Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

After the banquet ended and all the guests left, Madam Liu, along with Aunt Ma and Granny Lian, personally oversaw the storage of the betrothal gifts. While these items were supposed to be for the Marquis's household, she and Zhang Youtie had already discussed adding them all to their daughter's dowry list so she could take them with her; the Marquis's household would keep nothing.

Hearing Liu say this, Liu initially had a different opinion and wanted to speak, but was reminded by Old Master Zhang's two coughs, and instantly swallowed the words that were about to come out. However, later, when she saw Liu spending money like water to prepare a dowry for Xia Yu, Liu finally couldn't help but speak up.

In her mind, the family property should be left to her son. The dowry that Xiaxia took with her was already quite substantial. Moreover, the palace would also provide a dowry according to regulations. All of this together was already extremely generous, so there was really no need for the Marquis's mansion to use most of its wealth to prepare a dowry for Xiaxia.

Liu didn't object to her views, but she still did what she always did when preparing her daughter's dowry. After all, Liu didn't know how the money was spent, and the household affairs of the Marquis's mansion weren't her responsibility. At worst, she could just underreport the amount when Liu asked later.

When Xia Yu saw the final dowry list prepared by Madam Liu, she was completely overwhelmed. It was far too much; she couldn't possibly use it all even in several lifetimes. Moreover, after reviewing the family's account books, she knew that her mother had used most of the family's assets to prepare her dowry. Chang Yun wasn't even married yet; how could she possibly take so much?

“Mother, this is far too much. I know you want to give me all the good things, but my brother is getting old, and his marriage is only a couple of years away. Just cut this dowry list in half.” She gestured with her finger across the list, indicating that it should be cut in half.

Seeing this, Liu couldn't help but pat her hand.

“There’s no taboo about this. This is the dowry list; how can it be split in the middle? Just take what’s given to you. Grand Tutor Li said your brother isn’t allowed to get married before passing the imperial examination, which means there are still two years. The family shop is doing well; we can make quite a bit of money in two years,” Madam Liu calculated.

"Mother, Qiuyu's marriage is about to be settled, and Changyuan's marriage is just around the corner."

"Mother knows that they all have their own mothers to worry about. As their third aunt, I will contribute some money, but that will be limited. There's no need to reduce your dowry."

“That’s true, but we’re a marquis’s mansion now. It wouldn’t look good if you, as the marquis’s wife, didn’t give enough. If you ask me, we should find out how much other noble families usually give in such situations.” Xia Yu said slowly, holding Liu Shi’s hand, while thinking about other places in the family that would require money.

"I know, but that's all for the future. For now, just take a look at this list and see if anything is missing." At this moment, Madam Liu just wanted to prepare a nice and respectable dowry for her daughter, and she would put everything else aside for now.

"Mother, this is really too much. You forgot that I also have a county's fiefdom. This alone is enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life. Mother, this dowry is too generous. Even if I take it with me, I won't feel at ease. You and Father care about me, and I care about you too. I don't want you to have to worry about money all the time." Xia Yu said coquettishly, leaning against Liu Shi's chest.

“My dear child, the shop brings in money every day, why would we need to be so frugal?” Mrs. Liu said, her eyes slightly moist, as she put her arm around her daughter’s shoulder. However, Mrs. Liu had genuinely forgotten about her daughter’s fiefdom; she only remembered it now that her daughter mentioned it. But in Zhang Youtie and Mrs. Liu’s hearts, everything they had was earned by their daughter. Without Xiaxia, they would still be living on cornmeal porridge in Zhangjia Village. If what Mrs. Liu said was true, they would always feel guilty towards their daughter.

“Mother, if you give all of this to me, we’ll really have to calculate how much money to spend on things when it’s time to hire a sister-in-law in two years. At that time, people won’t just say that our family is broke, they’ll just think that we don’t value our soon-to-be daughter-in-law! Don’t you think I’m right? So, like I just said, we should keep half of these things for my brother to use when hiring a wife.” This time, Xia Yu didn’t dare to use her finger to gesture on the dowry list again, afraid that Liu Shi would hit her hand again.

Liu Shi took Xia Yu's words to heart. After thinking about it for a while, she hurriedly left with the list. She needed to discuss it with Aunt Ma and Granny Lian and draft a new one. However, it was definitely not acceptable to leave only half of the items on the list, as her daughter had suggested, since the list also included the betrothal gifts sent by the Shen family.

Eight days after the betrothal gifts were delivered, Grand Tutor Li returned with his two children, Changyun and Xingche.

"Madam, Grand Tutor Li has returned with the eldest young master and the young master of the carriage!" Green Cloud's words made Madam Liu look up in surprise from the dowry list.

"Where is the man?"

"He's speaking with the Marquis in the front hall!"

"Oh dear, the child is finally back." As she spoke, Madam Liu was about to walk out.

"Oh, Madam. You should change your clothes first. Grand Tutor Li and Young Master Xingche are still here!" Aunt Ma hurriedly reminded her when she saw that he was in a hurry to leave.

Liu looked down at her half-worn dress, slapped her forehead, and laughed.

"I'm so busy, hurry up. Green Cloud, help me change my clothes." With that, she got up and rushed to her courtyard.

Aunt Ma and Granny Lian exchanged a glance, chuckled simultaneously, then gathered the sheets from the table, put them in a brocade box, locked it, and left the room.

Liu hurriedly changed into her overcoat for receiving guests and led several maids to the front hall in a rush.

When she arrived at the entrance of the flower hall, several people were sitting inside drinking tea and talking.

"Mother." Changyuan was the first to see Liu Shi. He put down the cup in his hand on the coffee table and quickly went to greet her.

"Changyuan, you're back!" Liu said, her voice choked with emotion as she held her son's hand.

"Mother, your son is back. After hearing the news that the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon Lord Shen and my sister, my teacher and I returned without a moment's delay." Changyun had gotten a bit darker, and he grinned, revealing two rows of big white teeth.

Upon hearing Changyun's words, Madam Liu quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, put down her son's hand, and gave a deep bow to Grand Tutor Li.

"I misbehaved just now, please don't laugh at me, sir," said Madam Liu to Grand Tutor Li.

"No, no. Of course I won't laugh. As the saying goes, a mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles; it's only natural," said Grand Tutor Li, stroking his beard with a smile.

Only then did Xingche have the opportunity to step forward and greet Lady Liu.

Seeing the car, which was blackened like her son's, Liu couldn't help but ask.

"Where have you been? How did you get so tanned?"