A large orchard brought in nearly four thousand taels of silver, and the Yang family also earned a considerable sum, nearly fifteen hundred taels.

The Zhou family’s largest income had arrived. Zhulan checked the year’s expenses. Last year, they received ten thousand taels from Jinzhou, leaving two thousand taels for household use.

This year’s expenses weren’t too high, with food, clothing, and housing costing a little over three hundred taels, mainly due to the high price of clothing fabrics.

The bulk of the year’s expenses were on gifts. The Chen family had plenty of silver, and the gifts they received were all valuable. The Zhou family couldn’t be too impolite in return, so they spent over seven hundred taels on gifts this year.

There were also some jewelry expenses; they would buy one or two pieces of jewelry each season, and Zhulan had also ordered jade bracelets for several of her daughters-in-law, which was a significant expense.

In addition, they would save good leather and timber for their daughters’ dowries.

The two thousand taels of silver were basically gone; now, the only money left in the accounts was the autumn harvest money and the proceeds from selling apples.

Standing beside his mother, Boss Zhou gasped when he saw the final calculated amount. “Mother, over two thousand taels a year?”

A few years ago, he thought ten taels a year was a lot, but it’s only been a few years.

Zhulan lowered her head. “Not much.”

Zhulan really didn’t think it was much. Although they spent money, they had saved some, especially on furs. Now, saving was like making money. With the increase in population and economic development, the prices of furs and timber would rise and double.

And with the opening of maritime trade, in less than two years, fur prices had already increased by ten percent compared to last year.

Boss Zhou clutched his chest. This wasn’t much. His mother had acquired property and land for the eldest branch of the family, and their annual income this year was only a little over one hundred taels. Thinking about their income, the eldest branch had less money and couldn’t compare to the second branch. He did the math for the second branch: his younger brother’s income from fruits and apple orchards alone was over a thousand taels a year.

The third branch—his wife had more money, and his brother had quite a bit, too. Back in Pingzhou City, his brother had received many gifts, which were said to have been resold on the way to Lizhou.

All the land owned by the third branch of the family had passed through his hands. The income from the land alone was over 150 taels, and there were still some shops to consider.

Thinking of Li Shi’s words, Boss Zhou realized that their eldest branch really needed to work harder.

Zhulan finished calculating the accounts and had her daughter put them away. Zhulan said to Boss Zhou, “I’ve prepared all the New Year’s gifts. Pack them up and get ready to go back to our hometown.”

Boss Zhou knew about the purchase of the estate and, thinking of the amount of money in the accounts, said, “Mother, although the Northeast is vast and sparsely populated and the price of estates and land is cheaper than in the South, the four thousand taels in the accounts aren’t enough for the large estate you want to buy.”

Zhulan rubbed her shoulders and stood up, taking out the property deeds she had prepared beforehand. “These are two houses I bought in the capital. One is on the border of Northwest City, large enough to build a three-courtyard house. I don’t plan to sell this house; I’ll rebuild it when I have enough money later. The other one is in the West City, but the space is too small.”

“I don’t plan to stay.”

Zhulan handed the house deed to Boss Zhou. “Pinggang has prospered these past two years, and house prices in the capital have also risen. Although not as dramatically as in Pinggang, our house in the western part of the city should be appreciated by a couple of hundred taels. We bought it for two thousand eight hundred taels, so we should be able to sell it for three thousand taels. You can go to the capital and ask Deng Xiucai to sell it. With the three thousand five hundred taels I gave you, the two estates should be enough.”

After saying so much, Zhulan thought for a moment and then added, “If there’s any money left, buy another twenty mu of land near Zhoujia Village and donate it to the clan school to cover its expenses.”

Boss Zhou remembered everything. “Mother, what about the old house?”

He remembered his mother saying she wanted to rebuild it.

Zhulan hadn’t forgotten; the old house was now empty, and her eldest daughter had already bought land in Zhoujia Village and built a house. “Let’s leave it for now; we’ll talk about it next year. Also, don’t forget to pay respects to our ancestors.”

Boss Zhou always paid his respects when he went back. “Mother, I’ll never forget to pay respects, no matter what.”

Zhulan smiled. “Mm.”

Three days later, Boss Zhou left with the prepared New Year’s gifts. Not long after Boss Zhou left, Second Zhou and Zhao Shi returned.

Second Zhou was going to Jiangnan, but Steward Ding was going with him.

Regardless of whether Zhao Shi was pregnant or not, Zhulan was worried about her being alone in Sichuan, so she came back to stay for two months.

When Second Zhou and his wife returned, they brought back a lot of things. Two boxes of things were placed in front of Zhulan. Second Zhou said, “Mother, I know a fur merchant who knows you like furs, so I bought some back. Do you like them?”

Zhulan liked them, of course. “They must have cost a lot of money.”

These furs were all top-quality; a few pelts cost a lot of money.

Second Zhou smiled. “Mother, your son has earned quite a bit this year, so don’t worry about the money. This is all for your filial piety.”

Zhulan looked at Second Zhou. It seemed like this was the first time in so many years that she had received anything from him. Zhulan squinted; it was because she was pregnant, and Second Zhou was worried that she and Zhou Shuren favored their younger son and felt threatened.

Another box contained fabric and food.

Zhao Shi carried a bundle. “Mother, we know you’re pregnant. These are little clothes I made for the unborn child.”

Zhulan’s face was blank; she had almost forgotten that Zhao Shi was also pregnant, around the same stage.

Second Zhou stared at the teacup; he also had a terrible toothache. His younger brother or sister would be about the same age as his son or daughter.

Zhulan took the bundle and opened it casually, but upon seeing the little clothes inside, she fell silent.

Zhao Shi was anxious. “Mother, don’t you like them?”

She had made the clothes according to her mother-in-law’s preferences. Her mother-in-law liked daughters, and she had specially bought fabric for little girls to please her.

Zhulan smiled. “I like it very much.”

(End of Chapter)

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