My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: How Much Money Is in the Marquis’s Private Vault

Qin Yuan smiled and said, ”Manager Leng of Ranxiang Inn is an expert, shrewd and capable, and also skilled in aroma matching. He said Ranxiang Inn’s pepper stock isn’t much, and we need to ask others to find out if there’s any available.”

With just a few words, Nanny Rong’s face immediately brightened, and the smile in her eyes grew more intense.

Gu Jinghui glanced at her, remaining silent.

Old Madam Gu asked, ”Yuan’er, how much are you planning to stock up on?”

Qin Yuan reported a number, ”Ten hu.”

”That much?” Old Madam Gu was taken aback.

Gu Jinghui, although silent, also had a worried expression on his face.

One hu is five dou, one hundred and twenty jin, at a market price of fifty taels of silver per jin, ten hu would require a colossal sixty thousand taels of silver.

That’s quite extravagant.

No wonder Manager Leng said we need to look around.

Nanny Rong quickly said, ”Madam, did Manager Leng say if this business was worth doing?”

Qin Yuan laughed, ”Manager Leng is well-informed, saying that pepper brought from the Western Regions has been decreasing over the years, with prices absurdly high, and several major merchants are raising funds to set sail, planning to purchase pepper overseas. If this enterprise succeeds, the price of pepper might drop.”

Nanny Rong immediately advised, ”He’s been in this business for years; Madam should listen to him.”

Old Madam Gu, though silent, apparently shared this view.

Gu Jinghui quietly waited for her to continue.

Qin Yuan sighed and said, ”I know Manager Leng’s reasoning is sound, and even the shopkeepers of my dowry stores have advised me similarly. But I’ve dreamt for several consecutive days that pepper begins to rise in price before the year-end, and wealthy families can’t even buy pepper for stew in their ancestral rites, fearing to upset their ancestors.”

”I think if this dream is true, wouldn’t it be akin to passing by treasure without taking it? As the saying goes, ’If heaven gives and you don’t take it, you’ll suffer for it; if the time arrives and you don’t act, you’ll incur its punishment.’

Upon hearing this, everyone was at a loss for words.

Qin Yuan never expected Old Madam’s approval initially.

But given the vast resources of the Marquis Mansion and Old Madam’s understanding, she wouldn’t be like Mrs. Lin, meddling with how the daughter-in-law spends her dowry silver.

However, she plans to stock up quite a lot, and when pepper becomes scarce, people will inevitably come to her, making it difficult to keep this secret. It’s better to disclose it openly in front of Old Madam early.

If Old Madam were willing to join in her scheme and make a fortune, it would be even better.

She has always been grateful to Old Madam and wishes to reciprocate the kindness.

Old Madam Gu bowed her head and mused.

Gu Jinghui suddenly said, ”Pepper itself is a rare thing, and the previous dynasty even used it for officials’ salaries. The major merchants importing pepper from overseas won’t let it become cheap.”

Old Madam Gu nodded.

Qin Yuan glanced at him, not expecting him to be so insightful.

Lin Ziqi only focuses on studying and being an official, disdainful of merchant behavior. Mentioning this would only annoy him, claiming it’s a disgrace.

Gu Jinghui continued, ”While stationed at the Northern Border, the foreign people treated pepper as a treasure, with only their leader able to add pepper to every meal. In my view, this business, even if it turns a loss, would be limited.”

As he spoke, Nanny Rong’s expression relaxed noticeably.

Old Madam Gu thought for a moment, then said, ”Hui’er has more insight than we womenfolk; his words make sense. Even if pepper’s price falls, it won’t cause a lot of loss. But for safety’s sake, Yuan’er can buy less.”

It’s her daughter-in-law’s first business venture, and she undoubtedly wants to support her, but she shouldn’t buy too much. Since it’s a rare commodity, common families can’t bear to use it; selling in urgency would also be hard.

Qin Yuan gratefully said, ”Mother and my husband are quite right; I will buy less.”

Old Madam Gu laughed and said, ”I’ll also buy one thousand taels worth, to catch a bit of Yuan’er’s good fortune. If we make money, then we’ll have a stake for the card games.”

Nanny Rong burst into laughter, ”Old Madam wins often and loses little; not quite like this old servant following with two hundred taels. If we profit, we’ll have money to contribute to Old Madam’s stake.”

”You old rascal,” Old Madam Gu couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Qin Yuan felt her seven-orificed exquisite heart was soaking in warm water, indescribably comforted and warmed.

Even though Old Madam doesn’t lack money, such a gesture truly is a thoughtful way of spoiling her.

In this life, she truly has struck good fortune, having such a wonderful mother-in-law.

Qin Yuan laughed and said, ”Then I must set up an account book, meticulously keeping track of Mother’s and Nanny Rong’s shares, and use it for holiday expenses.”

Gu Jinghui watched her laugh.

Feeling a stir inside, Qin Yuan asked, ”Husband, would you like a share?”

Gu Jinghui shook his head.

Old Madam Gu nudged him, annoyed, ”Not even helping your own wife a bit.”

”Mother, my money... if she ends up losing, wouldn’t I have to come up with a way to make up for her,” Gu Jinghui’s words caught everyone by surprise, leading to a burst of laughter.

Qin Yuan’s face grew redder as she complained, ”Mother, Marquis’ accounts are Marquis’, Yuan’er is Yuan’er’s, he’s just talking nonsense.”

A wife’s dowry is a private account, while a man’s personal assets are public accounts.

Daily expenses are covered by the estate, following public accounts.

Anything extra is paid out by the husband, for family expenditures.

Many men give their wives money, either annually or monthly, for daily expenses, but if used to buy costly items like jewelry, a man’s consent is required.

Hence, many wives manage accounts, transferring surpluses to private accounts, a tacit secret between couples.

With Gu Jinghui’s remarks, it seemed as if he wanted to secretly give Qin Yuan more money, allowing her to patch up her dowry gap.

Old Madam Gu, smiling, shot her son a few looks, ”Since he mentioned it, just ask him for the money. How much he has in his private vault, neither his mother nor his father knows. In the Northern Border, the money can’t even be spent, who knows how much is saved.”

Gu Jinghui: ”...”

Favoring the wife over the son can’t go like this.

About his father’s secret stash; didn’t his mother not know back then?

However...

Gu Jinghui, looking at the blushing Qin Yuan, thought, perhaps it’s not impossible.

But it couldn’t be given too easily.

His deputy generals in the army say, once money goes into women’s purses, retrieving it is a challenge.

Facing a woman with an open palm asking for money isn’t pleasant.

Old Madam Gu took action instantly, presenting a silver note worth one thousand taels, while Nanny Rong offered two hundred taels, asking Qin Yuan to record them on her ledger.

The matter of Qin Yuan wanting to stock up on pepper soon reached Sixth Lady Gu’s ears.

”Old Madam has a wealthy vault, but can’t treat money so lightly, splurging silver just to make Third Sister-in-law happy. Spoiling a daughter-in-law isn’t done this way.”

Sixth Lady Gu, seated by the window at her desk, complaining to Gu Jingjun who was lying on the Arhat Bed resting.

Gu Jingjun lazily replied, ”Isn’t it because she knows how to make Old Madam happy? Third Sister-in-law looks good; Old Madam has always liked beauties, and her maids are as fresh and charming as scallions. Unlike those in our place, all looking like burnt pancakes.”

Burnt pancakes?!

Sixth Lady Gu was so furious her face turned ashen, just as Mrs. Cai, in charge of repairs, sent word, saying she was ordered by Old Madam to furnish the small kitchen in Wutong Garden, wanting some supplies released.