Chapter 548 - 547: Private Savings

Chapter 548: Chapter 547: Private Savings

Speaking of marriage, Jin Rui smiled and avoided Xue Ping’er’s gaze.

She had worked in the manor for many years and had long learned how to conceal her thoughts. Except for some "sharp-eyed" people, no one could see any clues.

Xue Ping’er had never been in the manor and didn’t understand these things. She couldn’t see through Jin Rui’s thoughts.

Jin Rui also didn’t want to tell Xue Ping’er. She turned her eyes and whispered to Xue Ping’er about another matter: "I have almost twenty taels of silver saved up. In a few days, it will be Mid-Autumn Festival, and the manor will give out reward silver. I estimate that I can gather twenty taels before you get married. This is my secret gift for you. You know it in your heart. Make sure not to let Mother find out."

Twenty taels of silver would be enough to support a common family for three or four years. Coupled with the dowry promised by the Xue family for Xue Ping’er, it was not a small amount for a family of their status.

Xue Ping’er felt both warm and bittersweet in her heart. Jin Rui’s money was easier to earn than others on the front street, but it was still saved up little by little over the years, all hard-earned money.

Moreover, whenever she returned, she often prepared silver for the Xue family. The fact that the family could eat and drink well was all thanks to Jin Rui.

"Elder sister, if you give it all to me, what will you do?" Tears welled up in Xue Ping’er’s eyes.

Jin Rui tucked her loose hair behind her ear and smiled: "Do I need you to worry about me? I work in the manor; am I afraid of not saving enough money? When it’s my turn to get married, the lady won’t lack my dowry money. Think about it, when Jin Ling got married, the lady gave a lot, and I won’t be too different from her."

This assurance made Xue Ping’er feel somewhat at ease.

Her dowry was already quite respectable. This time, Mrs. Xue Si generously gave her a lot of silver for new clothes and new quilts for each season, all made from good materials. Jin Rui also frequently gave her jewelry and clothes, so Xue Ping’er truly had quite a few good things.

Xue Ping’er hugged Jin Rui, saying, "I know elder sister treats me well."

Jin Rui patted Xue Ping’er’s back and smiled.

The two sisters had been close since childhood. Mrs. Xue Si favored Xue Bao, and Jin Rui, as the elder sister, had endured some hardship. She worked in the manor hoping that Xue Ping’er could live more comfortably.

After all, the poorer the family, the more Mrs. Xue Si would begrudge Xue Ping’er, giving everything to Xue Bao. If there was some spare money at home to buy fish and meat, Xue Ping’er could have a bit, and Mrs. Xue Si wouldn’t say much.

Jin Rui gave a few reminders to Xue Ping’er and said, "I’ll go to the kitchen to help Mother. You continue with your embroidery."

Xue Ping’er nodded.

Jin Rui stepped out of the room and saw Xue Bao eating with oil dripping down his mouth. She smiled and said to him, "Save some for Ping’er."

Xue Bao paused, "Why doesn’t Second Sister come and get it herself?"

"She’s doing embroidery and can’t get her hands oily."

Xue Bao understood, grinning, "Then I’ll stuff these pieces into her mouth so she won’t have to move."

Jin Rui chuckled and saw that the Xue family hadn’t noticed them, and said, "You’re such a clever one."

Xue Bao went to find Xue Ping’er, while Jin Rui headed to the kitchen to find Mrs. Xue Si.

Mrs. Xue Si didn’t want her to dirty her hands and raised an eyebrow looking at her, "What did you bring for Ping’er this time?"

"A bracelet and two hairpins," Jin Rui replied.

"You’re spoiling her too much. Her dowry is enough to marry off every girl on the front street once," Mrs. Xue Si snorted, "Sister Rui, I spent a lot on Ping’er this time, making her seasonal clothes from the most famous clothing shop on East Street, picking the trendiest designs. Just one winter outfit for her could have outfitted me from head to toe, inside and out. I even got a new set of headpieces. They might not compare to what you bring from the manor, but when Ping’er wears them out, she won’t be embarrassed. People will think the daughter of some merchant is getting married, not a household girl."

Jin Rui understood clearly that Mrs. Xue Si was accounting with her. Her smile remained unchanged, "Rest assured, I will fulfill what I promised you. I’ll repay every bit you spent on Ping’er when Ah Bao marries."

"Sister Rui is always so considerate, no wonder the lady trusts her so much. With you, I married off my daughter so splendidly, how could I not make it equally grand when marrying in a wife for my son?" Mrs. Xue Si smiled broadly, nodding at Jin Rui with satisfaction. "Mother trusts you, Sister Rui, you always follow through. That’s why I helped arrange things for Ping’er without a second thought when you asked."

Jin Rui also smiled, trusting Mrs. Xue Si when it came to money matters.

Mrs. Xue Si liked to manage the finances, but she was always straightforward, speaking plainly and honestly.

If a few taels were spent on Xue Ping’er, Mrs. Xue Si would never give Jin Rui a false number.

So, the two women conducted this business securely, neither fearing the other would cheat them.

Jin Rui had promised Mrs. Xue Si that she wouldn’t leave the manor to marry until she had saved enough money for Xue Bao’s bride price.

With twenty taels of pocket money given to Xue Ping’er, Jin Rui would need to work for a few more years beside Du Yunluo to save enough for both Xue Bao and herself.

Although Jin Rui assured her, the thought of the outgoing dowry, even with the bride price incoming, still made Mrs. Xue Si’s heartache.

It’s all silvery white money!

"Girls always get the short end," Mrs. Xue Si sighed, "Once given, it’s someone else’s, subject to them. I’m not worried about anything else, just afraid that Ping’er can’t manage her money and it gets taken by her husband’s family, wouldn’t I be just furious?"

Jin Rui chuckled aloud, "Then you better give Ping’er a good talking to, make sure she doesn’t get confused.""You think I haven’t taught her?" Mrs. Xue Si widened her eyes, waving the cleaver she was using to cut meat, "Her temperament is neither like mine nor yours, I wonder how much she actually heard. Well, if she can’t understand anything else, she should at least remember this cleaver in my hand. If she’s wronged, she should tell us at home, I’ll go over with the cleaver myself."

Jin Rui looked at the gleaming cleaver, laughing so hard she couldn’t stand straight.

"Don’t just laugh. I’m telling you, when you get married, if your in-laws aren’t decent, the cleaver will be waiting for them too," Mrs. Xue Si finished, then shook her head, "Then again, you’re so cunning, I doubt anyone could take advantage of you.

Come to think of it, Sister Rui, have you thought about what kind of person you want to marry?"

Jin Rui’s smile paused, and she said slowly, "I haven’t thought about it."

Mrs. Xue Si continued to herself, "Not everyone has the luck of Jin Ling. If you get married and don’t work in the manor, things might be okay for the first few years, but in time others might start to take liberties.

One or two times, the lady might stand up for you, but if it happens often, you’d be too embarrassed to go to her. By then, everything, eating, drinking, money, would be controlled by others. Would you be able to live that way?

If you ask me, you’d be better off marrying an honest man, not a household servant in a high position with the masters. You should ask the lady if you can continue working beside her as a housekeeper. It’s both respectable and no one would dare to show you disrespect."