A large orchard brought in nearly four thousand taels of silver, and the Yang family also made a lot of money, almost approaching two thousand taels of silver.
The Zhou family's largest income came in. Zhulan checked the expenses for the year. Last year, she went to Jinzhou and took away 10,000 taels, leaving 2,000 taels for household expenses.
This year's expenses for food, clothing, housing and transportation were not too much, only more than 300 taels, mainly because the material of the clothes was expensive.
The biggest expense of the year is gift-giving. The Chen family gives valuable gifts if they have money, and the Zhou family cannot be too rude in returning the gifts. This goes on and on.
I spent more than seven hundred taels on gifts this year.
There are also some jewelry. She adds one or two pieces of jewelry when the season changes. Zhulan also ordered jade bracelets for several daughters-in-law, which is a big expense.
In addition, if they come across good leather and wood, they will save it for their daughters' dowries.
The two thousand taels of silver have basically run out, and there is still money from the autumn harvest and the sale of apples on the account.
Zhou Lao Da stood beside his mother and saw the final calculated amount. He took a breath and said, "Mom, our family makes more than 2,000 taels a year?"
A few years ago, he felt that ten taels of silver a year was too much, but it has only been a few years.
Zhulan lowered her head, "Not much."
Zhulan really didn't think it was a lot. Although she spent some, she also saved some, especially some furs. Now she was making money by saving them. With the increase in population and economic development, the prices of furs, wood and other materials would increase, and the price would double.
Less than two years have passed since the opening of maritime trade, and the price of fur has increased by 10% compared to last year.
Zhou Lao Da covered his chest with his hands. This was not much. Mother bought properties and land for the first wife, and the first wife's annual income this year was only one hundred taels. Thinking about the income, the first wife's money was so little that it could not compare with the second wife. He did the math for the second wife and found that the second brother's annual income from the fruit and apple orchard alone was over a thousand taels.
The third wife of my third brother had a lot of money, and my third brother also had quite a bit. When he was in Pingzhou City, he received a lot of gifts, and it was said that he resold them on the way to Lizhou.
All the land of the third room passed through his hands. The income from the land alone was nearly two hundred taels, not to mention some shops.
Boss Zhou thought about what Li said and felt that their eldest branch should indeed work harder.
Zhulan calculated the accounts and asked her daughter to keep them. Zhulan said to Mr. Zhou: "I have prepared all the New Year gifts. You can pack them up and prepare to go back home."
When Zhou Laoda heard about the purchase of the manor, he thought of the money in the account book and said, "Mom, although the land in the Northeast is vast and sparsely populated, the price of farmland is cheaper than in the south, but the four thousand taels in the account book are not enough for the big manor you want to buy."
Zhulan rubbed her shoulders and stood up, taking out the house deed that she had prepared long ago. "These are the two houses I bought in the capital. One is at the border of Northwest City. It is large enough to build a three-courtyard house. I am not going to sell this house. I will rebuild it when I have enough money in the future. The other one is in West City but it is too small. I am not going to keep it."
Zhulan handed the house deed to Boss Zhou and said, "Pinggang has been prosperous in the past two years, and the price of houses in the capital has also increased. Although not as frightening as Pinggang, our house in Xicheng can also increase by 1200 taels. When we bought it, it was 2,800 taels. It should be able to sell for 3,000 taels. You can go to the capital to sell it to Mr. Deng. Together with the 3,500 taels I gave you, it will basically be enough for two manors."
Zhulan had said so much, and she thought she might as well tell them all at once, "If there is any money left, you can buy another 20 acres of land near Zhoujia Village and donate it to the clan school to cover the expenses of the clan school."
Boss Zhou remembered them all, "Mom, where is the old house?"
He remembered that his mother said she wanted to rebuild it.
Zhulan had not forgotten that the old house was now vacant, and her eldest daughter had already bought land in Zhoujia Village to build a house. "Let's put it there for now and we'll talk about it next year. And don't forget to pay tribute to your ancestors."
Zhou Lao Da would pay tribute to the deceased every time he went back. "Mom, I will never forget to pay tribute to the deceased no matter what I forget."
Zhulan smiled, "Yeah."
Three days later, Zhou Lao Da left with the prepared New Year gifts. Not long after Zhou Lao Da left, Zhou Lao Er and Zhao came back.
Because Zhou Laoer was going to Jiangnan, and housekeeper Ding was going with him.
As for Zhao's pregnancy, she couldn't be left alone in Sichuan, so she came back to stay for two months.
Zhou Laoer and his wife came back with a lot of things. They placed two boxes of things in front of Zhulan. Zhou Laoer said, "Mom, I know a fur merchant. I know you like furs, so I bought some for you. Do you like them?"
Zhulan certainly liked it, "It will cost a lot of money."
These furs are all of top quality, and three skins are worth a lot of money.
Zhou Laoer smiled and said, "Mom, my son has made a lot of money this year, so don't worry about the money."
Zhulan looked at Zhou Laoer. It seemed like this was the first time in so many years that she received something from Zhou Laoer. Zhulan squinted her eyes. This was because she was pregnant, and Zhou Laoer was afraid that she and Zhou Shuren would favor the younger son, and she felt a sense of crisis.
The other box contained some cloth and food.
Zhao was holding a bundle in her hand, "Mom, we know you are pregnant. These are the small clothes I made for your unborn baby."
Zhulan had a wooden face. She almost forgot that Zhao was also pregnant and the month of pregnancy was about the same.
Zhou Laoer looked at the teacup. He also had a toothache. His younger brother or sister was about the same age as his son or daughter.
Zhulan took the bundle and opened it. But when she looked at the small clothes in the bundle, she remained silent.
Zhao was nervous, "Mom, don't you like it?"
She made the clothes according to her mother-in-law's preferences. Her mother-in-law liked girls, so she bought fabrics for girls to please her.
Zhulan smiled and said, "I like it very much."