Chapter Thirty-Seven Arrangements

  According to the rules, Su Huawen returned this time to pay respects to his ancestors. A merchant family like theirs attaches great importance to such rituals and cannot afford to be negligent. Su Tianhao is studying at the Imperial Academy in the capital and will take part in the provincial examination next year, so he won't be returning home; the mourning period is too short, and there isn't enough time.

  This time, Su Tianhao and Su Tianran were both at home. Su Huawen thought that on December 20th, they would hold an ancestral worship ceremony to pray for a prosperous business in the coming year. It was an important matter that both Su Tiancheng and Su Tianhao had to attend the imperial examination. If they sincerely worshipped their ancestors and moved them, perhaps the Su family would produce a jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination).

  In fact, Su Huawen already believed in the ancestral spirits' manifestation, otherwise how could Su Tiancheng have undergone such a huge change.

  The lady was very honest and didn't mention any opposition to the land allocation plan she had proposed, and every day she just stayed in the east courtyard, not going anywhere. Su Tianran was even more so, following her example and staying honestly in the mansion. What's strange is that Lei Kui actually didn't come over.

  Su Huaiwen did not expect Mrs. and Su Tianran to undergo a thorough change, but being able to do so was already quite good.

  "Kunyuan, after the ancestor worship, we are going to Taiyuan Prefecture for the new year. At that time, you will follow us there. After we leave, you will be in charge of handling the affairs here. The east wing shouldn't be empty either, you can move in and just keep a few rooms. Your status is different now, it's not suitable to always live on one side."

  "Father, I know, it's just about going to Taiyuan Prefecture for the New Year. My thoughts are different, and coming back and forth will waste time. Besides, I also want to stay at home and review my lessons more."

  "Kunyuan, don't worry about Madam's place, I'll think of a way. After all, we're one family, you shouldn't have too many concerns."

  "The child doesn't mean that. During the New Year, the child still has many things to deal with. The child once said that tenants cannot support them forever and must be able to find their own food. The house also needs income; otherwise, it is difficult to maintain. Therefore, during the New Year, the child will go take a look at their situation."

  "It's still as you thought, yesterday I went to distribute grain, experience and pork to the tenants, I had a lot of thoughts, people's hearts can't be deceived, as long as someone is involved, nothing can't be done, just like the matter of Madam Tian and Heaven going to the Lei Mansion, if it wasn't for Niu Er discovering it, we would still be in the dark."

  "What Father said is absolutely right, the child has grown up and should also consider family matters. It's not a long-term plan to always take silver from outside. Father believes in the child, but within a year, changes will occur here."

  Su Huawen stood up and closed the door of the study.

  "Kunyuan, I know that your mother-in-law is very strict with you. Thirty taels of silver per month can't accomplish much. Don't blame me for this matter, I have given it some thought. Tianhao and Tianran each receive a substantial amount of silver every month, but in the end, they've ended up like this. Although Tianhao is studying at the Imperial Academy, I don't hold out much hope for him. The Su family's fortunes will still depend on you."

  Su Huawen waved his hand, wanting Su Tiancheng to temporarily keep quiet.

  "You've always been good at reading, so a long time ago, I made some arrangements. The reason I had high expectations for you was also to hope that you could become self-reliant. Now it seems my goal has been achieved. Since this is the case, I shouldn't continue being strict with you. In this house, there's a sum of gold stored away, which Madame doesn't know about. This gold was left behind by our ancestors for emergency use. Today, I'm formally handing over this gold to you."

  Su Tiancheng was greatly surprised.

  Large families often have the habit of hiding gold and silver treasures, which is similar to saving money hundreds of years later. They all need to prepare for unexpected events, so that they can take out their wealth when needed. Unexpectedly, Su Huawen actually prepared to take out this part of the gold.

  "Dad, don't worry about this matter, I'll think of a way to make money anyway."

  "Kunyuan, I know you're capable of doing it, but what I'm worried about is that you mustn't get bogged down in business. Your task is to take the imperial examination and bring honor to our family. The hopes of the Su family rest on your shoulders. Don't bother with other things, I've made up my mind on this matter, so don't say any more."

  Su Huawen finished speaking, stood up and walked to the front of the bookcase.

  "Kunyuan, come here."

  Bookshelves are all grid-like, which is somewhat different from bookshelves hundreds of years later. The inside of the bookshelf is not just for placing books, but can also be used to place flower vases and other items.

  The bookcase is quite large and occupies an entire wall.

  Su Huawen walked up to a grid on the ground and stopped.

  "Kunyuan, come and feel inside this grid, see what's in it."

  Inside the grid, there were some books. Su Tiancheng took down these books, squatted down, and reached in with his hand. Soon, he touched a round button.

  "Did you touch a button?"

  Su Tiancheng nodded.

  "Alright, remember this: after you pull up the buckle, there is a square well below, with four boxes inside. Inside the boxes are all gold, totaling 10,000 taels of gold. You can take these gold and use them."

  Su Tiancheng's body trembled slightly, he had never thought that Su Huawen would have so much gold, what a concept, more than 100,000 taels of silver.

  "Kunyuan, all this gold was left behind by our ancestors. I've never touched it before. The accumulation of so many years is only 10,000 taels of gold, which is nothing. Some wealthy families probably have more than 100,000 taels stored away."

  "Father, so much gold, I don't need it all. Father, this time when you return to Taiyuan, are you taking some away?"

  "No need, I've already said it, these gold will be handed over to you. Don't think that with this gold, you'll have no worries about food and clothing. I've seen some merchant families, the previous generation saved more than a million taels of silver, but the later generations were extravagant and squandered everything in just a few years. Now I understand, saving these gold doesn't have much use, the key is still whether one can stand on their own."

  Su Huawen shook his head, looking a bit desolate. According to convention, this gold was supposed to be left for Su Tianhao, at least part of it. But after the disturbance caused by Wang and Su Tianran, he had long since changed his mind.

  "Kunyuan, I've already made such a decision and I also believe you can make good use of this gold. However, for now, please don't mention this to anyone else, it must be kept confidential."

  Su Tiancheng felt a little dizzy, and the plan that had seemed vague before suddenly became clear. According to historical developments, Shanxi would soon be in chaos, especially in the Pingyang area, where many peasant uprisings would begin to stir. If he didn't have silver in hand to organize an effective armed force, even if he was a tenant farmer who grew a lot of grain, it wouldn't be safe.

  With so much gold, many things can now be implemented.

  No matter how much gold and silver there is, it will only take effect when used. If according to the rules of the Su family ancestors, they are still buried underground, then nothing will work. This logic is very clear to him.

  It is laughable that in this era, many people do not understand this principle, and they work hard to save money, accumulating hundreds of thousands or even millions of taels of silver, only to end up with nothing.

  Su Tiancheng's time is limited, in July he will leave Pingyang Prefecture to participate in the imperial examination in Taiyuan. If he passes the imperial examination, he will then go to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examination. The delay will definitely not be short, but Pingyang Prefecture is his base and must be managed well, there can't be any mistakes. With a good backer, the road ahead will become smoother and those grand plans will have a chance of being realized.

  Su Tiancheng felt a sense of relief for the first time, it seemed that heaven was still fair, having crossed over to the Ming Dynasty, he had always been given some compensation, not letting himself be too miserable. Since he had these conditions, if he couldn't do something earth-shattering, then he would have nothing to say for himself.

  At this moment, Su Tiancheng let out a loud roar from the bottom of his heart: Great Ming, I'm here!