Mrs. Li, hearing her husband’s words, recalled her time with the Tang Family, the wealthiest among the major tycoons of the entire country, who had a greenhouse where flowers never felt the coldness of winter.
"Oh, right. Wealthy homes have greenhouses covered in some kind of transparent material, which I heard is made from small mirrors similar to the ones we use. I don’t know the name of this material."
Hongji had never seen such a thing, and could only imagine. The difference between a thatched house and a house made of transparent material was like heaven and earth.
"Tsk tsk, wealthy people can afford to play without fearing such expensive costs."
As the couple spoke to this point, they were no longer insistent on refusing.
Mrs. Li understood that her younger brothers wanted to try their hardest, and since they had discussed it with their families, she couldn’t blame them for whatever happened in the future.
Mrs. Li actually wished for her family to have real property, not just relying on the little salary from their estate.
Since her daughters had started to read and write, she believed that even though farmers might earn the most money, children with the opportunity to study were better off.
Without money as a foundation, how could one expect to support a scholar, who required so much financial resources?
Her elder and younger uncles’ sons wanted to study; both brothers wanted to strive for more money, an ambition and responsibility befitting men.
Was it that she, as a woman, viewed things too narrowly? Every time their daughter suggested something and if her husband agreed, she would be so worried that she couldn’t sleep at night.
Others praised her husband’s assistant. A woman bearing the responsibility of managing the estate, yet she had no choice. She did it for her husband and children as well.
Fearful of their impoverished past, they engaged in business with constant anxiety, always being very cautious.
Hongji felt that his wife no longer opposed, and so, holding his wife close, he had new ideas.
Mrs. Li felt her husband’s hands becoming restless and gently lay down.
Whenever Ye Shiqi made a proposal to her parents, she didn’t have to worry about it afterward. Her parents’ execution was strong, probably because they loved her so much; they would listen to their young daughter’s suggestions and venture into risky businesses.
Sometimes, Ye Shiqi felt that, although there were many conflicts in this family, there was also the love of her parents, elder sisters, and her adorable younger brother. Life in ancient times could be boring without any entertainment but still overflowed with happiness!
Days later, finally, she heard from her mother that they had succeeded in buying the estate next door.
Ye Shiqi heard about the estate purchase from her mother, who had suggested that the three families cooperate. Her parents, Uncle, and Young Uncle had all hesitated!
Because of this, Uncle and Young Uncle had discussed it with their families. Middle-aged men wanting to pursue business endeavors, the women in the family could only offer support. With their elderly parents, when their sons made such a significant decision, besides advising them to be thorough, they could only offer moral support.
Li Zhijun and Li Zhihao discussed with their family for a few hours and did not spend the night at home. They returned to the estate feeling a strong sense of responsibility.
For the sake of the estate and their finances, family gatherings were limited to the dinner table, and marital affection was also somewhat subdued for the sake of money.
In the past two years, the brothers worked to earn money, safeguard the estate, and ensure they could make extra money, delegating the responsibilities of looking after the children and elderly to their wives.
The brothers’ wives were not idle either, continuing to farm and sell vegetables. Without the brothers’ help, their work grew harder. As the kids at home grew a bit older and became more sensible, the older ones would help whenever they could.
After more than two years of effort, the brothers had saved a little money, improving their family’s living conditions and affording to build two or three extra rooms for their children.
The harmonious Li brothers, with their parents still around, had not divided the household. Besides contributing some money to their parents monthly, the extra money the brothers earned was saved.
In those days, it was rare for farmers to deposit money in a bank, as having no cash on hand could be troublesome in urgent situations.
Farmers also feared that the people running the bank might abscond with their money.
With more financial assets, concerns about theft increased if the money remained at home. The brothers, with support from their family, decided to take action.
Li Zhijun was more conservative, but he wasn’t as articulate as his younger brother. Li Zhihao was more cunning; he often spoke in a cheerful and joking manner, but his mind was always quick.
So, the brothers discussed it, and Li Zhihao, driving the ox cart, went to seek out Young Master Tang, choosing to let him act as the broker.