Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

After two more days of preparation, the marriage arrangements for Zhang Chengwen at the old family mansion were finally settled. Although Madam Liu was very dissatisfied with the Qin family's pickiness towards her son, she had to admit that the Qin family's second daughter marrying into their family was indeed a step down. Considering her son's future career, Madam Liu, despite her awkwardness, was still very happy and brought out all the family's wealth.

Currently, there are two thousand mu of land registered under her son's name, and Liu has always kept this income separately. The family knows that it all belongs to the fourth son, but fortunately, each branch of the family now has its own business and doesn't covet the fourth son's property. Even if they did, Liu wouldn't give them a single penny of what belongs to the fourth son.

In addition, there was the money the family had earned from growing watermelons and chili peppers with the third son's family over the past few years. Liu also brought out the filial gifts Zhang Youtie had given them over the years. All of these items added up to more than two thousand taels of silver.

"Hmm, I think that's about right," Liu said to Old Master Zhang, looking at the silver notes in her hand and the silver on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Chunyu is about to get married, and you've already used all that money. What will happen to Chunyu?" Old Master Zhang frowned as he saw her bring out all the family's wealth and even neglect her grandchildren's marriage.

“Chunyu still has her mother, doesn’t she? The eldest daughter-in-law’s braised meat business has been booming these past few years, and she has quite a bit of money. It’s enough for her to give her what she needs, so we won’t be short of her money,” Liu said casually.

"What kind of talk is that? We're not short of money these days. Our child has been by your side and taking care of you for so many years. It wouldn't be right not to give some money." Old Master Zhang thought that the family Chunyu was engaged to was a respectable family in the town. If the child's dowry was too small, not only would the child not be able to stand on her own two feet in her husband's family, but it would also make his own family look bad.

"So much money? What are we going to do with it? This isn't even enough to buy a house in the capital! Besides, there's the betrothal gift. If it's too little, how can our fourth son save face?" Liu Shi got angry just listening to the old man's words.

"Don't say so much. The third son is going out to buy grain soon. Take out one hundred taels to buy grain, and another one hundred taels as a gift for Chunyu. As for the other children, we'll have to wait a few more years. We can save up slowly."

Old Master Zhang didn't say much to her. It didn't matter much whether the two hundred taels were more or less for his fourth son's wedding. After all, the other party also valued his son. The Qin family had already investigated his family's situation thoroughly. If they found out that his family was not giving his granddaughter any dowry in order to marry into a high-class family, they would be looked down upon even more.

The elderly couple were arguing when they heard Zhang Chengwen talking outside.

"Father, Mother, I've come in to talk to you."

"Fourth son, come in, your parents are inside!" Upon hearing her youngest son's voice, Liu's face immediately lit up with a smile.

Zhang Chengwen bowed to his parents before sitting down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Seeing the silver notes and loose silver coins on the kang, he knew his parents were worried about his marriage.

He took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and handed them over.

"Mother, this is what I've saved up over the years. You can use it. Don't touch the money in the house. We'll need money for our nephews and nieces' weddings in the future."

Old Master Zhang's eyes widened when he saw the stack of silver notes his son had produced. After a moment, he pointed at the notes and questioned Zhang Chengwen.

"Third brother, where did you get so much silver? Did you embezzle it while you were in office?"

“Father, the money is all from legitimate sources, so don’t worry!” Zhang Chengwen shook his head helplessly upon hearing his father’s words, but still explained to him.

"Your monthly salary is so low, tell me how you managed to save up all that money?"

As soon as Old Master Zhang finished speaking, Liu's trembling voice could be heard.

"Three thousand taels! Fourth son, tell your mother the truth, have you been exploiting the common people?"

"Fourth brother, is what your mother said true?" Upon hearing that there were three thousand taels of silver notes, Old Master Zhang couldn't sit still any longer. He stared at Zhang Chengwen with wide eyes, as if trying to see from his face whether he was lying to him.

Seeing his parents' reaction, Zhang Chengwen realized the misunderstanding was serious and quickly stood up to bow to them again.

"Father, Mother, please listen to your son slowly. These are not embezzled funds. More than a thousand taels were sent to me by my third brother and sister-in-law. They were worried that my salary at my post would not be enough, so they secretly subsidized me. But I am alone outside and have no family. My daily expenses do not require much money, so I have gradually saved it all up."

Hearing him say that, the two elders felt somewhat relieved.

"Did your third brother really give it to you? What else is there? What about the others?" Old Master Zhang quickly pressed for more information.

“When I took office, some wealthy merchants in the area would regularly send silver to the government office as tribute. This was an established practice, passed down through generations. At first, I refused, but the merchants thought I was complaining about the amount and sent even more. Later, I asked my colleagues in the government office, and they said it had always been the case, so I accepted it.” After saying this, he assured the two elders…

"That's all. I didn't take a single penny of any other money that wasn't in accordance with the rules."

"Won't there be any problems with the money those wealthy merchants gave as tribute?" Liu asked worriedly.

"Probably not. They haven't asked us to do anything illegal. They've had this requirement for years," Zhang Chengwen assured him.

"Oh, if that's the case, then so be it. But you must remember, you can't exploit the people. You grew up in the village, and you know how hard it is for farmers. If I ever find out that you dare to exploit the people, I will disown you as my son." Old Master Zhang solemnly warned his fourth son again and again.

"Yes, Father. I have remembered your words."

With the three thousand taels of silver sent by Zhang Chengwen, the marriage can be arranged quite respectably.

Two days later, the Zhang family set off for the capital, leaving the old house in the care of Changsheng and his wife. The affairs of Zhang Youtie's house were entrusted to Aunt Liu, who also invited her brothers and sisters-in-law from her maternal family to help. The workshops were managed by the managers of each workshop.

Changyun went to study at the Grand Tutor's garden with Grand Tutor Li. Zhang Youtie and his wife, along with Xia Yu, Old Master Zhang and Madam Liu from the old house, Zhang Youjin and his wife, Zhang Youyin and his wife, and the three children, Chun, Qiu, and Dong, all went to the capital together. Zhang Chengwen transferred to another ship at the Zhongzhou Prefecture dock to report for his new post. The betrothal arrangements were handled by his family.

The people of Zhangjia Village were unaware that Zhang Chengwen was going to discuss marriage; they simply assumed Zhang Youtie was going out to buy grain. They were just wondering why everyone from the old house was going with him.

"The Emperor in the capital bestowed upon me a house, so I took my family to see it while I went out to buy grain."

Zhang Youtie gave this answer, but seeing the bolts of fine silk being carried from the Zhang family's house onto the ship, some people guessed that it was being used to find a wife for Zhang's fourth son. However, since they weren't saying anything at the moment, it meant that the matter wasn't settled yet, and it wasn't appropriate to ask further.

On the ship, Liu was vomiting so badly that she was practically dying. By the time she disembarked in the capital, she was barely alive and had to be carried off the ship by Da Niu.

"Third brother, how big is the mansion bestowed by the Emperor? Can all of us live there?" Zhang Youjin asked with some concern, looking at his group of dozens of people.

"I don't know, it wasn't mentioned in the imperial edict. If there's really no room, we can just stay at an inn," Zhang Youtie replied nonchalantly.