Chapter 469 - 463_1
Several days passed, and Zhao Erhu had arranged everything for his trip to the south. He planned to set off the next day. Lin Yue had prepared everything needed for the journey. Just before departure, she took out a bundle and handed it to Zhao Erhu. When Zhao Erhu opened it, he saw several sets of old clothes and a pair of old shoes. He looked at Lin Yue, puzzled.
"Wife, didn’t you already prepare all the clothes I needed for the trip? Why are you getting out this old clothing now?" Now that they were better off, their standard of living had naturally improved. It had been a long time since Zhao Erhu had worn these old clothes, and he was confused as to why Lin Yue would dig them out and insist he take them along.
"Why are you looking at me like that? I haven’t lost my mind. I’ve sewn several silver notes inside this old clothing, in different spots. Altogether, there are fifteen thousand taels here for you to use in the south."
"Wife, there’s no need. The Princely Heir of Marquis of Zhenbei has prepared purchasing silver notes for me, totaling several tens of thousands of taels. You should keep these silver notes for household expenses here, or save them, that’s also good." Zhao Erhu knew exactly how much wealth they had at home. They had substantial expenditures in the Capital City and had bought a residence, leaving little spare money. The silver coins Lin Yue currently had were from selling her embroidered pieces. In Zhao Erhu’s view, this was her private stash that she should keep to herself, and he should not touch it.
Lin Yue knew exactly what Zhao Erhu was thinking. The old man liked to fuss over such matters; in his mind, what was his was his wife’s, and what was his wife’s was still his wife’s. Although Lin Yue thought this mindset was good, they were after all one family, there was no need to be so clearly demarcated.
Lin Yue stuffed the bundle back into Zhao Erhu’s hands. "Just take it with you if I tell you to, what’s with all the fuss? I still have some left here. This is for you to use in the south. It’s always good to carry more money when traveling; you never know when you might need it. The Princely Heir’s money isn’t ours. Even though he has entrusted us to handle it, we need to use it accordingly. Carry these silver notes with you. If there’s something you want to buy but feel it’s inappropriate to use the Princely Heir’s money, then use these notes.
Moreover, I mean that you shouldn’t solely rely on the Princely Heir’s silver notes to procure merchandise for shipping. You can also spend your own money to acquire some goods, which would be an extra income. While it’s important to be honest in business, you don’t have to be too straightforward. As long as it does not violate principles, securing some benefits for ourselves is acceptable."
Zhao Erhu understood Lin Yue’s point and did not continue to refuse, nodding his head as he carefully packed the bundle away. "I get it, wife. I understand all that you’re saying. Don’t worry, I know how to adapt. In fact, I had brought some taels of silver with me too, just not as much as this. The items I could buy were limited. Now with these fifteen thousand taels in silver notes, I can do much more. I will make good use of it."
"I’m just being thorough because I fear you might be too honest and suffer losses. As long as you have everything planned out, I can be at ease. Traveling is not the same as being at home; take good care of yourself. Don’t skimp on your meals; do you hear me!"
Not only was Zhao Erhu not bothered by his wife’s nagging, he listened obediently, feeling comforted. Having someone who cared and thought about him while he was away gave him more motivation. "Understood, don’t worry."