20demayo Chapter 28: Settlement of an Account
Chapter 28: Settlement of an Account
On the very day the exam results were released, Jiang Xiaoqi took Wenbin on a horse-drawn carriage back to their hometown.
Liu Datou, accompanied by a servant, drove his own carriage, which was crammed with luggage and New Year's gifts prepared by the Jiang family for the Jiang family in Changshou County and the Lin family in Linjiang County.
Another older servant followed, driving a larger carriage that had no luggage on it.
Jiang Xiaoqi and Wenbin sat together in the carriage provided by Lord Jiang and his wife. Before leaving, they were wrapped tightly in cotton quilts by Liu Mama, who was by Lady Jiang's side.
The carriage windows and doors were also sealed with heavy curtains to ensure that no cold wind could get in.
In addition, Lord Jiang arranged for two guards from his household to escort him all the way, which saved Jiang Xiaoqi the money of hiring bodyguards.
Two little children, one just turned four and the other seven, traveling in the freezing cold, how could one not worry?
Of course, other students in the clan school did not receive this treatment.
Along the way, Jiang Xiaoqi and Wenbin caught glimpses of the snowy scenery through the gaps in the cotton curtain.
The world is covered in silver, and it is beautiful, but how many families who cannot afford firewood will suffer from the cold?
Jiang Xiaoqi felt that as a time traveler, apart from being studious and ambitious, he really hadn't brought anything to this era.
The imperial examination system was perhaps the only way to make a splash in this era; the higher you stand, the greater your power.
Only by being stronger can one contend with the instigators of the people's hardship and suffering.
"Young Master, how much longer until we get home?" Wenbin asked in a low voice.
"I don't know either. The roads are slippery in the snow, so the same distance will definitely take much longer than when we go out in the summer."
"It's alright. We can rest at an inn along the way for the night. It's too dangerous to travel at night anyway."
Jiang Xiaoqi was uncertain. Judging from how slowly the carriage was moving, it would be good if they could get home before New Year's Eve.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the ruts became deeper and deeper.
After traveling for eight or nine days with frequent stops, we finally returned to the longevity village.
At the entrance of the Jiang residence, Lin Yueniang anxiously looked around. Her coachman and servant had arrived home first, and she then realized that her son's carriage was right behind them.
Wrapped in a cloak, she and her two daughters waited at the door, while Granny Zhou and Cui'er kept watch at the village entrance.
As soon as Jiang Xiaoqi got out of the car, she was surrounded by her mother and sisters.
"Ming-ge'er! My son! You've suffered so much! Quickly, come inside and warm up!"
Granny Zhou stuffed a warm hot water bottle into Jiang Xiaoqi's arms, and Cui'er also gave one to Wenbin.
"Little brother, little brother, you're finally home!"
"Mother! Eldest sister! Second sister!" After greeting them one by one, she carried the warm hot water bottle and followed her family into the house.
"Granny Zhou, go and get another charcoal brazier. Cui'er, go and cook two bowls of shredded chicken noodles," Lin Yueniang instructed.
“My dear, let’s not go to the clan school next year, okay? You’ve been gone for more than half a year, and I’m really worried about you.”
"And Wenbin, you've worked hard taking care of the young master all the way. Have some noodles before you go back to your grandparents' place."
"Yes, thank you, Madam! It's my duty to take care of the young master; it's no trouble for me."
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't get a chance to speak, she just looked sweetly at her mother and two older sisters.
“Mother, I want to study and take the imperial examination. Although our family is doing alright, it’s only in Changshou Village. You don’t know how worried I was about the harvest during the drought in June.”
"You're just a little kid, why should you worry about the family's produce? Just focus on growing up healthy and strong. Worrying too much will stunt your growth!"
Lin Yueniang sometimes felt that her son was not like a son, but more like an old man. He didn't think about good food or fun every day, but worried about the family's livelihood.
"You can't say that. The success or failure of my family's business will indirectly affect my studies."
In the past six months, I have spent nearly a hundred taels of silver, and that is with careful spending.
They ate at the Jiang family's house in the prefectural city, and didn't care much about their clothes. They lived in the side courtyard of the Jiang family's house, and could go to the clan school just one street away.
These are already very good conditions, right? I thought I wouldn't have to spend much money, but how could I be so shameless as to eat and stay for free?
The birthday gifts for Lord Chiang and his wife, the tips for the servants of the Chiang family, and the social obligations among classmates all required money.
I never knew that children of such young age could spend several taels of silver to give gifts.
Often, a ten-tael silver ingot would be taken out and quickly turn into broken silver, and then into copper coins.
Once a whole coin is broken, it will soon be completely gone.
I didn't realize it when I was at home, but once I got to the prefectural city, money really didn't last long.
After listening to such a long explanation, Lin Yueniang suddenly felt an urge to take stock of her dowry.
The son costs 100 taels every six months, which is 200 taels a year. The eldest daughter is almost thirteen years old and will be engaged in two years after her coming-of-age ceremony.
My second daughter is eleven. After my eldest daughter's wedding, it will be my second daughter's turn. We need to set aside dowries for both daughters. The rest will be used to help my son.
If their son wants to take the imperial examination, the government will definitely pay for it. The parents-in-law will not wrong their own grandson. However, the annual revenue of the 500 mu of land in Changshou Village and the few shops in the town is only 500 taels.
This large family needs to be fed, the servants need to be paid monthly wages, and there are two concubines and four illegitimate daughters to support. Oh right, I almost forgot, there's also the husband who studies at the county school.
The amount of silver spent on clothing and food each month is about five taels, which adds up to sixty taels a year. There are not many servants in the household, so the amount spent on them is six taels a month, which adds up to seventy-two taels a year.
Horse feed, house repairs, social obligations, banquets and other miscellaneous expenses add up to over a hundred taels a year.
Including the tuition fees for the husband and son's studies, as well as the cost of writing materials, ink, paper, and inkstones, the total came to approximately three hundred taels.
That's 532 taels! Good heavens! Our family is living beyond our means; we can't even save a single tael of silver all year round!
"Sigh..." With a sigh, the scenery was limited to the village.
"But Mother, don't worry. Didn't your great-aunt write to you before about cooperating on the beauty pill business?"
I've made dozens of them in total, and I estimate things will be better next year. I should be able to earn at least a few hundred taels, maybe even more.
However, this business is lucrative, so it easily attracts attention. Without a strong background, it's easy to be targeted.
We now have the Jiang family of Fucheng and the Liu family of Jingcheng to rely on, but relying on others is always a poor strategy.
Therefore, Mother, not only can I not drop out of school and return home, but I must study hard to pass the imperial examinations and become a high-ranking official.
Jiang Xiaoqi looked at her mother with a firm gaze, "Only when I have enough strength can I become your support, my sister, and the support for our family."
Looking at her little son, Lin Yueniang's eyes welled up with tears, a mixture of relief and emotion.
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Jiang Xiaoqi finally met the unfamiliar father of the child scholar.
Unlike Jiang Xiaoqi, who ranked first in Class C this time, Jiang Wenqing, her father, consistently ranked at the bottom in county school exams and was on the verge of being expelled.