Chapter 173: Dowry

Disclaimer: 

1. This is an unofficial translation and no permission has been obtained from the author/ official publisher. It may be taken down if the author/official publisher requests. 

2. This is a fan work and the interpretation represents only the translator’s personal views without any input from the author. 

3. No permission has been granted to use, publish, upload and/or copy this translation to any other site except for Second Life Translations.

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During the evening meal, Liu Lin started to discuss the matter of opening a textile store with his family. He mentioned that the store Liu Yun’er had been renting had recently become available and explained the situation with the owner’s family. By renting the store from them, the Liu family could be considered to be doing theirs a favour. 

“Originally, I wasn’t in a hurry, but since this is the situation, we can rent it first and take some time to renovate it next year. It’s doable. What does everyone think?”

He shi was stunned when she heard. “A grand old family…. Just failed like that? I really can’t imagine. They’re such a prestigious family, with so much wealth….”

Liu Changgeng had been paying attention to different matters. Liu Changgeng had noticed that Fang Jicheng and Liu Yun’er’s business had failed. He turned his head and asked Liu Tao in a stern voice, “Your sister’s store has closed. Did you know about it? What business are they running now?”

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Nkw Mys pbssj bkp blye, “R eked’v jdso lkvbla. Rv’p clld y zsdt vkxl pkdnl R’hl plld bla…. Gp vs bla cwpkdlpp, R yzps esd’v jdso yduvbkdt ycswv kv…. Ohld kq R olal vs ypj bla ycswv kv, pbl rascyczu oswzed’v pyu yduvbkdt vs xl.”

Nkw Dw’la qswde kv pvaydtl. “Oatl, obu eke usw pweeldzu vbkdj sq srldkdt y vlmvkzl pvsal? Zsw’hl lhld clld rzyddkdt vbkp qsa ps xydu ulyap? Ebu eke usw qllz vbl dlle? El byhl ldswtb pvsalp kd vbl qyxkzu.” Mbl kdpvydv pbl blyae ycswv Nkw Nkd’p rzyd vs srld y vlmvkzl pvsal, pbl cltyd vs byhl y pwprknksd – cwv ds sdl bye pyke yduvbkdt lmrzknkvzu vs bla!

Fwal ldswtb, Tl pbk hlau xyvvla sq qynvzu pvyvle, “Zswa qyvbla yde R byhl ekpnwpple kv. Mbl pvsalp yde osajpbsr okzz yzz ts okvb usw yp ryav sq uswa esoau. Fbk Ubldt’p clvasvbyz tkqv vs usw oyp hlau tldlaswp – ol nyddsv yrrlya vs cl pvkdtu. Xvblaokpl, vblu oswze zssj esod sd usw obld usw tlv xyaakle, yde usw oswze byhl y ekqqknwzv vkxl….”

Nkw Dw’la pyke, pbsnjle, “Ebyv, usw’al tkhkdt kv yzz vs xl?” Fbl jdlo vbyv bla ryaldvp oswze dlhla pbsavnbydtl bla, cwv pbl byed’v vbswtbv vblu oswze tkhl bla lhlauvbkdt. Fbl pyke, “Pye, xwx, usw pvkzz byhl vball psdp! Mbl pvsalp yde osajpbsr olal swa ldvkal qyxkzu’p rykdpvyjkdt osaj. Ebu pbswze usw tkhl kv yzz vs xl?”

Nkw Fbw zywtble obld bl blyae.&dcpr;

Nkw Nkd yzps pxkzle, “Rv’p sdzu aktbv qsa usw vs byhl kv. Fbk Ubldt’p qyxkzu kpd’v yd saekdyau sdl – vblka qyxkzu kp hlau olyzvbu. Rq usw oldv shla okvb vss zkvvzl, fwpv yp xwx pyke, kv oswze alqzlnv cyezu sd usw, yde uswa eyup oswze cl ekqqknwzv. Dw’la, swa ldvkal qyxkzu osajle ps byae. Ebyv oyp kv qsa, kq kv oypd’v qsa wp vs ldfsu swa zkhlp?”

Ebld bl pyo Dw’la ydmkswp vs kdvlaawrv, Nkw Nkd pxkzle yde nsdvkdwle, “Gzps! Zsw yal xu sdl yde sdzu pkpvla. Mbl sdzu sdl obs dllep vs zlyhl swa qyxkzu. Rq ol esd’v tkhl vblx vs usw, obs pbswze ol tkhl vblx vs?!”

