Chapter 96: Chapter 95: A Match of Equal Social Status
Mrs. Li thought again about her husband being able to cooperate with the Tang Family. If they could earn a bit more money, wouldn’t their family be less poor, and wouldn’t she be able to secure a future for her daughters when they grew up?
She looked at the young madam, dressed in maternity wear, her head adorned with jewelry so rich and exquisite, while her own head was only adorned with a wooden hairpin.
Like Madam, lavished with richness atop her head, dressed in silk, and wearing such extravagant jewelry.
The bead hairpins on her head shone brightly, and the bracelets and necklaces on her hands were even more valuable.
And having seen them dressed differently every day, she felt inferior and thought that the young madam looked down on her daughters because they were unworthy of the Tang Family.
Mrs. Li had never believed that their poor family could be related to the wealthy Tang Family through marriage.
...
She also beca aware of the social rule that marriages should be between equals, and she felt that even if her daughters entered the Tang Family, they would not beco the housekeeper.
Mrs. Li, being of peasant origin, would rather be the wife of a poor man than a concubine in a rich family.
Though concubines lived a life of glory and wealth like their masters, they were controlled by the Madam, like being in a gilded cage.
The fate of concubines might also be controlled by others, as most concubines ca from backgrounds not as prominent as the Madam’s.
At this mont, Mrs. Li listened to the young madam ostracizing her and her daughters, she only bowed her head, without wishing for her husband to bring their daughters to the county.
Even if her husband could cooperate with the Tang Family, she just hoped he could establish a small factory in their hotown.
Tang Shunyan, reprimanded by his mother at such a young age, pouted his mouth, unable to counter her words with any other language, not yet strong enough to protest what she had said.
“Alright, alright! The housekeeper said that Mrs. Li’s husband does not wish to co to the county, then for now, we’ll send so wood to their ho for carving, and after the New Year, Mrs. Li can return ho. You and your husband should take good care of your daughters.”
As a man, Mr. Tang had already agreed with his wife that marrying within one’s social class was a way for wealthy families to marry and expand their businesses.
The wife he had married, although not born of the first wife, was still from a prestigious family, which was also helpful to their own family.
“Alright, just as the Eldest Young Master said, housekeeper, arrange it tomorrow. Transport the wood to Mrs. Li’s house and also send two guards to protect it.
If possible, housekeeper, go find the village chief of that village, and buy so land there to establish a small factory. The space at Mrs. Li’s ho is too cramped for doing any big projects.”
The housekeeper nodded upon hearing the Old Master’s words. The thatched cottage at Mrs. Li’s house was indeed not suitable for precious wood carving; should wind and rain beat down, water would seep into the cottage and dampen the wood.
“Yes, Old Master, I will make arrangents to establish a small factory. If we do not use blue bricks or red bricks, but rather mud bricks for the tile-roofed house, it will not require much investnt.”
Mr. Tang fell silent for a mont upon the housekeeper’s words, feeling that a mud-brick house was not sturdy enough, and at most would only be durable for a few years, unlike red or blue bricks which could be safe for twenty or thirty years.
Mr. Tang, from a large and prosperous family, would not skimp on such a small amount of money, as the safety of the workers, if compromised, could lead to greater losses.
Before Mr. Tang could voice his thoughts, the Eldest Young Master had already considered these issues and said:
“Housekeeper, we are investing in building a factory, and it’s not just for a few years before closing. Even if this business doesn’t last very long, we can still use the factory space for other businesses. There is an abundance of goods from the mountains, and we could use these factories to store mountain produce, grains, and such.”
The housekeeper, following the word of the Eldest Young Master, nodded and said, “Please instruct further, Eldest Young Master….”
“Mhm, go ahead and arrange it, put so muscle into it. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it big with the factory. On one side we can have the factory and on the other side dormitories, and even have extra rooms available for what I just ntioned. There can be space for storing grain when harvest cos, and for collecting local mountain goods when they’re available.”
“Eldest Young Master’s intentions are clear to . Green bricks are sowhat more expensive. Since we’re constructing a factory, we don’t need such costly green bricks. The quality of red bricks is almost the sa as green bricks, and using red bricks in the rural areas for a factory is already quite high-end.”
Both Mr. Tang and Mr. Tang nodded to the housekeeper’s suggestion, while Madam and young madam could only listen and it wasn’t appropriate for them to interject while the n were discussing matters.
However, young madam was quite annoyed in her heart. Weren’t her husband and the rest essentially helping the Li Family to set up a factory, which would aid them in becoming wealthy?
It was unclear why, but young madam found the wet nurses for her son far less irkso than Mrs. Li who she disliked the most.
Her son was the child she carried for ten months; her heart harbored feelings for a commoner wet nurse. Perhaps this was one reason she disliked Mrs. Li, and she hated even more that Mrs. Li, from a common background, could gain her son’s affection and her family’s regard.
Perhaps young madam, who had been used to oppressing others in her maiden ho where concubine daughters had little authority, had gained greater power as young madam and desired even more to control the destinies of others.
Mrs. Li, upon hearing the words of the Family Head, felt both joy and worry.
She was joyful because after the new year she wouldn’t need to work here as a helper and could stay at ho with her husband and daughter.
Being here ant eating and living well, but she knew a golden bed is not as good as one’s own pot.
She was always fearful and vigilant, wary of others scheming against her.
At ho, even if Mother-in-law was unpleasant, it was still her ho, and there was a sense of security with her husband at her side.
Her worry was about her ho cooperating with the Tang Family, with the construction of the factory and the gift of timber. She feared that her husband might not be able to manage the task well.
Mrs. Li was afraid that if the wealthy family made such contributions and didn’t see returns, they might resort to ans against her family.
She wasn’t blinded by this seemingly joyful event. Often, wealth cos with risk and was not as simple as her husband and Father-in-law’s private work at ho.
Shunyan listened quietly to the adults’ conversations, his eyes roving. He wasn’t saddened by the possibility of Mrs. Li leaving after the new year and thought that with his family cooperating with the Li Family, he would surely have the chance to visit their ho.
He was sowhat expectant of growing up quickly so he could have his own free ti and could visit Mrs. Li and her daughters anyti he wanted.
“Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, you can’t take these toys away, okay? These toys were given to by my little sister.”
“Very well, all these toys belong to the young Master,” said Madam with a laugh.
The housekeeper actually considered taking so of the cheaper wooden toy templates to the lumber mill, so their own factory could replicate them.
After hearing the young Master’s words, he dared not make a move and as a housekeeper, he had to heed the words of the Family Head.
“Housekeeper, go and arrange it. We set off early tomorrow.”
After Mr. Tang gave his instructions, he went back to the study with his father.
Lady Tang also returned to her own quarters. As a pregnant woman, it was not good for her to be out after dark, and she didn’t enjoy having dinner at mother-in-law’s place.
Shunyan had his dinner at his grandmother’s place and had Mrs. Li take those toys back to his quarters for him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)