, that the Zhou family had an understanding of them as if they were in the palm of their hand?

Mingyun did it on purpose. Who said that recently Lau Song was somewhat arrogant, thinking that just because the Zhou family was low profile, they were easy to bully? When scheming against the Zhou family, they should weigh carefully.

The two exchanged a glance, and Lau Song uneasily shifted his eyes, “Brother Mingyun, as expected, you’re the eldest grandson of Marquis Zhou.”

Mingyun replied, “Brother Liu, you’re indeed Old Master Liu’s favorite son.”

The two fell silent, without a desire to converse. They looked at their colleagues still being blown by the cold wind, but their thoughts weren’t on the snow.

In the capital’s teahouse, Yu Die looked dispirited, “A perfectly good plan, ruined by a heavy snow.”

Lin Qing handed Yu Die a piece of fruit, “Enjoying the snowy scenery in a teahouse is also nice.”

Yu Die didn’t think so. She had booked a boat; wasn’t enjoying the snow on a boat better than in a teahouse? But, the snow just had to fall so heavily!

Yu Yi frowned, “With such heavy snow, who knows when it will stop.”

Yu Jiao was not worried at all, “By then, the family will send someone to pick us up.”

Yu Yi speechless, “Only you could be so carefree.”

Yu Jiao wrinkled her little nose. She didn’t find the teahouse unpleasant, and not wanting to anger her sister, she changed the topic, “Sister, the first snow this year is really heavy; it wouldn’t cause a snow disaster, would it?”

Yu Die spat twice, “Only the good ones will be true, don’t speak carelessly.”

Yu Jiao shrunk her neck, “Yes, only the good ones.”

Yu Yi looked worried, “Last year, it snowed in Qiizhou Province, and Father and Mother said in their letter that the temperature there was lower than usual. I don’t know if it will snow again this year, I asked Mother to prepare more charcoal, but I don’t know if she bought it?”

Yu Jiao, having lived in Qiizhou, “I don’t like Qiizhou; the winters are too cold, bone-chilling cold. My hands have been red and it was really uncomfortable.”

Yu Yi was even more worried after hearing this. The only comfort was that she prepared wolf fur mats for Father and Mother, along with several thick cloaks, all handmade by her.

Eventually, the snow didn’t lessen. The Zhou family still sent a young servant to pick them up. The road was hard to travel due to accumulated snow. The carriage first took Lin Qing back to the Lin family. On the return journey, Yu Jiao called out, “Stop.”

The drowsy Yu Wen was startled awake, “What is it?”

Yu Jiao pointed outside, “Third Sister, look, the Ning Residence is draped in white.”

Yu Die leaned to the window for a look, Yu Jiao wasn’t wrong, “Mrs. Yu has passed.”

Yu Yi motioned for the coachman to continue, “It’s not a good day to pass away on.”

Yu Wen squinted her eyes, then closed them again. Mrs. Yu had come in person, for what, her mother had told her. The conditions Mrs. Yu offered were good, but she didn’t like them. She had a rich dowry herself and wasn’t after the Ning family’s assets.

She didn’t want to be some virtuous wife either. Although Ning Ming was good, he was ambitious. To be a couple means to be as one; the more Ning Ming lived a burdensome life, the more she would too. If married to him, managing the Ning family’s assets well was expected, managing poorly meant incompetence. Moreover, concerning offspring, she didn’t want to keep having children. She believed her parents’ way was perfect, having two children was just right, less stress.

It was fortunate that her grandmother and grandfather didn’t agree, so she didn’t have to express her feelings. She believed her grandparents wouldn’t force her.

Yu Yi glanced at Yu Wen, with a smile in her eyes. In matters involving them sisters, their grandmother never hid anything from them. They all knew Mrs. Yu’s intent.

Yu Yi was clear, Yu Wen was not someone to wrong herself.

Back at the Zhou Residence, Zhulan felt relieved seeing her granddaughters safe and sound. Then she heard about the Ning family’s mourning and sighed. Mrs. Yu didn’t endure the past half-year. Over the years, they’ve had dealings with the Ning family, so it would suffice for their eldest to visit once.

After Yu Die and the others left, Yu Wen instead remained. Zhulan asked, “Do you have something to tell Grandma?”

Yu Wen nodded, “Granddaughter wants to find someone who can take care of me and stop me from worrying. Granddaughter doesn’t want to fight.”

Zhulan, “…”

Yu Wen played with her fingers, “Grandma, my grandfather is a marquis, my mother is a magistrate. My father is in the Hanlin Academy. My dowry is rich; my mother said she would give me seventy percent of her dowry. With the dowry prepared over the years, granddaughter is very affluent. I am not lacking in family background, so there really is no need for granddaughter to strive hard, and of course, granddaughter also doesn’t want to.”

Zhulan chuckled, “You little girl, alright, Grandma understands your meaning.”

Simply put, the girl feared being betrothed to Ning Ming. From the start, she and Shuren never agreed, saying it was for the Ning family’s face. Over the years, the Zhou family had a good relationship with the Ning family, having visited twice. Certain polite words needed saying.