Every copper coin, every mace of silver, was the hard-earned result of her husband’s and her children’s efforts.
Mrs. Li didn’t mention her in-laws, and that was because during these two years, or perhaps even before, they only took care of the money themselves and were often stingy about it.
"Husband, it’s true that I shouldn’t inquire too much about father-in-law taking a concubine, but since the children and I are in charge of the family’s finances, how much money exactly is needed for his concubine’s expenses, and the dowry?"
Mrs. Li’s question was to the point—it wasn’t necessary to build a house for living, as the other party surely wasn’t foolish enough to forego a dowry.
"Father says they want 100 taels of silver and three gold, and they’re going to host ten tables. But my father only intends to have the matchmaker bring the woman back, and we will only host a few tables here," Hongji said.
In all matters great and small, Hongji always deferred to his father, lacking his own opinion. This wasn’t a behavior he had developed over a mere day or two.
"What? 100 taels of silver and three gold?"
Mrs. Li wanted to know if the dowry also included fabrics and other items, such as the cost and items for the ten tables of banquet that the other party was preparing.
Thinking back on her own marriage, she recalled that her family had only given two or three taels for her dowry, and they used that money to buy her trousseau.
The silver bracelets, quilts, and clothes she received on marrying were later seized by her mother-in-law and sister-in-laws.
The jewelry she now possessed were all gifts from her husband on her birthdays in the past two years when they were better off, items made by her daughter, or presents from Young Master Tang.
Hongji, picking up on his wife’s displeasure, also felt the pinch. The money they earned didn’t come easily; it was hard-earned by the labor of their entire family.
The small house they mentioned building next door would only cost ten taels of silver, and with labor included, just over twenty.
A hundred taels of silver could have built the large house they currently lived in. In the last couple of years, they had only hired workers and used natural building materials from the mountains and the river: sand, wood, and stones.
They had bought the cheapest bricks and tiles, green bricks, which were only affordable because their own workers assisted the people there. They had delivered firewood from the mountains to the brick kilns, a little favor that earned them a discount.
"Wife, we just invested some money in the estate again. Now with father taking a concubine and building a new house, we might not have enough funds, right?" Hongji questioned, with an inkling of the financial strain in his heart.
The other estate they had invested in had not yet turned a profit, and although one estate was profitable and there was an upcoming dividend from the lumber mill at the end of the year...
Mrs. Li nodded and said, "Our cash on hand totals only fifty taels of silver. If we build a house next door and have to provide money for the land foundation, our family won’t have enough for the dowry!"
Hongji, in distress, sat up in bed.
"Alas, I was so baffled when I first heard about this and didn’t react right away. What should we do now!"
Mrs. Li glanced at her anxious husband. Why did it seem as if he was the one taking the concubine? Shouldn’t his father be the one to worry?
"Husband, let’s not panic yet. Speak privately with father-in-law tomorrow and let him come up with an idea!"
"Right, I got sidetracked. It should be father’s issue to worry over. Let’s go to sleep, I’ll talk to father tomorrow!"
The couple’s room fell quiet.
Ye Shiqi and her elder sister were eavesdropping for the first time, although children shouldn’t be listening in on adult conversations.
Curiosity killed the cat, and when she saw her father and grandfather going about their business and her grandmother hastily following along, not to mention the unpleasant look on her grandmother’s face earlier, Shiqi guessed something was up.
She had once heard her grandmother and grandfather discussing with her father the idea of him taking a concubine.
That topic had been broached over the past few years, and although her father initially disagreed, it did not mean he would disagree now.
The three adults talked amongst themselves, while her naïve mother waited in another room.
As a daughter, of course, she had to stand up for her mother, and she had even more consideration for her siblings!
Ye Shiqi crept quietly to her grandmother’s window. Being small in stature, she reached the window level and nudged the window paper, creating a tiny hole. She peered through to the inside.
"Qing, what are you doing?"
Ye Shiqi’s attempt at stealthiness was apparent to her elder sisters and the little maid at her side.
Ye Fengqi, who always shared a room with her, told the other sisters to stay back, as too many people might disturb those inside.
"Shh, don’t make a sound, we don’t want to alert the people inside."
And so the two girls pressed their ears against the wall. Later, when their father came out and saw them hurrying away...
They had been stunned after overhearing a major piece of news.