Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home Chapter 1352: Constraint

Chapter 1352: Constraint

Editor: Henyee Translations

Shao Yunduan’s office had been bustling with activity in the lead-up to the New Year.

With Qingdi and the others around this year, it was antic.i.p.ated that there would be even more commotion.

Upon returning home, it was time for Qiao Xuan to prepare the New Year’s gifts.

With the 90,000 taels of silver available for the mid-year trip, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan deliberated on how much to allocate for the Crown Prince’s New Year expenses.

Qiao Xuan suggested, “Let’s offer the Crown Prince 50,000 taels of silver. That should be sufficient for the East Palace to celebrate the New Year, don’t you think?”

Shao Yunduan paused in thought before responding, “50,000 is too much; 30,000 should suffice.”

Qiao Xuan was taken aback by the lower amount.

Shao Yunduan gently squeezed her hand and chuckled, “Silly girl, the Crown Prince will manage without this money, but he will be short on funds. The Imperial Plantation under the East Palace is bound to receive some resources, and the Crown Prince will be rewarded handsomely for the tribute. Additionally, the Ministry of Internal Affairs allocates five thousand taels of silver to the East Palace for the New Year annually.”

“By providing an additional 30,000 taels, we can cover the expenses not just for the New Year but also for the entire Spring Festival. We shouldn’t give too much at once; I’m concerned we’ll need to prepare another sum of money after spring.”

As he spoke, Shao Yunduan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the Crown Prince.

While other princes received New Year’s gifts without hesitation, the Crown Prince, due to his elevated position, couldn’t partake in such luxuries.

His peers were all prosperous and capable, but the Crown Prince was the sole exception, unable to afford much.

Even on his own birthdays, he was cautious not to accept overly lavish gifts, fearing that it would reflect poorly on him, as he should understand the struggles of the common people.

Yet the wealth his family possessed was largely a result of his wife’s abilities. Perhaps, with his a.s.sistance as an official, it would make things easier for her. Nevertheless, Shao Yunduan remained confident that, even without him, his wife would excel in her endeavors.

Shao Yunduan wrestled with conflicting thoughts. Giving away the money might yield future benefits, or perhaps it wouldn’t. This dilemma gnawed at him, leaving him feeling guilty each time it crossed his mind.

Additionally, there was an old adage that struck him: transitioning from frugality to extravagance was easy, but the reverse, from extravagance to frugality, was exceedingly challenging. People often failed to appreciate something received for free; the more they received, the less they cherished it.

So, it seemed wise to present the funds sooner rather than later. This way, the East Palace would need to make thoughtful arrangements to have a good New Year, truly valuing the silver’s worth.

Furthermore, Princess Consort had orchestrated the New Year celebrations, and Shao Yunduan was determined to ensure she didn’t pa.s.s the season without a care.

Qiao Xuan hadn’t given it much thought initially, but Shao Yunduan’s reasoning resonated with her. She smiled and agreed, “Very well, I will provide 30,000 taels of silver. We have ample funds, and we haven’t even touched what Yuezheng Xiao owes us. When combined with that substantial sum, it should exceed a million taels of silver!”

She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I’ve been contemplating how to spend such a fortune! Unfortunately, we haven’t come across suitable business opportunities or cooperative candidates recently.”

Her eagerness for involvement and success was evident, and she yearned to retire from work.

Shao Yunduan was taken aback, gazing at Qiao Xuan with a puzzled expression.

Observing his reaction, Qiao Xuan burst into laughter and proclaimed proudly, “This is just the liquid cash we can access immediately. We still possess numerous properties, gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, and property deeds!”

And most importantly, her s.p.a.ce holds even more treasures!