叭哒漫画

After Madam Yun finished asking, Wei Ruo remained silent but Wei Qingwan was the first to reply.

Wei Qingwan earnestly voiced many suggestions, based on her understanding of the old duke and Madam at the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence, she had a lot of her own opinions.

“We can provide more tea as Grandfather likes to drink tea, and the price of tea this year is cheaper than in previous years; should we also try to include a set of his favorite purple clay tea set?”

Wei Qingwan made this suggestion because the family’s situation this year was indeed different. Her father had been promoted to the sixth rank. If they were to offer gifts as they had in the past years that did not carry any significant value, they might seem out of touch.

Wei Qingwan knows that the family’s current financial situation is not abundant, but she also knows Madam Yun’s intentions. As a daughter-in-law, she certainly should not be stingy at such a time.

Madam Yun nodded: “I intended to do exactly that.”

Then Wei Qingwan followed: “However, daughter knows that due to the poor crops on the manor this year, the family’s income and expenditure are somewhat problematic. I would like to contribute my own silver coins to ensure our grandparents have suitable New Year gifts.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Yun was somewhat surprised and moved: “Wanwan, those are your private savings.”

Wei Qingwan firmly responded: “As their granddaughter, it is only right for me to prepare New Year gifts for our grandparents to fulfill my duty of filial piety. Moreover, without the Loyal and Righteous Duke, the Wei family wouldn’t be where it is today. Everything that belongs to me is considered the property of the Wei family.”

You are very considerate, Wanwan.” Madam Yun’s face was filled with happiness and contentment.

“Mother, you give me too much credit. This is something I should be doing.” Wei Qingwan’s eyes sparkled brilliantly, her voice soft and sincere.

Madam Yun was very satisfied with Wei Qingwan’s answers, then she asked Wei Ruo again: “Ruoruo, do you have any thoughts on this New Year gift list?” Wei Ruo lazily dodged the question, not wanting to think too much. She glanced at the list and said: “Mother, whatever you decide will be fine. You are much more experienced in these matters than we are.”

What Wei Ruo said is not wrong, but it seemed a little indifferent.

Subsequently, Madam Yun said to Wei Ruo: “Ruoruo, your grandparents love you very much. This year we still can’t go back to Capital City for the New Year, so this gift will represent our hearts. Please think about it more carefully and ’ help come up with some ideas.”

Madam Yun did not expect her eldest daughter to contribute her own private savings for the grandparents’ New Year gifts like Qingwan, but she wished that she could take things more seriously and help think about this issue. After all, when she gets married in the future, she will manage the family affairs herself. She will bear the responsibility of preparing gifts for relatives and friends during festivals. It’s better if she becomes familiar with these matters as early as possible.

Wei Ruo, however, was already well-prepared: “Mother, when I received the gifts from the aristocrats last time, I have already reserved some gifts for our grandparents. But since they’re all fragile and not easy to transport, I was planning to send them by water route next time our family sends goods to Capital City.”

Having said that, she pulled out a list from her bosom and handed it to Madam Yun.

Wei Qingwan looked at the list Wei Ruo handed over in surprise. She was well-prepared?

Wei Ruo noted Wei Qingwan’s reaction, which was a mix of surprise and indignation.

She was not intentionally trying to compete with Wei Qingwan.

The gifts she planned for the old duke and Madam were prepared when she had received the gifts from Chu Lan. She’d planned to send them to Capital City when the goods were being transported from the Military Prefecture.

Madam Yun took a look at the list from Wei Ruo. Aside from some porcelain tea ware gifted by Prince Seven, Wei Ruo also included dried sweet potatoes, sweet potato chips, mushroom sauce and other popular foods recently produced in Taizhou prefecture.

Although these items were not expensive, they were special local products and presumably not yet widely available in Capital City.

It was thoughtful and highlighted local characteristics, which made it most appropriate.

Madam Yun was beaming, “Ruoruo, you’ve truly thought this through.” If Wei Qingwan was willing to use her private savings to contribute to the New Year gifts and it brought satisfaction to Madam Yun, then Wei Ruo’s gift list brought both astonishment and delight to Madam Yun.

Wei Ruo casually remarked, “It’s nothing, my grandparents have been exceptionally kind to me, rewarding me with such beautiful things several times, it’s only right I reciprocate the favor.”

The reason why Wei Ruo did this had nothing to do with Madam Yun. It was entirely because the old couple in the Capital City were rather good to her.

No matter what their intentions were for being nice to her, they gave her the status of the eldest granddaughter and gave her several gifts, all of these actions were greatly appreciated.

“Ruoruo, your grandparents will be very happy to know about your filial piety.” Madam Yun said with a full-faced smile.

Afterwards, Madam Yun, Wei Ruo, and Wei Qingwan discussed the details of the gift list and the details regarding provisions to prepare for the New Year at the residence.

However, the smile had disappeared from Wei Qingwan’s face and her expressions were a bit stiff when she responded a few times.

###

The next day, Wei Ruo went out again.

The small workshop she had built on the empty plot of land on her manor was complete, and she was going to inspect it today.

On the road, Wei Ruo and Xiumei disguised themselves as they had when they went to see Fan Chengxu last time.

Since she would be interacting with various outsiders during her inspection of the newly built workshop, Wei Ruo did not want to expose herself too much to avoid giving others leverage.

Upon arriving at the manor, the two young ladies who got on the carriage had transformed into two ugly-looking young lords when they stepped off.

Manager Yu had been waiting at the entrance of the manor as he knew Wei Ruo was coming. However, he was stunned when he saw the two young lords coming down from the carriage.

“Manager Yu,” Wei Ruo called out to Manager Yu.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Manager Yu then realized the young lord standing before him was actually the current owner.

“Young miss, why are you dressed like this?” Manager Yu asked.

111 be meeting many workers today, it’s inconvenient for a girl. Later, when you introduce me to people, please call me Master Xu.” Wei Ruo said.

“Yes, yes, Young miss — ah, no, young master is really thoughtful!”

Then Manager Yu guided Wei Ruo and Xiumei to a place on the manor where Wei Ruo’s small workshop was built.

Five houses made from yellow mud mixed with rock and straw fragments covered the previously empty plot on the manor. This was the new workshop that Wei Ruo had constructed.

“Young miss, these houses were built according to your requirements and the design plan,” Manager Yu said.

According to Wei Ruo’s requirements, various special items were built in each room.

There were large stoves, large shelves, walls made of clay and stones, and other oddly shaped items, which could serve different purposes at first glance Wei Ruo was very satisfied with her inspection. The construction of the houses was overseen by Uncle Xu, so she was assured of the quality of the buildings. Wei Ruo then asked Manager Yu, “How did the selection of the people I asked you to choose go?”

Last time she came, Wei Ruo asked Manager Yu to select a few reliable and hard-working men from the manor to work in her newly built small workshop..