Nkw Fbw yzps dseele bkp blye, “Mbyv’p aktbv, Dw’la. Zsw esd’v byhl vs osaau. Xwa qyxkzu’p qkdydnkyz pkvwyvksd kp yzps hlau pvyczl! El byhl y bswpl yde zyde, yde ol’hl y zsv sq pkzhla. Zswa casvblap yal yzps dsv wplzlpp rlsrzl – kpd’v uswa latl rzyddkdt vs srld y dlo pvsal? Fs usw esd’v byhl vs osaau. El’al dsv tkhkdt usw vss xwnb qsa uswa esoau.”

Liu Xu’er was still shaking her head. “Dage, erge, I know what you are worried about, but there’s really no need! When I marry, everything I use will be provided by Shi Cheng. With someone to support me, why should I take away all of the family’s stores? Just so that Shi Cheng’s family looks up to me? Actually, all of you don’t need to worry about that. It’s not as though I am brainless. I will definitely ensure to build a good relationship with Shi Cheng’s mother, and will keep her happy. Even without all these gifts, I can still manage that! Also, our family….”

Liu Shu waved his hands, “You don’t have to say anymore. The matter has already been decided on. Right dad, mum?”

Liu Changgeng nodded his head. “That’s right. We’ve already decided. In this, only your parent’s decision matters! It’s useless, whatever you say.”

Liu Xu’er covered her mouth. Honestly, for her parents, and all her brothers to want to do this was very moving. Of course, since they were all in the same family, being moved might be seen as being too distant with them. But she really didn’t want to take everything away. She covered her mouth and thought of what she should say.

Liu Shu saw that she was still thinking about it. He patted her and said, “Meimei, don’t even think about it. These things really aren’t much. If you can live a happy life, all of us will be happy! Shi Cheng is a good person, and he treats you with a lot of sincerity. We don’t have to worry about him. If we can give you more, then our family really can rest easy about the rest. You should take it, if only to give the rest of us peace of mind.”

Liu Sen nodded his head and said, “that’s right, jie. Don’t be so courteous. Just take it! Why are you being so formal with your family? If it were me, I would definitely take everything! And then instruct dage, erge to work for you as your employees. You can give them a salary! And if dage refuses to give me food to eat, you can refuse to pay him!”

Everyone burst out laughing at that. Liu Shu pointed at him and smiled, “I have been too busy to supervise you these past few days, and I see that you’ve gone back to your usual tricks! Tomorrow, I will give you a few more arithmetic sums!”

Liu Sen rubbed his nose, “I’m about to sit for the examinations! Did you forget, that we all want to go for the exams, and they don’t include anything about arithmetic…. So, why don’t we leave them be for the time being…”

Liu Lin laughed. He turned and said to Liu Xu’er, “Meimei, don’t say it. Dad has already spoken. It doesn’t matter what you say.”

Liu Tao was just sitting at the side and smiling. It was not for him to add anything to this conversation. Liu Changgeng and He shi nodded their heads. They too told Liu Xu’er not to say any more.

Liu Xu’er thought for a moment. She understood everyone’s intentions, but she really couldn’t take everything away. She thought for a moment before smiling and saying, “I can consider taking one of the stores, but the rest of them and the workshop must stay behind.”

Liu Changgeng shook his head, “The workshop was originally intended to supply the stores. Why would you only take a little and leave the lion’s share behind? We’ve already said that we want to give you everything. You don’t need to say anything anymore. Why are you being so courteous with your family? It’s as though you want to draw distance between us.”

He shi nodded her head decisively, “Don’t say anymore, don’t say anymore! It’s all been decided!”

Liu Xu’er hurriedly said, “Dad, Mum! You should at least listen to me finish! I really cannot take the workshop. After all, it’s very inconvenient for me to have to manage all those people. Think about it, the supervisors in the store are dad and mum. If I were to marry out, with Shi Cheng’s family’s rules, even if his parents aren’t around, I can’t just leave the home whenever I like. And the workshop employees need frequent attention – if it isn’t one matter, it’s another! How can I cope? If I were to try, then wouldn’t I need to leave the house often? Wouldn’t that cause my mother-in-law to become dissatisfied with me? There’s really no need.”

There was some sense in what she said, so Liu Changgeng and He shi both paused. The two of them looked at each other. 

