Chapter 828: 349 Tingyi Gets Married (Part 1)
Tingzheng stayed at Li Mansion for two days, and on the day before he returned to the barracks, he went back to Ma’s Mansion. He sought out Yueyao for a talk.
Yueyao handed a Purple Cloud-patterned Fox Fur Overcoat to Tingzheng, "Try this on, see if it fits?" By the next time Tingzheng would come back, it would likely be the new year. Yueyao had prepared winter cotton-padded jackets and trousers for Tingzheng, as well as two large sweaters.
Tingzheng felt it was somewhat wasteful, "Sister, you should keep these furs for yourself to make clothes. I already have a lot of clothes and can’t wear them all."
Yueyao laughed, "The manor sends up furs every year, and I have plenty stored in my warehouse, so you don’t need to worry about me." Yueyao had stayed at several farmsteads, so she was very familiar with the situation there. For this reason, she discovered that two farmstead managers were harsh on tenant farmers and raised their rents without permission, which led Yueyao to replace them with honest and reliable managers. In recent years, the earnings from the farmsteads had been quite good, and the gifts they sent were plentiful, including various kinds of furs. The fox fur Tingzheng was wearing was sent from the farmsteads.
Tingzheng was somewhat incredulous.
Yueyao pointed to the grey mouse fur coat Xiang Wei was wearing and said, "The coat that Sister Xiang Wei is wearing comes from the furs sent up by the rural farmsteads."
After hearing this, Tingzheng believed it. If furs were available for Xiang Wei to wear, there must certainly be surplus. Tingzheng didn’t dwell on the matter of furs any longer and brought up another issue with Yueyao, "Sister, I’m thinking of trying for an official rank next year."
The "exam for an official rank" that Tingzheng referred to was the military examination. Like the civil examination, the military examination included yearly child exams, triennial provincial exams, and triennial metropolitan exams.
Yueyao calculated that Tingzheng would be fourteen next year and it wouldn’t be bad to participate in the child exams, "If you’re confident, then go ahead and participate." Even if he didn’t pass, it would be good experience.
Tingzheng nodded, "I’m confident." He was certain there would be no problem in becoming a Military Scholar.
Yueyao looked at the graceful and poised Tingzheng and felt a twinge of regret. How wonderful it would have been if Tingzheng could have achieved success in the civil examinations; with his looks, he would certainly stand out during the palace examination. On the other hand, his appearance could be a hindrance in the military examinations.
Yueyao shook off those cluttered thoughts from her mind and handed Tingzheng two hundred taels of silver notes, each note worth ten taels, "You’re grown up now, and you’ll have various social obligations. Take this for now, and if it’s not enough, just let your sister know later." Yueyao knew that the monthly salary in the Primus Battalion was four taels of silver. This amount was indeed a significant subsidy for poor commoners, but for Yueyao, it wouldn’t even suffice for one meal.
Tingzheng waved his hand, "Sister, I have money on me. When I run out, I’ll ask you for more." He received a monthly allowance of twenty taels of silver and had always had more than enough, having saved a considerable amount over the years.
Yueyao placed the silver notes in Tingzheng’s hand, "You don’t need to skimp when socializing outside; you must spend what needs to be spent. A man of honor must not be petty, or else it would be looked down upon." While thriftiness in a woman could be praised as good household management, for a man to be petty could invite contempt.
Tingzheng was still reluctant to take it...
Seeing Tingzheng’s reluctance, Yueyao smiled and said, "You don’t need to worry about the money running out. The annual income from the four manors is more than eight thousand taels, which is enough for both of us." Even in less prosperous years, they would still yield five or six thousand taels. Both siblings didn’t spend much, so Yueyao didn’t save this money, but instead, following Xiang Wei’s advice, she invested all of it.
Tingzheng knew that these four manors were left by their mother, but he said, "Sister, this was left for you by mother, I cannot use it."
Yueyao sternly said, "Are you trying to settle accounts with your sister?"
Seeing Yueyao looking upset, Tingzheng then accepted the silver notes, but he still stated what he had to say, "Sister, I know how good you are to me, and I’ll accept this money for now. But these manors are mother’s legacy to you, and I absolutely won’t take them." Tingzheng was certain his sister intended to divide mother’s dowry equally, half for each of them.
Yueyao hadn’t expected Tingzheng to think so far ahead, "We’ll talk about future matters in the future." Indeed, she planned on splitting her property equally, but that was not until after Tingzheng came of age.
Tingzheng said stubbornly, "Sister, I don’t want it. I can earn these things myself in the future." Naturally, everything left by their mother belonged to his sister.
Yueyao didn’t argue with Tingzheng, as it was really pointless to debate this now, "We can talk about this matter later. You haven’t told me how you are doing in the barracks yet?" On the night Tingzheng had returned, Yueyao was preoccupied with painting and hadn’t even inquired about Tingzheng’s life in the barracks.