But her siblings were still at the side, talking merrily with one another. When they noticed that their parents had become speechless, Liu Lin had quickly turned his attention to the conversation and managed to catch the last few sentences. He said, “What’s there to manage? Even if you can’t manage it, you can get Shi Cheng to manage it for you!”

Liu Xu’er smiled and said, “Dage, erge! Shi Cheng has his own family business. We might even be moving to Hanzhong city eventually. Furthermore, he’s not all knowing. He’s never been involved in managing a workshop, so what would he know about it? You can’t just blindly insist on giving me the workshop and then it goes bankrupt right?!”

Liu Shu had been listening to the entire conversation. He smiled and said, “You might be able to fool others with that, but you can’t fool us. Did anyone say that you must personally manage the stores and workshop? You just need to find a manager for the store and the workshop. Isn’t that what we did in Hanzhong city? How long has it been since you’ve visited that store? Aren’t you just checking the books every month?”

Liu Xu’er still wanted to say more, but He shi had already waved her arms, “Don’t say any more! This matter is decided!” Then she turned and looked at Liu Lin, “We should discuss whether or not to rent that store or not! Their father, what do you think?” Then she turned and asked Liu Changgeng. 

Liu Xu’er was helpless. She thought to herself that she needed to find Shi Cheng to discuss the matter. No matter what, she would not bring everything over. Everyone in the family put all their effort into these businesses. How could she take it all away?

But she did agree with her erge’s textile business.

Liu Changgeng heard He shi’s question and turned to ask Liu Lin, “Have you already understood the textile business? Where would you go to buy stock? The textile shops in Feng Town – how’s business like?”

Liu Lin nodded his head, “I’ve spent a few years researching this. We need to go to Songjiang prefecture or perhaps the Suzhou, Hangzhou regions to get stock. But Songjiang prefecture has imperial weavers, which encouraged the surrounding area to grow many privately owned silk workshops. It would be best to go to Songjiang prefecture to find what we need. As to our Feng town and Hanzhong city’s textile shops, I’ve already researched them. There’s no issue with it.”

Liu Changgeng nodded his head. 

Liu Xu’er said, “There are many different ways to do this. Erge, we’re not too familiar with this line. If we really want a store like this, then we need to find someone who is experienced in this!”

Liu Lin nodded his head, “That’s right. I’ve already got someone in mind. Feng town’s Dongchangji has not been doing well these few years. They’re about to go bust! Their manager is already preparing his exit strategy. If we need someone, I think that he’s the most suitable. He’s very experienced with this line of work.”

Everyone could tell that Liu Lin had indeed done his homework carefully, so they didn’t have any major concerns. They all agreed to let Liu Lin go ahead with this. As for renting the store, that was just a small matter –  Liu Lin could make his own decision about that. 

Liu Lin saw that everyone had agreed and was delighted. That night, he and Liu Shu made a rough calculation of how much money he would need. At the beginning, his expenses would definitely be quite heavy, but since the family had been doing business for years, their financial situation was well able to handle it. 

With their money, they could have bought more land, but since they were all in business, they didn’t need that much land. These past few years, they’d only bought the parcels of land around their existing area, about 30 or so mu. Added to what they had before, they had a total of about 50 mu of land. Everything was handed over to Liu Changshi to grow his goji berries. 

The remainder of the money had just been saved at home. Like other families, they found a safe spot, dug a hole in the ground and buried the money in a chest. Since they now had a use for the money, they dug up the chest. 

Liu Xu’er had gone to discuss the matter of her dowry with Shi Cheng. Shi Cheng nodded his head when he heard. He definitely understood that Liu Xu’er would never take everything with her when she marries. She would definitely think of a way to leave it at home. 

Shi Cheng thought it over for a moment before saying, “I’ve an idea! You should have enough silver now, so why don’t you consider buying the shop in Hanzhong city. It would be enough to have that store as part of your dowry —- With the title deed to the store, you would have some property under your name. And when you sell goods in the store, you won’t need to pay any rent. And if…. I said if! If you can’t manage the store, then you can close it and just rent it out. That would be very suitable for you. You wouldn’t have to go out frequently.”

When he said that, Shi Cheng smiled, “And that way, I can account for myself…. Before, when my mother was complaining about the betrothal money, I exaggerated what you would bring in terms of your dowry. I even worried that after you married, my mother would realise and make trouble for you. This way, everything would be resolved!”

Liu Xu’er felt that was a good suggestion and decided to find a good time to discuss it with her parents. Since her dage and erge were digging up their savings, she may as well tell them to take all of their money out.